A little mini holiday mid term for us. We’re closed on Monday for the Labour Day long weekend but will be back Tuesday raring to go.

This past week I had a conference in Queenscliffe on Monday and Tuesday. It was really super to catch up with my colleagues from the other houses in the north-east region and talk about and share successes, priorities and how we can advocate for our sector and support each other better. Such nice people run neighbourhood houses!

Closer to home, this week Corrado took a trip to Bunnings and with Clare’s input bought some plants to start our autumn planting.

Each summer we assess what has and hasn’t survived and thrived due to our summer neglect (otherwise known as summer holidays) … and then try to make sensible planting decisions to ensure our garden remains beautiful … but also is as robust as possible.

So on Friday we planted some new things … including a mandarin out the back in a new little garden bed that popped up due to our renovations … and some salvias out the front … along with bulbs I think … donations from locals (thanks!).

Our gardening group has also been working on creating a seed saving system. We’ve been letting some things go to seed over the last 18 months, and then saving the seeds to share. Thomas has now sorted all our saved seeds into a seasonal growing plan partitioned box … and we’ve packaged them all up into cute recycled packages made from the pages of magazines and books etc. … which means we’ll be able to easily share the right seeds to plant at the right time of the year via our seed library out the front … so the whole neighbourhood should benefit from his organising! Thanks Thomas.

We’ve had another great week of creativity … with Crunch on Thursday and AAA Art on Friday. Thanks everyone who came along.

Also another birthday celebration at community lunch - happy birthday Sarah.

And we put a display up in the library windows for the upcoming Alphington Show. A reminder to you to think about entering … and coming in along! Pony rides for littlies … and other fun stuff to make and do … CWA Devonshire tea for grownups. Market stalls for shoppers! And then the Dog Show at 1pm! It’s going to be great. 11am-2pm on Saturday 29th March.

We do need some BBQ volunteers this year. If you could help cook or serve for an hour we’d we super grateful! Please email us or call the office.

Kalimna is currently taking a couple of weeks of leave … so I am a bit all over the place (we miss her calm and kind organising), but I am muddling along trying to get everything sorted. I am sure we will manage (but please excuse me if I miss some things along the way).

I hope you have a relaxing long weekend … I am at Port Fairy Folk Festival with my family enjoying catching up with friends, perfect weather and great music (photo of Peter Garrett, Missy Higgins and Elsy Wameyo).

See you when I’m back.

Leanne