Down at estate: Aspendale Gardens Primary School pupils Maddie Stewart, left, Keegan Ryan, garden teacher Seila Hierk, musician Ego Lemos, Indu Alappatt and Friends of Down’s Estate Community Project’s Robyn Erwin at Down’s Estate. Picture: Yanni

SAVING historic farm buildings at Down’s Estate in Seaford was music to the ears of a community group and now the homestead is set to host its first music gig.

The farm homestead, formerly occupied by renowned whip and saddle maker Harry Down, has been converted into an indigenous bush food garden and permaculture site by the Down’s Estate Community Working Group (DECWG).

The public is invited to visit the farm at the Downs Estate Community Project’s first event on Sunday 8 April. Visitors can learn about permaculture, plant seedlings, try Tai Chi, learn about wicking beds or bees and hear talks from Timor Leste permaculturist and musician Ego Lemos.

“Ego Lemos is not only Timor Leste’s premier singer-songwriter, he is also working to transform Timor’s food security school by school,” DECWG representative Regina Orchard said.

“Like school food growing programs in Australia, Timor’s Permaculture in Schools program results in increased levels of engagement with school and understanding of concepts across the curriculum, but in Timor it also has a huge impact on access to fresh, healthy food and thus nutrition and health levels of whole communities. “

Lemos will be visiting schools in Kingston and Frankston inspiring children and teachers and to talk about permaculture across communities.

Proceeds from the event will go towards Kingston’s Friends of Manatuto community group’s support of the Permaculture in Schools program with funds going to introducing the program in more schools in the Manatuto area of Timor.

  • The Celebrating Timor Leste’s Food Future event with musician Ego Lemos will be held at Down’s Estate, 190 Old Wells Road, Seaford on Sunday 8 April, 12-5pm.

See timorfoodfuture.eventbrite.com.au for tickets. $15 per person, entry for children free.

First published in the Frankston Times – 2 April 2018

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