Vegetables & fruit thriving in NSW subtropics in early summer

Peach-palm (Bactris gasipaes)

It can be useful to see the edible plants that grow and produce in a particular geographical location. This one acre food forest slopes north.

Valencia Orange stays late on tree

Lychee

What Is the Difference Between the Lychee, Rambutan and ...

Turmeric with Ginger leaf at bottom

Scientific name: Tamarindus indica
Common name: Tamarind, Sampalok, Indian Date
Family: Caesalpinioideae / Caesalpiniaceae
Ethnic names: Ambli, Imli, Pul, Tinti, Chinta, Amli
Origin: Native to tropical Africa

Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana)

Black Sapote

RAISIN TREE Fruit Facts - California Rare Fruit Growers

Gold Grumichama after flowering

Small white Guava

Malabar Chestnut

Black Grumichama

Satsuma plum

Santa Rosa Plum

Longan

Olive fruiting for the first time

Yacon Apple of the Earth - Smallanthus sonchifolius in foreground

under mature White Sapote

Cassava

Native Raspberry - HerbiGuide

Seedling white peach

Sauropus androgynus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

White Sapote

White Mulberry

Turmeric with Lemon Grass

Coffee with Lemon Grass

Dwarf Mango is still large

Herbert River Cherry just after flowering

Seedling Bowen Mango. One fruit last year

Athertonia diversifolia

Fig

Davidsonia jerseyana Davidson Plum NSW Tree

Rollinia Fruit Tree- Rollinia deliciosa

Cherimoya

produced 30 fruit last season

Choko with Edible Canna flowering in front

Persimmon Fuyu Non Astringent Tree - Diospyros kaki

Male Kiwi Fruit

Dragon Fruit

Seedling lemony White Guava

Acerola

Elderberry

Yam Bean

Mamey Sapote

Gathering at Leela's garden in Dorrigo on 15 November 2015

Leela's garden

Leela talks about her garden

everything needs protection

the garden needs protection from the new goats

the indoor garden

October Gathering at Erik's beautiful property

discussion on the verandah

inspecting Erik's garden

Erik 

shared plant material from previous gathering

Bellingen Spring Plant Fair on 12 September 2015

A beautiful day in Bellingen, lots of people, discussion and distribution of seeds to the community

selecting the seed packets

Subtropical Vegetables that suit our summer climate

Here are some links to resources. There are plenty of 'greens' that grow well in our Subtropical

Sweet Leaf

Climate.

Garden Drum

Beating a New Path

"Living on a property in the subtropics where I rely totally on rainwater and natural rainfall for watering, I love growing vegetables and at times have been virtually self sufficient, as well as giving excess to friends. However, I am often in full production over the summer and autumn months when it is hot, wet and humid and this is not the time to grow traditional northern European crops."

Florida's faux spinach

The real thing is tough to cultivate here. But plenty of easy-to-grow plants provide us with tasty leaves for a salad or stir-fry.

Green Harvest Nursery

Okinawa Spinach
Gynura crepioides

Syn Hong tsoi, Okinawa lettuce
Okinawa spinach is a dense, low growing plant to 70 cm high. Easily the most low maintenance perennial leaf vegetable; it is a hardy plant and relatively pest-free. Thriving in warm, wet conditions Okinawa spinach does best in subtropical and tropical areas; it is sensitive to frost. An attractive plant with shiny leaves that are green on top and purple underneath; the flowers are very small and orange. It grows best in full sun to partial shade. It needs ample water, rich, fertile well-drained soil that is kept mulched and prefers a pH of between 6.1 and 6.5. More info on growing Okinawa Spinach...

Philippine spinach - Surinam Purslane - Talinum fruticosum - Potherb Fameflower

Surinam Spinach is best protected from cold during the Bellingen Winters, however, Okinawa Spinach is a little hardier.

 

Growing Mustard greens, also gai choy

 Mustard Greens are quite mild when cooked. The juicy stems can be cooked and the leaf discarded.

Growing NZ Spinach, also Warrigal Greens

Always cook leaves off mature plants to remove oxalic acid. Discard the water. 

 

Gardening Australia

Fact Sheet: Subtropical Spring Vegies

 

Earthwise Gardening

Brazilian spinach – a leafy green vegetable for the subtropics

 

Working Bee August 13

Working Bee 

 

Thursday 13 August 

 

 starting at 10.00am in Nell’s amazing new shed.  Lots of shelter - so never mind the weather!

 

We will be packing seeds and potting plants ready for the Plant Fair on Saturday 12 September. Please let me have all the information you can about your seeds/plants before the working bee so that we can have labels prepared - this week if possible.  This takes quite a long time to do.

At the working bee we will also be designing a new layout for our space and a theme for our stall.

Please bring:

1. Seeds for packing and plants for potting.  

2. Tools for digging and plant pots.

3. A chair

4. Food to share and a coffee cup/mug.

Please let me know if you are coming.

If you haven’t been to Nell’s before, she is only a hop, skip and a jump out of town.

Gathering at Nell's in May 2015

Winged Bean

Aibika

Produce Entries Bellingen's Annual Show

Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10,  2015

www.bellingenshow.com.au

Section 7 Farm Produce

Entries close 6pm Thursday prior to show at Secretary's Office at Showground.

Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair 2015

Rae's Date and Apple loaf at working bee 1 March 2015

Bellingen Seed Savers will be at the Bellingen Plant Fair on 14 March 2015

Raw Cashew Dreamcake

Raw Cashew Dreamcake prepared by Omshree for the February 2015 gathering hosted by David Pepper

Source of inspiration for the cake
 http://www.mynewroots.org/site/2011/01/raw-cashew-dreamcake-2/

Ingredients:

Crust:

1/2 cup raw almonds (pecan or walnuts will also work)
 1/2 cup soft Medjool dates

1⁄4 tsp. sea salt!
Filling:

1 1⁄2 cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours, overnight is best
 juice of 2 lemons

the seeds of 1 whole vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract)
 1/3 cup raw coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup raw honey (solid or liquid.)(Vegans use agave nectar.)

1 cup raspberries (thaw completely if using frozen)!
Directions:

1. Place nuts and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one). Test the crust by spooning out a small amount of mixture and rolling it in your hands. If the ingredients hold together, your crust is perfect. Scoop out crust mixture in a 7” spring-form pan (if you don’t have a spring-form pan, use a pie plate lined with saran wrap), and press firmly, making sure that the edges are well packed and that the base is relatively even throughout. Rinse food processor well.

2. Warm coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan on low heat until liquid. Whisk to combine.

3. In the most powerful food processor / blender you own (you decide which one has the most torque) place all filling ingredients (except raspberries) and blend on high until very smooth (this make take a couple minutes so be patient). If you have a Vita-Mix, absolutely use it.

4. Pour about 2/3 (just eyeball it, you can’t make a mistake!) of the mixture out onto the crust and smooth with a spatula. Add the raspberries to the remaining filling and blend on high until smooth. Pour onto the first layer of filling. Place in freezer until solid.

5. To serve, remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to eating. Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water and cut into slices. Serve on its own, or with fresh fruit. Store leftovers in the freezer (what leftovers?).