🍃Slow days, bright nights

Good morning, Hills lovers. This week’s it is all about that sense of togetherness. From Cookbook Club that would have to be the one new thing I started this year that has been such a joy I didn’t realise I needed, to artists bringing quiet corners of Callington to life, to pop up veggie markets, it’s a reminder that community doesn’t need much to thrive, just people showing up with open hearts and a bit of curiosity.

Let’s get into it.

A Little Puzzle Update
Before we dive in, I just wanted to share a quick update on the jigsaw puzzles. They’re almost here! I’m expecting delivery any day now.

This process has taken much longer than I anticipated, and I want to sincerely thank everyone for your patience. When I ordered a sample, it arrived within days, but the full production run has had a much longer lead time. It’s been a big learning curve bringing this project to life. Enjoyable none-the-less.

Tess, the artist behind the beautiful painting, has been absolutely wonderful to work with, and I can’t wait to finally have the puzzles in my hands (and then in yours!).

A huge thank you again to everyone who pre-ordered and supported this idea from the beginning. I promise it will be worth the wait.

Cookbook Club has turned into one of those things I didn’t know I needed until it was here. We started back in February, almost as an experiment, and now every six weeks a little group of us gathers in someone’s kitchen with dishes in hand, ready to eat our way through another book.

This month, it was at my place. I chose Alison Roman’s Nothing Fancy, a book I first came across through my sister. The recipes are easy going and generous, and when everyone’s dishes came together, the table looked like it had been waiting for this moment to shine. The last time, we cooked from Dishoom, which was gorgeously complex, layered, and full of spice. Each Cookbook Club gathering feels different, but always leaves you feeling full in all senses.

What I’ve come to love most isn’t just the food. It’s the way the group has settled into itself. Some of us have known each other for years, others more recently. Some have children, others don’t. We arrive with plates and laughter, slipping into each other’s kitchens as if they were our own. Hosting never feels heavy. You just have to make your dish and then let the rest take care of itself.

If you’ve been looking for a way to bring people together, start a cookbook club. Truly, it’s one of the loveliest things I’ve said yes to this year.

“It felt like Callington was humming as we wandered through the Bremer Valley Pop-Up Gallery on the weekend.” That’s how Glenn and Trish, two of our Pantry readers, described their visit to the last pop-up during SALA a couple of months ago. “Paintings coming to life before our eyes, market stalls bustling with chatter, and the scent of fresh scones drifting from The Tea Room. What struck us most was the way the room itself was alive with what can only be described as a shared love of creativity!”

On Saturday 11 October from 11am to 4pm, the Bremer Valley Pop-Up Gallery & Market returns to Callington, promising that same sense of magic. This is art you can step into. Artists will be creating on site, sharing stories of their process as brushes dance and clay takes form. Children can lose themselves at the hands-on craft table, while parents wander and perhaps discover something to take home.

It’s a community-driven event, and that’s exactly the point. This is art in its truest sense — raw, vibrant, and full of heart. You’ll meet makers who live just down the road, see work shaped by the very hills and valleys around us, and taste that unmistakable country generosity in a Devonshire Tea.

If you’ve been craving a reminder of what local connection feels like, this might be just the thing. Take your time, look closer, and celebrate what’s made right here in the Adelaide Hills. And if you’ve never been to Callington before, it’s a gorgeous little town worth a visit in its own right. I even wrote about some of walking trails there that make the perfect complement to a day of art and community. Read about the walking trails here.

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If you’re dreaming of a summer filled with juicy homegrown tomatoes, mark your calendar for the Nomad Nursery Tomato Sale on 11th, 18th, and 25th October. Held at 78 Nicols Rd, Carey Gully, this much-loved event is the perfect chance to stock up on edibles, perennials, and vegetable seedlings, along with 30+ varieties of heirloom tomatoes. From classics to rare treasures, you’ll find plants to suit every garden and taste. Grown organically and locally, it’s a celebration of good food, sustainability, and the joy of planting something that will reward you all season long.

