New Venue & Time for Future Meetings

Hi everyone

After meeting for many years at the wonderful Sweethearts Cafe, Eudlo, our group will be relocating to nearby Ilkley for future meetings. Thanks to current and past owners for your hospitality towards our group.

From Sunday, 7 June 2015, we will have a NEW VENUE and an earlier meeting time.  The new venue, kindly offered by our members, Roy and Jackie Gasson has plenty of cover (perfect for our hot summers and wet weather). There is plenty of space to meet and process seeds and plant material regardless of what our climate throws at us!

Please see the details below:

Time: 8.30am - 10.00am
Cost: Gold coin donation
Roy Gasson's Pottery Shed
145 Ilkley Road, Ilkley 4554
Sunshine Coast, Queensland

CLICK LINK for Google Map & Directions

Entrance to property from Ilkley Road, Ilkley

This is the parking area. Turn in the driveway and travel past the first little brick house
and park nose in to the right hand side.

Walk down the pathway to the pottery shed

Following is a list of the meeting dates for the rest of 2015.

Add them to your diary now:

Sunday 7 June - The Gassons will be providing refreshments and morning tea (covered by gold coin donation)
Sunday 5 July
Sunday 2 August
Sunday 6 September
Sunday 4 October
Sunday 1 November
Sunday 6 December

Safe Seedlings

If you don't have time to sow seeds and want to plant safe seedlings grown from organic or heirloom, seeds, there are some local organic seedlings suppliers. Try David at Yandina markets on Saturday mornings, Max Lindegger at Crystal Waters, the monthly Witta markets, Yandina Feed Barn and Kunara at Forest Glen. 

Please be wary of buying non-certified organic seedlings from nurseries or any other retail outlet. If you're not aware, many growers are raising seeds with neonicotinoids (insecticides) that are toxic to bees. If you inadvertently purchase these seedlings or plants, you may not only be contaminating your garden with chemicals but also be innocently killing the very pollinators you need to grow your crop successfully. 

Learn more in these articles:

• 4 Step Guide to Improving Pollination & Your Harvests: Part 1
• Protecting Bees from Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Your Garden

What to Plant in June

With cooler temperatures now upon us, it's time to make sure your winter crops are in. Lots of vegetables, herbs and flowers grow well at this time of year, without the greedy grasshoppers taking an unfair share!


Check out these guides for other ideas/tips:

Gardenate - Subtropical zone.

ABC Vegie Gardening Guide.

Aussie Organic Gardening.

Garden Visits

Lissa Clayton and our friends from Brisbane Local Food have also invited our members to join their free monthly garden visits at any time. It's a great opportunity to learn, swap seeds, cuttings and plant material as well as learn from each other and what grows well in SEQ. You may want to consider car pooling and bringing this up at each meeting to see if a group can enjoy the drive and visit together.

You can find out more about BLF Garden Visits here. The 2015 Calendar of upcoming gardens is also on their website. RSVP online.

June 13th Garden Visit is at Albany Creek

July 5th Garden Visit is at Deception Bay

August  30th Garden Visit is way over the other side of Brisbane at Ellen Grove

Sept 19th Garden Visit is at Brighton 

Hope to see you soon.