2018 has brought forth an exciting collection of monthly talk series held on the farm. These nights have included and involved local and young regenerative farmers, innovative people working in food, food waste and sustainability in fun/friendly discussions and panels. Our goal is to create a community of mindful humans through connectivity and shared experience. We believe that real-life interaction, conversations and local Australian stories will allow us to do so.
September will mark the official beginning of the spring here in the southern hemisphere, yet there is a range of climate and seasonal calendar insights to be gained when considering the range of foods that the First Peoples in Australia cultivated and utilised. Aboriginal Peoples sustainably cultivated this land for tens thousands of years prior to colonisation. They had meticulous agricultural practices and botanical knowledge that allowed them to nourish themselves, yet regenerate the land and care for it at the same time. Join us on the farm to listen to the vast experience, knowledge and current day bush foods applications of our panellists.
Cost: $20
Provided: First Young Henry's beer on arrival + snacks
Bring: Coins for beer donations that will go towards resources for our education program.
THE PANEL
AUNTY FRAN BODKIN is a D’harawal woman from southern Sydney, and is well acclaimed for her passion for science both from the western framework and D’harawal framework. With degrees in Environmental Science, Geomorphology and Climatology, Fran teaches science at a university level with a lens of cultural knowledge handed down to her by her Aboriginal mother. Fran is a storehouse of stories and knowledge on native plants both edible and medicinal, and has many insights into the changes to essential ecological functions that modern agriculture has brought to this country.
JOHN NEWTON is a journalist and writer, and the author of The Oldest Foods of Earth, showcasing the past 'culinary blindness' of Australian eaters, and providing insights into the amazing array of foods utilised for thousands of years prior to the importation of European agriculture.
SHARON WINSOR is a Ngemba Weilwan woman of Western NSW and is the founder of Indigiearth, producing high quality bush food products around Australia. Sharon works with "pure pride and passion in being able to bring what Mother Earth has provided for everyone, in many different ways, and in its purist form." As well as its products, Indigiearth facilitates employment and training opportunities in the locations where harvesting and processing takes place.
NOEL BUTLER is a Budawang Yuin Elder with extensive traditional cultural values and has been applying them through the education system for over 35 years both here in Australia and overseas. Noel was born on the South Coast and was raised in a typical semi-traditional Aboriginal lifestyle of that era. The family depended for their existence on the families knowledge of skills of utilising the ocean, the lakes and the bush. Noel still practises Cultural Traditions and is a valued teacher and mentor to others. You can see some of his work at Nuragunyu.
NARELLE HAPP of A Garden For Life is a garden designer and horticulturalist specialising in native garden and permaculture design. She designs in a range of styles across homes, community spaces, kitchen gardens and thriving classrooms that are 'alive' in schools. She is passionate about creating productive spaces that nurture and sustain both physically and aesthetically!
DAN SMAILES from Sydney Native Bees conducts hive rescues, services and education focused on biodiversity in Australia. His passion for awareness of indigenous biodiversity especially the native stingless bee sees him spending his time between community events, participating in research projects and getting Sydney excited about observing and protecting our native be populations.
(final panelist to be announced soon).
IN CONVERSATION WITH DIEGO BONETTO
Diego is a wild food advocate and foraging instructor. For the past 15 years, Diego has led workshops and co-organised events in an attempt to foster botanical literacy. Diego's work focus on exotics (weeds) as those are the species he feels a connection with, since growing up on a farm in northern Italy. As a wild food expert, he collaborates extensively with chefs, herbalists, environmentalists and cultural workers promoting a new understanding of what the environment has to offer. Diego presents alternatives for people to re-engage with their neighbourhoods, streets and footpaths through edible adventures.
He will bring respect and curiosity to the talk, allowing for a mature conversation around decolonisation and acknowledgement of culture to happen.
THE SPONSORS
YOUNG HENRYS is an eclectic group of passionate brewers, distillers, musicians and artists, united for the love of good beer and fine gin. www.younghenrys.com