COMPILED BY RICHARD CORNISH

1. She’ll be Apples 

The annual celebration Apple festival takes place over the weekend of the 7th and 8th April from 9-5pm. Wander the heritage fruit orchard and be inspired by the food forest. Dine in their café where in the seasonal food is inspired by produce grown in the garden. Over the two days join in on mini workshops and garden tours and taste some apples in their famous taste test. If you miss out on this event consider visiting the gardens for the established European trees and extensive food plantings. 

Gardens of St Erth, 189 Simmons Reef Rd, Blackwood, Open 7 days a week,
9:00am to 5:00pm. (03) 5368 6514

2. Local Feast

Held in an old hall for the past 7 years the Trentham Food Hub is hosting the 7th Annual Growers, Cookers & Eaters Dinner on April 14th in collaboration with chefs and producers from the region. All the food and chefs for this 6-course shared banquet come from within 40km of Trentham. Farmers include some of our favourites including Angelica Organic Farm, Milking Yard Farm, Mount Franklin Organics, Jonai Farms, Wombat Forest Organics, Vue du Volcan Farm, Adsum Farmhouse, Goldfields Farmhouse, Barfold Olives, Meredith Dairy, Sandor’s Harvest and Tuki.

Tickets are $75 www.trenthamfoodhub.org

3. Open Studios

The Daylesford Macedon Ranges is home to some of the creative and talented people in the country. At LOST Magazine we are lucky enough to have entrée into the private workspaces of our local painters, potters, sculptors and printmakers. Beautiful old sheds in the bush, softly lit purpose-built studios and sometimes the front two rooms of a home. 

This Autumn, 25 artists are opening their studios to you so you can see what they do and how they work – and if you like what you see you can buy direct from the artist. 

Open Studios 2018
21, 22 & 28, 29 April, 5-6 March,
Various locations,
www.dmropenstudios.com.au

4. Fungi Fun

Alison Pouliot knows the forests of Victoria like the back of her hand. She is a professional photographer and a mushroom expert. At this time of the year she is busy taking mushroom workshops exploring the truly exciting world of fungus. Spend a few hours with her and you will never see the world the same way again. You learn things such as how trees hook their roots into underground fungi and feed them plant sugar and in turn, the fungi go foraging for minerals. You don’t pick and eat on her tours – you rarely touch the fungi – it is all about learning about them in their natural context. There are workshops happening several times a week until the end of June. Check out the event on Saturday 29 April in Woodend at:

www.alisonpouliot.com/workshops-events

5. Grand Opening

It is so wonderful to see a vision come to fruition and LOST is proud to help announce that St Claire Country House at Trentham East will be opening its French Colonial doors to all on April 22 from 10.30am-4pm. The guest house and events space is set on 10 hectares of farmland offering boutique accommodation with an overt floral theme. The Blue Room is decorated with colourful wallpaper printed with garlands of blooms floating on a summer sky background with matching drapes and cushions.  Come for the “French Up Your Life” workshop, French circus performer, Champagne and cake. 

439 Pearsons Rd. Trentham East;
stclairecountryhouse.com