♥
discover a rustic farm community thriving in its own lush oasis right by the yarra river, just 5km from the heart of melbourne
w/ colourful history & a story dating all the way back to the 1840s
in 1979, a community committee leased a small area of the abbotsford convent for a children’s farm
creating a non-profit community resource providing enriching country experiences for city people
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Collingwood Children’s Farm
18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Australia VIC 3067
+61 3 9417 5806
Mon-Sun: 9am-5pm
the farmers’ market | joyfully stock up on fresh produce from over 70 victorian vendors or just enjoy the sunlight on colourful picnic mats & straw bales
come by if you need blooming flowers or sprouting seedlings
or some homemade jam, chutney or honey
or fresh, seasonal fruits & vegetables
so wander ’round the back to where the paddocks spread across to the yarra river
look forward to the 2nd saturday of each month, from 8am-1pm
aside from the market, you can also try your hand at daily cow milking at the barn
exuding a dash of pioneer living & farm life in the city of melbourne
get lost in the many gardens now blossoming w/ spring vibrance
graze over the soft, buttery, silvery, grey-green foliage of the lamb’s ears
breathe in the lingering scents of the orange blossoms
volunteers help w/ the rearing of the farm animals
even the worms
savour the country life on the urban farm’s surprisingly sprawling grounds alongside the horses, goats, sheep, geese, peacocks, bees & even guinea pigs
then wander up the road to the convent for some warm, hearty food
♥
established around the 1860s by the nuns of the Order of the Good Shepherd, who sought to provide shelter for orphans, the infirm & the sick
today, the historical buildings house a flourishing community for arts, culture & learning
so explore the gorgeous gardens & open grounds, the brick buildings seeping with heritage, & try the different cuisines available
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The Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Australia VIC 3067
+61 3 9415 3600
Mon-Sun: 7.30am-10pm
lentil as anything | delicious vegetarian food offered & a generous, trusting, social spirit encouraged
how it works – ‘ sit, eat, enjoy. when you are happy & full, pay as you feel in our magic money box.’ (score when organic fruit & vegetables are used as much as possible & organic, fair-trade coffee & tea, & homemade chai is served)
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Lentil As Anything
+61 3 9419 6444
Mon-Sun: 9am-9pm
(Breakfast: 9am-11.30am, Lunch: 12pm-4pm, Dinner: 6pm-9pm)
& if you desire more scrumptious vegetarian food & a change of scenery
41 Blessington Street, St Kilda, Australia VIC 3182
+61 3 9534 5833
Mon-Sun: 11am-9pm
231 Barkly Street, Footscray, Australia VIC 3011
+61 3 9689 9784
Mon-Sun: 11am-9pm
(Lunch: 12pm-4pm, Dinner: 6pm-9pm)
the convent bakery | roasting its own fair-trade & organic coffee & sharing its knowledge of old fashioned bread making w/ its century-old wood fired masonry ovens used by the sisters of good shepherd
dig into plump brunch dishes like the convent breakfast (poached, scrambled or fried eggs served w/ bacon, grilled sausage, grilled tomatoes, mushroom & house baked beans w/ sourdough toast)
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The Convent Bakery
+61 1300 447 697
Mon-Sun: 7am-5pm
after all the excitement, take a calming stroll through the convent gardens & listen to the soft hum of bees weaving their way through the flowers
wood & coal – near the old convent
your photos and the story they tell are fantastic!
Thank you! I really appreciate that coming from you =) Your storytelling is hilarious!
Gorgeous photos! I really have to get to Lentil As Anything. So many people have recommended it to me. And your photos of the food at the Convent Bakery have made me hungry!
Thanks Helen! & yeah, Lentil is such a unique idea; I love how it’s more than just about food (I do love my food with more of a story than just being a foodie’s dream & all of that).
Congrats on your blogoversary! & you have the wittiest humour =)