Cross-cultural connection at Jigamy food forestry event, 'sign of much greater things to come'

Twofold Aboriginal Corporation (TAC) hosted a special series of activities to initiate the syntropic food forestry and gardens project at Jigamy Farm on Sunday, March 20.

Harmonious integration of food production with environmental regeneration is at the root of syntropic agriculture.

Dan Bakker of Eat Dirt Permaculture said 42 people attended, coming from further north, the Monaro, Dalgety, and included local cultural advisers and some from as far away as Orbost.

"I have the great honour of managing the project and Sunday was a stunning day, really special," Dan said.

An in-house tour of the project was held with industry representatives and cultural advisors and Dan said 17 professionals in their own fields, including permaculturalists, horticulturalists, beekeepers and a number of Indigenous elders had been involved.

Community members were welcomed to participate in the afternoon and Dan guided them through seven unique cultural and ecological garden zones, offering a chance to help shape plans for the next stage of the project.

"This initiative provides cross-cultural connection and is a great opportunity for non-Indigenous to work on country with the Indigenous community and its Elders," Dan said.

"The garden is being created to celebrate both people and Indigenous native foods, while also modelling permaculture principles designed to encounter the impending impacts of climate change."

A syntropic approach aims specifically to work with nature instead of against it, and to create productive food sources which simultaneously contribute to the restoration of degraded soil biodiversity.

The event coincided with a visit from ABC Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis, as part of his regional tour, who was also involved with the project concept in 2021.

Costa said there was really strong interest in the plans, tour and hand-on activities, with lots of conversation and exchange keeping participants thoroughly engaged.

From 2pm Dan, Costa and TAC board member Nathan Lygon began to prepare a native seed-raising mix before propagating a range of both Indigenous and non-native species which will be planted out along an intersecting cultural narrative path early in 2023.

"The best thing was a lot of families came, there were lots of kids, parents and grandparents from all over and they really wanted to be there," Costa said,

"The kids had a hoot making paper pots and planting seeds and understood they'll have the chance to come back and plant the seedlings when the garden beds are ready.

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"They were so inquisitive, the event really was above and beyond," Costa said.

Indigenous species will feature heavily in the garden design and will support cultural activities and other ventures taking place at Jigamy.

Dan said varieties of plant species that had multiple applications would be chosen.

"While most will provide a food source, all will offer other benefits. For example, building bio-mass in the soil, value-adding by means of providing habitat, mediating temperature fluctuations, enhancing the structure within the soil, reducing wind impact, or can be dropped to mulch the forest floor," Dan said.

The seven diverse garden zones will include:

Both Dan and Costa were buoyed by the success of Sunday's event.

"People have been battling with immense inertia since COVID, for 42 people to stay engaged until the very end was a sign of much greater things to come," Dan said.

"The calibre of the questions asked is a real tell, wanting to understand the detail of the project and working out how it could also apply at their own homes or on their own farms.

"There was real intellect and cultural exchange, a sense of reciprocity, everyone took something home and left something behind," he said.

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Costa said Auntie Aileen Blackburn shared her understanding of what plants mean to the very fabric of community and growing a connection to it.

"I think people came away from the day feeling blessed," Costa said.

TAC executives were part of the day, with Marcus Arvidson doing a Welcome to Country. Nathan Lygon talked everyone through a range of bush foods as part of the afternoon talk.

"It was big enough to have momentum and vibe, but small enough that people's contributions were heard and they could actively participate - it was both hands on, and hearts on as well," Costa said.

Dan said permaculture principals were reflected in the event itself and will be significantly applied in the project moving forward.

"Care for people, care for planet... at the end of the day we are all one mob sharing and caring for one country, we are all in this together."

NSW Aboriginal Affairs, The Sustainable Table Fund and Local Lands Services are grant contributors for the project, with support also given by TAC, NSW Indigenous Affairs, Eat Dirt Permaculture and Black Duck Foods.

For information on how you could get involved in the project contact TAC on (02) 6495 6343 or via email, info@twofoldjigamy.org.au.

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