General News
26 August, 2025
Garden to Gourmet at MCH
Maryborough Community House (MCH) are commencing their Garden to Gourmet project this week, aiming to improve local food security and sustainability.
The program has been made possible following a $10,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal MCH received in June this year.
The Garden to Gourmet project will teach participants how to make meals that are wholesome and healthy at a low cost.
The sessions will be lead by Belinda Fabry, who brings vast experience in both hospitality and education.
“It is cooking on a budget, but it is also about healthy wholesome meals. It’s really about looking at what the community house has here on ground, and then whatever else we will be able to access,” she said.
“I’m a big believer in if you’re going to teach someone how to cook, they need to replicate these skills. It’s really exciting and I am really honoured.”
MCH is welcoming people across the region to take part, especially at the time when the cost of living continues to rise.
Food grown in MCH’s on site kitchen garden and food brought by Food Bank will be used to teach participants to make a wide range of meals, which are then taken home.
“For example, we get a whole lot of veggies. If we have a load of veggies, we have a look at how we are going to utilise them in the best way possible. If they come in frozen, I can guarantee, they are at the peak of their existence. So we look at how those products can be used the best that they can be,” Ms Fabry said.
“That’s where I come in, it’s really necessary to teach people, irrespective of age, how to cook.
“It is also such a bonding thing that gives people confidence. Some people do get overwhelmed about it.”
Participants are asked to bring their own food containers. Any surplus foods created after the sessions will be frozen for community access.
At the conclusion of the six sessions, participants will take home a recipe book of the meals they have created. These will also include shopping lists and tools for meal planning and budgeting.
Cooking sessions will be offered once a week for two hour sessions.
Participants will also learn the value of forward planning and shopping with a budget.
Commencing on Wednesday, August 27 from 5 pm to 7 pm, sessions will be on site at MCH and will run until October 1.
The sessions are free but spaces are limited.
Those interested can call 5461 -4551.