November 2002

The Daley News

Hi, my name is Tara and I'm the latest addition to the Daley's team. I'm originally from Bowral in the Southern Highlands, south of Sydney. I currently live on Lynchs Creek, just north of Kyogle in the most beautiful valley below the Border Ranges National Park. I've studied ecology, horticulture and organic farming and am bringing all these skills together to help the nursery help you, as best I can. I have always had a passion for plants, especially natives and edible plants and spend most of my spare time in my own garden or kitchen, putting it all into practice. Bush Regeneration is another one of my passions, especially in riparian areas, as I believe our waterways are one of the most important resources we have in Australia and are in need of increased management. I have travelled overseas and seen many different cultures and agricultural techniques but my favourite place I've travelled in is our own country, Australia. I have travelled extensively throughout many regions of Australia and have always found the people extremely friendly and helpful and the number of different natural environments will never cease to amaze me. Some of my other interests are fishing, canoeing (when there is more water), bushwalking, snorkelling and yoga.

Our Special Trees of the Month;

From our Exotic Fruits Section -

Achiote- Bixa orellana - Source of annato. Small tree or shrub. The heart shaped fruits are brown or reddish brown at maturity, and are covered with short stiff hairs. When fully mature the fruits split open exposing the numerous dark red seeds. While the fruit itself is not edible, the orange-red pulp that covers the seed is used as a commercial food colouring and dye (similar to tumeric).

The achiote dye is prepared by stirring the seeds in water, and is popular in South America and Asia to colour rice, desserts, butter, cheese, and many other foods. In the Philippine Islands the seeds are ground and used as a condiment.
Tree is extremely beautiful in full flowering and fruiting. Can be grown in a container, prefers a frost free climate.
For more information see:
http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Bixa_ore.html

Madrono (Rheedia madruno) - If you're looking for a medium-sized tree that has a somewhat different fruit, try growing the madrono. Fruits with a pleasant white subacid aromatic flavour are produced in summer. Slow growing and frost tender when young. Excellent potted patio plant.

From our Rainforest Section-Geissois biagana - Northern Brush Mahogany -Large butressed tree common to north Qld rainforests. Very ornamental in summer with appealing red flushes and heavy clusters of cream flowers. Prefers cooler mountain climate.

Lomatia fraxinifolia - Black leaved Silky Oak - A very attractive tree with dark shiny foliage creamy white flowers native to the rainforests of Nth Qld. Fast growing and adaptable to most soils, tolerant of moderate frosts and full sun. Young plants make an interesting indoor specimen.

The trees listed above and many more are available at Daleys Nursery.
See our website at https://www.daleysfruit.com.au.htm and go straight to the shopping trolley to order these plants or call in and see Emma at the Nursery for more information.

From our Bush Food Section -

Tetragonia Tetraganoides - Warrigal Greens / Native Spinach - An attractive scrambling, ground cover which enjoys semi-sun rich soil and a moist position. Once established, it will self seed prolifically. The thick leaf makes an excellent boiled spinach.

Bunya Nut - Araucaria bidwillii - A very large majestic tree with a straight trunk, large prickly leaves and separate male and female flowers. The 10kg female cones contain delicious edible nuts that can be eaten raw or boiled to make extraction from the hard shell easier. Just about to come into season. Watch out for these yummy treats

Has your bush food garden left you curiously scratching your head wondering what to do with it all. Here is a rather tempting recipe for

For the base
· Mix the butter (at room temperature) with the flour, maize meal and salt. Mix till it forms a biscuit like consistency. Add in the iced water bit by bit, mixing well as you go until the dough forms into a kneadable ball but not yet sticky.
· Place the dough in a plastic bag and into the fridge for 10-15 minutes to chill.
· Then roll out to a flat base. Place into a quiche dish so that the sides can be folded up and pressed in.
· Bake at 160 degrees C for 10 minutes.
· Remove and spread cheese evenly across the base, spread the steamed spinach, mushroom / shallot mix and pour in the egg mixture.
· Return to the oven and bake at 200 degrees for 20-25 minutes

For the filling
· Coursely chop the Native Spinach and stem lightly for 5 minutes
· Melt butter into a saucepan, sauté the mushrooms until just soft.
· Add the shallots to the pan and turn off the heat
· Lightly beat eggs, add in milk and pepper in a mixing box

Enjoy!!

