RIG News – February 2013

" " News from the Remote Indigenous Gardens Network – www.remoteindigenousgardens.net

Welcome to the first RIG News for 2013 – a bit of a bumper edition to kick things off, after what has been such a challenging hot summer and dry wet season for so many people.

In this edition we welcome two new RIG Partner Organisations – the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) and Nutrition Plus Ltd and include a short piece about some really useful new gardening and garden design you can download from the RIG website.

As it’s the first for the year, we’ve rejigged the order of things. Leading off, is a listing of coming events from within the Network and from across the nation that relate to , health and social and economic development on country. For your information and possibly for your diary? Saving the best for last, read on for technical tips, advice and inspiration for central Australian and top end gardens, respectively, from gardening gurus Geoff Miers and Leonie Norrington. Many thanks Geoff and Leonie for your stories - Technical Tips that we aim to include as regular features this year.

RIG Network aims to support people in remote communities who want to grow food for better health, wealth and wellbeing. We share information, facilitate partnerships and initiate projects to help build local skills and capacity. Our core programs are: 1. Network communications and information sharing, and 2. Strategic research, advocacy and partnership projects.

I hope you find something interesting or useful in this edition, and as always, welcome your feedback and suggestions for future editions. Anthea.

Tabatha Saunders, an Individual Supporter of RIG, profiled in RIG News " early last year has plans for an exciting new project…she is

SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST From Aboriginal and with Horticultural Knowledge from both a Professional or Traditional Perspective * Do you Love ? * Are You A Keen Gardener? * Do You Work within the Horticulture Industry and if not, do you have stories about plants that you would like to share? * Do you think you could commit your stories in writing?

Then I'd LOVE to hear from you! There is an opportunity for you to tell your stories and technical knowledge about plants from an indigenous perspective. If you think you may be interested in contributing, then please contact me " by emailing me directly at [email protected] or via the RIG Network for Tabatha&&in&Brisbane&and&is& further details. a&qualified&Horticulturist.&&

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""""""" " " RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 " 1" " RIG Network connections - people, events, programs, new conversations, partnerships. COMING EVENTS 2013 – FOR YOUR INFO &/OR DIARY

Coming Events – Around the Network

March 8: JCU Symposium and Fair, ‘How can we live and eat sustainably in the tropics?’ The JCU Sustainability Symposium and Fair will be held at JCU, Cairns, Friday March 8 from 8:30am – 7:00pm. Speakers from RIG Network will contribute to the program, short presentation at 2:00pm. For the full program of events and speakers see: JCU Symposium and Fair Program

March 11: RIG Cairns Regional Group Meeting, Cairns The group’s second meeting will focus on discussion to identify and plan strategic and practical project priorities group members wish to progress, including how the regional group will meet/interact going forward. To be held on Monday March 11, from 12:00pm – 4:30pm, Meeting Room 1, Cairns Library.

March 21: National Close the Gap Day Get involved in the National Close the Gap Day campaign and join the thousands of people and organisations around holding events to raise awareness of the Indigenous health crisis. Consider a local event to celebrate local people, food, useful bush , gardening ands other skills? If you do, let us know! https://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/indigenous-australia/close-the-gap/

March 22: CDEP Provider Meeting – Darwin The final all CDEP Provider Meeting for providers in the Darwin ICC region will be held on Friday March 22 at the ‘older’ Holiday Inn, The Esplanade, Darwin. This will be the final meeting of the group before this CDEP Contract ends and RJCP Contract begins. Presenters will address various topics including one on new ideas for social design for garden projects by Anthea from RIG Network. For more information, contact Samoane Regattieri, CDEP Regional Mobility Coordinator N.T Region, DRIACDEP, [email protected].

March - April: RIG Programs – EduGrow School Garden Awards 2013, NT Stay tuned for announcements about the EduGrow School Garden Awards before the end of Term 1!

Planning is well underway for the EduGrow School Garden Awards 2013 that RIG Network and our EduGrow partner organisations plan to offer to build upon the achievements of last years ALPA 40th Anniversary EduGrow School Garden Awards. If you or your organisation are interested in supporting the Awards please contact Anthea directly by March 20. [email protected] or 0419 478856.

