Winter Solstice gathering at David's garden in Gleniffer.

The road to David's garden

Beautiful Gleniffer, NSW - the view from from David's gate.

As always a shared tea takes place before or after we wander through a garden. Obviously our winter day was very mild at noon.

Muffins and Chick Pea fritters

Savoury Muffins

This view from David's gate is of the surrounding escarpment of the Dorrigo Plateau.

Seedsavers take a garden walk.

Past the Mandarin tree

Past the Comfrey (left) and Nasturtium (right)

Under trees

Past the Sweet Potato groundcover,

Under the tall Custard Apple.

Mandarins are ornamental as well as delicious.

Lemons

David explains.

Every garden visit we share our local growing knowledge. We always learn more. Growing local is preferable if it saves burning carbon.

Star Fruit or Carambola

Star Fruit (Carambola) Crumble

Carambolas are so productive. Here is one way to use the fruit. Another member dries the slices.

The Winter Solstice Fire.

David likes to add a little ceremony and ritual to life. Why not!

David made sure we participated in the 'Ceremony of Burning The Summer Hat'.

Rows of Comfrey edge David's gardens

 Comfrey is excellent for enriching the soil because it drags up deep nutrients that can activate soil improvement.

This is the biggest Lemon Verbena bush I have seen. It grows in part shade.

Pineapple

The pomelo, Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis Wikipedia

David's Pomelo is bearing plenty of fruit.

Dipsacus (Teasel)

David is growing Teasel for medicinal reasons, to treat a Lyme like disease. He uses a tincture made from the root.

David believes this is a Yellow Mangosteen still surviving our warm temperate zone winter although it looks a little unhappy.

Visit to Jodi and Michael's 'Cloudy Farm' at Dorrigo

'Cloudy Cauldron' is beautifully located on the Dorrigo Plateau.

"The Cloudy Cauldron" is a working farm, with a focus on supplying fruit and vegies to the local area. Jodi and Michael have landscaped on a grand scale, drawing on their farming backgrounds and extensive knowledge to create an edible wonderland that still has room for frivolity and flowers.

We have visited this near Dorrigo site before and it is always exciting to see new developments made by the industrious couple. 

This visit is Mid Autumn although climate change has meant a very unseasonable hot autumn. The day was wet and breezy.

The new poly-tunnel held climbing beans, cucumbers and more

Dorrigo Seedsavers joined us for the day.

A freezer converted to a worm farm

Seedlings produced in a poly-tunnel

Quinces favour the Dorrigo plateau climate

Did she get lost at the last visit?

A healthy bed of Comfrey feeds the soil when composted.

The 'Kiwi Fruit' was laden.

Beds are mulched to prevent sun scorching and erosion from heavy rain.

Grown in a protected area this North American Paw Paw is hard to find in Australia

Turkeys are new to the farm.

Finishing with a morning tea. We try to demonstrate recipes for what we produce.

Garden Visit to Robyn's Garden near Dorrigo

Setting up the seed table with seeds and plants to share always arouses our expectations of a plant that will fit into our gardens.












 It was perfect weather, as we gathered on the lawn in the shade, but for those of us who didn't bring a warm top it was soon to be a cool experience because a breeze from the South soon appeared to lower temperatures.







Our visit to Robyn's garden was a real climate change for our members in the Bellinger Valley. It is always interesting to see another garden and Robyn's garden, situated on the Dorrigo Plateau, above the Bellinger Valley, had expansive views of the rolling green paddocks of the plateau.

Trandescantia

The plateau climate allows Robyn to grow many plants that fail to thrive in the warm temperate/subtropical climate of the Bellinger Valley.

Alstroemeria (Princess Lily)

These Alstroemerias formed a large clump. Personally I prefer these bold coloured varieties without the muddy markings that some have.

Rhubarb much prefers the cool weather of the plateau.

Robyn finds this Plectranthus groundcover very useful to grow under her windbreak because it suppresses the germination of Privet seeds.

It is Iris time, ....

 and Hippeastrum time.

Deutzia

Robyn's Asparagus bed is fairly new. She will wait at least another year before picking.  Meanwhile, she will load on the manure and mulch. The plateau's soil is volcanic in origin. It drains very well and nutrients are easily leached away.

Berries of all kinds thrive in the plateau climate.

Robyn's Broccoli requires protection from the birds.

Prawn Plant or Shrimp Plant growing with Brundfelsia.
















Comfrey, another plant that thrives on the plateau, is a wonderful mulch and soil conditioner.











A Savoury Loaf featured on the afternoon tea table.

Elaine's cordial has a secret mix of herbs and no syrup. She has promised to share the recipe with us.

Come along to our next Seedsavers' event. A reliable source tells us it will be in December at at Spickets Creek, at the end of the navigable section of the Bellingen to Bowraville Rd. Watch for details on our events page.

The 'My T Fine String Band' entertained us during afternoon tea. What a treat!