We have been helping Friends of Baucau develop a new coffee label. Lee has been working on it and it is pretty gorgeous …. and really tells the story of the wonderful projects that have been delivered in Timor-Leste through the 20 year friendship that has been fostered through the Friends of Baucau formal partnership.

Friends of Baucau is a community group that supports local community initiatives on the ground in Timor-Leste. It also provides a framework and pathway for Yarra and Darebin Councils to work alongside and support the municipal government in Baucau as it gets established over there.

If you have an interest in Timor-Leste 🇹🇱 you can find out more about Friends of Baucau here.

If you have an interest in great coffee (or are looking for a gift that keeps on giving) you might like to buy this coffee. We have it for sale at ACC or you can pop past the Wingrove Street Milkbar to buy either beans or ground coffee (thanks Juliet for helping sell this for us!).

500 gram packs cost $20. The coffee is sourced from cooperative farms in Timor-Leste and roasted and packed by Coffee Mio just up the road in Thornbury. All the profits go straight back to supporting local Timorese led projects.

Do good. Drink (Friends of Baucau) coffee.

Local artists collective Alphington Open Studios is hoping locals who use Instagram will follow their site … and are having a ‘giveaway’ to encourage you to do so … a series of lovely cards and some delicious chocolate are on offer.

Click here to both ‘like’ the giveaway post and ‘follow’ the page … then you’ll be in the running! Something positive we can all easily do at this time to support other locals who do neighbourly things in the neighbourhood right?

We’ve still got our fingers and toes crossed that the Alphington Open Studios weekend (currently scheduled for 27-28 November) can go ahead.

And did you know that we’re planning to host a small works exhibition at ACC as part of the event? If you are a local artist who would like to participate (you’ll need around 2-4 small works) please email your interest here. Thanks Yarra City Council for supporting this local arts initiative.

And good luck in the draw everyone!

You could win these gorgeous cards made by artists from Alphington Open Studios.

Time is passing us by … and it is pretty nice to be marking it with this series of local neighbourhood walks.

The third walk is through the northern streets of Alphington, and whilst lots of the houses that are talked about have disappeared, it’s still pretty interesting to understand how this area developed, and how it has changed. Who knew, for example, that Yarana Road was once a long driveway to a fancy house …

To find out more you can pop past ACC and collect a physical map from the box on the side of the seed library, if you have a printer you can download and print your own here and of course you can also just download it and follow along on your device.

We hope you have a lovely time exploring the northern part of Alphington this weekend!

Missing your regular holiday activities? Got a tent*? With school holidays upon us perhaps some backyard camping is in order?

I have seen two friends this week set up some camping gear in the garden (not necessarily with children involved!) … and then I saw a great post on the Mums in Darebin Facebook group this week with someone asking for ideas to make the most of a backyard camping adventure … and the answers were pretty inspiring so I thought I could share them. Here we go …

• Pack your backpack 🎒 and take a ‘hike’ through Darebin Parklands and beyond (include your water bottle and some scroggin for an authentic snack)

• Print a map of the stars and see if you can find the constellations (or pull out your telescope if you have one) or download an app … there are some terrific ones to help you identify the universe

• Set up an outdoor fire pit and cook bananas and Nutella in foil, potatoes in foil (microwave first), marshmallows on a stick, sausages in a frying pan etc.

• Cook dinner on your Trangier (you could even dehydrate some food and rehydrate it for some extra fun if the prep. is what you love!). Maybe some Foster Clark custard with rehydrated apricots for dessert? Porridge 🥣 for breakfast is also pretty easy.

• Have a BBQ

• Set up an outdoor washing-up station for the dishes. Maybe some hand clothes washing could be fun too (for kids not adults obviously!)

• Make a bug 🕷 🐛 🐜 bingo sheet and see if you can find them all

• Create a scavenger hunt

• String up fairy lights to create some atmosphere

• Get out some torches 🔦 and play spotlight or make shadow puppets

• Tell stories and read stories all snuggled up in the tent

• Play cards and board games

• Get out your guitar or ukulele (or recorder!) and have a sing along outside (a treat for your neighbours)

• Set up an outdoor stage and host a concert

• Set up a moonlight cinema experience on your house/garage wall

The most interesting thing about the post was that they were taking time with the planning … asking friends and family for advice and ideas … stretching the joy out … because the anticipation and build up contributes to the fun right!

I hope you feel inspired.

* If you don’t have a tent, a trampoline is also great on a mild night … and I am sure the process of rigging up a protective roof - if you’re worried about getting damp - could fill at least half a day!

My kids slept outside on the trampoline with their cousins at Easter when we were at my sister’s farm … they loved it (I think one of them is still asleep in there)!

If you are interested in learning more about the history of our neighbourhood … and also like a stroll, perhaps you’d like to print out or collect our first History Walk.

This walk starts on the south side of Alphington Station and takes you on a tour of the Old Alphington Village. Thanks to Anne and the 3078 History Group for all the background work that has gone into this flyer, and thanks also to Lee for the graphic design and Kalimna for the photos.

We’re planning to record an accompanying podcast at some stage to sit along side this walk. We’ll let you know when this is active.

If you have a printer at home you can print a copy here. If you’d like to collect a printed copy you’ll find some out the front in the little brochure holder on the side of our seed library.