Spring Preserving Demonstration
Celebrate spring in the Adelaide Hills at a special Preserving Demonstration hosted by the Stirling Branch of the CWA on Sunday, 26 October from 1pm to 4pm. Held at Ann Jolly Hall in Crafers, this relaxed and friendly gathering will showcase both traditional and innovative preserving methods. Guests can enjoy tastings throughout the afternoon, followed by a delightful afternoon tea on the balcony overlooking the beautiful Crafers Memorial Gardens. A perfect way to spend a spring afternoon, this event promises inspiration, flavour, and community connection. Book tickets here.

🌿 Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
| MARKET | Mount Pleasant
📅 Saturday, 11 October | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Spend your Saturday morning exploring fresh seasonal produce, gourmet goods, and handmade delights at this beloved country market. With live music, coffee, and local charm, it’s the perfect weekend outing.

🥕 Adelaide Hills Farmers Market
| MARKET | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 11 October| 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Set under the elms at 23 Mann Street, this weekly market is the heart of the Adelaide Hills, bringing together fresh produce, local artisans, and a vibrant community spirit.

🍎 Oakbank Market
| MARKET | Oakbank
📅 Saturday, 11 October | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Support the Oakbank Soldiers’ Memorial Hall at this monthly market featuring local stalls, raffles, live music, and great food and coffee.

🌿 Tickle Tank Open Garden
| GARDENS | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Once the storage tank for the water supply to the surrounding town, Irene bought the property in 1998 and, with great vision, added several smaller tanks, transforming them into a quirky and comfortable home. INFO

🎨 Go with the Flow: Mindful Art & Wine Workshop
| ART & WELLNESS | Nairne
📅 Thursday, 9 October | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Unwind with a guided mindful art session paired with Howard Vineyard wine and nibbles on the scenic terrace. INFO

🪶 Interactive Nature Play Storytime: Up in the Air They Ride
| FAMILY & KIDS | Stirling
📅 Thursday, 9 October | 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
A playful, STEM-inspired storytime where children explore Australia’s flying animals through stories, songs, and hands-on nature play. INFO

🎬 Flow Movie Night for Teens
| COMMUNITY & YOUTH | Bridgewater
📅 Friday, 10 October | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
A relaxed movie night for young people to enjoy Flow, an Oscar-winning animated film created with Blender, with snacks and social time included. INFO

🌿 Quiet Flow
| WELLNESS | Ashton
📅 Friday, 10 – Saturday, 11 October | Times Vary
A mindful nature retreat with clay work, painting, meditation, and quiet reflection in the stringybark forest on Peramangk Country. INFO

🥂 Bubbles and Bumps
| FOOD & WINE | Meadows
📅 Fridays, 10 October to 13 March | Times vary
Sip, savour, and unwind with Popsie Sparkling, caviar bumps, and Coffin Bay oysters under the stars every second Friday at Karrawatta. INFO

🦋 Paint & Protect: Possum Box Workshop
| FAMILY & NATURE | Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 10 October | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
A fun, hands-on workshop where families can paint their own possum box and learn about wildlife rescue with Save Our Wildlife Foundation Inc. INFO

🍇 Vine to Glass
| FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE | Ngeringa, Mount Barker Summit
📅 Friday, 10 October | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Take a behind-the-scenes vineyard tour and enjoy a curated tasting of Ngeringa’s award-winning biodynamic wines paired with seasonal snacks. INFO

☕ Men’s Mornings at Lovells Bakery
| COMMUNITY | Woodside
📅 Friday, 10 October | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Enjoy a relaxed morning with coffee, cake, and good conversation at Lovells Bakery, hosted by The Hut Community Centre. INFO

🎬 Movie & Munch at Stirling
| FAMILY & KIDS | Stirling
📅 Friday, 10 October | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Kids aged 7+ can whip up a tasty snack before enjoying a fun, PG-rated adventure movie in this relaxed school holiday session. INFO

🌿 Nature Based Wellbeing: Mindfulness in the Gardens
| WELLNESS & NATURE | Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Crafers
📅 Saturday, 11 October | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Reconnect with nature and soothe the soul in a calming mindfulness session surrounded by the sensory beauty of Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. INFO

