This week in the Macedon Ranges (November 6-12)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, November 6, to Sunday, November 12.

🍎 I’m delighted to welcome a new contributor to the newsletter this week. Duncan Cocking runs gardening workshops through his business, Leaf, Root & Fruit (the next workshop is on Saturday), and publishes a superb email newsletter about growing fruit and veg. He will be bringing his gardening expertise to Your Macedon Ranges once a month. Check out his first article below the list of events.

Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:

Click the links for more info 👇

Wednesday, November 8

Film Mrs Harris Goes to Paris: Based on the 1958 novel by Paul Gallico. London house-cleaner Ada Harris thinks her lonely life might turn around if she can become the owner of a Christian Dior gown. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St. 1pm-3pm. Free.

Quiz Pub Trivia: Put your knowledge to the test. The Lancefield Hotel, High St, Lancefield. 7pm-8.30pm.

Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.

Thursday, November 9

Flowers Pick Your Own Peonies – Spring Hill Peony Farm: Select stems from the peony paddock. Spring Hill Peony Farm, 1385 Kyneton-Springhill Rd, Spring Hill. Pick $56, View $14, Child (1-16) $5. Tickets on sale November 8 (1pm).

Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.

Friday, November 10

Environment McGregor’s Loop Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on an 8km moderate-level walk. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. McGregor’s Picnic Ground, Cameron Dr, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-1.30pm. Free.

Nature Koala Count at Hanging Rock: Walk around the Hanging Rock grasslands or the summit on the lookout for koalas. With conservation reserves officer Simon Purves and biodiversity projects officer Tanya Loos. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Woodend. 10am-12pm. Free.

Music Fred Smith: Australian songwriter Fred Smith and his band will be playing songs from his new album. Glenlyon Town Hall, Barkly St. 7pm-9.30pm. Adult $35, Youth (21 or under) $20.

Saturday, November 11

Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free.

Exercise Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run around Lancefield Park. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free.

Exercise Dixon Field Parkrun: 5km fun run. Dixon Field, Robertson St, Gisborne. 8am. Free.

Market Kyneton Farmers’ & Makers’ Market: St Paul’s Park, Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.

Market Kyneton Community Market: Bric-a-brac, art, clothes, plants, food and local produce. Ebden St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.

Gardening Photosynthesis – Irrigation, Rainwater Tanks and Sunlight: Learn how sunlight, air and water can all influence your garden. Leaf, Root & Fruit, 21 Dettmanns Ln, Kyneton. 10am-3pm. $100.

Flowers Pick Your Own Peonies – Romswood Peony Farm: Experience the beauty of a peony harvest and select your own stems. Romswood Peony Farm, 155 Cherokee Rd, Kerrie. 11am-1pm. Adult picker $50, Non-picker $20, Under-18 free.

Art Travel Sketching Workshop: Join artist Alissa Duke to learn about travel sketching with watercolour pencils. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 11am-1pm. $70.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.

Cars & Music Twilight Show and Shine: Car show (Untamed Muscle Car Club) plus live music with Bill Barber. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. From 4.30pm.

Music Tenzin Choegyal – Be the Ocean: One of the world’s finest Tibetan musicians, Grammy-nominated Tenzin Choegyal has performed at festivals and events across Australia and internationally. Newham Mechanics Institute, Rochford Rd, Newham. 7.30pm-9pm. $35.

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Sunday, November 12

Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.

Market Romsey Market: Bric-a-brac, woodwork, jewellery, candles, handmade goods, and food vans. Run by Lancefield Romsey Lions Club. Romsey Skate Park, Cnr Main St & White Ave. 9am-1pm.

Food Fermenting Made Easy: Learn to make five simple ferments. Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 9am-1pm. Standard $160, Concession $150.

Community Macedon Primary School Fete: Wild Action Zoo, rides, stalls, Lego competition, petting zoo and pony rides, games, face-painting, Devonshire tea and sausage sizzle. Macedon Primary School, Smith St, Macedon. 10am-3pm. Wristband $35 ($40 on the day).

Food & Music American Barbecue and Live Music: Low ‘n’ slow barbecue. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-5pm. Adult $35, Child $20.

Craft Willow Wreath Workshop: Weave your willow wreath and decorate it with native leaves and gumnuts from the farm. Chin Chin Farm, 673 Chintin Rd, Chintin. 1pm-3pm. $125.

Food Cheese Making for Beginners: Learn how to make labneh, ricotta, feta and halloumi. Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 1pm-4pm. Standard $160, Concession $150.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.

Music A Hint of Christmas: Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir concert. Songs in Welsh and English. St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Fisher St, Gisborne. 3pm-4pm. Gold coin donation.

