Bushcraft Survival Australia - Wild Edibles

Wild Edibles (Blue Flax Lily, Geebung, Mat-Rush).
This video presentation gives a brief overview of three wild food plants from the southeast coast of Australia, the Blue Flax Lily, the Broad Leaved Geebung and the Spiny Headed Mat-Rush. The video describes where to find them, their uses and how to harvest and eat them.
The video is presented by Gordon Dedman, founder of Bushcraft Survival Australia (BSA). Gordon has travelled extensively and completed numerous Survival and Bushcraft Courses worldwide at schools run by Ray Mears, Dave Canterbury, Lofty Wiseman and Bob Cooper.
Gordon is a former member of the Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment and is presently a survival instructor in NORFORCE, an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force Surveillance unit (RFSU).
NORFORCE conducts patrols in the remote areas of Northern Australia, working closely with Aboriginal communities.
Please follow all safety procedures when lighting fires outdoors and always adhere to the laws and guidelines set down by your State or country of origin, governing fire lighting.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
BSA (Bushcraft Survival Australia) Disclaimer
- The information presented in these videos are given under the provisor that the person/s watching these instructions will practise with caution and care.
- BSA is not responsible for how and when you use this material.
- Please note that some activities related to bushcraft survival can be dangerous if performed without proper care and attention to detail.
- Please note that in many situations it is not permissible to light fires in National Parks.
More videos available on www.BushcraftSurvivalAustralia.com.au

[@vicksterhawk]

thank you... I always wonder when out in the bush what plants in my local area are edibles... I wish the indigenous locals would run workshops on that... its crazy we don't get taught more of this in school

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Sorry for the late reply…have been away instructing on an army survival course. Yes i agree..we should be taught more of this at school..but unfortunately in Australia (generally) its a combination of ignorance, prejudice and a modern world that does not value the skills and knowledge the aboriginal people have developed over thousands of years….i'm generalising but over my lifetime i have found this to be true….there are exceptions to this. A couple of good books to read are…"The Oldest Foods On Earth (Norton) and "Wild Food Plants of Australia" (Lowe).

[@vicksterhawk]

Thank you :) I hope your course went well....Yes there is so much we can learn from Aboriginal knowledge...I will look for those books you suggested... Thanks again :)

[@frugalmum7943]

can you include information about any non edibles which might look similar please?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Will try and do that in the next wild edibles video i do. Thanks for the feedback.

[@BlueGuardian]

I’ll be sure to watch out for these the next time I go hiking!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

👍thanks for watching

[@dailyreloadtime1242]

The spiny heads are every where! Time to get weird looks in the Bunnings car park as I rip one off and start eating lol!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

🤭Bunnings are a great source of Lomandra. If only they knew. Thanks for watching.

[@BryceSH1992]

I'm here because of Coronavirus. But on serious note. This stuff is invaluable if you ever got stuck in the bush.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for your perspective. I wish more people shared your viewpoint. Please feel free to share it and thanks for watching.

[@lonceystourguidefilms3933]

Cheers much for sharing! Lived in Brisbane for years and didn't know that Geebung suburb, was named after a native plant and was taught about lomandra not so long ago! Just a suggestion it's probably safer to say, depending on the Aboriginal tribe it was either the women's, or the men's duty to make baskets etc, as here in Cairns and Kuranda it was the men's including making jewellery! Other than that great show! My botanist plus zoologist mate Bushman Dan and myself are working on our own channel, where anyone such as yourself can post 3 to 5 minute videos, such as one's like this:)

[@PAULNAT]

Great clip Gordon, I love learning about the wild edibles we have in our backyard. Keep up the good work.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Paul, i appreciate the feedback.

[@bloodedeagle]

Just moved over from NZ. Can't wait to get out and about in Oz. Got some beautiful countryside, thanks for the vids.

[@caniscanine9767]

Thanks mate appreciate you doing these videos

[@NoBSSurvival]

Glad to see someone else pull out mat-rush the fast way.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

It’s a messy business and not nice when the water is cold but it’s worth it when you get a good harvest. Thanks for watching.

[@daveedwards6567]

You remind me of the Bush tucker man good video and the same Hat thankyou

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

👍

[@TheDao101]

Thats a great video mate. Thanks for sharing!!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.

[@paleoanonymous9026]

Great channel. I just found it about a week ago. Love the format and the way you explain the skills.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback…very much appreciated.