🍺 German Oktober Weekend
| FOOD & CULTURE | Totness
📅 Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 October | Times vary
Raise your stein to two days of Bavarian brews, bratwurst, live German music, games, and Oktoberfest fun for all ages at the Pony. INFO

🌸 Tickle Tank Open Garden
| GARDEN & ART | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 11 October | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Explore sculptor Irene Pearce’s whimsical mosaic-filled garden home, a creative hillside haven open to the public for its 22nd year. INFO

🦋 Winged Wonders of Adelaide Comes to Cleland Wildlife Park
| FAMILY & NATURE | Crafers
📅 Saturday, 11 October | 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
A fun, music-filled live show and art activity for kids aged 3–8, exploring Adelaide’s butterflies and woodland birds with Lucy and her puppet pals. INFO

🎤 Songbirds in the Forest – Nicolina and Dean Barcello at Sinclair’s Gully
| LIVE MUSIC | Norton Summit
📅 Sunday, 12 October | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Experience soulful tributes to music legends from Etta James to Adele in this intimate outdoor concert beneath the towering gums at Sinclair’s Gully. INFO

🌿 From Soil to Soul at Ondeen
| WELLNESS & DINING | Verdun
📅 Sunday, 12 October | 10:00 AM
A seasonal collaboration between Roaming Zen and Ondeen, this mindful morning blends movement, nourishing food, and connection to nature on Peramangk Country. INFO

🎹 Benjamin Grosvenor at UKARIA
| CLASSICAL MUSIC | Mount Barker
📅 Sunday, 12 October | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Experience the poetic brilliance and virtuosic power of British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor in his UKARIA debut, performing works by Chopin, Ravel, and Mussorgsky. INFO

🌼 Spring in the Garden with Adelaide Hills Outdoor Playgroup
| FAMILY & NATURE | Stirling
📅 Monday, 13 October | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Families with children aged 0–6 can enjoy nature play, art, and outdoor connection at this volunteer-run community playgroup. INFO

🎨 The Art Hub
| COMMUNITY & CREATIVITY | Stirling
📅 Monday, 13 October | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
A relaxed, informal space for artists of all levels to create, share ideas, and connect with others in a welcoming environment. INFO

📚 Benjamin Stevenson In Conversation
| AUTHOR EVENT | Mount Barker
📅 Tuesday, 14 October | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Join bestselling author Benjamin Stevenson as he unpacks his latest Ernest Cunningham mystery, where a bank heist turns deadly and every hostage is a suspect. INFO

🎻 Kristian Winther with Konstantin Shamray at UKARIA
| CLASSICAL MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Sunday, 23 November | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Violinist Kristian Winther and pianist Konstantin Shamray present a dynamic program spanning Kurtág to Strauss, blending dream-like subtlety with sweeping romantic energy. INFO

🚐 Mt Barker Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo
| EXPO & LIFESTYLE | Mount Barker
📅 Friday, 14 – Sunday, 16 November | Times Vary
Explore the latest in caravans, 4×4 accessories, boats, and outdoor gear, plus expert advice and show specials at this inaugural Hills expo. INFO

🥂 Sidewood’s Sparkling Spring
| FOOD & WINE | Hahndorf
📅 Saturday, 1 – Sunday, 2 November | Times Vary
Celebrate spring in the Hills with sparkling wines, wood-fired pizzas, and live music across a weekend of food, flavour, and good company. INFO

🍜 Essential Thai Cooking Class
| FOOD & CULTURE | Sticky Rice Cooking School, Stirling
📅 Friday, 17 October 2025 – Saturday, 14 March 2026 | Times Vary
Learn to cook authentic Thai favourites like Tom Yum soup, Choo Chee curry, and Sticky Rice with Mango in this hands-on culinary experience. INFO

🎨 Brush and Bloom – Arts Tuition with Bethany Neck (9-Week Course)
| ART WORKSHOP | Mount Barker
📅 Starts Tuesday, 14 October | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Join artist Bethany Neck for a warm, expressive 9-week watercolour and drawing course that encourages creativity and personal style. Perfect for beginners. INFO

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of our land. We recognise Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the place where the content in this newsletter is featured and where the newsletter is created. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and to the cultural authority of First Nations Peoples from other areas of this country.