Food and garden organics

When: Tuesday 20 June, 12.30pm

Details: Food is more than what we put in our mouths, it's the way we care for, nourish, express and share ourselves, our cultures and our connections. This workshop explores the embedded value of food, its bonds to our communities and the environment, and why, when we waste it, we waste so much more than just a meal.

You will learn:

• Understanding the scale of food waste in Australia
• Explore what is lost when food is wasted (water, land, energy, emissions, time, physical labour, and emotional labour)
• Recognise what role food plays in social and cultural practices in our communities

When: Tuesday 18 July, 12.30pm

Details: This workshop explores how to prevent waste before food is even purchased. By identifying opportunities linked with our consumption habits, participants will unlock new insights and skills for how to save food from going into the bin.

You will learn:

• Identifying where food waste is currently generated in their home because of over purchasing behaviours
• Looking at inventory and meal planning skills, including any apps and tools which make it easier
• Exploring common in-store pitfalls which lead to over-purchasing and impulse buys, including hints on managing specials, multipacks and bulk buys effectively
• Understanding retail cosmetic standards and how we can help embrace ‘imperfect’ or ‘ugly’ foods.

When: Tuesday 22 August, 12.30pm

Details: This workshop explores how to prevent waste from food spoilage in our homes by examining how to correct storage methods to extend the lifespan of food.

You will learn:

• Understand the fundamentals of storage including how moisture, exposure to air, temperature, light and proximity to other items can affect their shelf life
• Recognise how to keep food at its optimum freshness for longer
• Know what ‘Best-Before’ & 'Use by' dates mean in relation to expiration and spoiling
• See examples of fridge and pantry food storage layouts from real people.

When: Tuesday 19 September, 12.30pm

Details: This workshop explores how to get creative in the kitchen and make the most of every scrap, bite and spoonful. Whether it's embracing new parts of old favourites or delicious new ways to prepare them; we look at how to make what you buy or grow, go further.

You will learn:

• Change your kitchen mindset from “what do you want to eat?” to “what have we got here to use up?”
• Provide several creative ways to ‘love your leftovers’ for commonly wasted food types (beef, bread, cheese, and salad)
• Understand the ‘using it all’ philosophy including how a root to tip and nose to tail practice might look within the home
• Tips on what to do with foods include quick ways to use freezing, pickling, stewing, blending, fermenting or preserving methods.

When: Tuesday 24 October, 12.30pm

Details: This workshop explores the connection between what we serve up and what we throw away. We unpack tips to get kids more involved in food preparation and purchasing and look at handy hints for avoiding what goes on their plate and ending up in the bin.

You will learn:

• Recognise where food waste is coming from in relation to family meals
• Explore the relationship between portion sizes and food wastage
• Explore food waste avoidance solutions for school lunches
• Look at ways to ensure leftovers are seen as palatable and presentable options for family meals.

When: Tuesday 20 November, 12.30pm

Details: The Foodbank Hunger Report 2020 revealed that three in ten Australians are now experiencing food insecurity that had not gone hungry before the pandemic and those young people. With most households wasting (on average) a fifth of the food they buy at the shops, how can we help ensure we are part of the solution and that our communities have enough food to eat?

You will learn:

• Understand the scale of food insecurity and hunger in Australia and the impact of this issue on local communities
• Connect the dots between food lost or wasted and meals that could be provided to others
• Look at actions anyone can undertake to minimise their own food waste, when at home or in the community.