We are very excited to inform you that we have joined the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Love Food Hate Waste program as a collaborative partner. We look forward bringing you on this journey with us.
Our collective desire for convenience has seen a shift away from the respect for food that was once essential for survival.Luckily, there are many different techniques and habits we can all use to minimise food waste. These practices run through every level of our food consumption – from the point of purchase, to preparation, storage and preservation. This newsletter has helpful tips for how you can minimise waste in your household.
Minimising Waste
Learn about all this and more in our comprehensive guide to minimising waste, including the following top tips:
Planning your meals can save you time and money while reducing waste and helping ensure you enjoy a healthy and balanced diet. You also won’t need to worry about what’s for dinner after a busy day. Click here for more
Reducing waste begins at home. We’ve all accidentally doubled up, forgotten to make a list or overlooked what’s already in the fridge or cupboards. Click here for more
Preparing the right amount of food is one of the best ways to minimise food waste. Following recipes, planning and preparing meals in advance or using a serving size calculator are easy ways to help with portion control. Click here for more
Storing food correctly is one of the simplest ways to reduce the amount you throw away. In the fridge, keep food stored in sealed containers and stop vegetables from wilting by storing them in the crisper and wrapping them in paper towels to absorb moisture. Click here for more
Leftovers can make a quick, easy and delicious meal and they can be combined easily with staples to create entirely new meals. Dishes like curries, pastas, salads and frittatas can all be made from leftovers – reducing your waste and your spending. Click here for more
In Australia, the expected life of our packaged food is indicated by one of two date marks: Best Before and Use By. Confusion around what these dates mean and how to follow them means a lot of food that is still fine to eat is often thrown away. Click here for more
A lot of the food we purchase is discarded simply because we don’t know how to use it or because it is considered undesirable to eat. Have a look at what you discard and ask yourself if it’s edible. If so, the chances are it’s also delicious.
Click here for more
The art of preservation is a simple and rewarding craft that allows us to extend the life of the food we buy. It also saves us money, reduces waste and turns our food into new and tasty condiments with an array of uses.
Click here for more
Crop swapping is a great way for those who grow their own food to make sure nothing is going to waste. If you have an over-abundance of particular fruits or vegetables in the garden, you can find growers in your area who will exchange their surplus for yours. Click here for more
Most Australians put their food waste in the bin, but this common practice isn’t an ideal environmental choice. Food waste sealed in plastic garbage bags and sent to landfill breaks down in an anaerobic environment, releasing methane into the atmosphere.Click here for more
Plastic waste is a major global issue and is inextricably linked to our food consumption. For decades, single use plastic has been the dominant product in food packaging and shopping. Click here for more.
Here are some tips for starting a conversation in your local community, talking to your friends, colleagues and peers, sharing information or writing to your local councillors and Members of Parliament. Click here for more.
Fair Food Champion: Maree Thompson
Maree Thomson – this month’s Fair Food Champion – is the General Manager at Hidden Harvest, an organisation combating climate change by providing the tools to tackle food waste. She talks to us about her passions, her background, her philosophy, and most importantly, food!
Click here for more.
FOGO is Go-Go!
In Australia, food waste makes up 35% of the average household bin, adding up to around $4000 worth of wasted food per household every year. In November 2020, Wollongong City Council took a big step to minimising food waste, by joining the Kiama and Shellharbour LGAs in implementing a weekly FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) collection bin.
Click here for more.
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation: International Year of Fruit and Vegetables
In December, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021, with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology and to reduce food loss and waste.
Click here for more.
Stir it up!
The Stir it up! team are dedicated peer educators who can deliver cooking demonstrations, talks, stalls and cooking classes for your organisation or community groups. These can be one-off sessions or more depending on your organisation and community groups.
Click here for more.
Hidden Harvest – The Art of Food Waste
Are you a lover of food and art? If so, the Hidden Harvest ‘Art of Food Waste’ exhibition is for you. With a jam-packed schedule of events and delicious delicacies that celebrate our local community through food and art, check it out!
Click here for more.
An awesome database of fair food events in the Illawarra region and online such as workshops, seminars, markets, community garden days, and cooking classes. We’ve listed a few exciting events coming up in the fair food calendar:
2 February | 2pm-4pm | Online
FFI Community Catch Up: Provides the opportunity for everyone to join the Fair Food conversation, supporting connections, knowledge transfer and resource sharing towards a more resilient, equitable and sustainable food system. This is your chance to get involved!
Click here for more.
13 February | 9am -11am | Warrawong
Compost with Confidence: A masterclass on the magic of turning your organic waste into the best soil to grow your own organic food. Rod Logan, our market garden coordinator, will guide you through the pros and cons of his proven method of hot compost as well as worm farming.
Click here for more.
28 February | 9am – 3pm | Coledale
Rifle through the stalls of pre-loved clothes, vinyl records, books, earrings, crockery, paintings, beautiful handmade knits and soaps. If you can withstand the scent of curry and coffee, fresh bread & cakes, you can get some serious shopping done.
Click here for more.
Mondays and Thursdays | 8am – 9:30am | Koonawarra
Free Community Breakfast: Come for a coffee, a chat, or the works with cereal followed by scrambled eggs and beans on toast! Every Monday and Thursday 8am-9.30am at the Koonawarra Community Centre. Everyone welcome!
Click here for more.
Every Saturday | 8.30am – 10:30am | Woonona
Community Garden: Bring a mug and wear your gardening clothes: including gloves and a hat. New and experienced gardeners welcome.
Click here for more.
Every Friday | 9am-2pm | Wollongong
Farmers market with an array of fresh, local, and handmade goods! Every Friday from 9am-2pm at Crown Street Mall in Wollongong.
Click here for more.
Every Wednesday | 3pm – 5pm | Kiama
Find fresh produce brought to you by local suppliers and mingle with friends at the Kiama Farmers Markets every Wednesday.
Click here for more.