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.

Monday 16 December 2013

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.

4 comments:

  1. Obviously this was a very successful Seedsavers' event. Sad we missed it. Jack

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome blog! I think the climbing flower on the pergola is Campsis grandiflora (Common name: Chinese Trumpet Vine). And the mystery bean, with its strange serrations, does look like a cross that probably involves a winged-bean.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It appears to be a Lablab or Hyacinth Bean. Go to link.http://naturalmalta.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/hyacinth-bean.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. It also appears to called a dolichos bean. Go to: http://www.answers.com/topic/dolichos-bean

    ReplyDelete

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