Three years ago, Shann and her family were lucky enough to make the move from Canberra to the delightful hamlet of Repton. A bushland setting opens out on valley views of farmland and circling Osprey. Terraced paths wend down the slope, through palms and frangipani to a pond and banana grove full of potential.

Shann has inherited an established garden mix of natives and exotics and is looking for tips and tricks to improve her beginnings at a vegie garden.

Come and enjoy a tranquil morning out in Repton, bring something to share and a fold up chair if you have one.

Note: sloping site with some paths not quite finished; sensible shoes advised

Bellingen Seed Savers presents seeds and plants at a stall at the Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair. Locally adapted edible plants and seeds for sale. And the famous Seed Saver raffle. We can almost guarantee the prize will contain something edible you’ve never laid eyes on before!

Come on down. Market Park in Bellingen on Saturday March 11. 8am – 1pm but get there early. The plants sell quick!

Bellingen Seed Savers presents seeds and plants at a stall at the Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair. We gather to pack seeds and share an dinner and plant knowledge. John and Carol’s garden is just east of Bellingen.

Bellingen Seed Savers presents seeds and plants at a stall at the Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair. We gather to pack seeds and share an afternoon tea and plant knowledge. Nell’s garden is just west of Bellingen.

A meeting of the minds and exchange of ideas (& tastys). Those keen to see the abundance of the food forest should get there around 5.30 for a quick scoot round outside, before tucking in to a shared banquet around 6pm. To be followed at 7pm-ish with a presentation by John on edible perennials in the garden. Please bring your ideas & experiences for an interactive eve that will afford us a good conversation & indulgences.
See you there for a relaxed social evening.

Please bring a plate to contribute to our dinner banquet, something ‘cheerful’ to drink if you feel inclined, a mug & chair, and any seeds or plants you have to share.

We are on a large rural residential block, with a ten year old, largish, and mainly covered, organic home vegie garden, with surrounding orchard areas. The vegie garden is vaguely ordered, but without defined beds, and plantings are ad hoc rather than being strictly rotational. We make the most of any self-sown plants, and save seeds to raise our own seedlings when we can, but also buy seeds and seedlings. We make compost fairly regularly, mainly from materials from onsite.

As for a favourite part of the garden, perhaps it’s the pineapple patch stretching along the front of the house, because it’s low maintenance, very productive, and a bit different from a conventional house garden bed.

Our latest project has been further fortifying the vegie gardens, and some fruit, against our various lovely, but naughty, wildlife neighbours. Now that the honeymoon period is over they are discovering a whole lot of foods that they didn’t realise were so delicious!!

Notes to potential visitors:

Numbers are strictly limited to 24 people max. First in, best dressed.
We are car pooling from nearby as the parking at Carole’s is very limited. If you are coming with a 4wd or high-clearance vehicle please be prepared to transport extra people for us. “Our drive is a bush track, with drainage humps, which low-slung vehicles can usually negotiate very slowly, but MAY scrape a bit. All-wheel drive vehicles are fine in any weather, but if it turns out to be a very wet period, it would be tricky for regular vehicles. The turning space is at the end of the drive, which is at the house.”

The garden walking access may not be suitable for everyone:
“Re slopes and goat tracks: from the house (at end of the drive), it’s pretty straight forward to explore the garden, but slightly slopey to go further, around orchards. Not much distance involved, and it’s all on grass tracks, but ease of getting around would depend on the weather. The grass, and even some of the tracks in the garden can get a little slippery when it has been very wet.”

Charles has spent many years creating a productive subtropical garden jungle on a multiple occupancy property in Thora. With well developed alluvial soils and seemingly tireless hard work, there is abundance and novelties at every turn.

Surrounding a quirky hexagonal cottage are tracks squeezing through lush herbs & vegies, as well open orchard spaces to enjoy with the river nearby.

Come and see the products of effort & enthusiasm in the beautiful Thora valley on a Sunday afternoon.

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Spring is definitely exciting after the rigours of winter & we have been spruced up with some early spring showers. I have been frolicking with frogs & marshalling my critters. The vegie patch is taking shape nicely & i have been practicing my grafting for further orchard ambitions. Most of the hard yakka building is done, but finishing is soo hard when the garden beckons. 2 sloping acres of paddock is turning into a promising little oasis. Yep, bitten off a bit more than i can chew – no regrets! Come ramble round my ‘manor’ & swap tips and adventures. I can show you some fermented foods and maybe give a quick demo for those interested who missed out last time ? Leela

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