[@bjbuckley6108]

Thanks mate 👍 I'll check it out

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Cool

[@meggale2627]

love the nature sounds at the end

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

It was a lovely place to film and camp. Thank you for watching

[@MTwoodsrunner]

I was on a bit of a Walkabout today myself and enjoying several of our local wild edibles...of course its spring time here in the rocky mtns so i was limited to digging for my lunch...always a pleasure Gordon...atb...Dave

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Dave, your comments are always appreciated. I was in the Canadian Rockies with the Canadian Rangers a couple of years ago…..wonderful country!

[@Nitrousous]

That's excellent country to survive in. Reminds me of the country North of Townsville just before the rainforest start. Great video Gordon.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

It's very nice, but was on the mid north coast of NSW. Thanks for watching.

[@stevieeskay]

Great stuff mate!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

My pleasure, thanks for watching

[@joanneyeark4349]

Love the info and the bush always looking for the tucker even got some in my yard

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Glad it's a help and you enjoy the content. Thanks for watching and enjoy growing your bushtucker garden.

[@donnajohnson9324]

Thank you so much for sharing 🇦🇺👍

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.

[@stuartwhite7998]

Your videos rock. I used to work in a restaurant that served australian bush foods and game products. I've been fortunate enough to meet Vic Cherikoff. My favourite bush food are kakadu plums

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I've read a few of Vic Cherikoff's books and it would be great to meet him. Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) is a magnificent plant with its fruit having the worlds highest source of vitamin C. Spending lots of time in the top half of Australia it certainly is one of my favourites too.

[@Trenasist]

I can tell by your slouch hat you get around the army a bit. Thanks for the info! I didn't know that about the Mat Rush plant. I'll have a nibble next time I'm out walking

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Yes, I've been in the army for almost 20 years and currently a survival instructor in Norforce. Matt rush is a very versatile plant (cordage, food smack, tinder , weaving , flour). And it's found everywhere. Thanks for watching.

[@BushCampingTools]

One thing I might add about the Lomandra (your matt rush) is that one should be careful when picking it as the tips of the leaves are spiky enough to cause some damage to your eyes if you were unlucky enough to get zapped. (from personal experience and those of others before me LOL). Great video!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Yes i know what you mean….it is possible. Thanks for your feedback and glad you like the videos.

[@raulf100]

nice vid, as per usual. its making me hungry though

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Chris, don't eat too much!

[@karkoffy]

great stuff :)

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thank you for the feedback

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thank you

[@dingusog8144]

nice vid

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks, i appreciate it.

[@craigallen1168]

this was good thank you for sharing your knowledge & experience I've got a couple of bush Tucker books but I'm trying to find something more localised to south eastern NSW if you have any thoughts on this I would be greatly appreciative thank you again my friend

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks Craig. One of the best wild food books is Tim Lowe's "Wild Food Plants of Australia". It focusses mainly on the east coast.

[@BushCampingTools]

Yeah Geebungs are great.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

They are nice when you can find a ripe one that has not been eaten by the local wildlife first….they love them too.

[@BushCampingTools]

LOL, yeah most of the time they are green as grass LOL -if you don't mind them sour. Hey BTW are you also eating the casurina seed pods-well chewing them I mean not really eating them.

[@reptileaustralia242]

any chance of covering wa from bottom to top?

[@bigpat989]

The geebung looks like an olive that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw it

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

I guess it does look a little like an olive. Nice snack if you can find enough of them.

[@magila1]

Great video Gordon! Are all species of Geebung (Persoonia) edible? I've seen a few plants with very thin needle like leaves on my bush walk, could be a good bush snack!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thank you. As far as i know species are edible once the fruit has fallen to the ground and turned purple or black. Their are quite a few species in Australia and the leaves vary enormously. They do make a good bush snack (if you can find enough of them) and if you get a good one, it really does taste similar to stewed apple. You have to be quick and get them before the other animals do.

[@damachinen]

I didn't know this channel and such great informative teaching was available. Thanks mate! I'm trying to get in better touch with my surroundings and the Australian wild. I've been thinking about a 2-3 day hike, hopefully around October this year in Victoria. I'm fairly fit and young. Maybe something like Mt Howitt to Crosscut Saw. Do you have any recommendations or advice to give to a complete amateur? Again, thanks for your great videos and hope you keep making them!

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for the positive feedback. The best advice i can give you is to practise and rehearse with your kit first before you go, travel light and only take what you actually need…every item should have at least 3 uses, the top 5 items are a good cutting tool, a combustion device, metal container, a good shelter (lightweight for you) and cordage, good sturdy broken in shoes, know how to navigate and have a reliable map and most important of all….let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to return or reach your next destination. Come on a Bushcraft Survival Australia basic course lol.

