Hepburn Relocalisation Network organised another winter solstice gathering, which took place on Thursday night at the Senior Citizen's room at the Town Hall. Many of us put our hands and hearts together to decorate the room and make warming food and drink to share. It was another community event open to all, and as the 80 of us arrived we were greeted by the strumming mandolin of Tony Soccio and the brightness of the community bunting.
Michel and Linda led the opening ceremony, honouring the mother, Pandora, Ge, the flowering earth, the goddess, the fermentor of culture, as well as the moon and sun and the more than human.
We were all ages coming together, to grieve and praise life,
to say goodbye to Steven and Maureen,
Maureen in her speech of farewell describes the bare Hepburn plot they transformed into forest over two decades,
and Anthony Petrucci performed Patrick Jones' elegy for Rod May.
The Daylesford Madrigal Singers performed old songs to connect us to our old stories, and Fay White led a sing-a-long along similar lines.
Music, warmth, origin-known food and the love-filled room marked this moment of community immunity, sharing and honouring friends present and past.
Thank you everyone for coming along, and making the solstice such a merry occasion.
Don't forget HRN has two exciting upcoming events:
This Friday night at 7pm, Charlie Mgee and his band Formidable Vegetable Sound System, will be launching their new album, Grow Do It in Daylesford. They're calling it a kids' album, but that hasn't stopped any of us adults boogying around the HRN HQ while we listen to it.
There will be a delicious supper available, too, to replenish our stores after a big night of dancing.
Here's a sneak peek of Kimchi, one of the songs from the new album:
(If you're reading this as an email, you might need to click through to the HRN blog to watch it.)
If you love kimchi as much as Charlie and would like to learn how to make it, we warmly invite you to come along to this Saturday's Culture Club for our free Back to Basics workshop where we will be making kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented carrots, pickled carrots, and a carrot kvass.
This will be a hands on and hands in workshop. Here's what you need to bring if you'd like to make your own:
Kimchi
Ingredients
- flaked or fine salt
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- a thumb of ginger
- chilli flakes, or dried or fresh chillies
- fish sauce (optional)
- daikon radish (optional)
- sugar
- Chinese/napa cabbage, though ordinary cabbage, bok choy, etc works fine too - need about 1kg
- 1 carrot
- spring onions (optional)
- plastic gloves (optional) Utensils
- clean 1L (or thereabouts) jar
- grater
- chopping board + knife
- mixing bowl
Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- one or more cabbages
- salt
- optional: whey, onion, garlic, chilli, spices (cardamom, coriander, fennel, star anise, caraway etc) Utensils
- large bowl (preferably stainless steel) for pounding into
- pounding tool - eg. pestle
- grater
- large chopping knife
- chopping board
- 2 wide mouthed jars or crock - size depends on quantity of ingredients you want to make up. About 1 litre is a good size to start with
Carrot Ferment
Ingredients
- 4-5 carrots
- salt
- optional: whey, onion, garlic, chilli, spices as above Utensils
- large bowl (preferably stainless steel) for pounding into
- pounding tool - eg. pestle
- grater
- large chopping knife
- chopping board
- 2 wide mouthed jars or crock - size depends on quantity of ingredients you want to make up. About 1 litre is a good size to start with
Pickled Carrots
Ingredients
- 4-5 large carrots
- 4 garlic cloves
- good quality salt
- black peppercorns
- mustard seeds
- 2 bayleaves
- fresh dill or dill seeds
- optional: lemon, chillies
Utensils
- 1 2-litre jar or several smaller jars
- knife
- chopping board
Carrot Kvass
Ingredients
- 1 carrot
- salt
- whey (optional) Utensils
- 1 large jar
- chopping board
- knife
Eeeeeeeeeeeee!! We can hardly contain our excitement! Charlie Mgee is returning to Daylesford with his band Formidable Vegetable Sound System to launch their new album Grow Do It.
Supporting, is the ever-talented effervescent Mal Webb, launching his new album Not Nor Mal, with the help of Kylie Morrigan
Tell your friends and get your dancing shoes ready! It's going to be one hell of a fabulous night.
Charlie delighted a small but enthusiastic crowd with great music and lyrics at the Sound Shell on Saturday and many decided that his CD was a must. But if you missed him, there will be another opportunity to see him or do a ukelele workshop with him in late January so stay tuned to HRN for the dates.
Charlie Mgee’s very special “End-of-tour, homecoming show” is a must see.
Mgee has recently returned from an international tour where he performed songs from his album, “Permaculture: a Rhymer’s Manual”, to sell-out shows. We’ve heard about Charlie’s heroics in England. We’ve heard about the many reviews. Now it’s time to see for ourselves this permaculture influenced dance music sensation.
Charismatic Perth-based singer songwriter Charlie will be in Daylesford for one show only to perform his songs based on the 12 principles of permaculture in various musical styles ranging from ‘climate-change reggae’ to ‘peak-oil polka’, so don’t miss it. “Permaculture: a Rhymer’s Manual” focuses on bringing simple concepts of sustainability into the spotlight using the power of music and humour to convey permaculture principles in fresh ways to new audiences. Mgee takes a dynamic, brave new approach to communicating concepts of sustainability through ukulele, rhymes and positive inspiration. But its not just adults that Charlie manages to capture, bring the kids as they are sure to love it; that is why it is at the Skate Park where we hope there will be some young ukelele enthusiasts who can swing along with Charlie. His music is available here.
Our own David Holmgren, celebrated environmental pioneer who inspired Charlie’s concept album will be there, grooving along as well.
A fun filled afternoon guaranteed. Great family entertainment. A rare act that kids and big people alike can enjoy.And we might just do some tree planting to help make the Skate Park shadier and more pleasant in the summer and a fruit or two. Come prepared! Bringa herb or veggie to plant, a trowel or a spade
