Blessing of the 2015 Garlic crop
2012- 2016 Braidwood Garlic Growers
In September 2012 a gathering of local garlic growers (and those interested in growing garlic) was held.
It was acknowledged at the gathering that thanks to Giles Bonin (and Victoria) garlic has become a crop of significant interest in the Braidwood area. Giles and Victoria started growing garlic over thirty years ago. " We started with no money and no idea, just a couple of hippies trying to find something that we could grow and sell... we just grew it for ourselves and one year a friend came and she had a garlic plait she had bought somewhere and we thought we could do that.... In our first year we made 30 plaits using the garlic that we had, a white softneck, and our 30 plaits sold to a local craft shop. The next year we produced 100 plaits...."
Garlic is now being grown in just about every vegie garden and small to larger scale production in the area is on the increase. Braidwood Garlic is primarily sold directly by the grower, usually through markets prior to Christmas or increasingly, over the internet.
With the increasing demand for Australian grown garlic and the growing interest in local food we needed to ensure that Braidwood is recognised for it's garlic (as part of the South East cool climate garlic growing region) and that this can only be happen if we share information and learning; and continue to encourage new growers. A key way of doing this was to enable those interested in growing garlic to work alongside existing growers during peak activities - planting, harvesting and braiding. Harvesting is generally over a short period but is very intense. (All harvesting in this area is done by hand.) A digital forum (Braid Garlic) was established to assist with the learning / labour exchange and to share information.
In September 2012 a gathering of local garlic growers (and those interested in growing garlic) was held.
It was acknowledged at the gathering that thanks to Giles Bonin (and Victoria) garlic has become a crop of significant interest in the Braidwood area. Giles and Victoria started growing garlic over thirty years ago. " We started with no money and no idea, just a couple of hippies trying to find something that we could grow and sell... we just grew it for ourselves and one year a friend came and she had a garlic plait she had bought somewhere and we thought we could do that.... In our first year we made 30 plaits using the garlic that we had, a white softneck, and our 30 plaits sold to a local craft shop. The next year we produced 100 plaits...."
Garlic is now being grown in just about every vegie garden and small to larger scale production in the area is on the increase. Braidwood Garlic is primarily sold directly by the grower, usually through markets prior to Christmas or increasingly, over the internet.
With the increasing demand for Australian grown garlic and the growing interest in local food we needed to ensure that Braidwood is recognised for it's garlic (as part of the South East cool climate garlic growing region) and that this can only be happen if we share information and learning; and continue to encourage new growers. A key way of doing this was to enable those interested in growing garlic to work alongside existing growers during peak activities - planting, harvesting and braiding. Harvesting is generally over a short period but is very intense. (All harvesting in this area is done by hand.) A digital forum (Braid Garlic) was established to assist with the learning / labour exchange and to share information.
Late last year (2014) In conjunction with our Regional Landcare Council (Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council) the Braidwood Garlic Growers Group was successful in obtaining a government grant (25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15) for the amount of $20,000 for a garlic growing project - Growing the Braidwood Garlic Growers.
The broad aim of the project is to demonstrate the potential for garlic as a commercial crop to enhance economic resilience, agricultural profitability and sustainability in the Braidwood area.
As a project in conjunction with Landcare there are three key environmental aspects:
To balance profitability with the protection of natural heritage
To promote organic and sustainable land practices
To recognise that all farming practices need to take into account natural diversity and sound management of
natural resource
Garlic is an ideal crop for sustainable farming practices as is can produce significant tonnage from a very small footprint. (A high value crop in a small area) It is an ideal crop for the increasing number of smaller farmers and hobby farmers.
Garlic is an ideal crop for sustainable farming practices as is can produce significant tonnage from a very small footprint. (A high value crop in a small area) It is an ideal crop for the increasing number of smaller farmers and hobby farmers.
According to the Australian Garlic Industry Association (AGIA), Australians consume at least 15,000 tons of garlic per annum, however garlic production in Australia meets less than 20% of this demand. A key factor in Australian garlic production is that the majority of garlic grown for the Australian market is from a small range of garlic varieties that are harvested at the same time, (November & December) and only store well for a few months. This generally means that most Australian garlic is no longer available for consumption by April/ May. That is, Australian garlic is available for a short season from late November to around April, with the majority consumed by February / March. (This is referred to as the narrow productions window.
Braidwood is a very cool climate region on mainland Australia and potentially has the climate conditions suitable to growing late season, long storage varieties of garlic so as to have commercial quantities of garlic available for the Australian market beyond the current narrow production window.
According to the Australian Garlic Industry Association (AGIA), Australians consume at least 15,000 tons of garlic per annum, however garlic production in Australia meets less than 20% of this demand. A key factor in Australian garlic production is that the majority of garlic grown for the Australian market is from a small range of garlic varieties that are harvested at the same time, (November & December) and only store well for a few months. This generally means that most Australian garlic is no longer available for consumption by April/ May. That is, Australian garlic is available for a short season from late November to around April, with the majority consumed by February / March. (This is referred to as the narrow productions window.
Braidwood is a very cool climate region on mainland Australia and potentially has the climate conditions suitable to growing late season, long storage varieties of garlic so as to have commercial quantities of garlic available for the Australian market beyond the current narrow production window.
Growing the Braidwood Garlic Growers Project has two key stages:
A major aspect of the 2015 garlic season will be to increase seed stock of the varieties primarily growing in the area. To this end 21 participants have purchased seed stock, with over 600k of garlic being planted this season (apart from what is normally grown across the region) with the aim of primarily using and /or selling most of the 2015 garlic harvest as seed stock for the 2016 garlic season. With a significant increase in garlic production it is anticipated that Braidwood will be able to wholesale garlic for Australian consumption in 2016. Wholesale marketing is by tonnage and the project aims to support small producers (producing less than a ton) to be able to wholesale their garlic through collaborative or collective selling.
We also plan for an increased planting of specific cool season long storage varieties. In the longer term (2016 garlic season and beyond) Braidwood should be able to position itself as a key producer of late season garlic varieties that are harvested from January and have a longer storage capacity so that we can be putting garlic into the Australian market beyond the current narrow production window when little Australian garlic is available. This should result in a premium price for the producer and increase the availability of Australian garlic
A major aspect of the 2015 garlic season will be to increase seed stock of the varieties primarily growing in the area. To this end 21 participants have purchased seed stock, with over 600k of garlic being planted this season (apart from what is normally grown across the region) with the aim of primarily using and /or selling most of the 2015 garlic harvest as seed stock for the 2016 garlic season. With a significant increase in garlic production it is anticipated that Braidwood will be able to wholesale garlic for Australian consumption in 2016. Wholesale marketing is by tonnage and the project aims to support small producers (producing less than a ton) to be able to wholesale their garlic through collaborative or collective selling.
We also plan for an increased planting of specific cool season long storage varieties. In the longer term (2016 garlic season and beyond) Braidwood should be able to position itself as a key producer of late season garlic varieties that are harvested from January and have a longer storage capacity so that we can be putting garlic into the Australian market beyond the current narrow production window when little Australian garlic is available. This should result in a premium price for the producer and increase the availability of Australian garlic