Teachers Thriving Issue #2 | Page 75

In 2016 Julie self-published her second book on native foods – Australian Native Foods Harvest – a guide for the passionate cook and gardener. The book, which won the 2017 National Gourmand Cookbook Award for Food Heritage, includes chapters on designing food gardens, how to grow, propagate and harvest a variety of native plants, as well as recipes.

"One of our shared passions is teaching and sharing knowledge.  We have been researching native foods here as a possible business for about 20 years and are keen to add to existing knowledge. We saw a niche and thought we had something unique to offer. History has proven this to be true. My book is a result of our 20 years of work and research into native foods."

"We have set up a native foods nursery so that visitors can take the plants home to start their own native foods kitchen garden. I spend time intermittently propagating the plants which is a very fulfilling and relaxing activity."

"We run Tour and Taste events here monthly which involves visitors enjoying a guided tour of the garden before tucking into a delicious three-course lunch or dinner flavoured with the native spices from the garden. These events take three days of preparation to set up so, as we have one next Sunday I am working on the gardens to keep them maintained and the rest of the week will be spent cooking for the event,  I usually start by making the Strawberry Gum ice cream."