Now that we are past the threshold of winter solstice and they days are again getting longer, it's high time that plans for the spring and summer, distant as they may seem, start swirling around in our heads...

I'm currently in the depths of writing up my masters thesis so time has been scarce, hence the winter hibernation that Otepoti Urban Organics has been having. However I'm now beginning to get things sorted for the seed catalog for the 2010/2011 season, and I thought I'd send out an email to let all of our members know that we'd be super appreciative of any seed donations that you may be able to provide.

Not only will all people donating seeds receive some credits for free packets of seeds from our catalog as per usual, if you send in seeds between now and the end of August, you'll go into the draw to win a copy of Suzanne Ashworths 'Seed to Seed', a super awesome guide on seed saving. If we get a decent number of donations I may even expand the prize pool to have 2nd/3rd place prizes. Who knows?!? Either way, any surplus seeds you have that you saved from last seasons crops, get them in to us and we'll look after you. And if you've donated seeds to us in the last 6 months - don't worry, I've already added your names to the prize draw!

HOW TO DONATE SEEDS
If you want to donate some seeds to us, the easiest way is to post them to me at the address at the bottom of this email. Alternatively, come along to the Dunedin Vegetable Growers Club monthly meeting on Monday the 9th of August where members are engaging in a seed swap that night and I will be there with a few seed packs to swap and also happy to take surplus seed left over at the end of the meeting. DVGC meetings are held at the St Patricks Parish Centre, on MacAndrew Rd in South Dunedin. That's just on the harbour side of the main street down from United Video. Meetings start at 7:00 sharp so it's best to arrive around 6:45 and have a few chats before things get underway. The meetings are always good fun and have some great topics covered, with plenty of experienced gardeners to help answer any questions you may have!


OTHER NEWS
A brief update on other news for Otepoti Urban Organics.
 

• We are currently planning some great new initiatives to help Otago gardeners upskill themselves and get more engaged in the full cycle of gardening - from seed saving to soil maintenance. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for more info on these. One of the main projects is an 'Adopt-A-Veg' campaign, whereby to make seed saving simpler and easier, OUO members can choose one species of vegetable from our catalog to make an effort to save seed from and return to the network (as well as keeping some for yourself of course). Gardeners will be able to choose from 'easy', 'medium' or 'hard' seed-saving difficulties depending on your level of experience, and you'll be sent full instructions on how to grow the plants and collect the seeds, not to mention full (and free) troubleshooting support in our online discussion forums.

• We may also be getting some seed stands out in a few places around town so that you can go and pick them up at your leisure rather than mail ordering. Keep an eye out for info on this soon as well - or, if you know of a shop or other public area that would be willing and appropriate to have a small (honesty box based) seed stand at, then let me know and I can investigate further!

• I would also like to extend a massive thank you to the Sustainable Living Course groups coordinated by Maureen Howard. As part of the courses, participants get to nominate an organisation which they donate a portion of their course fees to. This time, it was Otepoti Urban Organics, and we have been provided with a generous donation from them which will go a long way towards launching some of our initiatives this spring and summer! If you are interested in learning more about the Sustainable Living Course, you can contact Maureen at mhoward@slingshot.co.nz .

• Don't forget that our website is a great place to discuss food growing and other sustainability related topics with other people from around Dunedin / Otago. Jump along and join in some conversation, share some pictures of your projects, or arrange a produce trade! (Tip: check the post on free range egg swaps that is happening now, rumor has it they are the best eggs this side of the equator!) Just hop along to our website at www.urbanorganics.org.nz to get amongst it!
  

Anyway folks, thats all for now. Get those seed donations coming in! And you'll be hearing from me again soon with additional info on how we are all going to have awesomely productive gardens this spring and summer!

Cheers,

Bart