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Mar Thurs 6th, 2025 Extreme Salad Man, Stephen Barstow on ‘edimentals’

By January 29, 2025No Comments

(International) Guest Speaker: Stephen Barstow

Author of “Around the World in 80 Plants: An edible perennial vegetable adventure for temperate climates”

Thursday 6th March 2025, 7.30pm start

Beaming in from the other side of the world in Norway, this Zoom presentation will offer a great way to see insights from Stephen, behind the printed pages. Our meeting will take place together at Burnley to check in other HSOV news and have our shared supper (and chat).

Stephen has devoted 40 years to trialing over 6,000 different edible plants, most of them perennials grown in what can be recognized as a forest garden. He has a particular fondness for what he calls ‘edimentals’ (or edible ornamentals), edible weeds and onions (the genus Allium).

As a young vegetarian in the 80s he was told it would be too cold to grow vegetables in Norway, but now believes it’s one of the best places in the world to grow vegetables! His ‘megasalads’, consisting of 537 species in 2003, a winter salad with 140, a ferment with 412 plants, a pesto with 230 types of onion, all inspired by traditional Mediterranean multi-species dishes, earned him the title “Extreme Salad Man”.

See also his post on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4104516136342577

Plus: Stay for Herb Tea and a bite afterwards.

If possible, please bring a plate to share and/or herbs for herb tea or assist at the tea trolley after the main event.

Where:

  • Room MB10 – In the Main Building.
  • Access via wheelchair friendly ramp, room is down the corridor on the left.
  • Burnley Campus, Melbourne University
  • 500 Yarra Blvd Richmond
  • Room is normally open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start

HOW TO GET THERE:

  • By road The main entrance is on Yarra Boulevard – south from the Swan Street bridge.  Parking inside the grounds is limited so, if possible please park on Yarra Blvd and walk in.
  • By tram From Flinders Street along the Exhibition Street extension into Swan Street, tram number 70 to stop number 18
  • By train Nearest stations are Burnley, Hawthorn or Heyington

HSOV meets 1st Thursday of the Month (not January) and for special events.