Our Bellingen Seed Savers' Charter

Organisational Fulfilment: 
We are an active and growing group of organic food gardening enthusiasts.
We are financially independent and not for profit. 
We are well known in Bellingen and surrounds as the 'go to' people for local seeds, plants and food growing knowledge.
We actively collaborate with and support other like-minded organisations.

We sustain the local natural source of seeds and plants for this and future generations. We contribute the seed for local food security.


Service to members & community: 

We are a welcoming club and we connect people. We share local organic food growing knowledge and enthusiasm.
We save and share local seeds and plant materials, That are open-pollinated, locally adapted (non hybrid, non GMO).

We share seeds with each other and the public. We need more ‘saving’ to get the balance right! We attract and keep members.
We organise regular fun informal garden visits where we share seeds, plants and knowledge. We share knowledge via various (social) media. We maintain at least one activity to generate donations (currently the plant fair), to sustain our expenses. 

Learning about seed saving at a BSS workshop

Bellingen Seed Savers Progress in Achieving the Seed Savers Charter

Michel & Jude Fanton at our Bellingen Workshop

Definition of a Local Seed Network

A Local Seed Network is a group, registered with The Seed Savers' Network, of three or more people living in the same bioregion who swap seeds and planting material with the purpose of conserving open-pollinated varieties of food plants.

Aims

    * To find, grow and distribute locally adapted seeds, particularly of vegetables and herbs as well as plants that are propagated by tubers, cuttings, rhizomes, bulbs, etc

    * To adapt new varieties to local conditions

    * To promote the practice of seed saving and the importance of conserving diversity in our           food crops

    * To support other Local Seed Networks by sharing knowledge, skills, seeds and planting material.