I apply the skills I have in plants and project management to being an Indigenous ally; through the growing of Australian native food and resource plants in public space for self and others to learn about Aboriginal culture and history and as an avenue to support Aboriginal people reclaim their sovereignty.
I am an Australian POC and female solo farmer now establishing a native orchard for commercial production of food and botanicals.
Synti's Story
I thought I had just signed up to do some tree planting along Merri Creek, but fell into the niche revegetation using Murnong and other native food plants, and through this became aware of the richness of Aboriginal culture and knowledge, as well as the truth of Australia’s history.
Over the last decade, largely in consultation with Wurrundjeri, I have helped organise opportunities to give Aboriginal people voice and educate self and others, through growing native food plants along Merri Merri, community talks/tours/activities, school kitchen gardens, design a nursery training program for the NARRAP team.
I have challenged native food garden projects to do more than ‘tick the boxes’ and engage Indigenous experts into positions of greater power. Now, as a non-Indigenous native food grower, I am exploring how to ensure Aboriginal ownership of knowledge and commercial models to ‘pay the rent’.