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.

Thursday 26 December 2013

Growing on December 26 in the southern hemisphere, a warm temperate/subtropical garden



Banana Passionfruit

Pumpkins, Carambola, Pecan Trees

Yellow flowered edible hibiscus with red hybrid canna

Choko on Carambola tree

Salvias at front of pic

Pineapples at front, beans on teepee, garlic in pots

Panama Berry

Protecting the mangoes from the flying foxes.

Salvia with yam growing through the bush.


Tamarillo

New vine spikes on yam



Monday 16 December 2013

Our first Gathering in 2014

A Bellingen Seedsavers' Workshop on Seedsaving

Our first Gathering in the New Year will be on Thursday 6, February 2014, location to be determined.

It will include a preliminary working bee (seed cleaning, packing, etc) to prepare for the March Plant Fair.  This is the biggest Plant Fair of the year and, if we are going to have a stall there, we will need to be observing and selecting those plants in our garden that are producing well and looking good that we can pass on to our community.

Please tie a piece of wool or a ribbon on your best plants as a reminder that they are to be preserved - not eaten. Please see your Seedsavers' Handbook for all the details.

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An interesting link to David Holmgren radio interview on Brown Tech Scenario

December Gathering at Irene & David's garden at Spickett's Creek



David has found that the best way to protect figs,  blueberries and vegies at 'Treeferns'  is with cages.  These are constructed with a combination of aviary wire, netting and timber supported by star pickets.  Each is a unique 'rustic' design.

This is our first Blueberry harvest and we are delighted with the large, very sweet fruit and very happy to share them with Bellingen Seed Saver friends.










The Pomegranate has a few problems with splitting and scale and also has very pale seeds.  Another one in a pot is about to be trialled.












This is a non-astringent Persimmon growing on the Northern side of the house.  On the Southern side are five large astringent Persimmons which magically appeared in the first few years here.  All produce huge amounts of fruit.  We deal with this by transferring the very soft flesh into containers to freeze.  It's delicious on muesli and with yoghurt or gelato.






                                                                                                                                                                                 
The olive tree is predicting a good crop
caged back garden


There are 5 beds sheltered by this cage, enabling a basic rotation system











front garden

This bed is mainly used for the resilient and Asian and other  vegetables e.g. Pepino, Basella, Taro, Casava, Yacon, Ginger etc



flowers growing on pergola


Name unknown, this spectacular climber grows on the pergola, linking the old and new parts of the house


gathering around the fruiting grape vine

A grape vine in a large pot - first crop 3bunches!
Will they survive?


discussion with seed exchange table in foreground
                                                                                           

Wonderful food from the seed savers. 
Elaine makes a delicious health-giving punch to accompany the food.


Do you know this bean? Can you help?

Used as a green manure in winter, it remains a mystery.
Every BSS gathering includes interested people from the coast, the valleys, and the plateau, all with different growing conditions.

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