Mark your calendars for our next meeting, Sunday 18th February, 2pm as usual. There is sure to be a summer abundance of fruit and veggies to share. By the way, remember to start planting your seedlings for the autumn!

Last meeting, on the 4th of February, a lovely group of gardeners gathered to share. Two types of plums, lemons, spring onions, cucumbers, zuchinni, tomatoes, relish, plum sauce, fresh herbs, bay leaves and bean seedlings were on offer. Plus garden tips and conversation in abundance! We look forward to seeing you at a meeting in the future. Please come along, whether you have an abundance to share, or just at little at the moment. It is about the joy of sharing rather than a one-for-one swap.

I've repeated the below from previous updates-- good information to let anyone new know what to expect.

How it all works:

• 2-2:30pm time to set up and check out everyone's offerings and catch up.

  • Everyone displays what they brought to share on the table for admiring.
  • A good time to ask others about their gardens and meet your neighbours

• 2:30 pm we welcome you all and then we pick out new goodies to take home!

  • We'll go around and introduce ourselves and what we brought.
  • It is not direct swapping, potentially everyone can get a little bit of everything.
  • If you can, bring large things like pumpkins or bread cut up to share.

• Usually all is done by 3pm.

Ideas for what to bring:

• FROM THE GARDEN:

  • Whatever you have heaps of!
  • Little plants that have come up from seed. Bung them in some damp newspaper and bring them along!
  • Seeds, cuttings, cut flowers, excess plants.
  • Be creative-- others may not have little things you take for granted like: lemons, little bunches of herbs, bay leaves, etc.

• FROM THE KITCHEN:

  • Preserves, pickles, chutney, sourdough starter, kombucha, sauerkraut, cordials.
  • Baking! Muffins, crackers, bread, cake (everyone loves cake) cookies.
  • Sprouted seeds.
  • Extra jars you would be recycling but others may want to make jams or chutneys in them.

Get picking and come to share, love to see you there.

(See Crop Swap Aotearoa for more about the values of crop swaps meeting all around New Zealand.)