Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers

 Mid Mountains Seedsavers are a small but keen group of gardeners dedicated to growing as much of our own organic produce as possible, using locally saved seed varieties. Since 2003 we have been meeting to swap information, ideas, recipes, as well as prepare, pack and catalogue out own home grown seeds. We cordially invite other food gardening enthusiasts in the Blue Mountains to come and join us. Just bring any seeds, cuttings, tubers etc that you've grown along with a plate to share for morning tea (You don’t have to live in the mid-mountains by the way!)

 Our Next Meeting will be 10am - 1 pm, Sunday 28th February 2010

Latest News and Events

10th Feb 2010: from Blue Mountains Gazette, sent by John McNaull whose picture illustrated this article: See article and photo

Council cautious on GM foods
BY SHANE DESIATNIK
10 Feb, 2010 09:59 AM
Council is taking a formal stance against any introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in the Blue Mountains following years of debate and public consultation, but the move will not have any enforcement capability.
Councillors voted 6-5 in favour of taking the stance, to advocate for the mandatory labelling of all GM products and promote a precautionary approach to GM food production.

Clr Janet Mays said despite the Federal Government holding all the cards regarding policy and legislation about GM products, “sometimes you’ve (councillors) got to stand up and lead.

“Kevin Rudd promised many things (about a precautionary approach to GM foods and mandatory labelling) but unfortunately the Federal Government has not followed through.

“As a result I see local government has a role.”

Clrs Mays, Eleanor Gibbs, Brendan Luchetti and Howard McCallum stressed the “overwhelming response” in favour of a precautionary approach to GM foods revealed in a community survey conducted by council last year by a margin of 121 submissions to 19.

“I’ve found many sites supporting GM foods and about as many opposing them — that suggests to me it is still a grey area so I’d support a precautionary approach,” Clr Luchetti said.

The decision frustrated Clrs Alison McLaren and Mark Greenhill, who described it as an inappropriate waste of council resources.

“I’m all for mandatory labelling (of GM foods), but our (council) staff should be focused on providing local services, not on those provided by the Federal Government,” Clr Mclaren said.

“I’m not as sceptical about GM foods as others — they provide an opportunity to remove allergens from food.”

Clr Greenhill said “this (decision) will result in a huge amount of nothing.”

The right for personal choice was a key factor for Clr Daniel Myles, who said adopting a stance opposing GM food production was going too far.

“GM foods ought to be very clearly labelled, but until we have scientific evidence (that GM foods are dangerous), the people in society should have the right to choose (what they eat).”

Council will also advocate for mandatory labelling of all GM products and write to the State and Federal Governments requesting a ban on commercial GM canola in the local government area.

Mid 2009:

The Mid Mountains Community Garden is up and running!! thanks to all those who put in effort to get this off the ground.  It is a truly fantastic site and holds huge promise for the future. For more information contact Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre  info@mmnc.org.au

Blue Mountains City Council has endorsed and supported the Local Produce stalls being held at Lawson and Blackheath markets.  Bring your surplus garden produce to swap, sell or give away. For more information contact Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre info@mmnc.org.au  Mid Mountains Seedsavers seeds are available for sale at the Magpie Market (Lawson 3rd Sunday of month) as well

We showed your film [Seeds Blong Youmi] to 45 people last weekend, March 2009. Most of them were not from our regular seed saving group. It went really well - the film affects the heart as well as the head. There is definitely a groundswell happening here ...

We aim to build a resilient stock of seeds which do well in our climate zone, together with the knowlegdge of how to grow, harvest, eat, preserve and save seed from each of the varieties

In addition to our frenetic quarterly seed saving meetings, we hold occasional skills days on seedsaving, grafting etc as well as information sessions.

Location