Garden Club News

This week at gardening club students were planting the Yam Daisy also known by its Indigenous name Myrnong. We will be watching as they grow whilst learning about its uses and history.

About The Yam Daisy/Myrnong

The Yam Daisy was an Indigenous staple food from the start of Indigenous culture until the mid 1840s. The Yam Daisy, otherwise known as its Indigenous name “Myrnong” stopped naturally growing because of the arrival of sheep from Britain on The First Fleet. The sheep were killing the Yam Daisy due to their non-traditional hooves which were too heavy for the soil, (as well as obviously eating the Yam Daisy). The Indigenous peoples were beginning to miss the use and taste of the Myrnong. Since they needed the Yam Daisy back the Indigenous peoples had to start killing the white settlers sheep to try and help the Yam Daisy grow again. The white settlers got upset about the Indigenous peoples killing their sheep for the Myrnong to grow and as a result small conflicts started to emerge.

Planting Your Own Yam Daisy/Myrnong

Suitable for full-sun/Suitable for part-shade

Suitable for pots

Dimensions:

Height 30cm

Width 30cm

Tolerates drought

Tolerates sandy soils

Harvest after 1 year

Attracts bees & insects

Written by Zoe and Lucy FIRE carrier leaders.

Students also enjoyed finding invertebrates in the garden while watering and planting.