Brought to you by Switch Your Thinking and City of Gosnells
Date: 14 and 22 August 2021
Location: Cities of Armadale, Belmont, Kwinana, Perth, Wanneroo and Stirling, Town of Victoria Park and Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale
Food is Life is a series of eight workshops to educate and impassion you to grow your own fruit and vegetables.
Running from Wanneroo to Kwinana, the events help households discover the fundamentals of food production, exploring concepts like how soil holds carbon; how fertilisers affect water quality; and how nutrients move through soils to produce fruit and vegetables. Apply these ideas in practice to maximise your yields, reduce waste of fruit and vegetables, and consolidate the science behind food production.
An interactive science/engineering workshop building solar ovens will provide a hands-on activity to learn about how materials transfer heat and the sun's energy can be harnessed. Fruit and vegetable sharing and storage will also be explored.
Saturday 14 Aug
10:00am - 11:30am
Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC)
National Science Week 2021, Food for Thought, explores the science of food and food innovations. How can we harness the energy from the sun cook and prep our food?
We don't often think about the sun as a power source for cooking, but Ecoburbia uses solar ovens, "cooktops" and solar driers all the time, especially in summer. Come and learn more about the power of the sun, see some solar cooking systems and if it is a sunny day you may even experience the heat generated! You will also see the method and materials you will need to make your own solar oven at home.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Sunday 15 Aug
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Stirling Leisure Centres - Herb Graham, Billabong Room
National Science Week 2021, Food for Thought, explores the science of food and food innovations. But how about stepping back in time and discovering the secrets of preserving seasonal harvests?
Does your garden produce an all-at-once, bumper crop? And how can we take advantage of cheap seasonal produce? This session will cover how to get more out of your fruit and vegetables by preserving using a variety of methods. Methods covered will include "canning" using the water bath method, freezing, drying produce using the sun, plus pickles, olive preserving, cordials, jam making and even simple cheese making. You will learn the science behind safe preserving and there will be plenty of time to share your favourite preserving recipes.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Monday 16 Aug
10:30am - 12:00pm
Girrawheen Library
To celebrate National Science Week 2021, come and join Switch your thinking, the City of Wanneroo and Robyn Brown from Waste is my Resource for a morning of science and sustainable gardening! Discover how to get your veggie verge thriving, why this will help keep your street cool in summer and how to fit with your Council’s verge rules. As always, there will be plenty of time for science as we explore the water cycle, healthy soil bacteria, the effect of phosphates in fertilisers, soil pH and the urban heat island effect.
Be sure to measure your verge space before the workshop so you can design your own veggie verge.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Wednesday 18 Aug
11:00am - 12:00pm (AWST)
Amherst Village Library
To celebrate National Science Week, come and discover the science behind our everyday cleaning. Cut through the advertising spin of the home hygiene industry with the help of elbow grease and bi-carb soda.
Cleaning with chemistry will arm you with a basic understanding of household science and a bottle full of natural alternatives to toxic and expensive cleaners. This workshop is perfect for those looking for environmentally friendly, allergy-free, non-toxic alternatives to traditional household cleaners that are also budget friendly.
This event is brought to you by the City of Gosnells and Switch Your Thinking.
Thursday 19 Aug
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Perth City Farm
Do you know your neighbours? Do you long for the sense of community in your street that you had as a child? Since the COVID19 pandemic, many of us have come to realise just how important our local neighbourhood is during times of crisis.
To celebrate National Science Week, come and discover how much science there is in your community – from composting to gardening to cooking, your neighbourhood is a ready-made community to share knowledge and build resilience through food.
At this workshop, you will hear two inspiring stories about geographic community - the community around where you live. From book exchanges to shared compost systems, street parties to movie nights, you are sure to leave inspired to think about your local area and what you can do it make its bonds stronger.
Friday 20 Aug
10:30am - 12:30pm
Champion Centre - 76 Champion Drive, Seville Grove WA 6112, Australia
Food for Thought explores the science of food and food innovations. But how about stepping back in time and discovering the secrets preserving seasonal harvests?
Does your garden produce a bumper crop? How can we take advantage of cheap seasonal produce?
This session will cover how to get more out of your fruit and vegetables by preserving using a variety of methods. Methods covered will include "canning" using the water bath method, freezing, drying produce using the sun, plus pickles, olive preserving, cordials, jam making and even simple cheese making. You will learn the science behind safe preserving and there will be plenty of time to share your favourite preserving recipes.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Saturday 21 Aug
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Belmont Hub - 213 Wright Street, Cloverdale WA 6105, Australia
Food for Thought explores the science of food and food innovations. How can we harness the energy from the sun cook and prep our food?
We don't often think about the sun as a power source for cooking, but Ecoburbia uses solar ovens, "cooktops" and solar driers all the time, especially in summer. Come and learn more about the power of the sun, see some solar cooking systems and if it is a sunny day you may even experience the heat generated! You will also see the method and materials you will need to make your own solar oven at home.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Saturday 21 Aug
9:00am - 11:00am
Frank Konecny Community Centre - 2 Skottowe Parkway, Parmelia WA 6167, Australia
Food for Thought explores the science of food and food innovations. But how about stepping back in time and discovering the secrets of preserving seasonal harvests?
Does your garden produce an all-at-once, bumper crop? And how can we take advantage of cheap, seasonal produce?
This session will cover how to get more out of your fruit and vegetables by preserving using a variety of methods. Methods covered will include "canning" using the water bath method, freezing, drying produce using the sun, plus pickles, olive preserving, cordials, jam making and even simple cheese making. You will learn the science behind safe preserving and there will be plenty of time to share your favourite preserving recipes.
Suitable for ages 10 years and over. Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided. Please bring your own cup and water bottle.