COFFS REGIONAL ORGANIC PRODUCERS SEED SAVERS

The Organic Producers have guest speakers every month, except January. I take along my seed collection and give them out to folk to encourage them to grow local plants that do well.

COFFS REGIONAL ORGANIC PRODUCERS ORGANISATION Inc. (CROPO) CROPO was established in 1993 due to the need for such a local group. CROPO has social meetings on the first Tuesday of every month except January. These are held at the Community Village in COFFS HARBOUR. We have great guest speakers and lucky door prizes. We had Jude and Michel Fanton speak in May.

o CROPO has recently established a small seed bank. I take along my seed collection and give them out to folk to encourage them to grow local plants that do well.

o CROPO is requesting donations of seeds that do well in our area. CROPO Activities.

o "Just Organics" is the monthly journal edited by life member David Callaghan (David is 89 and a local hero). It is sent to members and subscribers and can be picked up free from shops in Coffs Harbour and Bellingen.

o Field days are held every month or so where local varieties and properties are showcased.

o CROPO to attend the Casuarina Organic Produce and Artisan Market commencing 1 December 2001. These markets are held at the Casuarina Steiner School COFFS HARBOUR on the first Saturday of each month. A further Just Produce Market will be held on the morning of every third Saturday.

CROPO has a small library operating for members.

CROPO has been lobbying for years to establish a community garden in Coffs Harbour. This project may be getting a little closer to reality. Meanwhile The Jetty Foreshore at Coffs Harbour has a small vegetable garden created by the Work for Dole scheme on a wasteland patch right by the seaside where we have planted local varieties that I have saved. We have just harvested a seed crop of local Zebra Beans.

I find the Seed Savers newsletter and Handbook are good teaching tools. By Desnee McCosker (Seed Bank Officer) CROPO's postal address is PO Box 363 COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450 Contact Information: Tony Locandro (Advertising Manager) pmbooks@ozemail.com.au Carolyn Elmes (Secretary) whitelm@midcoast.com.au

Current Seedlist: 13 November 2001

Local fine, pale green, white stemmed spinach

Munton Bean

Cec Condon's Bean