June 1-2: The 2013 Tropical Garden Spectacular – Garden Party theme, Darwin Planning for this years Tropical Garden Spectacular is well underway ‘let’s have a garden party – lettuce turnip the beet!’. RIG Network is again working with the organisers to encourage and support gardeners from communities out of Darwin to get along to this years event. Stay tuned for further details. If you’d like to learn more or get involved in one of the planning sub-groups contact Michele Shugg, Executive Officer, Nursery & Garden Industry NT, [email protected].

June 3-4: Growing Communities, Learning in the Garden National Seminar, Brisbane Six years on since the last national seminar, the LITGNS will bring together educators, health professionals, parents, individuals and organisations for a two-day journey of gardens-based education and professional development to explore how school gardens can equip school age children to respond positively and proactively to a changing world.

In light of recent natural disasters around Australia, this year’s seminar will focus on the role of school gardens in addressing issues of adaptation, resilience and food security for future generations. The National Seminar program will include presentations, discussion panels, hands-on workshops and activities, visits to operating school gardens, lunches, dinners, and information stalls. As well as exploring the above themes, the program will also cater for people at various stages of the process of setting up, growing and harvesting a school garden.

Growing Communities is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to speak, present, facilitate or entertain at the seminar. If interested, please send your details and a 200 word description of your proposed activity. Closing date for EOI’s is Friday 28 March. For more information: 0424 985 383 or email [email protected].

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 2" Coming Events - Major Conferences and Gatherings 2013

The following lists major national events that relate in various ways to the food sector, Indigenous health, and different perspectives about, and opportunities for, social and economic development on country.

March 20-21: 3rd National Sustainable Food Summit, Melbourne Convened by the 3 Pillars Network, this is the third of these annual events and will again be held in Melbourne. For more information or to register go to: Sustainable Food Summit Melbourne.

April 7 -10: 12th National Rural Health Conference – Strong Commitment. Bright Future. The conference will be held in Adelaide. The conference Program is now online. With 46 concurrent sessions and more than a dozen keynotes on selected issues, the Conference will provide a timely analysis of where the health and wellbeing of rural Australia stands. To learn more or register, go to: http://nrha.org.au/12nrhc/

April 18: Global Food Forum – Australia’s Place at the Table, Melbourne The Australian – in partnership with Visy and supported by The Wall Street Journal – is presenting “a landmark conference on food security …to explore the potential for agriculture to become Australia’s next great economic boom”. For full list of speakers and conference information: www.theaustralian.com.au/globalfoodforum

April 29 – May 3: Second North Australian Indigenous Experts Forum The Second Forum will focus on progressing governance and management frameworks of the key projects, establish project priorities by developing their terms of reference, and associated strategies for delivery. The North Australian Indigenous Experts Forum is supported under the Australian Government Northern Australia Sustainable Futures Program delivered by the Office of Northern Australia. NAILSMA provides secretariat support to the Indigenous Experts Forum.

Visit the NAILSMA website for further information. Contact Anna Boustead, NAIEF Project Officer, NAILSMA, to subscribe to Network News that provides updates on activities of the Indigenous Expert Forum. May 14 & 15; 23: Supply Nation Connect 2013 – Turning contacts into contracts Supply Nation (formerly known as AIMSC) provides a direct business to business purchasing link between corporate Australia, government agencies and Indigenous-owned businesses. Describing themselves as ‘a dating agency for business’ their premium annual event is the Connect Conference, Tradeshow and Gala Dinner. This event brings together corporate and government buyers with certified Indigenous suppliers solely focused on growing and developing business opportunities and relationships.

In 2013 Supply Nation Connect will be held in two locations: Melbourne on May 14 & 15 and Perth on May 23.

Early Bird registration prices have been extended to Friday March 15. For learn more and register for Connect 2013 visit www.supplynation.org.au/connect

May 26 - 31: Inaugural World Indigenous Network Conference, Darwin, The journey of the World Indigenous Network (WIN) began in August 2011. Since then, the journey has gathered momentum and in June 2012, the Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard with the support of Brazil, New Zealand and Norway, launched the Network at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in Brazil. The Australian Government established a National Advisory Group to support and provide strategic advice and direction for the WIN and WIN Conference in 2013. The group’s membership comprises representatives from key Indigenous organisations around Australia.

As custodians of knowledge and expertise, the World Indigenous Network will bring together Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and sea managers to share stories, knowledge, cultural experiences and ideas to better manage ecosystems, protect the environment and support sustainable livelihoods.

