Host branch, Mossman, organised inspections of three distinctly different properties during the two-day event.

The Botanical Ark, a private botanical garden in beautiful Whyanbeel Valley, near Mossman, featured an amazing tropical rainforest with many rare and endangered tropical plants from around the world. Alan and Susie Carle started their project more than 24 years ago, first as a flower farm, and in 1990 as private ethno-botanical gardens. The Carles regularly travel the tropical regions of the world, with a special interest in plants that indigenous rainforest cultures have and still use for their foods, spices, shelter, medicine, cosmetics, fibres, oils, dyes – their everyday needs.

Alan and Susie escorted Rare Fruit Australia members on a tour, pointing out properties of various trees, shrubs and vines – along with a warning against uninvited sampling of fruits and berries, as many in their collection are quite poisonous. However, Alan said their breadfruit trees were probably the property’s most useful, as they provided a steady, reliable and ample supply of quality food.

Cape Trib Farmstay, Cape Tribulation, was established by Colin and Dawn Gray in 1981, as a tropical exotic fruit orchard on a former historic grazing property, clearing in 1934. With fruit seeds collected from around the world, they planted more than 10 hectares of orchards while raising four young children in “pioneering conditions”.

The farm’s tropical location and atmosphere was enhanced by occasional showers during the visit by Rare Fruit Australia members – after all, it is set in a rainforest.

The farm’s main commercial crops – durian, mangosteen and rambutan – are well represented amongst more than 50 different species of tropical fruit trees. Following orchard devastation by Cyclone Rona in 1999, Colin and Dawn opted to diversify and built a number of comfortable farmstay cabins for visitors.

Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm, just a short distance away, hosted a sausage sizzle and farm walk for Rare Fruit Australia visitors. Alison and Digby Gotts “found” Cape Tribulation in January 1986 while travelling from Melbourne to take up teaching positions in Darwin. They fell in love with the amazing area, particularly the rainforest, isolation and warm climate – and the extraordinary variety of unusual fruit that flourished there.

They have chosen to establish an organic fruit farm and apply the philosophy of permaculture. Digby and Alison said they needed to develop a system which copied the rainforest and provided a supply of nutrients to the orchard trees through rotting material and vegetative matter. Through field experiments, they have found some trees are more suitable to the area than others, with delicious mangosteen a proven winner in the extremely rocky soil.

The latest edition of the Rare Fruit Review is now available and will be posted out to branches and members shortly. The theme is ‘In My Backyard’ with articles on

• Garden Design
• Permaculture
• Plant Design Lists
• Adels Grove
• Tropical Food Trail
• Dwarf Coconuts
• New Rare Fruit
• Organic Conversion
• The Marula Tree
• Improving orchard soil
• School vegetable gardens
  
• AND MORE.

Extra copies are available for sale to non RFCA members at $8 per copy plus postage.
Email webmanager@rarefruitaustralia.org if you wish to purchase a copy

Shirley Kerle, president of the Mackay Branch reports on the day:

It was a fine, sunny and very pleasant Sunday. I had lots of willing workers to help with the setting up of the display and I think it looked very colourful. It was a little quite to start with but soon became busy with a steady stream of visitors eager to taste the fruit on offer. This included jakfruit (fresh, dried & frozen), longan, ruby grapefruit, lemonade fruit, breadfruit chips, granadilla, governors plum and red mombin (even though these had been frozen the majority of the visitors thought they were really nice). I think the most popular fruit was the chempedak as I could hardly keep the plate topped up.

There was also pink lime, Glycosmis pentaphylla, the fruit of a little native plant which created lots of interest. Dale said there was a very close relative, Glycosmis trifoliata, growing in the gardens which bore a similar edible fruit.

The fruit of the yellow pitaya, sometimes known as dragon fruit, was a very welcome addition to the table. Of course we had the old party trick, a miracle fruit followed by a slice of lime.

We were kept busy answering lots of questions but I also learnt that the nice fresh young tips of the saba nut tree are edible. I tried these and found that not only are they edible (I’m still alive and writing this report) but they are also quite tasty. Only eat the very fresh young, pale green tips and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Ray is a very deserving winner as it’s not unusual for him to have something in each of the three different categories of the competition at each meeting.

Ray is always ready to volunteer his help when needed and always donates lots of goodies for our auction.

We visit Dave Hodge’s backyard in Edge Hill,CAIRNS and he will show us

• Cyclone Proofing plants with dual planting.
• Pond Apple as rootstock
• Lawnmower compost
• Sustainable watering.
• Trellised gourds.
• Local beans for the kitchen.
• Nematode prevention.

Come and see for yourself.
Members $2, Visitors $5

START: 12:00 midday at the picnic area opposite Cominos House in the Botanic Gardens in Greenslopes St. We will explore the tropical food gardens nearby
See map. Look for RFCA signs.

Bring your own picnic lunch. There is a BBQ available in the gardens.
Moving to Dave Hodges backyard for talk and tour at 202 Jensen St Edge Hill for 1:30 start . How about making an effort and bring a rare fruit tasty treat to share for afternoon

The following positions were filled
President - Digby Gotts
Vice President - Alan Small
Secretary - Alison Gotts
Treasurer - Tony Woodall

Committee positions:
Gordon Tait - Hinkler
Ross Dickson - Wide
Paul Andrew - Mackay
Bob Tinknell - Cardwell

You can read the full minutes which will be posted on the home page of the website, as well as some articles about the different farms visited during the weekend.

There is a full 2 day program on the weekend which includes visits to three orchards.

HIGH FALLS FARM
1.30 pm

High Falls Farm provides an exotic fruit display orchard adjacent to its riverside restaurant. This orchard was established by Ron Berry many years ago. We will revisit the trees and see how they have changed. The present owner is Lynn Le’Carpentier.

Follow the Miallo Road turn off from the Daintree rd, until you come to the Whyanbeel turn off and follow the RFCA signs.

For more information call Dawn Meneikys 4098 2664

Members $2

Guests $5

Please bring a chair and a plate for afternoon tea.