with Spencer Shaw
The bounty of this country is considerable, and a reflection of the long term and ongoing management by First Nations people, for tens of thousands of years. We are only just recently becoming aware (listening) to benefits of “bush Tucker” and best of all, bush Tucker is good tucker, for us and the wildlife!
Bush tucker must haves that you should plant in your yard include: Midyim (Austromyrtus dulcis), a great low growing shrub/groundcover with attractive weeping foliage and tasty white berries, kids (young and old) love them; Lillypilly’s (Syzygium spp.) are all edible, if you are hungry enough, but from our local ones the Riberry (S. luehmannii), is not only bountiful, but tastes good raw and even glazed in a sugar syrup; Davidson Plums (Davidsonia spp.) although not strictly local, are spectacular foliage specimens with their large leaves and large beautiful looking plum like fruit. They are a tad sour, but nothing that a few spoons of sugar can’t fix to make a great jam, chutney, sauce or syrup; Plum Pine (Podocarpus elatus) also produce a juicy succulent, plum like fruit with a pleasant pine taste and again, fantastic for jams and syrups. Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is an easy to grow spinach and we even have a Native Celery (Apium prostratum).
Last but not least we have Bunya (Araucaria bidwillii), which in this part of the world, we are particularly blessed with thanks to the management of Jinibara and Kabi-Kabi peoples. These are serious food producing trees that have and continue to enable great gatherings of people from time immemorial. Bunya season is almost upon us, so keep your eyes out for cones that get blown out of trees before Christmas as these are tender and succulent. In late January when the mature crop falls boil, bake, mash or grind – so many great ways to cook and prepare!
