The Hidden Orchard

Did you see us featured in the current edition of The Weekly Times?  If not, here is the article Hope you enjoy it! 🙂 Continue reading The Weekly Times

The harvest season is starting to stir – we’ve had several volunteer inquiries and fruit tree registrations in the last week or so… and even a couple of very small harvests (too small to make them picking events). The THO committee meet last Friday and put a few plans in place for the coming season.  … Continue reading Here we come!

Committee member Ellen Burns spoke about The Hidden Orchard to a group at the Ballarat Central Library on Wednesday Dec 20. We were one of a number of community groups sharing about their activities to potential volunteers.  As usual, people loved the concept, so we hope a few jump on the website and register. Continue reading Library talk

Get down to Trades Hall (Camp St, Ballarat) this morning to support committee member Steve Burns as he shares The Hidden Orchard story with those attending the Junkies “Rethink” exhibition.  Full details of the exhibition are at the Junkies Events page. Steve’s talk is at 11.30.  There’s a range of speakers with BPG’s old mate … Continue reading “Rethink” exhibition – today!

Thanks to everyone who bought jam or took fliers at the Ballarat Farmers Market yesterday!  We had a great day up by Lake Wendouree, with loads of jam sales and lots of interest in the project.  Kris & Sandy staffed the stall, with Ellen providing tech support from her adjoining stall and Steve doing a … Continue reading Market Day!

On April 3, we held the first Hidden Orchard cook up – turning various harvested fruits into jams, lemon butter & other goodies.  Here are some shots from the day! Thanks to everyone who came along: some jars went home with participants and others may be available for sale as a Hidden Orchard fundraiser at … Continue reading Cook up

Big thanks to Carmel, who donated three metal fruit pickers, which will be attached to long poles to help us reach fruit high up in the trees.  These are fabulous devices and we’re so grateful to Carmel for her generous gift. Continue reading Thank you Carmel!

Next Monday we are hosting our first Hidden Orchard Community Jam and Sauce Making Day. A chance to get together and preserve some of the Hidden Orchard harvest. No experience is necessary. We’ll be working together and it will be a great opportunity to share and learn new skills. All the ingredients including fruit harvested during … Continue reading Big cook up

This morning we harvested from a couple of older yards that had been sensibly planted with food security in mind (long before food security was a ‘thing’)!  One was in Sturt St and included apple, lemon, fig and walnut trees.  The second was this crazy wild backyard in Ballarat East; behind a Victorian house in … Continue reading Wild orchards in Ballarat