Wherever you live, try growing native plants endemic to your area. They have many qualities beneficial to your backyard.
In Tasmania, the plants of dry grassy and heathy woodlands provided a lush aboveground springtime harvest and diverse underground autumn larder of tubers, bulbs and swollen roots for Aborigines for over 500 generations.
When preparing for this new organic gardening adventure, remember the aim is to replicate the soil conditions found under grassy woodlands. So minimise organic fertilisers and be ready to apply a shallow, fibrous, slow to break down mulch or compost around the backyard. Do not use manures in your compost, but opt for leaf litter, coarse straw etc as the main bulking agent.
Start your experiment with a framework of native grasses, such as Kangaroo, Tussock, Wallaby, Bent, and Weeping grass and sedges such as the Sagg, Flag Iris, Sword sedge and Dianella. Each of these has been used as fibre sources for string production or as a refreshing snack for dry mouths following the chewing of their succulent leaf bases.
Once this supportive and protective natural framework is in place and lightly mulched, the real fun begins. There are literally hundreds of small herbaceous plants which can provide a myriad of taste sensations under the name of bush tucker.
In association with this taste experience, you will be amazed as to the diversity of new invertebrates (native bees, butterflies, beetles etc) and the associated native bird life flooding into your backyard to enjoy this new web of life you have created.
This section of the site is growing and I hope it will become a comprehensive collection of articles on native plants as time goes by, including examples of the easy to purchase bush-tucker plants.
Thanks to Phil Watson for his expert interpretation of some of Tasmania's native plants.