Reedy Creek Nursery

Written by Sammy

Thursday, 23 April 2009 08:13

Reedy Creek Nursery is a commercial propagating nursery owned and run by Mike & Gayle Quarmby in the south eastern Limestone Coast area of South Australia. Reedy Creek is 20km south of Kingston. The core business at the nursery is in native plant production for re vegetation and forestry also grape rootling/grafting production and seedlings for various industries. The nursery was built at Reedy Creek to utilise the abundant underground water supply and the proximity to the Green Triangle horticultural areas of the South East of South Australia. The facilities include sophisticated propagation and production hot houses, and the seeding capacity for up to 140,000 seedlings per day.

When Mike & Gayle decided to create the philanthropic Outback Pride project, they realised that a way to generate outcomes for remote indigenous people, was to use the commercial base at Reedy Creek to develop and fund this emerging industry. Reedy Creek Nursery has the skilled staff and facilities to support the enormous amount of R&D required for the Outback Pride project. So the systems are developed at Reedy Creek for the propagation and cultivation of the bushfood plants which are planted on the communities. This has resulted in a coordinated planting program for the supply chain and guarantees the best plant selections are used at all times. The produce from community gardens, returns to Reedy Creek to be value added, before being dispatched to indigenous distributors throughout Australia.

In order to provide a secure outcome for the bushfood gardens on communities, the brand name Outback Pride was created in December 2001. Over the past five years, the facilities have been built for the post harvest handling and manufacture of the value added Outback Pride products. The range of bushfood products includes a large variety of sauces, relishes, dressings, meat pies and a comprehensive food service. The dried native herb range is now available through the Outback Café website.

To facilitate the long term industry growth for indigenous communities, Mike & Gayle have always made available the Reedy Creek facilities for work experience and specialised horticultural training in bushfood cultivation.

Adelaide CDEP

Adelaide CDEP (employment program) facility, situated in Kaurna country in the north of Adelaide's metropolitan area is the distribution centre for the Outback Pride range of bushfood products and food service for SA and NT. The marketing team, Allison and Renee Watkins, distribute to retailers, restaurants and manufacturers as well as promotional events and taste demonstrations. Adelaide CDEP also operates a farm block at Angle Vale which produces Muntries and Native Limes for the bushfood market.

Amata - Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands

Amata community is situated in the magnificent Musgrave Ranges in South Australia's far North West, approximately 200 km south east of Uluru (Yulara NT). Amata is a small aboriginal community of approximately 500 people, who hold strong links to traditional culture and language (Pitjantjatjara). The people decided to join the Outback Pride project network and build a bushfoods garden in the centre of town. The purpose of the garden has been to provide a ready supply of fresh bushfoods for community consumption, and any surplus sold into the Outback Pride supply chain. Since the beginning of the project at Amata, the people have shown great pride in their work and the result is a beautifully maintained and successful enterprise.

The project construction at Amata has been supported by CDEP - (community employment program) and horticultural training for participants by Regional TAFE SA. The Department of Premier and Cabinet SA - special projects unit - has funded the project which has been coordinated and managed by Mike & Gayle Quarmby.

Community health, training and positive activity have been the strengths of the project. The bushfoods grown at Amata are; Desert Raisins (Kutjera) (Kampurarpa), Passion Berries (Wiriny Wirinypa), Marsdenia (Kalkula), Desert Yams, Native Orange (Umpultjai) and Rock Fig (Illi).

Dinahline Community - Ceduna

The town of Ceduna is located in the far west coast area of South Australia, at the beginning of the Great Australian Bight, and is a focal fishing and whale spotting area famous for its Whiting and Oysters. The Dinahline community is just to the west of Ceduna and the dry sandy soils are ideal for the production of arid zone bushfoods. The Dinahline group has been growing bushfoods for many years now with the support of the Quarmby's, ALT, ILC, CDEP, Works SA and training with Regional TAFE SA.

Mike & Gayle Quarmby have always admired the diligence and hard work ethic of the bushfoods team at Dinahline, and they have been proud to have been associated with the community in their endeavours.

