PVAS at the Cruelty Free Fair 2015

Possum Valley will be attending the Cruelty Free Fair 2015!

Details:
- Sunday 15th November 2015. Open 10am until 4pm.
- At Pioneer Park, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Perth Cruelty Free Fair is a free and fun day out for the community to demonstrate that a vegan lifestyle is easy and great for health and the environment.

 

There will be vegan food, information stalls ranging from animal rights to animal rescue groups, live entertainment, activities for the kids and cooking demonstrations.

 

PVAS will be selling a range of great items including artwork, jewellery, books and Christmas cards to fundraise for the Sanctuary.



Handmade Lamb Earrings

 

Handmade Rose Earrings

 

You can find out more information about the Fair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theperthcrueltyfreefair

Spring at Possum Valley

By Chris R.

 

 Spring at Possum Valley is accompanied by colour and bird song.  The soils are rich and both native and exotic plantings do well, helped along with regularly added straw and manure from the animal enclosures and some occasional watering.

 

 

Beds of roses have been planted throughout the Valley since our arrival.  These are primarily old world varieties which are much hardier to the heat and require less water than their highly bred cousins.  David Austin Roses are some of our favourites.  These form massive shrubs and the flowers are laden with hundreds of petals.  Our plantings serve as fodder for possum joeys and also as an attractive, fire retardant buffer to the house.  Underneath roses, perennials such as statice and geraniums thrive.  If we look hard enough, most days a bobtail or two can be seen resting amongst the colour.

 

 

 

 

 

The deciduous trees are now leafy and will provide shade for the coming months.  The species selected, like the roses, are chosen for their fire retardant properties.  Young golden elms line the driveway and have only just sprouted their new leaves of the season (pictured).

 

 

Genesis in the Hills (Roleystone, WA)

By Chris R.

 

 

Recently we visited 'Genesis in the Hills' for an early Saturday breakfast.  We don't get to visit as often as we like given the ongoing nature of work at the Sanctuary, but the trip is always worth the wait. Described as 'delightful' and 'picturesque' in restaurant reviews, we couldn't agree more. 

Located on the scarp of Croydon Road in Roleystone, a trip to Genesis can be organised along with a walk in any one of the surrounding parks, including Araluen.  It is child and dog friendly and the gardens are beautiful.  If the weather is kind, we recommend sitting on the outside deck to listen to the bird song in the tree canopy overhead.  Come wintertime, enjoy the cosy warmth of the cottage, decorated with the works of local artists. 

The menu has something for everyone.  Vegetarian and vegan options feature local produce and can be ordered as a take away for those fortunate to live close by.  For breakfast we love the vegan omelette (pictured), served with an amazing homemade hummus, although there are also cereals and the 'big' breakfast for visitors planning walks.  

 

 

The lunch menu is equally as extensive and features daily salads which are colourful and healthy.  The cakes displayed on the counter are made in house and have a vegan option available.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Genesis in the Hills and are certain your first will not be your last! 

See: www.genesisinthehills.com.au

 

 

PVAS at Swan Valley Cafe Market Days

By Chris R.

 

Swan Valley Café

Possum Valley is excited to be attending the Swan Valley Café Market Days on 7^th of November and 5^th of December. The Market will be open from 10am until 3pm. Be sure to come down and say ‘Hi!’ to the PVAS volunteers and also meet some of the Sanctuary residents, including Pearl the lamb and Gertie the goat. 

 

Swan Valley Café offers an extensive and delicious vegetarian and vegan menu, so stay for lunch or a cake after perusing the market treasures. 

Possum Valley will have a range of items on sale, with all sales funding the ongoing costs of animal food and veterinary care.  Items include beautiful locally made jewellery, Christmas Cards featuring PVAS animals, prints, books and key rings just to name a few.  Come and stock up on Christmas presents for friends and family while helping the animals!

Swan Valley Vegetarian Café website: http://www.swanvalleycafe.com.au/ 
Swan Valley Vegetarian Café on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanvalleycafe/ 

 

Handmade Bangle
 

 

Possum Valley at The Whim Festival 2015

By Chris R.

 

 

On Sunday the 25th of October, the Possum Valley Crew spent the day at the Mt Helena Whim Festival.  The Spring weather was lovely as a brief shower of rain was followed by an afternoon of sunshine. The Festival crowd was enthusiastic and plentiful. 

 

Visitors to the Festival were interested to hear of the work done at the Sanctuary and many were generous with their spare change in the donation tin.  Pearl the lamb and Gertie the goat enjoyed pats and photographs, as did Noodle and Rio the roosters, who announced our presence throughout the day, surprising many who thought roosters only crowed at dawn! 

 

Thanks to all who came down to visit us and the animals. It was a great day for fundraising and community outreach, not to mention a great deal of fun!

 

 

 

PVAS at the Whim Festival 2015

PVAS will be at the Mount Helena Whim Festival this year.

The Whim Festival is a community festival featuring entertainment, activities, competitions, displays and food.

We will be fundraising at the festival for the PVAS animals in care. Come along and buy some wonderful Christmas gifts, art and craft at our stall. We will have something for everyone!

Date: Sunday 25 October 2015
Time: 9am until 4pm
Address: Pioneer Park, Mount Helena, Western Australia.

For more information, see the Festival's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AWhimFestival

Pizza in the Valley

By Chris R.

 

 

We’ve been enjoying the warmer spring evenings in the Valley and making use of our barbecue pizza stones.  Being in the bush, we don’t have a pizza oven, given the imminent fire risk. A covered barbecue and pizza stones produce an amazing crust as good as any professionally made pizza.  

A variety of toppings can be added to homemade pizza, including English spinach, roast pumpkin and red onion. We make use of any spare produce from the garden, including freshly shelled broad beans, Tuscan kale and cherry tomatoes, topped with cracked black pepper.

 

 

Cheezus Cheeze makes a fantastic pizza cheese and can be blended in with tomato paste when preparing the base. Alternatively, spoonfuls of Cheeze can be added to toppings to produce a melted cheese effect.  You can Friend Cheezus Cheeze on Facebook:

 www.facebook.com/cheezuscheeze .

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe: Mulberry and Apple Cobbler

At this time of the year our fruit trees are producing an abundance of fruit. Here is a cobbler recipe which is delicious served hot or cold.

Ingredients
Batter:
- 1 cup of self-raising flour
- ½ cup of white sugar
- ¾ cup of soy milk
- ½ cup of margarine

Fruit filling:
- 2 cups of mulberries
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and quartered
- ½ cup of white sugar

Method
- Set oven to 190 degrees C.

To make batter:
- Melt the margarine. Pour into a baking dish.
- Mix the flour, ½ cup of sugar and milk. Pour this batter over the margarine in the baking dish.

To make the fruit mix:
- Wash the fruit thoroughly. Snip the green stalks from the mulberries.
- Cook the apples in the microwave with a little water until soft. Test with a fork.

- Combine the mulberries, softened apples and ½ cup of sugar in a saucepan until mixed together. Stir to avoid burning.



What a beautiful colour

- Pour the mulberry mix into the baking dish, on top of the batter.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the batter is cooked through.

Serve warm with your favourite coconut or soy icecream. Can also be sliced and served cold as a cake the next day.

You can experiment with this recipe by adding different fruits. You may also want to experiment with the sweetness by using more or less sugar depending on the types of fruit used and the ripeness of your selected fruit.