Feeding Nelson …
Bill Sayer believes Nelson can grow all the fruit it needs.
“It only requires 4 fruit trees to be planted per person” says Bill. “There is plenty of scope for more fruit trees to be planted in both private gardens and Council reserves.” Options are to propagate cuttings and seedlings on a large scale”
Bill believes Nelson needs to plant fruit trees and plan urban food production now.
“We are facing a number of global crises that will create uncertainty for our food supply” says Bill. “These include peak oil, global financial uncertainty and climate change. Nelson needs to plan now for how it can feed itself.”
Bill believes Nelson City Council has a key role to play in feeding Nelson. “Valuable food trees that grow too big for residential sections- like avocadoes and walnuts- should be grown on Council reserves” says Bill. Bill is submitting to Nelson City Council’s annual plan calling for it to plan for food production on its land.
Bill also practises what he preaches. Bill and his wife Ruth have two vegetable gardens in different parts of the city. Bill is also a key supporter of “open orchards”, a community initiative to plant fruit trees in Council reserves.
Earlier this month Bill organised the planting of a grove of feijoas in The Brook valley. Helping Bill were Rob, Gareth, Daisy, Caitlin and Richard.
If you want to find out more about open orchards or have an idea of where some fruit trees could be planted contact Elizabeth at the Nelson Environment Centre email info@nec.org.nz/ phone 545 9176.
