Save Lentil As Anything - Latest Comments

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Eric Sykes — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:50:23 -0000

you guys are a joke, you break every health regulation in the book and anyone who eats your food takes their life in their hands quite frankly. then you claim some kind of great community activism!!! really, you are not fooling anybody but the most gullible, start behaving like adults not spoilt brats.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

T. Jackson — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:18:06 -0000

Is this the Sharon Lovelace who lives or lived in Denver and knew people in the Silverado Banking Building on I-25 and Colorado Blvd?

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Sharon Lovelace — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:00:08 -0000

Lentil as Anything is a great example of an alternative to capitalism. Similar community run business models have begun to appear in the Global South (low developed countries) with great results. Community supported agriculture (CSA) involves urban consumers supporting small local farmers to ensure that the multinational corporations don't exploit and destroy millions of small family farms across the globe.

Community economic practices take many forms.....The Mararikulam experiment is both building on and going beyond the development approach of the Grameen bank of Bangladesh, which has demonstrated the benefit that savings and small-scale loans can have on women's livelihoods. In Mararikulam the lending structure is organized and controlled by elected commitees of the women's neighbourhood groups, not an outside bank bureaucracy....the initial co-ops started by producing soap....by 2003 the second stage was underway, with co-ops producing semiprocessed foods....The basic idea of the Mararikulam experience is that local 'wealth' can be collectively marshaled to bring people out of poverty. (Gibson-Graham 2005, 151-3)

Classical economics is failing in so many ways at present. I think the exploration of alternatives can be helpful in finding solutions to current economic problems.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Ella Barresi — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:07:15 -0000

I think the pure fact that thousands of people are fighting to save Lentil As Anything, shows how much of a community it has bought together. The convent without Lentil would be like the season's with no summer. The light that is brings to people's lives, supporting the less advantaged, and being supported by the well to do. The whole mission of lentil and the pay as you feel policy, is so that any members of the community can dine together no matter what their financial situation, this isn't offered anywhere else!!! I recently spoke to one of the staff members at Lentil, and the story that he had to tell was just amazing. Lentil as Anything, isn't just a restaurant, it is an opportunity. They have volunteers working there, but then people that need jobs, that are discriminated against elsewhere or unable to work elsewhere for whatever reason are given a chance by Lentil to gain employment. Everyone is equal at Lentil, no superior, no inferior, just friends. The wider community would be a lot less brighter without Lentil there shining in the middle, as the ultimate place where communities grow. <3

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

jillyfrees — Fri, 14 May 2010 04:27:22 -0000

Some 8000 letters of support were passed to the Vic Government before they were convinced to keep the Convent in the public domain. Maybe the Board need to be reminded of this historic community campaign and refrain from tossing out Lentils for a lucrative commercial lease.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Ella Colley — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:20:35 -0000

Community spirit unrivalled anywhere in Melbourne or Australia... it's where I take all my friends from interstate and overseas to show them how good Melbourne is!

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Ashley — Tue, 04 May 2010 04:35:19 -0000

One night about a month ago, as I was finishing a busy shift of volunteering at Lentil, I walk outside to find a whole group of people skipping. Skipping together over a massive rope. There must have been 15 people there, having a wonderful time together. They had all been eating at Lentil earlier, but they didn't all know each other and it was a very diverse group include a few guys with colourful mohawks and leather jackets. They skipped for ages. It was awesome.

I volunteer at Lentil every week and I always leave with a smile on my face. Lentil brings people of all ages, races and professions together in an open, accepting and above all fun atmosphere. The food is great, and it's fantastic to have live music - I really hope the Convent will allow live music to continue.

Basically, I <3 Lentil As Anything.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Mikaela — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:13:19 -0000

this world is driven by money and huge corporations constantly pushing their way up in society. Lentil is one of those rare places that has created a real sense of community, where everybody can participate and isn't driven by greed. normal eateries tend to exclude anyone without money or status. Lentil brings us all together.
The atmosphere at Lentil is fantastic, the staff are friendly and extremely genuine.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Cath Keaney — Sat, 01 May 2010 05:08:23 -0000

As a doctor the I see the realities of poor nutrition; diabetes, heart disease and impacts on pregnancy. Unfortunately, I also see the ways that poverty and a lack of education add to the burden faced by some people. People who make-up every community, but given the high-rise flats so close by perhaps at a higher rate in Abbotsford than in other areas.

