Nutrition and Permaculture Program

1 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

Nutrition and Permaculture Garden

Background

Over the past few decades in Cape York market gardens were developed through the Homelands

and Outstation Movement, Environmental Health Programs, Healthy for Life Initiative, and economic

development frameworks implemented by local and regional NGOs. When the decision was made to

establish the Permaculture Garden at Roworr (meaning dry place, the residential rehabilitation

centre) it was based on an empowerment model and action-orientated therapy with goal setting,

enabling the residents to actively engage in a pastime that would keep their mind off their

dependencies as they learn to understand addiction; and educate residents and their children on the

need to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

The AOD Service originally based the garden on principles of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen

Garden – paddock to plate model. It has been developed as a school based program all around the

country where children had fun getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow, harvest, prepare

and share fresh, seasonal food. The fundamental philosophy that underpins the Stephanie Alexander

Kitchen Garden Program is that by setting good examples and engaging children’s curiosity, as well

as their energy and their taste buds, you can provide positive and memorable food experiences that

will form the basis of positive lifelong eating habits.1 The AOD Team decided to incorporate this idea

and a number of philosophies including cultural security.

Work commenced at the residential rehabilitation centre in 2010 to establish a cultural, art and

permaculture garden with general landscaping and beautification activities. Staff, families with

children, and volunteers created an art mural wall using art therapy, a cultural dance area, humpy, a

yarning circle with a pit fire and landscaped existing grounds with natives and bush shrubs.

Aim of this Project 2012

Empower people to take responsibility and greater control of their health and wellbeing by

establishing a therapeutic and holistic approach to nutrition in Pormpuraaw.

1 http://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/about-the-program

2 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

Objectives

To increase wellbeing through capacity building and transfer of life skills inclusive of decision

making;

To include the caring and sharing traditions of aboriginal cultural philosophies;

Maintain strong links to healthy lifestyle practices that would prevent chronic disease and

diabetes;

Strengthen families’ knowledge on health promotion education - nutrition, healthy cooking,

healthy snacks for children and menu planning;

Design, establish and maintain areas for food collection and transferring of traditional

knowledge of bush tucker and medicines to children;

Transfer skills to residents in horticulture, irrigation, and permaculture;

Transition residents back into the Community workforce through training delivered by

Jobfind and associated employment services operating in Pormpuraaw;

Include other regional health services in ongoing health promotion activities with the

residents post project completion.

Activities identified within the scope of the project

Mapping and site location of market gardens, horticulture and a native plants;

Identifying plants of traditional use for bush tucker and medicine;

Installation of vegetable garden / landscaping infrastructure;

Collection and planting of flowering trees, shrubs and fruit trees;

Installation of irrigation system;

Building of BBQ area, tiling and paving.

Staff Involvement

Project Manager: Elizabeth Pearson

Project Coordinator: Daniel Bracegirdle

Staff contribution: Wendy Cawdell-Smith

Contractor: Glen Pearson – Carpenter and landscaper

Families Involved

Thyorre Clan: Tracey Charlie, Stephen Dunbar, children and relatives

Wik Mungkin Clan: Jill Yantumba, Michael Norman, children and family members

Partnerships

Job Find: Chris Blaney, Nick Maxwell, Nigel Hall, and CDEP workforce

Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council: CEO – Edward Natera, Mayor Richard Tarpencha and the

Council members; Workforce Management and staff

Traders: Limberlost Nursery, Bunning’s Warehouse, and Harden Lawns

3 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

Related projects and strategies

Chronic Disease, Health, Nutrition and Diabetes Education

Infrastructure and community beautification

Remote Community Gardens

Pride of Place

Traditional knowledge Sharing /Educational Programs

Physical exercise programs

Social and Economic Enterprise Development

Community Development

Leadership

Restoration of social and cultural norms

Time Management

Therapy and rehabilitation

Substance Use, Social Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

Junior Rangers and Botany

Progression

• Residents had to move a great deal of sand, weeds, tuffs of grass, and rubbish from both

front and back yards before top soil arrived;

