The fruit of the majestic Bunya Pine has been an important part of indigenous culture for thousands of years. Today many landowners today consider it dangerous and annoying garden waste. But an Indigenous artist believes it deserves better. Subscribe and tap the notification bell to be delivered Australian stories every day.
The people of Goulburn Island in the Arafura Sea off Northern Australia have been eating and trading oysters for centuries. Now the remote Aboriginal community has set up an oyster farm to grow black lip oysters and create jobs.Indigenous Australians have been reaping the bounty of the land for tens of thousands of years. Landline looks at how those foods are becoming mainstream and First Nation Farmers are part of modern agriculture.
Video produced by ABC Landline.
Tino spices it up and heads an hour south of Hobart to explore a farm cultivating a Tasmanian berry that really packs a punch.
The Tasmanian Pepper or Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) occurs naturally in the cool, temperate highland forests and shrublands across south-eastern Australia. Although this plant has been used by Tasmanian and mainland Indigenous people for thousands of years the rest of the world is only just cottoning onto their unique flavour. The leaves have a strong, earthy and spicy flavour whereas the berries are often sweet at first taste and transition into a complex fiery flavour.
We are at the farm of former horticultural researcher Dr Chris Read. The coastal property in Birch’s Bay is home to an eclectic mix of horticultural enterprises. The 100 - hectare property includes a productive community garden, a market garden growing seasonal produce for the onsite cafe, a 1.2km long public sculpture trail and forest walk, a newly established vineyard, a Dutch Iris farm, a potato farm and a Mountain Pepper orchard!
Chris became interested in growing the plant in the early 1990’s while researching the leaves for essential oil extraction. “There was a very small interest from a handful of restaurants in 1993 but there was no industry as such.”
How are Dinawan (Emu) Birds and Bush Tucker connected ?
Take some time to watch my video and share this giilang (story) with your family and young ones.