[@damachinen]

Bushcraft Survival Australia: I didn't know you did that haha! I'll check the website out, thanks a million for your comments, I'll be sure to do what you say. Cheers.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

No worries…my pleasure

[@FoxBat38]

to be honest we may have one of the hardest climates to survive in just because of the wildlife lol

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Not necessarily, a cold climate and animals on land that can eat you is equally as scary. (not that that's necessarily true either). Only northern Australia has a Croc threat and "some" sharks in the sea but if you stay away from the water or take simple precautions you are fine. I don't really think of snakes as being a threat, that's just media over exaggeration and lack of public awareness. The biggest threat everyone faces everyday and no body thinks about it is when we get into a motor vehicle. A lack of water or being able to find it has traditionally been our greatest threat in remote areas. Thanks for watching.

[@TheHaloKidRules]

Do you know any good places in QLD that would allow me and a few other to live of the environment?

[@nobodyproductions9453]

Hey guys im interested in starting up a bushfood nursery and just in the very beginning stages. Do you know of any books or study material that might assist us in the initial learning stages? There is so much to learn and very hard to find resources.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Sure , there are a couple of good books to begin with: Wild Food Plants of Australia - Tim Lowe Useful Plants of Temperate Australia - can’t remember authors of top of my head. Bush Foods of NSW - Sydney Botanical Gardens Bush Foods - Jenifer Issacs The oldest foods on earth - John Newton Grow your own bush foods - can’t remember author Thanks for your interest.

[@bjbuckley6108]

can you plz say what part of Australia you can get this food

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Hi there, sorry for the late reply but i have been away with the army. All these plants were from the mid north coast of NSW but you can find them almost all along the east coast. A great book to use as a guide is Tim Lowe's "Wild Food Plants of Australia".

[@WritersInkTHEWORD]

hey brother is there anywhere else I can see more videos or books on what you know about survival?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Sorry for the late reply…been away on an army survival course. There are loads of books out there…not many on Australia unfortunately. Some good ones are…"Outback Survival" (Bob Cooper), "Australian Bushcraft" (Richard Graves), Aboriginal Plants as Tools (?), Aboriginal Bushtucker and Bush Medicine (Issacs). Will hopefully have some more videos downloaded soon. Checkout our bushcraft survival courses www.bushcraftsurvivalaustralia.com.au

[@vickikay54]

Can you pick the Geebung and wait for them to ripen, or do they need to fall of the tree naturally?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

I've tried that but it doesn't work too well, even in a brown paper bag. Best to let it ripen naturally on the ground, but get them before the birds and animals do. Thanks for the question.

[@colinurquhart1875]

Thanks for all the vid's Gordon, really enjoyed them all since finding your channel. It's awesome to see that you respond to all the comments too - such a rarity. Just wondering if you had any experience with letting any sub-ripe geebung's mature for a couple of days away from all the critters? Does the taste improve?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Sorry for the late reply but have been away for the last month teaching on an army survival course. Thanks for the positive feedback….really appreciated. I have not tried letting sub-ripe geebungs mature for a couple of days but i'm going to give that a go, i usually just eat what is there. What a great idea…thank you.

[@petergoodall6258]

If you collected a cloth bag of green persoonia off the ground, would they ripen ok? Could you pick them from the tree and do same?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Unfortunately I have tried that and in my experience doesn’t seem to work...they just stay the same. If anyone has had a different experience please let me know.

[@joeamatosmartscience8757]

4:30 All good telling people what is good to eat, but please. Warn everyone to wash grounded fruit when possible, to avoid ingesting awful things like trichinosis eggs. Mmm, good bush tucker.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Noted, I will be sure to make it a point to do so next time. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching.

[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

I guess with Geebungs you could always use a drop pouch to store them for later eating, letting them ripen without the risk of animals taking your food. How much time does it take? Hours or days?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

I have tried this a few times but for some reason once they are taken off the ground, they don't seem to ripen so well.

[@juliereid6113]

Do you have a book so I could buy

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

No but it's in the pipeline. In the meantime you can checkout our Blog posts on the website which are short chapters in themselves. bushcraftsurvivalaustralia.com.au/blog/ Thanks for watching

[@jasonsha6844]

hows pig face taste like salty straw berry

[@bashpr0mpt719]

What on earth did you do to your hat mate? That crown is jacked. And not in a good way.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

It's just an old army slouch hat of mine to the keep the sun off. I'm not really concerned with how it looks, just as long as it does the job 😀