The Free Shop Otepoti

31/10/2024

The Dunedin Gasworks Museum will host a "Get Growing" market this weekend, featuring a broad range of plants, stalls, and the Remake Revolution...

25/10/2024

Sneak peek of pop up shop with stitch kitchen and repair Cafe at the old veggie boys building in south dunedin happening tomorrow (Sunday 27th from 11am to 3pm) come down and get some free things.

25/10/2024

Another community free shop go get yourself some free stuff at , looks like they have the shop open every Saturday as well!!!

23/10/2024

14/10/2024

Thanks to everyone who visited our seed library last week, especially those who donated seeds or seedlings.

No need to fret if you miss out on our seed swap day. Our seed library is open year-round in the reception area of Valley Project. Stop by during opening hours to add something to your garden or donate excess seeds. All seeds are from Ōtepoti, most are from North East Valley.

06/10/2024

~ Pickled Onionweed ~
NOW is the time to dig & pickle your onionweed!
You'll find the recipe in my Wet Season Foraging Guide, as pictured.

Onionweed is part of the Allium family, just like what you would call 'real' onions. There's no difference, they're all onions. Only that the onionweed has the weedy name, because well, it's very invasive and spreads everywhere, sometimes in an unwanted fashion.

But don't be a fool, this is simply a FREE source of Onions. A Foragers Dream.

When we had those lockdowns a few years ago, I was determined not to go to the supermarket to buy veges. We lasted very well eating only from our garden and what we foraged. Admittedly we ate most of the lawn (plantain, dock, dandelion, clovers, daisies, puha)...

The first thing that we run out of that I really craved, was onions. That is because I start most cooked dishes with sauteed onions...

Luckily, we have onionweed growing wild in the garden (it appeared there on it's own, like most of the 'weeds'), so I simply dug the bulbs up and used them instead of fat brown supermarket onions.

They worked fine! yes they were smaller and a bit different, but I didn't have to go to the supermarket, so I wasn't complaining.

Onionweed bulbs are the perfect size for pickling, and it's really easy to preserve their flavor, which is a great idea, because onionweed doesn't grow in Summer.

Grab your Foraging guide, full of information on foraging for wild edible weeds, + recipes for each, here:
https://www.homegrownbotanica.co.nz/collections/foraging-guides

05/10/2024

Head into the Valley Project this Thursday from 10-2 for a seed swap! We'll have our seed library open and welcome donated seeds/seedlings. Don't worry if you can't make it during that time, we'll put some in our kai pantry for afterhours access Thursday night.

03/10/2024

MARKET CANCELLED DUE TO THE FLOODING IN DUNEDIN

We regret that due to the widespread flooding in South Dunedin and other parts of Dunedin we have decided to cancel the market on Saturday 5th October. Our prayers are with the people being impacted by this flooding. We will reschedule the Fashion Show and will let you know once this has been decided. Watch this space.