Huntley Berry Farm putting First Nations food on menu
Already a go-to destination for delicious, locally-grown fruit and vegetables, Huntley Berry Farm’s newest venture is looking to showcase the wide-variety of edible native produce that Indigenous Australians have enjoyed for millennia.
The OCTEC-owned disability enterprise will officially open their new “Marang Indigenous Edible Garden” on Saturday, February 26, with Orange City Life recently getting a sneak-peek at the innovative enterprise.
Featuring a range of fruits, edible greens, and herbs, much of what is growing in the garden is native to this area and includes plants used for traditional medicinal purposes as well as their nutritional value.
OCTEC Ltd Deputy CEO, Stephen Nugent, said that it is a project they have wanted to do for some time and was a way to celebrate the significance of local Wiradjuri culture.
“We wanted to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the farm exists and operates, and the garden was a great way to do that,” Stephen said.
While allowing you to come and “pick-your-own” native produce is some time away, Stephen said the real value of the garden is in educating visitors about these plants and how they have been used.
“And then, maybe, go away and plant some in their own backyards,” he added.
The Marang Indigenous Edible Garden was created in consultation with Gerald Power, founder of Indigenous Cultural Adventures and recently-elected Deputy Mayor of Orange and who is also a passionate exponent of First Nations food.
Walk into your local supermarket, he says, and you will be lucky to find any native food other than the macadamia nut. But by educating people and showcasing First Nations food in gardens like this, he hopes that will change.
“What we see here is actually the First Nations food of Australia. So people can actually come here and try this — and it’s something that they would have walked over, seen it, but never knew was edible — and how we've used it for 50,000 years!” Gerald said.
“They can come and pick the varieties around the farm, but then come and get educated in relation to this and probably find a plant that's in their own garden and start utilising it.”
Not only is so much of our native produce good for you, but it’s delicious, he said.
“This bush mint is really high in Vitamin C... it has a spearmint taste with a peppermint at the back of it. Dry that one up with the curry myrtle and make it like a pepper. With a bit of salt, you put it over a scotch fillet, T-bone, or a nice bit of rump, and it'll take it to the next level!” he enthused.
“Those warrigal greens there make an amazing macadamia pesto! On the day we launch here, I'm going to make a macadamia pesto and cook it with a nice little bit of emu, serve it up on a bit of wombok, a squeeze of lemon, pepper — lovely!”
The Official Opening Ceremony of the Marang Indigenous Edible Garden will take place at 11am Saturday, February 26 at Huntley Berry Farm. The opening will feature a Welcome To Country, Smoking Ceremony and First Nations Dancing Performance. It’s free to attend and all are welcome.