Ancient traditions blend with modern science in a showcase of bush foods and plant medicine at Henty’s Farm Gate
Ancient traditions and modern science blending to reveal the power of plants will be the focus of presentations in the Farm Gate Produce Area from proud Wiradjuri woman and naturopath Felicity Kerslake.
Based in Wagga Wagga, Felicity is a university qualified naturopath, nutritionist and permaculturalist bringing over 20 years of experience and a lifelong passion for using nature and connection to country to create great health and well-being.
This passion and Felicity’s natural affinity for healing using nature will be showcased at the Farm Gate Produce Area demo kitchen. Felicity will be a guest presenter demonstrating how to create great health and wellbeing from the ground up using bush foods and medicinal plants.
Educating and consulting at the Australian Bushfood Education Centre and All Natural Medicine and Dispensary, Felicity empowers people to restore their health and connect to nature using the power of plants including understanding natural treatments such as food as medicine, herbal medicines and growing bush foods.
“I am passionate about helping people to increase energy, master their metabolism and improve gut health in simple steps using natural medicines and bush foods so they can live each day with great health, joy and vitality,” Felicity said.
This passion extends to educating through schools, workshops, designing bush food gardens and supporting health professionals in understanding the role bush foods and medicines have in integrative health care.
“People gain health from and connect over food. Many people have yet to experience the flavours and benefits of bush foods they most likely walk past each day or can be grown in your yard,” Felicity said.
“If I ask someone to name an Italian food or an Indian meal, most people can answer. However, if I ask them to name an Australian native food (bush food) I may get Kakadu plum but often I hear nothing. I’m not OK with this and I don’t believe others should be either if we want to improve food security, health and the future for our children.
“Bringing bush foods to the forefront of people’s minds and connecting to nature also supports First Nation’s businesses in the bush food sector and those growing foods in the supply chain.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities have cherished these unique botanicals for centuries and delicately cared for the land through intergenerational knowledge sharing and agroecological practices to ensure the continued availability of these plants and foods.
“Now, we can bring parts of the bush to the city and experience the extraordinary taste and benefits of bush foods and medicinal plants at home, school or workplace.”
Felicity holds professional membership with the Australian Traditional Medicines Society, has featured on SBS radio, lectured, and written in textbooks for universities, and is on the Indigenous Plants for Health Association committee.
She will speak on bush foods at the Farm Gate Produce Area’s demo kitchen at 11am on Tuesday, September 17, Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19.
A range of bush foods and medicinal plants will be on display for visitors to experience and explore their use at home. For more information visit www.bushfoodeducation.com.au.