Bellingen Seed Savers January/February News Update

Bellingen Seed Savers have gathered several times in February to map out the coming year and prepare for the Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair on 12th March.  Our seed collection continues to expand and plant divisions have been taken and potted up. We have one more working bee scheduled for 3rd March.

A full list of available seeds and plants will be posted shortly.

After the Plant Fair we will resume Gatherings at members’ gardens – in April in Bellingen and in May in Gleniffer.

The Q&A session that we included in our last Gathering/Working Bee was a great success and will continue on a regular basis.  We have also decided to bring along any surplus produce (including eggs etc) which we may have to share with the group each time we meet.

Bellingen Summer Vegetables Survivors

In Bellingen’s hot, wet summer conditions, vegetables like lettuce, spinach and silver beet really struggle.  Don’t despair - there are some great survivors which will fulfill our need for green, leafy  vegetables at this time. 

The young leaves of Basella (Ceylon Spinach), Tatsoi, Nasturtiums and Sweet Potato are delicious and can be used in a salad or a stirfry.  Ibika cooked in coconut milk
has been recommended by a valued Bellingen Seed Saver.

Basella and Ibika are shown in the following photo, along with Tumeric, Ginger and Garlic Chives. Are the grubs attacking your leafy vegetables like they're attacking mine?