Yandina Community Gardens

41 Farrell street, Yandina

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Brazilian Spinach (Althernanthera sissoo)

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Small herbaceous plant with small white flowers. Very hardy.brazilian spinach

Other Names: South American Crinkle Salad, Poor Man’s Spinach

Origin: South American Highlands

Size: 0.3m high, 0.5m spread

Growing conditions: partial sun to shade

Harvest: any time through the growing season

Propagation: best from soft cuttings in spring

Growing tips: Brazilian Spinach can be planted as a solid border or left to ramble on its many branches to cover an area up to a metre wide.  Cuttings can be taken during the wet season and either planted out or placed in a jar with water to encourage root growth prior to planting.  Tiny white flowers will form at the end of the season (winter), and the succulent leaves will turn a bit papery and bitter; however, they can still be eaten cooked at this stage.

Use: Brazilian spinach is a prolific source of greens in the garden; it can be used in salads with other greens; it can be used as a spinach substitute – try it in combination with Tahitian spinach and arrowroot leaves to make a spinach and feta pie; the leaves can also be substituted for basil when making pesto.

Availability in shop:  All year round.

Suggested Recipes: Brazilian Spinach with Macadamia Nut Pesto;  Spinach, Fetta & Ricotta Pie

Aibika (Abelmoschus manihot)

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Aibika (Web)Hardy, short-lived perennial shrub with large yellow flowers. Leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked.

Other Names: Queensland Greens, Slipper Cabbage, Hibiscus Spinach

Origin: tropical Asia

Size: 2-3m high, 1.5m spread

Growing conditions: full sun

Harvest: Jan – May

Propagation: Take 30 cm woody cuttings in spring & summer. Plant straight into rich soil, or establish in pots.

Growing tips:  Aibika benefits from pruning at the beginning of each growing season to make the plant bush out.  It is a hardy plant and prefers a sunny aspect with rich, moist, well- drained soil and protection from frosts.

The two main types grown on the Sunshine Coast have either finger-like leaves or a tri-lobe form. Aibikas are heavy feeders, so, to ensure constant leaf production, regular fertilising during the growing season is essential. Grasshoppers are very fond of aibika, so a good deterrent is to interplant aibika with perennial bush basil.

Aibika is very attractive planted in groups or as a hedge in the garden, where it provides a cool microclimate under its large leaves. Consider growing a ground cover of peanuts under (for nitrogen fixing), with a tomato or bean growing up the aibika’s trunk and you have a productive nitrogen-fixing guild with food on the way.

Use: Pick young leaves and add in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, or use the leaves sparingly in a salad as they contain mucilage and can make your finished dish quite slimy if too many are added.  Older leaves will definitely need to be cooked to remove the mucilage. Large leaves can be used as wraps and to make dolmades.  The flowers are also edible and can be eaten either raw or cooked. Aibika is very nutritious, with plenty of protein, vitamins and minerals, including iron.

Availability in shop:  Most times during summer.

 

Saturday 6th March 2021, 3pm to 5pm, Seed Raising and Propagating with Annaliese Hordern

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About the workshop:

Learn how to raise plants from seed with all you need to get started.

Explore which seeds to sow, ideal seed raising environment and nursery, transplanting, potting mixes to use, ideal watering routines and more.

We will also learn how to take cuttings to expand your food gardens at home, with lots to take home. With Green Harvest Propagation Specialist Annaliese Hordern

Book tickets here:

 

 

About the Presenter:

Annaliese is entirely passionate about Permaculture plants and seeds.  She has worked with Green Harvest Organic Gardening for the past 4 years as a horticulturalist raising seedlings from seed including a wide variety of multifunctional Permaculture plants and propagating their perennial edible plant collection.

Annaliese has 10 years experience teaching Permaculture and has specialised in promoting the every day use of plants we can grow at home. 

She holds a degree in Environmental Resource Management, a Diploma of Permaculture and draws upon two decades working in areas of regenerative sustainability with an emphasis on localisation and building stronger links with our food security.

 Annaliese is the Director of the Change Makers Permaculture Design Course and lives on a one-acre Permaculture property on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, where she loves growing her own seasonal fruits and vegetables

www.facebook.com/annaliese.hordern.7/

www.symbioticnature.com.au/

Wanted: Positive Changemakers

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Permaculture Educators program with Morag Gamble

The message is loud and clear. The Earth urgently needs care, repair, and regeneration. We need more permaculture teachers in the world – practical educators, designer & activists. Will you join us in the Permaculture Educators Program in 2020 & be a positive changemaker? It’s online, flexible, friendly, comprehensive, self-paced, global & with lots of support. Save $500 by joining before February 1. Remember, if you book through the Yandina Community Garden website, we make a donation to the gardens. Read more here: https://ourpermaculturelife.com/be-a-permaculture-teacher/

Saturday, 14 December 2019, 9-11am, The Magic of Swales with Danial Lawton

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Optimal harvesting and retaining of water is a key element of Permaculture
design. Danial will explain how water can be effectively managed through design
of swales and level sill spillways.

Book here

About the presenter:

Danial Lawton permaculture consultant, a second-generation permaculturalist in his work as a permaculture consultant, educator, entrepreneur and permaculture philanthropist.
Set in motion with a permaculture design course at the tender age of thirteen in Tena, Ecuador, Danial followed up with a Permaculture Diploma in site development, site design, and research.
At university Danial crammed in a Bachelor of Environmental science with double majors in ecology; conservation biology and Land; water management, a Masters in Environmental management and most recently a Masters in Environmental engineering.
With 20 years experience in the Permaculture field, Danial has worked for international permaculture projects in Central and South America, as water systems manager for Tagari farm (PRI Australia) and later as farm manager for
Zaytuna farm (PRI Australia).

Within this time Danial has taught and facilitated a variety of Permaculture design and hands on courses through Griffith University, PRI Australia, Northey Street City Farm, Noosa Forest Retreat and many others.

Danial Lawton permaculture consultant draws on environmental science and permaculture principles to design sustainable systems worldwide and for local Australian clients and government organisations.

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Permaculture People

Elizabeth Fekonia - Permaculture Real Food
Anne Gibson - The Micro Gardener
Morag Gamble - Our Permaculture Life
Dee Humphreys - Eatin Garden Edible Garden Tours

Acknowledgement of country

Yandina Community Gardens acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners of the land, the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people, past and present and emerging. We recognise and wish to learn from their spiritual and cultural connection to the land.