The overall aim of the World Indigenous Network is to encourage: • better conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources • improved social cohesion • increased economic opportunities and the alleviation of poverty.

To learn more, to share your story, or to register for the conference go: www.worldindigenousnetwork.net

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 3" Information sharing – for people and better practice Useful New Resources

New - on the RIG website plant selection, management and other information We’ve been updating the website – visit the new that were used to develop the Banatjarl Bush Resources and Events sections, that each have Medicine Garden at family healing and new pages and information you can download. New centre at King Valley. See Garden Stories, on the Gardening Resources page (under October 2012, RIG website to read more. Resources) are two excellent publications that we have kindly been given permission to publish online. New - from around the Network They are: The Fitzroy Valley cook book: volume one (the wet season). Includes bush tucker recipes using ‘wet Julianne Hartmann’s Highland Tropical Staples. season’ and a ‘dry season’ cookbook is coming This booklet provides information about food plants soon. Contact Nindilingarri Cultural Health services that grow really easily in the tropical highlands, as or HealthInfoNet for more information. they are either adapted to frost or handle frost well. Julianne says most of them are really hardy and Community GrantGuru - Australia's largest free should also do well in tropical or subtropical regions. searchable listing of nation-wide grants and funding Easy to read, the booklet is structured in three programs for community-based and not-for-profit sections: Tubers – the foods that fill the belly; Protein organisations. Foods – the foods that satisfy; and Greens – the immune boosters. For each food an Introduction, The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance launched Cultivation, Harvest and Preparation notes are given. the Peoples Food Plan (PFP) working paper in February. Popular input welcome, for July 16 launch. Banatjarl Useful Plants and Bush Tucker Garden To learn more or get involved go to: Report, permission courtesy Alison Rogers, the Fred www.australianfoodsovereigntyalliance.org Hollows Foundation. This report provides design,

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ILC Land Acquisition - KM.indd 1 2/1/13 11:27 AM RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 4" RIG Network – working with partners who make a difference Warm Welcome - New RIG Network Partner Organisations

RIG Network partner organisations are key contributors to RIG’s network and our outreach and communications programs. We’re delighted to welcome the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) and Nutrition Plus Ltd as partners in 2013 and look forward to working with them in the year ahead – both great organisations who make a real difference to the communities they serve.

About the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA)

TEABBA was incorporated in 1989, and is a Remote Tune in to TEABBA on March 21 at 11:30am – Indigenous Media Organisation (RIMO) with 28 remote TEABBA have invited RIG to join them for a live chat Indigenous communities across the Top End of on air and together we’re keen for local people to Australia within the Northern Territory. share their garden, bush plant and other stories with TEABBA’s audiences. TEABBA provides support with technical concerns for these communities, and their radio and even some Look out for stories about TEABBA and their programs television services. TEABBA, also plays an active role in future editions RIG News. with broadcast training workshops within this footprint.

TEABBA broadcasts daily, with information segments and interviews that are relevant to the remote community issues such as Health, Education, consumer affairs, news, weather and sports etc.

During the dry season TEABBA gets out to as many music, arts, sports and culture festivals as possible. So we can share all of the highlights, across the TEABBA Network and to other Indigenous Media Networks across Australia.

TEABBA has strong and stable membership from these communities, therefore have proud and proactive Board members to represent the Organisation.

Visit: www.teabba.com.au

Nutrition Plus Kitchen and Bush Tucker School Gardens Story by Dr Kate Hartig PhD. and Dr Louise Ormerod PhD.

Australia (suppliers of Juice Plus+® products) and their staff and Franchisees.

With a focus on schools with at least 30 percent of Aboriginal children, our current projects include two gardens established in the Northern Territory at Wulungurru School Kintore and Raymangirr Nutrition Plus is an Australian wide not-for-profit Homelands School, as well as Awabakal preschools in organization whose purpose is “building healthy the Hunter Valley and Tingha Public School in north- futures with Aboriginal children” through the west New South Wales. encouragement of increasing the kids’ consumption of fruit and vegetables. Nutrition Plus based in Newcastle, east coast NSW and has confronted several challenges establishing This goal is achieved through supporting school gardens in the Northern Territory and the more remote kitchen and bush-tucker gardens and providing whole- area of New South Wales.These challenges include food fruit and vegetable based supplements (Juice access to and delivery of supplements and garden Plus+®)* . The provision of the supplementation infrastructure, limited supply, feral animals and is made possible through a partnership with NSA poor productivity. What has not been lacking is