• Thirty tonnes of top soil was trucked in first to cover the sand in both yards;

• Fruit trees, plants, and shrubs – 80 in total arrived on a truck from Limberlost Nursery;

• 30 bags of top soil distributed across both yards (15 bags each) – front and back, and in

garden and vegetable beds;

• Fruit trees and shrubs planted;

• Banana circle established at Yalu Street bearing chilli and herbs;

• Pathway completed in front;

• Treated timber, mulch, wood chip trucked into community;

• AOD Staff drove into community with perishable fresh produce, tools, and flowers for

garden beds;

• Contractor arrived on the plane;

• Banana Circle established at 105 Ritha Street bearing corn and chilli;

• Nurseries erected at both residences;

• Vegetables planted;

• False Wall erected at Yalu Street for passionfruit vines;

• Pumpkin and corn patches established; passionfruit vines planted;

• Paving completed in both homes;

• BBQs completed with hot plates, grills and a tiled finish;

• 10 pallets of rolled lawn trucked into the community;

• Lawn laid by tenants, their families, staff (Wendy, Liz and Daniel) and contractor (Glen

Pearson).

4 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

In kind Support

Jobfind: Establishment of one banana circle with plants and materials; pavers, CDEP support

Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council: Bricks, pavers, cement, man-power and machinery

Outcomes

Fruit trees planted in two gardens: Lime, lemon, orange, sopate; fig, mango, bananas,

chestnut, lychee, mulberry; and passionfruit vines

Fresh produce planted in two gardens: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red and green capsicum,

Lebanese cucumber; beans, Jap and Queensland blue pumpkins, carrots, spring onions,

brown onions, watermelon, rock melon, Chinese cabbage, corn and chilli

Permaculture practices using natural resources available;

Frangipani trees planted;

Planting of natives and bush tucker; colourful flower beds and fence line shrubbery;

Landscaping, irrigation installation; building and construction, and small plant operation;

Two types of nurseries installed;

BBQs built with paving, tiling, entertainment area and walk way;

Skills transferred in paving, tiling, building BBQs, erecting nurseries, planting;

Establishing banana circles with compost areas

Increased wellbeing through comradeship, empowerment and up skilling of tenants;

Shared responsibility and participation leading to increased joy, confidence and self-esteem;

The interest in the project by other community members;

The request by other community members to have the same project for their homes;

Eventual contribution to self-sufficiency

Feedback

“It’s a good thing what your team is doing for the community”

“I feel so happy and proud”

“I learnt a lot from everyone involved”

“People always stopping and talking to us about the garden, wanting plants and cuttings”

“I feel good”

“We are going to have lots of healthy food and fruit to eat”

“It’s great for the confidence and self-esteem of the residents”

“It’s a good grassroots community development project”

“It’s awesome!”

“I’m so happy, thankyou”

5 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

Recommendations

Funding for Whole of Pormpuraaw Community Driven Initiative: Nutrition and

Permaculture Project with a focus on beautification and increasing wellbeing;

Project estimation per house $20,000.00 to include hidden costs and contractor/s (1.8

million over 3 years);

Establish a private enterprise: raw minerals and nursery providing the appropriate training

in landscaping, permaculture, horticulture and small business management

Acknowledgements

A big thankyou to Funding Body (ICC) and its staff member – Ray Wallis; Contractor Glen Pearson

who worked 12 hour days under gruelling heat conditions; Special thanks to Daniel Bracegirdle who

joined Glen, and did a great job working long hours, coordinating with partner staff members,

management, Traders and the families who worked alongside everyone; to Jobfind and the

Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council who supported the AOD Team and families by filling the gaps

with materials, staff, equipment and time.

Risk Management

Machinery broken down, already in demand and or not available;

Possible rain setting in early, and preventing trucks from arriving;

Possible loss of perishable goods due to extreme heat and 10 hour drive to Pormpuraaw

Potential heavy rains, and

Garden pests and infestation.

6 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160

Before photographs Wik Mungkin – 105 Ritha Street

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Before Photographs Thyorre – 35 Yalu Street

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Both tenants helping each other out by

working together across yards

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