Welcome to our Bellingen Spring Plant Fair this Saturday 9 September 2023.
Hooray we’re nearly there. The last couple of months have been busy in preparation for our big day this Saturday. We trust you are ready, willing, able and super keen to join us and have the best day!
The Bellingen Environment Centre Inc. (BEC) would like to thank you for your wonderful support and being part of the Bellingen plant revolution. We can’t get enough plants and for the good health of our region, many more natives need to be planted.
A super big thanks to our wonderful volunteers who are helping over the day. We couldn’t do it without you and we so appreciate you giving your time and energy to our event. Your awesome!
Stallholder information
As a stallholder, we hope you now know where to go and what to do. If not, please click here to find out. If everyone knows what to do, especially at set up and pack down, the day flows so much more smoothly and harmoniously, so thanks for your cooperation. Gosh I know your a busy bee, and probably wont click above link so I’ve included some below.
Plant Fair day procedure:
- Arrive at 5.30am and line up on street noted in your email.
- Remain quiet when lining up to consider sleeping residents.
- Only enter early if you have pre-organised.
- Listen to directives of our wonderful crew – be patient, flexible, friendly and respectful. They are all volunteers giving their precious time and deserve your kind gratitude.
- When in the park, do not reverse and please drive one way at walking pace.
- NEVER drive on football oval.
- When entering, drive in and park close to your stall so other cars can pass.
- Quickly unload and take your car out before returning to set up.
- Please help us alleviate traffic congestion.
- Park a couple of streets away so your customers can park closer.
- Cars must be out of park by 7.30am
- No cars to stay in the park unless pre-organised.
- We are a plastic free market, so no plastic products and nothing covered in plastic.
- All eating utensils must be biodegradable (cardboard/bamboo)
- Help us reduce our rubbish intake by taking home ALL your rubbish.
- This is especially important for food vendors who need to take home all their food scraps, ideally composting them.
- Smile for the camera. Photos are often taken and uploaded to Facebook.
- Don’t forget to buy your plant raffle tickets.
- Gates open again at 2pm for cars to enter for pack down.
- Please remember to drive slowly.
- Report any incidents to Manager (Kaz) on the day or via email post event.
- Please be out of the park by 3pm latest.
- SORRY NO DOGS ALLOWED
- Have the best Plant Fair
The below map shows you where to line up in morning (you received this in your booking email).
The below is our mud-map for the day. Click here to see our list of stallholders.
Special note for our hot and cold foodies
As you should be aware (by reading our terms and conditions), we are a plastic free market and focus on reducing our rubbish intake. This means as a hot food stallholder, you too have to help us do the right thing. Thus…. no plastic cups, straws, plates, cutlery, coloured napkins. Cardboard and bamboo is the way to go. We did look into using porcelain mugs for the coffee, washing them and returning to stall, but sadly we just didn’t have the man power to pull it together this time. Please also take home ALL your own rubbish. Do not toss in red/yellow bins or skip bins.
If you are using ELECTRICITY at our market, please ensure all your equipment is safe and in good working order and your leads are tagged and tested. It’s vital you don’t overload your lead with too many cooking devices (oil fryers are known for this). You must have your leads 3m up off the ground, or if running along the back of stalls on ground, a thick mat must be placed over, to eliminate trip hazards.
All hot foodies must have a floor and 3 sides to their marquee, to stop any wind blown dust and alike entering food and it has been very windy of late.
Lastly a copy of your Food Supervisor and Council Cert must be displayed somewhere for customers to see you are legit.
I am reminding you of this because it’s imperative our Plant Fair runs smoothly, safely and enjoyably for all PLUS the local food inspector has been visiting markets in our region, and you want to ensure you are doing the right thing.
Thanks again for your concern and cooperation
Plant Raffle
From 8am -10am one of our lovely volunteers will be walking around the fair asking for your donation to our “plant raffle”. We really appreciate you giving something nice for one of our lucky ticket buyers to win at end of the day. Hey it could even be yourself, so don’t forget to get your tickets over at the BEC stall near Church St entrance. All proceeds from the raffle go back to the Bellingen Environment Centre.