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 5" the enthusiasm and commitment of teachers, students and the wider community. Local elders have taken the children on bush-walks in the collection of bush-tucker food seeds. Despite some Kintore and Raymangirr are still in the early stages of set-backs with feral animals, -tucker garden is their gardens, but the garden at Tingha Public School beginning to flourish. This is a great example of how is an exemplar of what can be achieved by school and the local culture is incorporated into our programs. community involvement in establishing a kitchen and bush-tucker school garden. Plans are now underway to erect an outdoor kitchen, pit-fire ‘yarn circle’ and a garden sculpture by a local Aboriginal artist adjacent to the school garden. This will further enhance the solidarity of the community around the Nutrition Plus kitchen and bush-tucker school garden.

In the greenhouse at Raymangirr Homelands School, NT.

Kids in the garden at Tingha, NSW.

In addition, Nutrition Plus is excited to also be working with Dr Ray Jones from Bulgarr Ngaru Aboriginal Medical Service, Grafton, NSW within another remote Tingha Public School’s vegetable garden, NSW community in NSW utilizing the addition of a “before and after” study of our programs, later this year. Tingha Public School is now entering its third year of involvement in the program. The contribution of the *Juice Plus+® contains the powders of seventeen vine ripened fruits, children under the guidance of teachers, parents and vegetables and grains and has been the subject of over 20 Elders has resulted in an extremely productive garden. published medical journal articles from universities and research Integration of gardening into the school curriculum and institutions from around the world, including Sydney University www.juiceplus.com.au .The Children’s product, containing the same cooking lessons along with the garden produce being powders as the capsules is one of only two children’s products to be utilized in breakfast and lunch school programs has listed with the Therapeutic Goods Authority of Australia and is the promoted the kids’ enthusiasm for working in the subject of the world’s largest quantitative study with over 1,000,000 garden. participants including Australian children www.childrenshealthstudy.com.

The success of the garden has also encouraged the Images kindly provided, with permissions, by Nutrition Plus Ltd. involvement of the wider community.

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RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 6" Technical Tips Selecting Plants for Central Australian Gardens Story kindly provided by Geoff Miers, Geoff Miers Gardens Solutions, Alice Springs

Having experienced one of the hottest summers in Central Australia on record with Alice Springs experiencing 21 days in January alone between 40 to 46 degrees, home gardens have surely been tested, with universal plant casualties in literally every garden. Interestingly it’s been rare to see a dead Central Australian plant species. They have coped well while even the hardiest Australian plant species from elsewhere have suffered greatly. Surely there is a lesson to be learnt from this. Two decades ago there were few Central Australian plant species available commercially through local nurseries. Today however, there exists a wide selection of trees, shrubs, ground covers, grasses and bush tucker plants.

Consider these sorts of options - a combination of controller will provide the flexibility required to develop small to medium Eucalypts and along with a watering regime that will water daily as required trees like the Whitewood , initially to up to 30 days once plants have become Kurrajong Brachychiton gregorii, Grevillea striata or established. Beefwood and the small but delightful or Quandong tree. To compliment a drip system, mulch should be applied to most garden beds or applied to the Amongst my favorite local Eucalypts are the tall immediate area around individual plantings. Where growing Thozet’s Box Eucalytpus thozetiana, the small termites are a problem use non-organic mulch like Shiney-leaf Mallee Eucalyptus lucens and the Round- sand, pebbles and rocks. These mulches will all help leaf Mallee Corymbia orbifolia with its red mottled bark conserve the water applied, moderate soil and bluish-grey foliage. temperatures and reduce weed growth.

Amongst the wattles its hard to beat the tough old In the home garden other organic mulches can be Mulgas such as the Common Mulga applied and while acting as a decorative surface and the Red Mulga Acacia cyperophylla (two excellent treatment they also help reduce water loss through small to medium trees) and the Witchetty and evaporation, moderate soil temperature and reduce Umbrella Bushes and Acacia weed growth. Soft organic material like pea straw, ligulata, respectively, as two drought survivers, and the Lucerne and sugar cane mulch are also excellent as rapid growing broadleaf Candelabra Wattle Acacia they break down relatively quickly providing valuable holosericea. nutrients and organic content to the soil.

