Seeds, Stories & Forgotten Foods

Tuesday 6 October 2026 - 6.15pm - Lawson - $2/$5

Permaculture Blue Mountains presents Seeds, Stories and Forgotten Foods

Discover the fascinating stories behind the plants we grow, eat and pass on. Lloyd will explore the ethnobotanical traditions, cultural practices and environmental knowledge that have shaped edible and medicinal plants across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Hear about heritage varieties, seed saving and propagation, and some of the more unusual edible plants that can be grown across the Blue Mountains’ different climates. Lloyd will also share his experience with local and national seed-saving networks and why preserving plant diversity matters for our future.

Bring your questions and join the discussion.

Everyone is welcome - invite a neighbour or a friend to join us for the evening

About the Presenter

Our facilitator, Lloyd Sharpe has been delivering talks over the past 10 years to garden clubs, community gardens, academics, seed savers, horticulture industry bodies, and botanical history enthusiasts.

He has found that many attendees are particularly interested in the broader connections between food security, self-sufficiency and community resilience. This includes exploring how people respond to the challenge of producing nutritious, nutrient-dense food in viable and sustainable ways.

His interest extends beyond gardening itself to the relationship between plants and people how food production, cultural traditions and our historical interactions with plants have shaped the way we live. He is also interested in the decorative, cultural and social roles of plants, particularly in urban settings.

Ultimately, it is about creating environments where plants, people and communities can flourish while recognising that growing food and engaging with plants can also be creative, social and fun.

With a strong interest in the ethnobotanical aspects of growing edible and medicinal plants. His background includes a long practical involvement in collecting and saving seeds of plant varieties used in our Australian, NZ and Pacifica region.

Lloyd continues to be involved with the Australian National ‘Connect’ network for seed saving groups and local seed savers in the Blue Mountains.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026

Registration: 6:15pm

Shared Dinner: 6.30pm

Guest Speaker: 7.00pm

What to Bring:

Food to share

Plate, Cup, Cutlery

Money for raffle tickets

Entry:

$2 for financial PBM members

$5 for non-members

$10 to join Permaculture Blue Mountains*

* Membership to PBM helps us pay rent and offers a range of perks including reduced entry fees, working bees, free or subsidised workshops.

Venue:

Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, 9 New Street, Lawson NSW

Hosted by: Permaculture Blue Mountains

Registration via Humanatix:

Allows us to notify you of upcoming events (not just the monthly gatherings)

Helps us know how many tables and chairs to set up

Enquiries:

Amanda Argent 0409 513 337

Noni McDevitt 0488 511 855