Hi friends, exciting news across the street from us. The lovely river red gum at Alphington Station has been nominated as a mature (pre-settlement) tree for the National Trust ‘Tree of the Year’. But … to win it needs your vote.

HOW TO VOTE

Visit the National Trust Facebook page from Sunday 18 April to Sunday 2 May 2021 during the Australian Heritage Festival and “click like” on the tree you would like to win the ‘Tree of the Year’ title, or email your vote to conservation@nattrust.com.au.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Alphington Station

This river red gum is approximately 200-300 years old and contributes greatly to the urban Alphington station landscape. Thanks to passionate community members, this tree was saved from being removed as part of proposed carpark development in 2013 and holds significant importance for the local community.

And also thanks to local community volunteers, the area near the tree has undergone restoration and there are now a number of younger River Red Gums around it, creating a beautiful natural setting around the station.

This tree is significant at a Regional level as a mature indigenous tree in an urban landscape context, which provides a contribution to the landscape and railway setting.

The National Heritage Trust note that fittingly the wall opposite the tree is painted with "Save the trees".

Keen to find out more about the other trees nominated? Click here.

Hi Leanne here.

I’ve been at my sister’s farm for Easter and I was quite excited at her tomato seed saving approach, so I thought I’d share some photos. They are pretty self explanatory …

Just choose some of the more overripe tomatoes you grew and squeeze the seeds out onto paper towel to dry them out.

Then when you are ready, you can plant the paper directly. Or chop the paper up and share your bounty. Great hey?

And also a picture of the farm at sunrise just a you can see how beautiful it is … standing at the back door looking east towards The Grampians.

Hi everyone, we’re back on deck today (Monday). We hope you had a lovely Easter and school break. If you sent enquiries through over the holidays that we haven’t answered already, Kalimna will get back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) when she’s in the office.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be working on some of the bigger picture things - including working with Lee on our next feature artist for the Alphington Neighbourhood Gallery (on the fence), finalising the podcast studio, and getting the raised gardens up and running (I need to head out to Bulleen Art and Garden for a dwarf lime for the centre of the new round garden as a starting point). Also I need to line up a time with Darebin Council to deliver some fresh tanbark for the front garden … and I must order the new cubby house, deck and sandpit to complete the toddler play space out there as well.

Yikes, I feel busy already! We’ve got lots of exciting new plans for term 2 and we’re looking forward to sharing them with you over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

And don’t forget that we have morning tea on the corner every Friday at 11.30am. Come along for a cuppa and cake and chat. We’d love to see you.

Join us for morning tea on the corner every Friday morning from 11.30am.

Our seed library has been restocked lately and there are lots of lovely daffodil bulbs you can collect, and a variety of herbs and leafy greens as well.

If you are contemplating some gardening in the school holidays why not pop past and take a look at the seeds our community is sharing?

And don’t forget to collect seeds from your own garden to share with others. Drying them out and packaging them up could be a lovely project to do with you kids (or grandkids) in the school holidays!

A second coat on Wednesday … and the second wall started as well. Thanks Manu for stopping by and rolling your sleeves up for a while! It’s starting to really come together now don’t you think?