Kullari plum

On August 27, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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KULLARI Australia was established in 2006. It is an aboriginal owned co-operative in Broome that harvests sustainably the Kullari plum by the local indigenous families. This plum is one of the worlds most nutritionally dense foods. Not only does it have the worlds highest concentration of vitamin C found in any fruit, it has extraordinary high levels of antioxidants – levels which far exceed that of blueberries and other fruits. Kullari Australia operates for the benefit of the members. Indigenous harvesters of Kullari Plum live in Broome and remote out stations of the region and are striving for economic independence. Through the sale of Kullari plum they aim to generate independent income for their members so that they can live on country, look after their families and pursue a way of living in keeping with indigenous culture.

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Slow Food London

On August 27, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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FOLLOWING the sucess of the performance of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and the Slow Food mini market in July at the Southbank Centre, Slow Food London and Southbank Centre announces the continuation of the Slow Food Markets. The markets will be held monthly. Southbank Centre holds wide ranging programmes of classical and world music, rock and pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts. These programs attract the most diverse audience in the United Kingdom and with the proposed monthly Slow Food markets it will be a great vehicle to highlight good, clean and fair producers of the United Kingdom.

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Walking together

On August 18, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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A PROGRAMME has been developed in Broome that helps remote communities grow their own food while also investigating traditional plant cultivation. Kim Courtenay of Kimberley Technical & Further Education is helping these communities, one or two generations away from their traditional cultures, set up an organic community vegetable garden. A large part of this group are in prison for minor offences. ‘They have wonderful qualities,’ says Kim, ‘and it is great to see them come alive.’ In the early days vegetable gardens were set up at missions and pastoral stations, so why not now?

The other aspect of this venture, named Walking Together, is establishing an indigenous orchard consisting of native food plants such as the gubinge and the pindan walnut. Community elder and course graduate Merridoo Walabidi believes that establishing the orchard will provide an important cultural context for the training program. He also sees horticulture as a real chance for today’s generations to gain a greater connection to country. The ABC Gardening Show video shows Walabidi walking through the informal orchard with Kim Courtenay and Josh Byrne, and also highlights the organic garden.

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Laudatio volunteers

On August 17, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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HEARD on Life Matters ABC radio programme a talk by Dr. Melanie Oppenheimer on cultural volunteering. She highlights the value of volunteering, how it strengthens our communites, how it is fun and makes us feel good. For us at Slow Food Perth we would like to highlight that without the help of our own volunteers, our large events would not be nearly as much fun nor as successful.

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Healthy plants – new research

On August 17, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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DR Spiers has studied plant pathology for 35 years and information released from his latest research has found that the most cost effective way to increase plant productivity is to allow the plant to use its own defences. More information about this interesting research can be found at this link.

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Australia and the western honey bee

On August 15, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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FOR how long will Australia be able to keep our Western Honey Bees free from the tiny parasite, the Varroa Destructor Mite? ABC Bush Telegraph on Friday 14th August 2009 gave an interesting and informative discussion on this topic. Dr. Denis Anderson, Australian and world authority on the Varroa Destructor mite not only gives an historical background to the bee’s development over five million years, but there was also the tasting of different Australian honeys. Our unique position in the world with regard to bees is enlightening.

Australia is the only country in the world that does not yet have this parasite pest and there is grave concern about the mite arriving in Australia and destroying our viable and unique honey industry. In the late 19th century the Western Honey Bee, the Ligurian bee Apis Mellifera Ligustica, was imported from Italy to Kangaroo Island. The isolation of Kangaroo Island from the mainland has helped to maintain a genetically pure population of the Western honey bees that are descendants of the original Liguraian queens. The Kangaroo Island honey bee is now thought to be the last remaining pure stock of this Italian bee found anywhere in the world. They are considered an important genetic resource for queen breeders and for apicultural research.

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Unique cellar door building

On August 3, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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PETER and Suzanne Little of Random Valley Winery, established in 1995, were 2006 Terra Madre delegates. Their organic award winning winery, situated at Karridale in the South West of Western Australia not only produces some of Australias most beautiful wine but won the Banksia environmental award in 2005, the SGIO environmental award in 2004. and a finalist in the West Australian Environmental Awards in 2008.
Situated in a protected valley in the South West, it has one of the most unique cellar door outlets ever seen, a beautiful building which blends science and art. The building was designed and built by Peter who was a lecturer in architecture at Curtin University. The walls are made of 13,750 recycled wine bottles. RandomValleyinternal Nine tonne of water is contained in these recycled wine bottles and this stores the heat and coolness in the walls so as to stabilise the internal temperature of the cellar door building.
In 2008 Max Allen, chief judge for the Australian and New Zealand Organic Wine show said that Random Valley vineyard was clearly the wine estate that stood out. Four of their wines went home with trophies, one of which, their 2007 Shiraz won the best red wine and best wine of the show.

 

WA co-operative success story

On August 2, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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IN 1994 the Sweeter Banana Co-operative was formed by a group of six local banana growers, it has now grown to include over thirty members of Western Australian family run farms in Carnarvon and has just recently succeeded in convincing a major retailer to include ‘seconds’ in their shop. Grower and market development officer Doriana Mangili says this is a indication supermarkets are starting to realise good fruit and veg should not be judged on appearance alone. These WA bananas are not sprayed with pesticides, fungicides or insecticides.

Sweeter Banana Co-op market development officer Dorina Mangili said the co-op also donated part of its proceeds to environmental causes around the Gascoyne region.

 

Sea food watch

On August 1, 2009, in the nose, by pauline
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END of the line web site has now a sea food watch section on its web site. The End of the line documentary was filmed around the world and took two years to make. Charles Clover, investigative reporter confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs, who exhibit little regard for the damage they are doing to the oceans. The sea food watch widget allows you to check whether the fish you are planning to eat is caught or farmed in a way that is sustainable.