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Turmeric A Wonder Root Plant
Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, is a yellow wonder root plant. Curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies are still being conducted on this plant but preliminary research suggests that eating turmeric can help ward off dementia, inhibit the growth of tumors, lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels and fight infections.
To buy your Turmeric plant please visit our nursery. For more information on what our nursery has to offer click here.
Wendy, one of the nursery’s key volunteers made this deliciously irresistible gluten free Turmeric and Orange cake and kindly shares the recipe with you all.
Wendy’s Gluten Free Turmeric and Orange Cake
Ingredients
250gm butter
250gm sugar
5 eggs
150gm thick yoghurt
25gm finely grated fresh turmeric
250gm almond meal
100gm fine polenta
1 tsp baking powder
2 large oranges – finely grated rind & juice
Icing:
¾ – 1 cup cultured cream or yoghurt (sweetened)
Finely grated orange rind
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 180’C. Line a 22cm round spring form tin with baking paper. Grease with butter and coat with ground almonds. In a mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar till pale. Add one egg at a time, mixing well after each one until combined. Stir in yoghurt and turmeric.
- In a separate bowl, combine the almond meal, polenta and baking powder. Fold together into cake mixture alternatively with the orange juice & rind mixture.
- Bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour. Turn out the cake after five to 10 minutes of cooling in the tin. When completely cool, spread on topping. Cover with berries if desired.
Share & enjoy!
Sian’s Golden Turmeric Milk
Ingredients
- 2 cups plant – based milk (e.g. rice, almond, soy)
- 3 Tbs finely grated fresh turmeric
- 1 Tbs finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon, or 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 2 star anise
- 1 pinch of black pepper
Method
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan on low heat until bubbles start to form. Do not boil.
- Strain milk into mugs (to remove the solid parts).
- Optional: Top with star anise and cinnamon or nutmeg.
Note: If you would prefer to use full cream milk, the coconut oil can be left out due to the milk already containing fat. Follow instructions above, however wait until the milk is hot (above 70°C) before adding the ginger. Ginger juice contains a protease that can cause the milk to curdle at temperatures below 70°C, but is fine above 70°C.
Note 2: The health benefits of turmeric are increased if it is consumed with fat and black pepper (which contains a substance called piperine), which is why these ingredients are both incorporated into this recipe!
Beneficial Bugs
Good bugs are essential to our survival.
Ladybirds, praying mantids, lacewings and hover-flies, eat the aphids, mites and caterpillars that attack our plants. Honey bees, native bees, butterflies and moths pollinate our plants, giving us flowers, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and vegetables.
We can encourage healthy populations of good bugs.
Choose not to spray insecticides or fly sprays at home and in the garden.
Buy certified organic or chemical free products
Plant bug attracting flowers.
Ladybirds are attracted to big, flat flowers like marigolds and calendula. Honeybees like flowers full of sticky pollen, like dandelions, borage and lavender. Native stingless bees really like the delicate flowers of tea trees, bottle brush and rosemary.
For all your plant needs and advice visit City Farm Nursery
Container Gardening
Practically anything can be made into a planter, or container garden.
Important factors to consider when choosing a container, or pot, are correct size, adequate drainage and good quality organic potting mix.
A good quality potting mix is essential for the health of plants in pots. Potting mixes are scientifically formulated with specific nutrients and water holding materials.
Make sure to use a specialty mix for plants such as native plants, succulents, and berries.
For all your gardening needs visit City Farm Nursery
Different, edible, hardy and climate specific…
That is what you will find at the City Farm Nursery. Tucked away behind the Royal Brisbane Hospital at Northey Street City Farm is our nursery. What makes it unique is that it is a not-for-profit member owned nursery run by passionate staff and volunteers. We specialise in propagating and making available long life annuals, climate specific and different plants and fruit trees that other nurseries might not readily supply. It was started 15 years ago by passionate volunteers who saw the need to educate and provide edible seedlings and plants to people in Brisbane’s inner city.
Going from strength to strength it has grown into a fully-fledged nursery that is a member of the Nursery & Garden Industry Association Queensland.
We support the Farm’s vision of ‘Sustainability For All’ by providing organic and chemical free plants and good old-fashioned advice on all things you can grow in your City garden.
This is what some of our customers say…
“The delightful City Farm Nursery, a go-to place for edible, organic and rare plant species, provides a haven for birds, bees, frogs and people alike. The atmosphere is calming with an abundance of beauty and art. Thanks to the helpful advice from the staff, our garden is stocked with fruit trees, herbs and plants that are ideal for our subtropical climate. I highly recommend this nursery!”
“The best permaculture based plant nursery in Australia! We Brisbanites are very lucky to have such a great resource. Organically grown plants, with locally saved seed and cuttings ensures you get the most resilient plants for your garden. I’ve been designing edible landscapes and permaculture gardens for 20 years and recommend the City Farm Nursery.”
So for more about our products and much, much more click here.