Local Bushfoods for the home garden
Ahh the ol' veggie patch - we all start them out with the best intentions. Visions of our new organic sustainable lifestyle, afternoons floating out to the backyard to gather ingredients for our seasonally inspired dinners... the home grown gifts of jams and relishes for our loved ones... and the biggie - all those dollars we’ll be saving in fresh produce? It all sounds perfect and amazing but seriously, how many of us actually have what it takes to keep this dream alive and these gardens going?
By day twenty of snail stealth missions, caterpillar runs and relentless weed pulling there's a good chance you (or you're less idealistic other half) is off to bunnings for the snail bait, tomato dust and dreaded bottle of round-up. And the vision of a rock garden with the odd succulent starts looking more and more appealing!
Now, my full respect goes out to all the veggie gardeners with perseverance, I think you're awesome - but for those of you who aren't so awesome (no need to be ashamed), what if we were to tell you that there could be another way? Just as inspirational, but way easier!
Introducing our local bush foods! Low maintenance, tasty and sustainable on so many levels. There really is a large variety of yummo plants to choose from in this region, this month we bring you three of our favourites to start you on your journey - each of these plants are low growing, tasty and require very little maintenance.
By day twenty of snail stealth missions, caterpillar runs and relentless weed pulling there's a good chance you (or you're less idealistic other half) is off to bunnings for the snail bait, tomato dust and dreaded bottle of round-up. And the vision of a rock garden with the odd succulent starts looking more and more appealing!
Now, my full respect goes out to all the veggie gardeners with perseverance, I think you're awesome - but for those of you who aren't so awesome (no need to be ashamed), what if we were to tell you that there could be another way? Just as inspirational, but way easier!
Introducing our local bush foods! Low maintenance, tasty and sustainable on so many levels. There really is a large variety of yummo plants to choose from in this region, this month we bring you three of our favourites to start you on your journey - each of these plants are low growing, tasty and require very little maintenance.
Midgen berry: Fruits are deliciously sweet with a hint of eucalyptus flavour - perfect to throw in a salad or add to your apple pie.
|
Pigface: Both fruits and leaves can be eaten. Fruits taste like a slightly salty lychee and are best eaten fresh, suck them from the base when they turn purple. Leaves can be sautéed or blanched.
|
Native Spinach: Tastes similar to English spinach, high in antioxidants, needs to be blanched for 10-15 seconds before eating to lower oxalate levels. Great in a spinach pie or stir fry.
|
So if you're not quite cut out to be a veggie gardener, growing local bush foods is definitely worth a crack. These plants have evolved perfectly to grow here, there's no need to water, no need to fertilise and no need for bug control. Maybe it’s us that need to do the evolving and celebrate the resources we have right under our noses – food for thought? On that note, I'm off to get myself some tucker! Happy gardening!
Article published Lennox Wave May 2017
