Anastasia Vickers, a Ngadjuri Woman,Western Sydney University student and native garden consultant (left) with Blaxland High School students Reggie (middle) and Izzy (right) who helped plant some of the native species.
Story and photos by Ben Skinner
Led by First Nations students and community, Blaxland High School has established a native food garden and students are using crops grown in the garden as ingredients in food technology classes. The school received injections of expertise from many quarters, including an Aboriginal-owned social enterprise, to learn about and embrace the use of native plants for cooking and sustainability.
Key Points:
Blaxland High has introduced a native food garden on the school grounds.
The ingredients from the crops are used in food technology classes.
It took a collaborative effort from the school, consultants such as Anastasia Vickers from Western Sydney University, Food Futures and EM-power Foundation to make this happen.
Only a stone’s throw from the food tech classrooms at Blaxland High, a collection of native plants are ready to pick. Students harvest the traditional ingredients and add them to their dishes. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!
The native food garden program was embraced by school principal Emma Le Marquand and supervised by Anastasia Vickers, a student at Western Sydney University who is completing an Advanced Bachelor of Food Science. With assistance from Aboriginal-owned social enterprise Bush to Bowl and Food Futures Company, dozens of native species were planted in various locations around the school.
One of the areas where the native crops were planted within the school, using previously under-utilised garden beds.
Over 30 students were involved in planting on the day in March 2024, with local Aboriginal elders in attendance.
Signs providing information about the native plants were made by the school’s industrial technology department and guided by First Nations Food Companion, a book by Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan.
The program made use of the previously under-utilised garden beds that were constructed in years past. Native plants included “Goongum” (plum pine), “Panaryle” (River Mint), Warrigal (like Spinach) and Tyulern (saltbush). (NB. Native plant names vary depending on whose Country they’re on.)
Some of the native plant species with associated signs made by Blaxland High School industrial technology department.These traditional plant names have been researched and collated from First Nations authors and online resources.
It appeared to be a great learning experience for all involved.
Anastasia says the program inspired students to make a real change in the world.
“Native foods have relevance across any career the students are interested in,” she says. “Community members and students had the opportunity to learn together, led by Culture in a genuine way.”
Food technology teacher Megan Backers says you often have to adjust your techniques when cooking native ingredients compared to working with the produce bought in supermarkets.
School principal Emma Le Marquand collaborated with the Food Futures Company and EM-power Foundation who led the native garden program.
“This invaluable program has provided students with hands-on, real-world experience in a range of curriculum areas as well as developing the confidence and knowledge of our committed teaching staff,” says Principal Le Marquand.
The plants are often very powerful flavour-wise: a nibble of native thyme is reminiscent of some toothpastes, while rubbing together native citrus leaves brings out a potent aroma.
Principal Le Marquand mentioned that it’s important for students to learn about our natural heritage to understand how to live sustainably. Native crops tend to be hardier than crops originating from other countries too.
Previously unused areas within the school are now productive native food gardens.
The gardens are maintained about once per week, requiring some weeding. Mulch will help with reducing that workload.
None of the learnings about the native plants came from the NSW Department of Education syllabus. It was a collaborative effort from the parties involved to figure out how best to deliver the program.
The native garden is just the first step in a long-term learning experience about how to incorporate native ingredients across the curriculum.
Teacher Megan Backers welcomes the move for new First Nations-related units to be introduced in the 2026 food tech syllabus. Ingredients are already being used in recipes and will also be used in STEM/Science-related experiments.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lower Mountains and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging as we live, work and play on Dharug and Gundungurra Country (Ngurra).
Take Action:
Check out the First Nations Food Companion book by Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan which proved very useful to the school in providing information on native plants.
