Last Month we gathered at Violet Town for our first Regional Seed Savers Meeting. those that could make it were entertained by Jude and Michel Fanton from Seed Savers Network, and then we moved on to Murrnong after lunch for practical seed saving workshops in Dave Arnold’s vegie garden.
It was so nice to see so many people coming together and sharing ideas and learning new ones, I think it is integral to the survival of LSN's to gather resources and ideas from our region, and although we may differ in our structures our strength is that as a group we can then go back and pass on information and planting materials to our local groups.
I'm going to use one of the feedback responses i received to sum up our day because it sums it up so well.
Hi Carley,
We were both so inspired by the day. The setting for both sessions was perfect.
I was so impressed with the school/community garden – it is amazing what can be done in a small area and how much children can benefit from hands on experience at an early age. That is something that will stay with them all their lives. I wonder how many of those children have gone home and convinced their parents to start a vegetable garden as well. I believe Bunnings here in Shepparton is about to help provide information and assistance to schools in the area to get a similar thing happening here.
The film was also inspirational. To see so many indigenous people in their various countries, and how they grow their vegetables, and cope with the rape and pillage of their native lands by money hungry multi nationals destroying their crops to plant more lucrative ones, was certainly an eye-opener.
There is no doubt our world is in a very sorry state, and hearing today’s news about the tonnes of toxic vegetables being exported from China, some of which are destined for our supermarkets, means that the time for growing our own healthy vegetables is now not only sensible but imperative.
Catering for the morning and afternoon teas was superb, the food was fantastic and there was certainly plenty of it, and a wonderful variety to suit all palates, the team of workers are to be congratulated.
What a wonderful opportunity it was to participate in the four sessions during the afternoon. Our host was so knowledgeable and only too happy to share his experiences with us enthusiastically. He is doing an incredible job on that property. I found each of the segments really interesting and all the way home we discussed ways in which we could incorporate what we learnt into improving our own garden.
It was wonderful to have the trading stall there and I was fortunate to pick up some garlic, cos lettuce and spinach seedlings as well as a couple of types of sunchokes. We were able to contribute a lemon scented geranium, 3 peach trees and a fig tree to the stall, which I was pleased to see have all found new homes. I hope one of the peach trees is going to be planted in the school garden. I have bottled over 60 jars of peaches from the parent plant this year.
The variety of packets of seeds was amazing, I purchased quite a lot and even garnered a few from the seed saving segment as well, and you will be pleased to know that every day since then we have renovated another segment of our garden. ..............Thanks again for a great Sunday. Val (Val Hutchinson)
Some other feed back
" haven’t stopped talking about it to all my work mates ..... I am a true convert and will never buy packaged seed again."
" had planted some Yates seeds as they were donated but now I feel so inspired to use seed savers supplies for so many reasons"
"Especially loved your and terry's practical demosntration of saving seeds and walks around gardens.."
http://www.youtube.com/seedsavers#p/u/15/el0QZ27HARI (see it here)
"The variety of packets of seeds was amazing, I purchased quite a lot and even garnered a few from the seed saving segment as well, and you will be pleased to know that every day since then we have renovated another segment of our garden"
Dear Carley and Terry
We had a lovely time last Sunday! Thank you for organising it so well. I think it was really successful all round and the participants seemed very happy....
Thank you again for the wonderful welcome and consummate organising!
Best wishes, Jude and Michel
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