The Dinahline, community as part of the Wirangu language group, have had a long term and important connection to Quandongs (Bra) and are proud of their success with this species. The crops of Desert Raisins (Kutjera) and Marsdenia have also been very successful, and the produce from these has not only gone into the Outback Pride supply chain but has also been part of the supply to the remote traditional communities.

Mimili - APY Lands

Mimili Community is in the far north west of South Australia in the stunning Everard Ranges. Mimili was the first community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands to build a bushfoods garden with the help of the Quarmby's. Right from the beginning it was obvious that the people at Mimili had great enthusiasm for the project, which has also provided the advantage of having fresh bushfoods close at hand through most of the year. The bushfood plants at Mimili have thrived and shown how well these native plants can perform under cultivation. Each month Mike & Gayle spend time at Mimili and have developed a close relationship with the people and the Quarmby's are always pleased to pick up quality bushfoods harvested by the bushfood team.

The project construction at Mimili has been supported by CDEP - (community employment program) and horticultural training for participants by Regional TAFE SA. The Department of Premier and Cabinet SA - special projects unit - has funded the project which has been coordinated and managed by Mike & Gayle Quarmby.

The bushfoods grown at Mimili are; Desert Raisins (Kutjera) (Kampurarpa), Quandongs (Mangata), Tanami Apples (Ngaru) Marsdenia (Kalkula), Desert Yams, Native Orange (Umpultjai), Rock Fig (Illi) and Desert Limes.

Nepabunna Community - Flinders Ranges

Nepabunna Community is in the magnificent Gammon Ranges of the upper Flinders Ranges, central South Australia. The Adynyamathanha people of this area have strong links to their traditional bush foods and particularly favour Quandongs (Uti), Native Orange (Iga Warta) and Marsdenia (Myakka). This area is classified as true desert country with an average rain fall of 200mm per annum, and the soil is not much more than bull dust.

The bushfoods plot was established in late 2003, with the full support of the Quarmby's and infrastructure support from ALT and ILC. The project was faced with some challenges, not the least was the 45°C plus heat at the time of set up, and very poor soil and water supply. Despite all this, the project progressed well until March the following year when a locust plague stripped every piece of vegetation from the district, including the bushfoods garden. Full credit to Kelvin Johnson and the team, who didn't give up and the following season, produced the best quality Desert Raisins (Kutjera) and Tanami Apples in the industry.

The Nepabunna community have a long term link with stock work and continue their love of horses. The community offer horse trail riding through some of the most beautiful arid zone range country in South Australia.

The bushfood crops grown at Nepabunna are Desert Raisins (Kutjera), Tanami Apples, Passionberries, Marsdenia, Native Orange, Bush Cucumbers and Quandongs.

Pukatja - Ernabella - APY Lands

The community of Pukatja, which was the site of the Presbyterian mission - Ernabella, founded in 1937 and handed to community administration in the mid seventies .This community is historically at the centre of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands with a focus in the early days on the development of the aboriginal art/ craft industry under the guidance of Winifred Hilliard.

Pukatja is situated in the most beautiful of settings in the rugged Musgrave Ranges on the edges of a usually dry river bed. Pukatja has a true central Australian arid climate with dry cool winters and hot summer wet season.

During 2006, the people of Pukatja are building a bushfood production plot on a saltbush flood plain close to the town centre. The project, with the support and planning of the Quarmby's, has a focus on education with strong links to the school and Regional TAFE SA and is being funded by Dept. of the Premier & Cabinet SA. The bushfood crops being planted now are; Desert Raisin (Kutjera) (Kampurarpa), Tanami Apples (Ngaru), Passion berries (Wirriney Wirinypa), Marsdenia (Kalkula) and Quandongs (Mangata).

TPY - Pomberuk - Murray Bridge

Tangglun Piltengi Yunti farm is at Murray Bridge on the lower reaches of the Murray River in South Australia. The Murray Bridge area, is a prominent producer of market garden vegetables for the Adelaide and interstate markets. TheTPY farm site has a diverse potential with glass houses and production areas set aside for the bushfoods project. TPY started growing bushfoods with the help of Mike & Gayle Quarmby in 2001. The garden includes Muntries, Desert Raisins (Kutjera) and Wattleseed production as well as a supply of tomatoes and chillies into the Outback Pride manufacturing.

