Food brings locals to the table

Old friends and new share in the Great Local Lunch.

By Danielle Kutchel

Since the dawn of time, food has brought people together – and that was certainly evident at the Pakenham Community Garden for a special edition of the Great Local Lunch.

Around 35 people spanning many different cultures descended on the garden on Sunday 28 February, bringing plates of homemade food to share or produce collected from their personal veggie patches, paddocks and orchards.

From homemade dips and bread to traditional South Sudanese meals and home-smoked meats, the table was groaning under the weight of the feast.

Coordinator Max Godber said the event celebrated seasonal, homegrown ingredients and was a local version of an event that would normally be held during Victoria’s Sustainable Living Festival – which, like other events, was altered this year due to the impact of Covid.

Ordinarily, the Sustainable Living Festival would host a Great Local Lunch in Melbourne, however this year the festival opted for a decentralised shared lunch model known as the ‘Home Cooked Edition’.

The Pakenham lunch was one of more than 30 similar events held on the day.

Max said the function helped bring the community together with a shared sense of purpose and enjoyment.

“It’s nice to feel part of something bigger than just your community garden down the street,” he said.

“What makes these shared meals unique is we’re bringing people from different generations and cultures together around the common table, sharing stories and food.

“I’d like to think we’re on the path to relive or recreate traditions around sharing food and celebrating this positive food culture.”

Another highlight of the crowd-farmed feast was a special live cross to the ABC’s Costa Georgiadis, who was able to visit each event virtually and check in on the fare.

Mr Godber said guests enjoyed being able to ‘meet’ Costa and be on camera.

He added the event would not have been possible without the assistance of Living Learning Pakenham.

“Things like this are so important for community building,” he said.

To get involved in the Pakenham Community Garden, email max@livinglearning.org.au or reach out to the Pakenham Community Garden on Facebook.