Workshops at Yandina Community Gardens - No.1

Our first workshop was on the 21st of January - 'Identifying and Using Tropical Vegetables' with Robyn Ford and Linda Mahony.
   This is what the flyer read:
  If you have ever wondered just what to do with all the unusual 'permie' plants that you now seem be growing in your vegie gardens - apart from using them as mulch that is - then come along to this workshop where Robyn will take you through a variety of these plants from identification to growing requirements. There will be samples of some yummy food made with these plants available for you to taste.
    We left home around 7:15am, stopped for a wee break at the big servo on the way, then arrived just as it began at 9:30am. The room in the community centre, which was once a small suburban house, had been opened up from two smaller rooms, but it was standing room only by the time we got there! The organisers were amazed - last year they had averaged 30 people at their workshops - we signed in as numbers 72 and 73!
    I'll now relay what I wrote as we stood there and listened...

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric for pics and more info...)
Tumeric - dies down in winter - best time to harvest. Easy to make into powder - chop in processor, dry it in dehydrator, then grind up with mortar and pestle.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger for pics and more info)
Ginger - same as Tumeric. 

(Taken at Crystal Waters, Maleny, Qld)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_Myrtle for more info)
Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora, a native tree) aka lemon myrtle, lemon scented myrtle, lemon scented ironwood great leaves, has medicinal uses, and is fabulous in tea.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander for pics and more info)
Coriander - the Mexican and Sawtooth varieties are perennial; not as tender or pretty as the best known sort, but have the same flavour. (I bought a small pot plant of the Sawtooth back and planted it at the Kitchen garden.)