Lentil as anything is an antidote to the poison of poor nutrition. It provides healthy food at a price people can afford, no matter what there economic status.

More than that though it also provides a vision of the future where people are valued over objects. Where people are given the chance to regain their self-respect and become part of a community. Lentil as anythings contribution to the Convent, to the local community and to the future is beyond measurement in economic terms.

The board should take a leaf out of Lentil's book and not resort to a simplistic tender process, trying to get more rent. Lentil's contribution to the convent goes beyond a deposit in an bank account. It is a flag ship for what the convent stands for.

Therefore it makes no sense to try to distill its worth to a dollar value. It is important that Lentil as Anything stay at the convent, not just for Lentil, not just for the community but for the ongoing culture and integrity of the convent itself.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Linda Kouvaras — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:27:40 -0000

Lentil at the Convent makes the Convent a very very special place. The 'buzz' when one walks in is like no other establishment around town — eatery or otherwise. It is a healthy, upbeat, expansive, generosity-filled atmosphere that leaves me, a musician, always creatively invigorated and creatively inspired when I dine there. This is indeed 'an invaluable community resource' which MUST NOT be let go.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Ramya Chilukuri — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:46:48 -0000

I love Lentil As Anything. Absolutely love that place. Wonderful food!! Wonderful people. Wonderful location. It just fits in so perfectly! Please save Lentils.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Megz — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:43:27 -0000

Lentil As Anything = trust & generosity.
LAA is "a meeting place".
LAA has made a significant & positive influence in the lives of many, many people. From those that dine there to those that are being taught new skills. LAA light's the way as a multicultural, "ethical" business. LAA educate's & train's many who then go on & contribute to the wider world. An education based on Trust & Generosity.
Their TRUST is creating a culture of generosity. The world needs this culture. These values have seen LAA grow from one restaurant to five! - They must be doing something right. Keep LAA at the Convent & learn from this great initiative & endeavour. Luv Megs

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Catherine Horan-Blake — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:47:53 -0000

Lentil functions as a community space, gallery, and training center. Not to mentions provides nutritious meals for many disadvantaged people who usually couldn't afford it. It's a one of a kind place, and honestly if it wasn't for Lentil as Anything I would have never gotten to know the convent in the first place. Similarly if they do not continue there, I will have little reason to either. I don't think any other place at the convent harbors as much community spirit as Lentil, and I don't know how anyone in their right mind could think to destroy that. Not if they truly had the community in mind anyway, but of course, that remains to be seen.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Austin Tseng — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:33:10 -0000

Lentil is one of those few places where regardless of one's socioeconomic status, one can join with others to partake of that most basic of human rights - the right to nourishment. The place offers a wonderful opportunity for social inclusivity and thus is indispensable to the community. Lentil's holistic paradigm is instrumental in providing positive health outcomes for disadvantaged residents, and Abbotsford is indeed lucky to benefit from its presence.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Zibet — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:05:04 -0000

I come to the Convent for the food at Lentils, and then I think about staying to wander around. It means a lot to me to be able to eat a healthy, vegetarian meal prepared with love by people who also love Lentils.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Al — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:04:50 -0000

My partner and I just visited Lentil at Abbotsford last weekend for the first time, and the experience warmed our souls as much as our bellies. A true source of hope and evidence of essential human goodness in often-depressing times. We need places like this, and the Convent ought to be a perfect home. I look forward to visiting again, for years to come!

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Sophie — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:46:41 -0000

Lentil at the convent is a beautiful restaurant with good quality, healthy food for a reasonable price. I am a student living in the area and would probably have gone hungry many many times if not for Lentil. Also it is just awesome to have a restaurant that isn't money hungry and is pro-animal rights. Please renew the lease!