Open day at NSW Centre for Tropical Horticulture - Alstonville

A Crowd of more than 500 people enjoyed displays on macadamias, bananas, earthworms, bees, irrigation and soil health among other activities at an open day at NSW Agriculture's newly renamed NSW Centre for Tropical Horticulture at Alstonville last month. The 23rd of October was the centres official day to celebrate their new name (previously the Tropical Fruit Research Station)

Myself (Emma) and two guests from the Solomon Islands visited the open day. Joini and Shane Tutua from the Kastom Garden Farmers Network in the Solomon Islands were clearly delighted to have an opportunity to talk with so many of our local experts in horticultural and sustainable agriculture research.

42 years of research on a range of sub-tropical fruit, including macadamias, coffee, tea, custard apples, lychees, guavas, mangoes, low-chill stonefruit and citrus has given the 48 hectare station on the Alstonville plateau, a solid foundation for advise and support for the growing horticultural industries on the North Coast.

Agriculture Minister Richard Amery officially opened the day announcing three new positions and $400,000 worth of capital improvements as part of the revitalisation of NSW Agriculture's Alstonville Tropical Fruit Research Station.

The new staff include a soil scientist with special focus on achieving productive, healthy soils, a research horticulturist to tackle issues arising in new and emerging industries, and an advisory officer to service the macadamia industry full-time.

The centre has a reputation for working with industry to develop sustainable growing systems, from a sound, science-based understanding of the economic fundamentals of commercial production. Mr Treverrow said "The latest work focuses on the theme of sustainability - tackling the complex issues of insect pest management, soil health and environmental impacts, while maintaining productive systems."

The open day was an opportunity for farmers and the general public to be welcomed onto the station and shown around. The staff were on hand at the open day to guide members of the public around the Centre, taking in the research plots and special activities on the day. Visitors on the day got to see demonstrations of the latest in irrigation efficiency, a soil profile pit dug 1.5m deep, displays on earthworms and compost for improving soil health, tours of an artificial wetland for stripping nutrients from nursery run-off and an opportunity to view an automatic weather station.

Other industry exhibits featured local Landcare, the Bushfood Cooperative and organic and herb producers.

For more information contact: Neil Treverrow, NSW Agriculture, Alstonville, 6626 2400. http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/3504

Northey Street Open Garden Day

Welcomes the community to taste fruits of urban organic gardening

Out and about again in search of appetising gardens it seems I struck Gold (or should I say Golden Globe Sapotes) on the 21st of September in Windsor, Brisbane. The Northey Street City Farm was certainly a feast for my eyes, ears, nose and taste buds as the festive atmosphere of the City Farm's Open Garden Weekend attracted over 800 people through the gates.

Northey Street City Farm is a non-profit community garden perched in Brisbane's inner city where individuals, schools and community groups come together to learn how to live sustainably in the city. The efforts of the motivated volunteers and project workers are clearly displayed with more than 1500 exotic and native fruit trees, bush tucker plants, shrubs and ground covers on the three hectare site since it began in 1994.

Budding fruit enthusiasts can observe the many native and exotic trees in season and fruiting including Guava, White Sapote, Carambola, and Brazilian Cherry trees. Other trees on show include Pomegranites with their stunning bright red flowers, Neem trees the Sapodillia from South America and the spectacular Malabar chestnut trees.

The weekend activities included tours of their bushtucker area, the riverine heritage trail, and the large herb and kitchen gardens. Mini workshops, lectures and demonstrations were also held on topics such as fruit growing in the city, worm farming, composting, no-dig gardening and green waste recycling. An exclusive range of plant and information stalls were also available to answer the many questions from the public through the weekend.

Open Garden Weekend Organiser, Tash Morton was eager to show gardening enthusiasts how the farm's organic gardening achievements can be easily applied to their own gardens.

Many of the trees and plants that are found within the City Farm are available through the farm's Edible Landscapes Nursery which is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9-3 Sat 6-11am

You can contact the farm office for more information on (07) 3857 8775.

Daleys fruit trees are available from Edible Landscapes Nursery at Northey St City Farm

Our December newsletter will include an interesting article for city gardeners

as well as keep your eyes out for our Xmas Specials