About Bellingen Seedsavers

We are a group of like-minded growers of edible and useful heritage plant varieties in the Bellingen area of northeast New South Wales, Australia.

Our climate varies from frost-free coastal areas to inland river valleys and highlands with frosts. Bellingen has an average annual rainfall of 1507ml.

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Our Bellingen Seedsaver's Workshop, December 2011

Matt provided us with a fascinating and informative workshop demonstrating the skills he once applied regularly in his nursery experience. Thanks Matt.

Click all pics to enlarge.
Here we can see a T bud from a Tamarillo that has been applied to a Wild Tobacco plant. Matt says he has successfully grafted these two plants in the past the Tamarillo benefiting from the Wild Tobacco's root vigour.


Taking a bud.


Another T bud in place. Matt demonstrated that sticky tape could be used to hold the bud in place.


Matt prefers a veneer bud. In this example Matt demonstrated with an Avocado bud and a Camphor Laurel branch. Are they compatible? It's worth a try says Matt. Plants of the same genus are generally compatible. (Note: An internet search indicates such grafts are not successful.)





Matt mixes sphagnum moss and potting mix to create a suitable medium for the marcot (air layer).



The air layering medium, once placed on the plastic shopping bag, is wrapped around the prepared area on the limb to be layered.


This Gardenia has been prepared for marcotting. An area of an extending branch had the surface bark scarred/scuffed, down to the cambium layer. A cut was made, 1/2 to 3/4 through the underside of the branch and a small stone was inserted to prevent healing.  A spot on the branch with plenty of callus (Parenchyma) and therefore rich in the hormone (Auxine) that encourages root production, was chosen for the aerial layer. Clear tape was then wrapped around all places that might allow air (or ants) to enter the marcot. The marcots will be ready for taking in a few months.




Our workshop was held at Nell's. Her garden is rich in plant material that suits our local coastal climate including 27 year old citrus. Nell's block is usually frost free and faces north.










More pics. These were taken by Jeff.

Nell has mature coffee plants

A T bud graft

A veneer graft



Taking a bud for the graft



Wrapping the graft. Matt used sticky tape. The actual bud is left exposed.

A veneer bud graft before wrapping

Placing the veneer graft

The prepared stock for the veneer bud graft


Preparing the veneer graft stock


A well wrapped marcot (air layer) in place.


The host plant is a thriving Feijoa


Wrapping a marcot.

Using tape to make the marcot air and ant proof




The prepared site for the marcot



Nell's fruit and vegetable garden with a Paw Paw in the foreground

More of Nell's garden with Comfrey in the foreground

Friday 2 December 2011

In Bec and Wilma's December Garden

December 1 was a rainy day but we found Bec and Wilma's Bonville garden fascinating. Bec has planted lots of exotics, especially fruit and nut trees. Wilma and Bec's vegetable garden is extensive with vegetables at all stages of production.
 Wilma extracts some well composted mulch from the pile.



This mini hothouse well stocked with seedlings.


This pumpkin is leaping up the wire fence.



We usually bring food and feast before our meeting. Beryl brought her award winning muesli slice. Her recipe is in an earlier post. Nell brought delicious steamed choko shoots, some buttered and some mixed with coconut milk. We also enjoyed Kay's tasty pizza  with balsamic onions, goats cheese, tomatoes and herbs baked on a puff pastry base. Part pre-baking of the pastry will ensure it does not go soggy. A pizza stone will also help.








This Atherton Oak was thriving. Can you see the nuts? Click on any pic to enlarge. This will be another nut for us to try. The fruit is bright blue.


Extensive raised vegetable gardens mix flowers and veges.


A bore (under the box cover) produces perfect water says Wilma.



A globe artichoke, lacking thorns and unlike my prickly beasts, is starting to flower.



A turmeric, in full flower, ready for planting out. Heinze uses these as a ground cover along his riverbank.


 Runner beans clamber up the fence.


A spring onion sets seed.


A Dragon Fruit has climbed up this palm. Bec uses a long stick to knock down the delicious red fruit.


The temperate loving Silver Beet  will gradually fail with rust in this humid summer weather. Nell says that this is the time the subtropical vegetables become the 'greens' for salads and stirfries. Choko tips, Sweet Potato tips, Edible Hibiscus, Brazilian Spinach, Amaranth, Kang Kong, Ceylon Spinach,  Rungia (Mushroom Plant) and Warrigal Greens flourish in the heat and humidity.


A bright red Canna provides a showy corner.


Wilma and Bec's vegetable corner.



These Saba Nut (Malabar Chestnut) trees are setting seeds around their trunks.



A garden arch makes a showy climbing bean support.


Borage in flower in the semi shade. Wikipedia suggests the leaves as well as the flowers can be used in salads.


Vegetables are crowded into beds.


Beetroot grows in front of coriander.

A Brachychiton tree shows off its full pink glory.

Beryl's Dorrigo Show Winning Slice

Energy Muesli Slice- a real lunchbox treat

125g butter
2 tablespoons honey
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup raw sugar
1 and  1/2 cups natural muesli
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup wholemeal flour
1/2 cup flaked almonds
3/4 cup chopped raisins
1/4 cup sesame seeds

Grease a 19cm x 29cm lamington pan. Melt butter and honey in saucepan, remove from heat. Stir in eggs, sugar, muesli, coconut, flour, almonds, raisins and sesame seeds, stir until combined. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake in moderate oven for about 20 minutes. Cool in pan, cut when cold.











LinkWithin



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...