Noongar Bush Tucker: Bush Food Plants and Fungi of the South-West of Western Australia

by Vivienne Hansen, John Horsfall

Before the colonisation of Australia, Aboriginal Australians lived on a wonderful larder of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean meat, in a land largely free from disease, with more exercise, less stress and supportive communities. Today, in Aboriginal communities all over Australia, there are higher instances of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, renal disease, some types of cancer and lung diseases than in the general population. This book is an attempt to preserve bush tucker knowledge for future generations of Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people to ensure the information is not lost with the passing of Elders. The authors describe over 260 species of the edible plants and fungi that were regularly gathered by the Noongars of the Bibbulmun Nation of the south-west of Western Australia before and after colonisation.Many of these plants and fungi are difficult to find today because of land clearing for crops and thefarming of sheep and cattle.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia, Food

450 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Terri-lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was incredibly interesting, and enlightening on just how clever and industrious the Noongar people were. The info in this book is what they should teach in schools about Aboriginals before settlement. The introduction was unexpected and actually my fave part of the book. I was expecting a field guide but it delivered so much more. Only lacking one star because I'd have loved to see a few recipes or more detailed info on how to use some of the plants, but this is a pretty comprehensive collection of WA's bush tucker with vibrant big pictures great for identification. The Bush medicine version of this book is much shorter but also has a great intro. Both are worth a look