Monday, March 9, 2015

Great Chestnut Expedition: 28th March


THE GREAT CHESTNUT EXPEDITION
EARTH HOUR DAY – SATURDAY 28 March, 2015
‘Switch off the light and support Aussie food and farming’

Come and be part of this important day, and show your support for Slow Food Blue Mountains, locally-grown – and Earth Hour Day!  There are three elements to this chestnut-inspired day, and you can choose to be involved with one – or all three!
1.  EXPEDITION TO KOOKOOTONGA CHESTNUT/WALNUT FARM, 247 Mt Irvine Road, Mount Irvine, to collect chestnuts.  A sublime experience! You can choose to meet us there  at 11 am (look for our sign) or be part of a car-pool, meeting in Katoomba at 10 am. (Email  sfbm@slowfoodaustralia.com.au  if you wish to car pool, for further details.)
       ‘ Kookootonga’ is one of the original farms at Mt Irvine in the Blue Mountains and has been owned by the Scrivener family since 1897.  The first chestnuts and walnuts were planted over 100 years ago.  The majority of the orchard was created by Bill and Ruth Scrivener (the current owners) from the 1950s.  Find out more  about  Kookootonga, including directions at www.kookootonga.com.au

2.  CHESTNUT COOKING AND PROCESSING @ A SECRET LOCATION!  (2pm-4pm)
If you wish, return to a  ‘secret location’ in Katoomba to help cook, peel and then freeze chestnuts – and taste a few as well as you work!  (Later, these processed chestnuts will be turned into CHESTNUT PATE  and CHESTNUT CAKE  by two local small businesses for Slow Food Blue Mountains and sold  at our Slow Food stall,  during  the Leura Harvest Festival on 3 May, 2015.)

3. EARTH HOUR CHESTNUT ROASTING AND CHOCOLATE FONDUE BY CANDLELIGHT8pm onwards
Sitting at communal tables festooned with chestnut leaves, we’ll turn out the lights at 8.30 and savour the delights of hot roasted chestnuts and chestnut chocolate fondue  by candelight! Be quick!  Numbers strictly-limited for this.  Cost:  $25 per person/$20 Slow Food members.  Bookings Essential:  E sfbm@slowfoodaustralia.com.au/text 0423109270.

 

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BLUE MOUNTAINS FRUIT CALENDAR

We can harvest a wide range of fruits and nuts locally each season.

Local fruit and/or nut gardeners are invited to make additions or suggest modifications to the following work-in-progress compiled by Lizzie Connor.


SPRING HARVEST

Across the mountains: loquat, mulberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late spring) raspberry

Best in the lower mountains: avocado, jaboticaba, lemonade


SUMMER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apricot, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry, currant (red, black, white), gooseberry, kumquat, loganberry, loquat, mulberry,nectarine, peach, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late summer) almond, apple, fig, hazelnut, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), pomegranate, youngberry

Best in lower mountains:lemon (Eureka), lemonade, lime, mandarin, orange, persimmon (non-astringent) and (in late summer) avocado, babaco, macadamia, rockmelon, wampee, watermelon

Best in upper mountains: jostaberry, lemon (Meyer), persimmon (astringent)


AUTUMN HARVEST

Across the mountains: almond, apple, chestnut, feijoa, fig, grape, hazel, kiwi fruit, kumquat, medlar, olive, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), plum, quince, raspberry (some), rhubarb, strawberry, strawberry guava, walnut

Best in lower mountains: avocado, babaco, cherimoya, grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), macademia, monstera deliciosa, orange, pine nut, pistachio, rockmelon, tamarillo, walnut, watermelon, white sapote

Best in upper mountains: lemon (Meyer), mandarin (Satsuma)


WINTER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apple, hazelnut, kiwi fruit, kumquat, pear (incl. nashi)

Best in lower mountains: grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), orange, tangelo

Best in upper mountains: avocado (Bacon), lemon (Meyer)