Experiment with native crops in your garden like Blaxland High has done. Visit local native nurseries which supply them.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Our newsletter is now out! View our video of Dr Keith Suter on "Making Peace in the World Today” and read about Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo and the 2024 Wynne Prize exhibition at the Cultural Centre. You can also book in for our Mushroom Cultivation and Tai Chi workshops, and our Planetary Health Bushcare on Skill Share Saturday, 7 June. And PS. We’re a finalist in the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards. Read the newsletter here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4dEFL5u
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Earlier this month, around 160 first year medical students from The University of Notre Dame Australia were introduced to Planetary Health and Dharug culture at the Planetary Health Centre, and learnt how to help people prepare for future heatwaves. Watch Professor Madden`s lecture and learn more about what they`re learning in our Planetary Health news here: https://planetaryhealthnews.com/future-doctors-learn-about-planetary-health/ (link to Planetary Health News in our profile) @notredameaustralia @doctorsfortheenvironment @ph_alliance @planetaryhealthcollective...
Recently we grew these stunning mushrooms with a kit from EarthRising Mushroom Farm in Lawson. If you`d like to learn how to grow your own, and get a kit to take home with you, we`ll be holding a Mushroom Cultivation workshop with Alex from EarthRising at our next Skill Share Saturday on 7 June. Bookings essential here: https://bit.ly/4dfc3nv (link in profile)
In a moving call for peace on Anzac Day, over 80 people gathered in the golden afternoon light at Peace Park in Katoomba to reflect on war and ask the hard questions about its grim reality. The day was interspersed with reflections, poetry, a minute of silence, and songs by The Bearded Ladies Choir. Read more, including about upcoming Peace events, in our new Planetary Health News here (link in profile):
Our newsletter is now out! Read about the launch of our new global Planetary Health News; about the Blue Mountains Peace Collective`s Anzac Day Reflection; about how future doctors are learning about Planetary Health; and about how science journalists from Indonesia visited the Planetary Health Centre to advance science communication for Planetary Health. You can also book in for our Mushroom Cultivation and T`ai-chi workshops. Read the newsletter here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3YF3CvA
In May last year a group of local women launched Homes for Older Women Blue Mountains to address the housing crisis locally. They have now successfully secured affordable accommodation for 50 older women! Writer Julie Nance helped set up the program as a volunteer and recently finished a challenging but rewarding year as Program Manager. She shares the experiences of women involved with, and impacted by, the grass-roots initiative. Read more in Springwood Area Local News here (link in profile): https://springwoodlocalnews.com/gaining-hope-and-a-home/
What glorious weather for our Skill Share Saturday today! We had a fabulous day of sharing: T`ai-chi, Fashion Upcycling, Cool Climate Edible Gardens. and then a very enjoyable and productive Bushcare Session, in which we made real progress making a dint into the massive wall of invasive weed. It`s exciting to see beautiful bushland revealed when the weed is removed! And thanks Amanda for this photo of the little frog that leapt out of the rhubarb during our Cool Climate Edible Garden workshop. #skillshare #taichi #upcycling #coolclimategardening #bushcare #planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains...
After a very wet week it looks like it will be the perfect day to enjoy our Skill Share Saturday tomorrow at the Planetary Health Centre: sunshine is predicted! Start the day with gentle calming exercise in our T`ai-chi class at 8am, view our Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition, get hands-on experience building a Cold Climate Winter Edible Garden from 9.30 to 12.30, then join us to help restore habitat for wildlife with our Planetary Health Bushcare Group and afternoon tea in the bush from 1.30-4.30. Bookings for T`ai-chi here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4iF9bkD Bookings for Build a Cold Climate Winter Edible Garden here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4jqRerw
Contact Karen if you`d like to join our Bushcare Group via email at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623.
Blue Mountains City Council’s Planetary Health Initiative is working in collaboration with the Mountains Community Resource Network, Lithgow City Council, Western Sydney University’s Lithgow Transformation Hub, and the Sustainability Workshop, to establish this communications platform on behalf of the community. It is supported by a grant from the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF) which is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Julie Nance invited her 82-year-old mum to join her on outings in Lower Mountains parks, after months of being confined to home due to sickness. With fond memories of family picnics growing up, their quality time together in nature gave them both a much-needed lift.