The native fuchsias or Eremophila species are largely In dry Inland Australia organic content is often lacking unknown plants however they are generally tough, and most need regularly to have organic material drought tolerant and great bird attracting plants. added to stimulate all the necessary microbes and Eremophila bignoniflora is a small tree, Eremophila fungi, etc in the soil needed to break down the organic christopheri and Eremophila freelingii are great hill- content releasing much needed nutrients to sustain side plants while the vast range of Eremophila healthy plant growth. maculatas or Bushes can bring red, orange, lilac, purple and yellow blooms to the garden. There are many plant species that can be purchased in nurseries today and most are sold on the strength of If you’ve got a dry, hot spot with clay soils consider a colourful plant label, irrespective of whether they are Eremophila polyclada. This is a medium size shrub suitable for your soils or climatic conditions. Don’t that flowers continuously from Spring right through to purchase on impulse, learn to understand your local late Autumn and no matter how hot it gets during environment, look to see what is growing well in your summer it continues to flower at its peak. region and seek local expert advice before becoming a victim to the impulse buying based on a colourful label. All plants introduced into Central Australian gardens need to be watered well initially and as they are Thoughtful plant selection and adapting gardening established. As plants get established, the watering techniques to suit arid land conditions will reward you regime needs to change – allow for less frequent with a healthy garden that doesn’t experience massive but for longer periods in order to promote deep plant losses when hot summers and freezing winters rooting. A deep rooted plant is much more able to are experienced. withstand periods of drought. If we believe in global warming then more climatic The most efficient system to install is a drip irrigation extremes are likely to be experienced in the decades system as this places where it is needed. ahead and gardening will become tougher unless we The polypipe should be buried 100mm below the adopt a common sense approach to gardening that is surface with 4mm feeder line bringing the emitters to reflective of soil, climatic and environmental the surface. A 1-31 day battery operated irrigation conditions.

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 7"

Technical tips Growing in the Wet Season Story kindly provided by Leonie Norrington, author of Tropical Food Gardens – A guide to growing fruit, herbs and vegetables in tropical and sub-tropical climates.

We've just had one of those huge storms that leave you stunned in a silence of dripping leaves and shell-shocked plants. The air is wet with suspended particles and so absolutely clear, it is like the has washed away the dust in the air itself. The garden is so wet even the high ground sparkles, dark green covers every surface and the are gold with new leaf and drunk with sloshy joy…

And now back to this year – this tear we're starved for With everything growing " monsoons - more sun than rain - but doesn't it make madly it’s the perfect time to take tip cuttings. Snip everything grow! We've had so little rain my thyme and them off first thing in the morning, keep them moist in sage are still alive. It's so hot! All you can do is make a plastic bag, give them a quick dip in the rooting sure you have plenty of water on the inside and water powder and into the seed raising mix. They won’t even on the outside. Submerge yourself as often as you can glance backward. in water. A shower, a bath with icecubes floating in it, a pool, even a 44 gallon drum is perfect. And drink, drink No dig gardens work brilliantly in our perfect-for- and then drink some more. WATER that is...Then at compost weather. Try a couple for your veggie and the end, if you have room perhaps some things to do. flower beds garden beds this year. Throw down a layer of newspaper or cardboard to kill the weeds. Then just Our growing season for cool weather veggies is very build up the garden bed in layers: mulch, blood and short so you need to get the seedling going now. Sow bone, mulch, green weeds, lime, horse or cow them now in seedling punnets in a house to manure, mulch, kitchen scraps, trace elements, more protect them from marauding insects and pummelling mulch, chook manure, more mulch and a layer of rain. Try some beetroot this year along with the compost and cover with well loosened mulch. Leave to normal, snow peas, tomatoes, capsicum, rocket, settle and plant in April. lettuce, broccoli, dill and coriander. This is the time of great anticipation, and triumph. Well Fertilise the water chestnuts. Wrap little balls of blood most years it is. Some years it’s most depressing. Like and bone in stocking material and bury them in the the time my guava had a major fruit set – huge and mud where it won’t kill the fish or mosquito larvae in abundant – then fell over before any of them ripened the . with whiteants. But I don’t want to talk about that. What is most exciting is when you have cut the guava right Taro and cassava are half way through their growing back after it finished fruiting last year. Keep it in shape season now so they will also enjoy a bit of with tip pruning so it grows neatly through the dry, its encouragement. Compost is perfect if you have bark peeling gently to accentuate the beauty of its enough to spare, but blood and bone scratched into trunk. When it flowers put out the fruit fly traps, fertilise the surface and covered with mulch will also do the and mulch. The flowers set fruit, and straight away you job. toss on the net to keep the birds and moths off. So that right now you are hovering around the ripening fruit There’s an abundance of Ceylon spinach, Kang Kong threatening the possums, fruit bats and fruit flies with and sweet potato leaves rushing about the garden. the slow death if they dare to take one before you Pick them, chuck them in the blender and throw them taste you first ripe fruit. That is success! into pastry for quiche, pie or when your making chapattis to give a delicious green colour. A typical Wet season salad would be: Winged beans, snake beans and/or Brazilian spinach dipped in And the are flowering. Break off the purple boiling water just enough to soften and deepen their flowering ball when the bunch is big enough and give colour. Add to that slices of cooked Jap pumpkin or the plant a good dose of composted chook manure . . . orange sweet potato. Some sweet leaf or rosella tips, (the pelletised stuff is okay if you can't get the real kang kong and Ceylon spinach, lots of Costus stuff). woodsonii flowers - the most delicious ginger flower imaginable. And this is showing off – some home Put mulch under your pumpkin and watermelon fruit made feta cheese made from my own goats milk. while they’re growing so they don’t rot and cover them Cover it all with a dressing of olive oil and lime juice with mulch to protect them from sunburn. flavoured with garlic, Thai coriander, basil leaves and chives. Remove your bird nets and prune the lanky fruit trees into shape so they can recover before the Dry season And breakfast? A whole pineapple or mango or six slows them down. mangosteens. Perhaps a fruit salad of mango, guava,

