Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair

The Bellingen Autumn Plant Fair will be held on 13 March 2010.

Learn how to use fungi, bacteria, and microbes in soil to quickly create soft friable fertile garden soil in raised beds with the No-Dig Garden method with David Wilson from CROPO (Coffs Regional Organic Producers Organisation) (seating and shelter provided).

Discover Australian aboriginal bush foods, their traditional medicinal uses, and how to use them to create wildlife habitat to attract native birds and animals to your backyard with Mark Flanders, National Parks Aboriginal Discovery Ranger.

Create a Frog-friendly Backyard with Mark Graham, Ecologist, and learn how to live safely with snakes and reptiles with Steve McEwan’s Reptile World.

Bring any native plant you want identified to the all-day Plant ID Clinic, enjoy guided Rainforest Identification walks with local Landcare representatives, and hear about the How’s and Why of Local Food Policy Councils with Nick Rose, Bellingen Local Food Network.

Organic New Guinea Coffee and delicious cakes feature at the Coffee Stall run by Bellingen EYE, and 2BBB Radio van will broadcast live from the Plant Fair.

CROPO, Bellinger Landcare and Bellingen Urban Landcare, New Energy Fair, Biodynamics Agriculture Australia, Bellingen Seed Savers, Bellingen Local Food Network (promoting sustainable production and consumption of local food), are some of the information stalls at the Plant Fair along with 60 Nursery stalls selling an extensive variety of plants, equipment and supplies.

The Autumn Plant Fair at Bellingen Market Park is open from 8 am to 2 pm with music, fine food and plenty of expert horticultural advice available.

The Autumn Plant Fair is a fundraiser for the Bellingen Environment Centre and sponsored by the Bellingen Community Markets and Bellinger Courier Sun. Enquiries lesleyg@westnet.com.au or 0429 171818.

The Workshop Program is:

Native Plant Identification Clinic - through the day - with local Botanists Ross Macleay and Jan Parkin - bring any plant you want identified to the Landcare stall.

9.30am - 1.30pm hourly: Steve McEwan’s Reptile World Displays.

10am and 12 noon: Growing and Use of Aboriginal Bush Foods and Medicines & Create Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard with Mark Flanders.

10.30am: No Dig Gardening with David Wilson.

10.30 and 11.30am: Rainforest Identification Walk with Carmen Muldoon, Bellingen Urban Landcare and Colin Matthews of Bellinger Landcare.

11am: Creating a Frog-friendly backyard with Mark Graham, local Ecologist.

11.30am: Food Policy Councils – what are they and why we need one with Nick Rose, Bellingen Local Food Network.

9am – 12 noon: Children’s Colouring-in Competition.

1.30pm: Children’s Colouring-in Competition Winners announced.

1:45pm: Raffle Draw.

Information courtesy of The Bellinger Shire Courier Sun