There are already a large number of your favourite stalls registered and a few new ones, and they will have on offer a huge variety of tropical and sub-tropical, native, exotic and food-bearing plants, as well as garden supplies and equipment.

Fine food and coffee stalls will keep your energy levels up and we will again have a series of small workshops on soil health, chemical free pest control, permaculture, composting and native habitat establishment.

“With almost three decades of presenting this wonderful event, it is time that the Plant Fair becomes a single use #Plastic Bag Free# event,” Caroline Joseph from the Bellingen Environment Centre said.”The team jumped at the suggestion made by our sponsor Kombu Wholefoods who have been plastic bag free for the past ten years.”

The Plant Fair is also working alongside ‘Waste Not Bellingen’ to be the first high profile event in Bellingen to go plastic free and will be offering growers and buyers some practical options this year. This includes:

Buyers:

1. Bring your own calico bag, used plastic bags, or box to take your small number of plants away.

2. Bring your own wheelbarrow or trolley if planning to buy up big. The Spring Plant Fair will also be supported by young outdoor groups who for a small donation will carry your plants for you from stall to car.

3. Please use the green bin for all compostable waste (only!), and yellow bin for recyclable waste

4. Finally, this year we are introducing 'Full Circle Pots''. If you have empty pots at home, wash them clean and bring to the Spring Plant Fair deposit bay for returning to growers for next season’s plantings.

Stall Holders:

1. Growers have been asked to bring their own courtesy trolley for customers to use if they need it

2. Growers have also been asked to come up with other ideas at their end for avoiding single use plastics

3. Food Stalls have been asked to only use compostable plates, forks & cups for green bin disposal.

There will also be assistance for people who may need help managing their plants, whether it be storing them safely in a holding bay for retrieval later or carrying them in trolleys or wheelbarrow to a designated pick up point.

The team will also pay special attention to the access needs of older patrons or people with a Disability through better signage of parking and pick-up points and also working on clearer pathways.

The Bellingen Environment Centre as always will be there to provide important information about the treasure trove of threatened species in the Bellingen Shire and the support that your backyard may provide for the habitat of local birds, bees, koalas and many other species.

To all you Bellingen readers, we are looking for volunteers to provide two hours of help in return for a stiff

coffee (you’ll need it!).

The 2017 Spring Plant Fair will commence for buyers from 8am Saturday 9 September.

For more information contact the Plant Fair Team at Bellingenplantfair@gmail.com.