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 8" abiu dragonfruit, mulberry with yogurt. Banana sweet potatoes orange and white, okra pancakes? And/or banana on toast with a sprinkle of or . Oh and don’t forget the freshly Herbs in season – aloevera, basil, banana leaf, chilli squeezed Ruby grapefruit and or soursop or Kumquat (birds eye), chocolate mint, mint, Cuban oregano, juice. curry leaf, flat leaf parsley, garlic chives, galangal, ginger, gota kola, hibiscus flowers, kaffir lime leaves, Wet season dinners would include Numus (it’s not a kenchur, lemon grass, mint, pandan, pepper (green coincidence that the fish are biting when the lime trees and black), Thai coriander, Vietnamese mint, winter are loaded). Basil chicken, sweet potato gnocci, green tarragon, elderflowers, green ginger, ginger leaves, paw paw salad, luxa! Fish, chicken, or rice wrapped in tumeric leaves, wild pepper leaf, rosella leaves, turmeric, pepper leaf or pandan leaves. All with heaps tumeric leaves. of greens – boiled, stir fried, wilted or just raw.

Fruit in season - , black sapote, carambolas, , custard apples, jakfruit, ripe pawpaw, soursop, lime, passionfruit, sapodillia. abiu, Dragon fruit, , elderberries, guavas, lemon, mangosteen, South American sapoti, kumquat, pineapples, rambutans, ruby grapefruit.

Greens in season - amaranth, abika, Brazilian spinach, cassava leaves, Ceylon spinach, kang kong, pumpkin tips, snake beans, sweet leaf, sweet potato leaf, winged beans.

Vegetables in season – akee, Asian cucumber, shoots, , elderflowers, pickling melon, mushrooms, Yam bean. - plantains, banana flowers, banana heart, gourds, cassava , eggplant, green pawpaw, luffa, pumpkin (jap), pumpkin flowers, The cover of Leonie’s much loved book.

You’ll notice we have introduced limited advertising in RIG News in 2013 in response to the RIG Feedback Survey 2012 and to help us fund what we do. If you, or your organisation, is interested in advertising in future editions please contact Anthea for further information.

RIG News is written and produced by Anthea Fawcett. © Southern Exchange. The Remote Indigenous Gardens Network is a project initiative of Augusta Nelson Pty Ltd t/a Southern Exchange. ABN: 46 110 133 134. Contact: [email protected]

RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 9" We acknowledge and warmly thank RIG Partner Organisations & Sponsors

RIG Partner Organisations Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture Limited Charles Darwin University Horticulture Aquaculture Group In-Scape-Out Living Systems Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation CDEP CuriousWorks Significance Heritage & Archaeology

RIG Sponsors

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RIG News – February 2013, RIG Network’s Bi-monthly Newsletter, No.23 10"