Bush Foods and Caring for Country

Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring bush foods from plant to plate and plant identification, including traditional and medicinal uses, with practical experience in growing, nurturing, and learning for wellbeing and everyday uses.

This no-cost workshop is part of our popular Banyule Loves...Workshop Series.

This session is run by Cassie from Wild Blak Arts. Cassie grows a wide range of native foods on her property and has been using native bushtukka all her life. She creates her own range of bush spices and shows participants what they look like, how they can be used, and how they taste. Cassie has been teaching bushtukka and delivering presentations for over 30 years. Workshop participants will also hear about Cassie’s connection to bush tucker and the importance of sustainability and Caring for Country.

Cassie is a Djaara multi-disciplinary Indigenous artist. Her skills span weaving, fashion and jewellery design, painting, ceramics, bushtukka, and cultural education. All of Cassie’s work has a deep connection to Country, biodiversity, and traditional sustainable living practices of the past and carried through to the present for future generations to learn from and experience.

Cassie is generous in sharing her knowledge: “It’s about sharing important messages, and the meaningfulness of caring for Country and being sustainable in everything we do.”

Wild Blak Arts is 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated.

You will learn:

• How to identify native plants and understand their traditional and medicinal uses

• Practical skills for growing and nurturing bush foods at home

• Ways to use native ingredients, including bush spices, in everyday cooking

• The importance of sustainability and Caring for Country

• Cultural knowledge and perspectives on bushtukka and its connection to wellbeing

Come along to connect, learn, and be inspired by the rich knowledge and practices of bush foods and sustainable living.

General notes: 

• A light lunch will be provided.

• Please note that this workshop includes a short outdoor walk, so we recommend wearing weather-appropriate clothing.

• Children aged 10+ are welcome but must be supervised by an adult at all times.

• Please bring your own reusable water bottle and coffee cup.

• If you're unwell on the day, please stay home to protect others.

The Banyule Loves...Workshop Series explores the lost art of sustainable, climate-resilient living. The series celebrates the things about Banyule which our community loves- from gardening to connecting to Country to saving money on our energy bills. These workshops will upskill community members while connecting participants to like-minded neighbours. Attendees are entered in a drawing for a prize for participating in each workshop, with the drawing held at the annual wrap-up celebration and showcase event each year-end. Each attendee will receive a certification of completion for the workshops they attend. 


This workshop takes place during the Kulin season of Waring, or Wombat season. The most common wombat species in Victoria is the Bare-nosed Wombat, if you’re lucky you might spot one enjoying the winter sun over the next couple months. All three extant species of wombat are endemic to Australia, along with 80% of the mammal species that occur on the continent. Additionally, Bulen-bulen (Superb Lyrebird) males perform their courtship displays during this season.


Banyule City Council is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as traditional custodians of the land and we pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and emerging, who have resided in the area and have been an integral part of the region's history.

Our community is made up of diverse cultures, beliefs, abilities, bodies, sexualities, ages and genders. We are committed to access, equity, participation and rights for everyone: principles which empower, foster harmony and increase the wellbeing of an inclusive community.