Plant and draw Indigofera australis

Indigofera australis is a beautiful and useful shrub from the pea family and is indigenous to much of temperate Australia. It provides food for pollinators, enhances the soil and was used by First Nations people to stun fish and eels. Indigofera australis also joins the larger family of indigo dye plants from around the world, producing a dark blue pigment for textiles.

Join Paradoxa Collective and guest speaker, Jakobi, Blakfella Storytella, Biocultural Scientist in the Food Fibre & Medicine Garden. We will learn about indigofera in many contexts and as just one example of ways to celebrate community efforts promoting land care and indigenous ecosystem restoration.

We will plant Indigofera australis tubestock amongst other important food fibre and medicine plants on site. Then participants are invited to draw or paint an indigofera plant using indigo watercolour.

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Jakobi [-O-], Blakfella Storytella and Biocultural Scientist is a Djab Wurrung and Dhauwurd Wurrung man and founder of Petrichor Collaborative.

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Please note:

• The path to the Food Fibre & Medicine Garden is steep and can be a little slippery. Please wear sensible shoes and clothes suitable to plant in.

• Please also bring an extra bottle of water for your newly planted Indigofera

Limited car parking is available at the Panton Hill Firefighters Memorial Park and at the Living and Learning Centre opposite. Bunjil Reserve is 100 meters down the hill. Please let us know if you need a lift (or could offer one) from Eltham or Hurstbridge Stations and we will try to help you.

Fed Square and Creative Climate gratefully thanks its partners for making Planting possible: Creative Victoria, Creative Australia, Bupa, Melbourne Water and Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo collaboration, Now or Never and Landcare.

By joining this event, you're helping to care for Birrarung and its catchment, contributing to the vision of the Yarra Strategic Plan, connecting with Birrarung as a living entity and exploring what a reciprocal relationship with the river can look like.