This is Narrindjeri country, and the community are also fortunate to have the "Old Pump House"on the river bank in the township of Murray Bridge. The facility is called "Pomberuk" which includes a bush tucker café overlooking the river, a gift shop and an Art Gallery/Interpretive centre.

Wilcannia - NSW

Wilcannia is a regional township in the far western part of New South Wales, close to the Darling River and190 km from the mining city of Broken Hill.

The Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation is establishing a bushfood production site on the fertile alluvial flood plain of the Darling River. This location is ideal for the commercial production of bushfoods and will provide a training and enterprise opportunity for the local indigenous group.

The bushfoods being planted include Wattleseed - Acacia retinodes (Wirilda), Desert Limes, Native Oranges, Desert Raisins (Kutjera), Passion berries, Tanami Apples and Marsdenia. This site will give a climatic crop timing variation from the other arid zone production areas, and therefore be a valuable link in the annual Outback Pride supply chain program.

Bookyana Bushfoods Inc.

The Bookyana Bushfoods enterprise is situated on Ron and Liz Newchurch's property at Port Victoria on the York Peninsula in South Australia. This maritime environment is ideal for the growing of the bushfood herbs used in the Outback Café recipes. Ron and family are of the Narungga group and have an extended family base who help with this horticultural project. Because of the exposure to the sea winds, the herbs are grown in shade house conditions. The Quandong orchard however, is protected by the shade house structure.

ILC (Indigenous Land Council) funded the infrastructure costs and CDEP (community employment program) supplied labour costs. Regional TAFE has providing the training along with several work experience/training visits to Reedy Creek. Mike & Gayle Quarmby have designed, set up and mentored the project and provided the link to the Outback Pride market supply chain. The Newchurch family group has progressed with the bushfoods project with dedication, hard work and real future focus, and a positive new industry model for indigenous communities. Ron Newchurch has been appointed as board member to the national industry body of the Australian Native Food Industry as the representative for all the Australian Indigenous bushfoods growers.

Currently, the Bookyana Bushfoods Inc. is planning towards major expansion of their bushfoods production site, to cater for new market requirements.

Burrandies Aboriginal Inc - Mount Gambier

The Burrandies bushfood growing garden is located in Mount Gambier in South Australia's lower south east, near the Victorian border. The traditional people from this area were of the Boandik/Bunganditj language group and the Burrandies organisation caters for employment and training for indigenous people from the surrounding districts. Mount Gambier is the site of dormant volcanoes, including the famous Blue Lake crater and because of this, the area has rich volcanic soil. This coupled with a cool wet climate makes the site ideal for the cultivation of Tasmanian Mountain Pepper, Sea Parsley and Muntries.

The plants are thriving, and progressively will increase their production for the Outback Pride supply chain. Mike & Gayle Quarmby have assisted the Burrandies group with the planning, set up and horticultural mentoring of the project, and more recently have provided a hot house structure for propagation of Australian Native trees and shrubs.

Training is provided by Regional TAFE SA, and the team from Burrandies have participated in work experience at Reedy Creek several times over the past three years.

Meningie CDEP - "Old Church Block"

The township of Meningie is located at the edge of the world heritage Coorong National Park in the south east of South Australia. The fresh water Lake Albert, is a picturesque back drop with Pelicans paddling in the still waters. This is Narrindjeri country and the Trevorrow Family operate the Wilderness Lodge at Hacks Point and Camp Coorong, near Meningie, both provide an indigenous tourism experience with pre booked bushfood tours and basket weaving workshops.

The Meningie CDEP (community employment program) operate the bushfood garden at the "Old Church Block ". With ILC providing funding for infrastructure and Regional TAFE the training, Mike & Gayle Quarmby have provided the expertise, mentoring and link to the market through the Outback Pride supply chain.

The local indigenous plant species grown on this rich sandy loam site are Muntries, Sweet Appleberries and Sea Parsley/Celery. This garden has been a useful training site for group members studying horticulture.

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