Before (2009) . . . . . . . . . . After (2011)

Since my last entry, which was over a year ago (pathetic, right? In my defense, I have been very busy) I have finished the paving and added many more native and edible plants to the garden.The above pictures taken from similar angles note the changes. I have planted many edible plants, with a focus on perennials, tropical edibles and native edibles. I harvest a lot of cherry tomatoes, sweet potatos, cassava, water chestnut, kang kong, portulaca, rasberries and figs.

In the foreground of the picture on the right are several Bunya cones. These are not (unfortunately) from my garden, but were harvested from a place about an hour north from here. Bunya cones are from the Bunya Pine- Araucaria bidwillii, a large tree native to queensland, from which traditional people harvested the large (5cm or so) pine nuts or seeds, and had ceremonies and feasts centered around these beautiful trees. I was lucky enough to experience my first bunya harvest this year!!

The cones are large and very heavy, with sharp recurved hooks on the end of each scale. Cones can contain from between 10 to 40 large seeds, which can be easilt separated from the scales when green. Each seed is protected by an extremeley tough integument, or seed coat, which requires much effort to remove if the seed is raw.

Seeds can be cooked by boiling for several minutes, or my favourite way is to roast them in an open fire for several minutes. The seed coat turns black from the fire, and some of them explode with a loud noise, throwing bits of nut everywhere, but they are very delicious cooked this way. Cooking helps to soften the seed coat, enabling it's easy removal. Once shelled, the seeds can be used in stir frys, salads, pesto, pasta etc. I even read a recipe somewhere for Bunya nut and Witchety Grub Soup!

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One of the edible natives growing in my garden is Rubus probus, the Large-Fruited Native Rasberry (very similar to Rubus rosifolius but a faster growing taller plant). It's fruit are around 3cm big, and are sweet, juicy and delicious. This plant is a vigorous grower and can quickly take over an area. It has many recurved spikes along its stems and leaves.

It prefers full sun, but will grow in part shade, and loves moist, humus rich soil.

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It spreads vegetatively from runners, which send upright individual shoots that form a clump resembling a bush, as shown below.

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I recommended growing this plant in a large container. This fruit is quite an exceptional native food, it is easy to grow, very tasty and has great potential as a commercial crop.