G'day from a noob on Flinders Island

[Davefrumza]

G'day - Name's Dave Freer, I'm an ex-Ichthyologist turned Fantasy and SF writer from South Africa, now settled on Flinders Island, TAS. I'm a self-sufficiency believer and that naturally means sustainable foraging where possible (I'm afraid I'm not a total indigenous foods guy -- I'd rather eat invasives, and have no qualms about using exotic/imported products to get the best out of the food.) I like exploring traditional methods and foods, but fitting them to modern materials, tastes and ethics. I've done a lot a lot of foraging back in the old country, and we had some similarity of marine ecosystems. Land, however is whole new ball-park. So far Australia has been one magnificent, exciting, wonderful gastronomic adventure, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot more here. I do know a little about fish and marine foods in general, and I have worked as professional chef at a couple of up-market eco-tourism lodges, so I can sort of cook too.
The saga so far is on http://flindersfreer.blogspot.com/ - if you're curious.

[Bluetongue]

Welcome, newbie Sounds like an interesting background. Hope you enjoy the forum.

[Davefrumza]

Thank you. The background is more-or-less due to rushing in where angels fear to tread. Great forum.

[JumpedAngel]

Welcome Dave

Hope you get something positive out of this site.

[Davefrumza]

Thanks - already have! Good site.

[roughbarked]

Glad you have got something from the site Dave. I'm sure however that you may soon become a contributor from perusing your intro.

Let me tell you something I read in a Tim Low book. He quoted a story of an early gardener pulling weeds as a party of aboriginals were walking past. They stopped and asked him if he didn't mind if they picked up his weeds. He said go ahead.. they took the plants he was throwing away.

The plants were introduced weeds. Juicy newbies to the aboriginals.

[Davefrumza]

I've a lot to learn before making a serious contribution. (My old man always said never tell the locals how to catch fish. It's good advice. My addendum is 'steal with your eyes -learn by watching'.) I'm doing my best to fit in here, and I've passed a couple of the local 'tests' (been muttonbirding, and been out spearing flounder) they're having a ball seeing just what tall stories they can get me to swallow, but being prepared have a go at anything has meant the locals are enjoying pointing me at the next target.

Interesting comment about the weeds - Amaranthus - pig-weed and blackjack (Bidens pilosa) are garden weeds that some of the black african tribes use as greens. Blackjacks are really quite edible. And I was fascinated to see that wattle seed is roasted and eaten here -- Black and silver wattle are invasive weeds in South Africa. I gather a number of Acacia spp seed are eaten? (I've made roasted wattleseed custard and Icecream since I was sent some - but want to collect and roast my own.)

[eataust]

Actually pigweed (argh, I'll remember the name soon) also has a native Australian version.

Not all wattleseeds are human-edible or tasty, so the best thing is to find the Latin name of your local species and ask either in here or around. There's a book that lists edible acacias that I keep meaning to buy and haven't yet.

[Davefrumza]

According to One Hundred islands: the flora of the Outer Furneax - Acacia genistifolia, A melanoxylon, A mucronata, A sophorae, A verticillata. There is also another sp (not in fruit or flower right now) here on the property which does not have phyllodes but the wattle leaves I am accustomed to from South Africa (I only know A melanoxylon, otherwise)

[Mycke]

I have a book of edible wattle seeds but it only covers the semi-arid areas. None of those species you mention are listed, perhaps not surprisingly. Around here, Acacia cyclops is included in the local bush tucker guide. Another serious weed in South Africa.

[Davefrumza]

Thanks for looking anyway. Does it say anything about the degree of toxicity of wattle seed that are not listed as edible? (If I am experimenting I like to know whether it's in the real of not worth the risk or just tastes nasty and give you the runs)
cheers
Dave (who has been braving local mushrooms all week, and wants some kelp next week. It's supposed to be edible - but I happen know the authors of the book I got that from. Bet they never tried it)

[Mycke]

I saw your comments on the mushrooms on your blog. You did all the right things. Ask locals, spore print colour dark brown, stem breaks away cleanly from cap, annulus on stem, smell mushroomy or almond but not phenolic, try a slice first.

They looked great. As I commented on you blog, I would love some close up pictures of those mushrooms for my blog.

As for the seeds, the book mentions protease inhibitors in some seeds, but they are de-activated by cooking. Potentially toxic non-protein amino acids such as djenkolic acid were found in some species. Cyanogen, haemagglutinins and heavy metals were absent or at very low levels in species tested.

However, there are many species that have not been tested, so it is a lottery.

[kieran]

Welcome!

i was just recently on Flinders Island, great place, Trouseres Points one of my favorites. Enjoy the bountyful fish and tucker the island has to offer

[Davefrumza]

Welcome!

i was just recently on Flinders Island, great place, Trouseres Points one of my favorites. Enjoy the bountyful fish and tucker the island has to offer

Yeah Trousers point is a pretty special spot with the mountain just behind you and the sea just there. The seafood learning is coming along well, but the bush-tucker - I'm a bit slow on learning. But we're working at it. It was the most perfect diving day today but my ears are not doing well so no seaweed experiments yet.

cheers
Dave

[kieran]

sounds great mate,

hope u enjoy the island : )
good luck with the tucker