Singing Rainbow Voices Community Choir: LGBTQIA+ and allies choir. For anyone aged 13 and over. Kyneton Community House Good Food Hub, 35 High St, Kyneton. 4pm-6pm.

Exhibitions

Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Buttlejorrk Artists (group) and Colour the World (group). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Art on Piper: Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Cameron Robbins, Nicholas Burridge. Wed by appt, Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.

Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Exhibitions: Julie Poulsen, Adam Cusack, Jonathan McBurnie. Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.

Kyneton Stitch in Time: Historical folk art and craft materials. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm. Adult $5, Concession $3, Student $3, Child (under 5) $2.50, Family $10.

Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Summer exhibition featuring work by 20 artists. Sat & Sun 11am-5pm.

Kyneton Trio Art Studio & Gallery: Exhibition: Anton Hasell (sculptures). Sat-Mon 10am-4pm.

Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Jennifer Segrave and Kirsty Traill. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.

Riddells Creek Dromkeen: Exhibition: Between the Pages (art by children’s writers and book illustrators). Opens Sun 12.45pm-2pm. Mark Wilson “Drawing Our Wild Creatures” workshop 2pm-3pm.

Trentham Trentham District Story: Outdoor display telling the story of Trentham from its earliest indigenous inhabitants to the present day. Open every day in the grounds of the Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St, Trentham.

Trentham Little Gallery: Artwork by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Fri-Mon 10am-4pm.

Garden events

🌺 Click here for a round-up of garden events: Open gardens (including Paula and Lindsay Fox’s Hascombe and Penola estates in Mount Macedon), workshops, tours and more.

Coming up

Film Rachel’s Farm: Experts and neighbours assist actress Rachel Ward as she sets out to regenerate her beef farm in Nambucca Valley, NSW, challenging established farming practices. Macedon & Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria St, Macedon. 6.30pm-8.30pm. $11. November 16.

Wine Budburst: More than 25 Macedon Ranges winemakers will be opening their wineries and cellar doors. Multiple venues. November 17-19.

Nature Hanging Rock Night Walk: Experience Hanging Rock after dark on a ranger-guided walk. See gliders, wallabies, native birds, bats, possums, koalas and many other animals. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Woodend. 7pm-10pm. Family $75, Adult $30, Child $15. Bookings: (03) 5422 0387 or 0457 605462. November 17.

Community Woodend Community Yard Sale: Sell or buy pre-loved items. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 8am-1pm. Stalls $5-$15. November 18.

Community Kyneton Show: Woodchopping, rides, dog agility demonstrations, pony rides, pet parade, bikes, farm workshop, sheep-shearing demonstrations, and more. Kyneton Showgrounds, Mollison St. 9am-4pm. Family two-day pass $80, Family $50, Adult $20, Pensioner/Senior $10, Child (ages 2-17) $10. November 18.

Have a great week!

Richard

P.S. I’ve tried my best to ensure accuracy, but please follow the links above to confirm details before attending events.

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Your Macedon Ranges is researched, written, and edited by me alone. Compiling it takes me 10+ hours each week. I love doing it, and the response has been incredible. I’m very grateful for your kind words.

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Water now to enjoy your fruit

GARDENING

Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking runs Leaf, Root & Fruit. Based in Kyneton, he provides gardening services and workshops to support food production in front yards and backyards across Melbourne and central Victoria.

Ensure the soil around your raspberries remains moist.

Last year, I lost a lot of my summer raspberry crop as I didn’t play close enough attention to the soil moisture in November. I’m taking no chances this year. A fortnight ago I activated the automated irrigation for the whole berry patch.

To test soil moisture, use the finger test method. Move the mulch to one side and poke your finger into the soil. Does the soil feel cool? Is there soil stuck to your finger? If so, then the soil is probably moist enough. If it is dry, then you may need to increase your watering.

November is a critical time for deciduous fruit trees such as apples, pears and stone fruit. Did you know that the trees are currently determining the outcomes of buds for next year? Right now, the amount of water you give the tree, and its state of health, will determine which buds will turn into flowers (and therefore fruit), and which buds will turn into leaves, when the tree wakes from its dormancy in spring 2024.

For the next six weeks, you should give your established fruit trees a good, deep soaking fortnightly (weekly for newly planted trees). Don’t bother with light, regular watering. That doesn’t encourage a good root system or help as much as a deep watering.

🍎 For more gardening tips see my latest planting guide and garden update.

Happy gardening!

Duncan

In the news

🎰 ROMSEY: Romsey Football Netball Club has applied for permission to have 50 gaming machines at Romsey Hotel, which the club is planning to reopen.

🏡 MOUNT MACEDON: Cameron Lodge, once owned by William Cameron, the man responsible for building the original Memorial Cross, is up for sale. Click here to view the property.

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