Uncle Micklo Jarrett shares Welcome to Country on stage 8.30am
We are excited and blessed Micklo is joining us to start the Bellingen Spring Plant Fair off on the right note; acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Micklo is a qualified Early Childhood teacher with a Masters in Indigenous Languages Education. He teaches Gumbaynggirr Language in our community. Since 2014 Micklo is Head Aboriginal Language and Culture Trainer for the The Gumbaynggirr Language and Culture Nest, managed by the NSW Department of Education, and is currently Senior Education Officer for Aboriginal Languages.
Glenn Heath & the Deep Blue Sea
Inspired by the rich diversity in Blues and Roots music, local musicians, Glenn Heath, Geoff Dixon and Joe Tussie continue their journey into an original, raw and sweet brand of Australian blues. During 2022 the band recorded their latest album, ‘Fast Train To Pompeii’ at Golden Retriever Studios in Marrickville and look forward to its release later this year.
The band loves the laid back casual feel of Bellingen and looks forward to playing the Bello Spring Plant Fair from 9am – 2pm on the main stage.
Sid Hazel talks biodynamics on stage at 10am
Sid Hazell is giving a talk on preparing for the next growing season using organic, regenerative and biodynamic methods. Sid Hazell is a TAFE teacher who has been teaching Organic Farming, Biodynamics and Production Horticulture for over 20 years. Over that time he has brought many students to biodynamics. He is passionate about passing on the knowledge and benefits of Organics and Regenerative Agriculture and especially the deep respect for the earth and humanity found in Biodynamics. You will receive a free soil sample to get you started! Demonstrations will include compost making and preparing for the next season in your garden for everything that you wish to grow.
Luigi Marasco from The Patch talks on stage at 11.30am
Bellingen is known as an ideal permaculture town for its alternative views, strong activism network and unique vibe. It will also be known for hosting a premier Permaculture Design Course – an annual event designed to create more connected humans. Join us for 12 days this November for our inaugural PDC on Levenvale Farm. If you are ready for a life-altering experience, to shift your perspectives, to change the way you think about life and work, then a PDC is your next step on your journey.
A PDC is one of the best investments you can make for yourself for future planning and resilience, sustainability, connection, regeneration, adaptation, creativity, and homesteading. A PDC empowers you with critical knowledge and equips you to meet the challenges and opportunities that arise from our current time.
Ian Epic Earth -the Gourmet Gardener talks on stage at 12.30pm
Ian will be speaking about why genetic diversity is of increasing importance for resilient food crops. With the ‘growing’ trend of more people growing their own food, it’s becoming increasingly important to consider where that food came from and whether the genetics of that variety of crop are something worth saving.
A food gardening scientist & educator, Ian’s a man on a mission to help people take control of their health, lifestyle and food security. Ian proposes the solution to most of the world’s problems can be found by growing more food and collaborating with others doing the same! With a natural flair for simplifying and connecting many complex topics, he’s a passionate & engaging food gardening educator through The Gourmet Garden School in Raleigh. As he likes to say, “the Garden of Eden is ours to cultivate if we choose”.
Bonville Nursery make seed bombs with kids
Bonville Nursery will be hosting a kids seed bomb and seed sowing activity from 10am to 1pm on west side of oval. Come down with the kiddies and get involved!
As a major fundraiser for The Bellingen Environment Centre Inc (BEC), they present the Bellingen Plant Fair twice a year, in Spring and Autumn.
The BEC are a dedicated group who share environmental issues, protect environment and biodiversity, and foster proactive responses to climate change.
The Plant Fair started because the BEC are on a mission to get more plants (especially native trees) in the ground and encourage our community to do the same.
Your attendance supports their valuable work and helps make positive change our region. So thanks a million and have the best day !
Want to contact us?
Email: bellingenplantfair@gmail.com or bellingenec@gmail.com
Phone: 0419 218800
Bellingen Plant Fair 