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

JD — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:33:57 -0000

I was told that Lentils is about social inclusion and giving people opportunities. After working at Lentils I've actually seen the incredible difference it makes.
For people new to this country or new to hospitality, it's a place where they can feel supported and gain confidence. For low income earners it's a place where they don't need to feel like second class citizens because we give them the experience of dining out that everyone ought to have.
I look forward to coming to Lentils every week, working here has been an absolute blessing. There’s no other place that has mastered the feeling of community like Lentils has. It’s something that the Convent and Melbourne should be proud to be home to, it says something about our raw and generous culture.
Lentils is a win-win situation; it provides meals and opportunities. It’s leading the way to achieving social equality and this should be truly embraced.
The Abbotsford Convent Foundation should be ashamed of what they are doing, they are robbing society of a really good thing.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Katie Jacobs — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:57:31 -0000

Lentil as Anything provides valuable support for the community through training in cooking and food service to people who wouldn't always get a chance to do this through regular channels. I imagine you would employ a trainer to do this, to teach others to provide food of a certain quality.
I would suggest in future that an arts mentor could also be provided to provide art of a similar good quality. Due to the arts audience in Abbotsford being discerning, I would suggest that more be done to increase the quality of performances at Lentil. I know it provides a valuable space for the community to try out new mediums, but I would argue that all community art need not be of lower quality just because it must be inclusive. As an artist I appreciate the need for spaces to try out new things, but I also believe that an audience must be considered when making these things. A lot of the performance (and visual art) I have seen at Lentil has been indulgent and a bit ordinary to tell truth. I would offer my services as a volunteer a few hours a week (I am currently employed at not-for-profit organisation Arts Project Australia as a ceramics and painting technician, facilitating the making of art by artists who also have an intellectual disability), or suggest others who could provide similar ideas with respect to providing a quality program with a balance of open mike nights and acoustic performances.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Linda Franklin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:40:20 -0000

To me - 'Lentil' has always represented the goodness that humanity is capable of = human equality, community focus, integrity,
feeding the masses at individual affordabilty, unpretentiousness,
creative vision and the will to invest in the faith to invoke the highest good of those concerned.
That a ethical yet contempory solution to nourishing the community (= Lentil) be housed in a traditional setting such as the Convent -
is a form of spiritual and community healing that we are all yearn for.
BRAVO ABBORTSFORD CONVENT
I AM PROUD TO BE FROM THIS COMMUNITY

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Mars Drum — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:00:24 -0000

I love Lentil. A place where I can eat organic food without being ridiculously overcharged, but also a place which through its trust system inspires generosity and real appreciation in its customers... a workplace that practises equality and fairness for its employees, a place where all people from the community are welcome.... a rare find in Melbourne, and one that keeps me from leaving this city which I believe is fast degenerating into a characterless, artless, over-monitored, over-policed, tasteless, colourless, soulless, shallow-minded and boring place to live!

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Leni May — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:50:58 -0000

Lentil at the Convent is the glue that binds a community together.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

jake mann — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:14:05 -0000

Though I've never even stepped foot in Melbourne, 'Lentil as Anything's' reputation is known far & wide, for their continued support to the not so priveledged.. Through conservation circles, I discovered that 'Lentils' also rallied behind 'Seashepherd Conservation Society' and supported their crew whilst harbouring before their Antartic campaigns, and were generous enough to co-ordinate & host the launch of a cd produced by myself, with all proceeds going to Seashepherd.. Independant conscious organisations of this kind need all the support they can get, in order to continue doing this amazing humanitarian service.

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

christine — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:00:35 -0000

Please save Lentil! It is one of my most favorite and secret places in Melbourne. The only reason i first went to the convent was because of Lentil, and since then, discovered so much more! The concept is like nothing else in Melbourne. I love to go there and take my dog,then we go for a lovely walk after. I usually always over pay, but i have used Lentil when things were tighter with my mortgage.,and so thankfull i could get a great meal with money box change. Lentil is and asset to the community and to ecletic Melbourne! It must live on!!

Re: Sign the petition! « Save Lentil At The Convent!

Joanne — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:56:45 -0000

Do we truly need another wine-bar/upmarket restaurant? On the other hand, Lentil is irreplacable. The ethos of the place, the amazingly friendly and accepting vibe of the staff, volunteers & diners, the inclusiveness and the diversity of the cultures and financial backgrounds of the people make it unique. I feel so good just being there, and isn't that a rarity in this society!