FNQ Edible Plants

FNQ Edible Plants All about bush tucker and eating healthy in the beautiful Far North Queensland region of Australia. WARNING! Please do not try what you see in this page.

Some of these plants are toxic and deadly and require extensive processing to be rendered safe!!!

16/06/2026

There's still more Black Bean Nuts to come 😳🥜

Walu and I went for a walk to check out the tree canopy and see what Black Bean Nut is still left up there. Wow there's still another month's worth to go!

When you eat seasonally, you gather your food from different locations. The trees to the east, closer to the coast start flowering later in the year. The trees further west under the rainforest canopy are more so a Winter crop.

I've done well this year. I'm up to about 24kgs of Black Bean Nuts so far. I've only managed to turn 3kgs into flour for now though so lots of work to be done. There's still 15kgs at varying stages of processing.

Once I start eating these nuts I don't get sick, I don't get chronic pain, and they contribute about a quarter of my diet each day for up to 5 months.

I'm also seeing the southern Australian regions start posting the Black Bean is ready for them down that way. If you're going to risk it, please do reach out because I really don't want anyone being harmed trying to learn the hard way 😬🙏

15/06/2026

Walu's World 🐕

If you haven't already met Walu, well, here he is doing what he loves most: being a swimming dog! 🐕💦

Walu comes with me on most adventures. He's my extra set of ears and sense of smell. He can help me sniff out certain foods, or even track other people and which way they went in the rainforest.

But here you see Walu having a great time at the creek, now that we've had enough rain to fill it up.

⚠️🚨 Danger Danger!! Can you see what I see? 🚨⚠️Nature doesn't always flash a bright red light when something is unsafe, ...
15/06/2026

⚠️🚨 Danger Danger!! Can you see what I see? 🚨⚠️

Nature doesn't always flash a bright red light when something is unsafe, sometimes it’s a tiny little spot you have to look closely to find.

Take a close look at these photos of Myristica insipida, the native Australian nutmeg found here in the Far North Queensland rainforest. While the bright red mace looks stunning, the real devil is in the details. If you zoom in on the inside of the fruit husks and the nutmeg seed itself, you can spot subtle traces of white. To the untrained eye, it might just look like part of the plant. To a seasoned eye, it's a massive WARNING sign. That white fuzz is the beginning of a post-harvest fungal infection (likely Aspergillus or Penicillium species). In the wet tropics, these molds move fast and can produce dangerous, heat-stable toxins that you definitely do not want to consume. ☠️

Beyond the mold, wild nutmeg already demands respect due to myristicin, the active compound responsible for its potent chemical profile. While modern research is diving into how microdoses of myristicin might help calm a hyper-vigilant nervous system or aid in PTSD recovery by easing the body's constant "fight-or-flight" response, taking even a fraction too much crosses the line into severe toxicity.

The rainforest is full of incredible chemistry, but safety always belongs in the details. If it's got the white fuzz, leave it on the forest floor! 🌿👇

🍂 ASK ME ANYTHING: Bush Tucker Edition! 🍂Ever wondered what it actually takes to survive and thrive on country? From dec...
13/06/2026

🍂 ASK ME ANYTHING: Bush Tucker Edition! 🍂

Ever wondered what it actually takes to survive and thrive on country? From deciphering deadly plants to mastering ancient cooking techniques, I’m opening up the comments section to YOU.

I’m filming a special Q&A video over the next few weeks, and I’m answering your most burning questions!

Not sure what to ask? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
💀 “Why take the risk with foods that can kill you?”
🌱 “Have you ever made a mistake while processing toxic foods?”
🪵 “Who taught you all this cultural knowledge?”
🐜 “What is your absolute favourite bush tucker?”
👶 “Who were your biggest childhood influences?”

Whether you want to know about the science, the culture, the close calls, or just what tastes the best, nothing is off-limits.

🛑 HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- Drop your question in the comments below.
- Like & Share this post so your mates can get their questions in too!

Keep an eye out over the next few weeks to see if your question makes the final video cut.

Post your question in the comments section below! 👇✨

12/06/2026

8 Figs & 8 Native Almonds 🎱

​Walu 🐕 helped me dig around and find a bunch more Johnstone River Almonds. I had just picked exactly 8 Hairy Figs for dinner, so finding exactly 8 of these native almonds felt like a pretty cool coincidence 🤔

​It looks like the Swamp Hens have been digging up the sandy area. I found a lot more nuts in that exact spot again, just buried a bit deeper this time.

​I've tried searching the canopy from above and below the creek bank, but I still haven't found the mother tree!

​This weekend I'll go check on my leaching Cycad Nuts. Once that's done, I'll have to start familiarising myself with every tree around that area 🔍🧐

​One day I'll find the source 🤞🙏

​I ended up taking home a decent stash: figs, nuts, and some more Burny Beans for my next batch of bean flour.

​

11/06/2026

Leaf Wrapping in the Rice Cooker 🌿

Check out how to use medicinal leaves to wrap and flavour food. This time, we're making barramundi right in the rice cooker 😋🤤

The leaves used in this video are packed with anti-inflammatories, anthocyanins, and special compounds that help stabilise my blood sugar. They get discarded after cooking, but their incredible flavours embed themselves deeply into the softly poached fish fillets.

The rice cooker is an absolute powerhouse in the kitchen. I've tried pressure cookers before, but the rice cooker is next-level awesome 💪

10/06/2026

We're getting closer to finding the source 🤔

The hunt for the Johnstone River Almond continues but this time I find myself a dried fruit 😳

We're getting closer... All part of the learning process.

Where do you think these Native Almonds are coming from?

08/06/2026

Where's my lucky nut? The mystery continues!

Join Walu & Zane as they continue the hunt for the highly prized Johnstone River Almond 🧐

We take a look at bush tracking techniques during dry season, discussing how objects fall and leave an imprint of their movements.

Tomorrow I'll add the second video that goes with this clip. Make sure you like and follow the page so you don't miss out on the action.

08/06/2026

The magic of our weather ☀️🌧️

Just yesterday I was complaining about running out of water for my plants due to the dry season. Last night, I looked up and saw the rain coming. Today, wow, how blessed am I? 😊🙏

When your food relies on the seasons, you rely on the weather and what nature provides.

I always preach to trust your instinct! I listened to mine last week and moved that 12kg basket of cycads into a smaller, more secure pond.

Thankfully, with the rain today, that'll buy me the extra week of water supply I desperately wanted🙏

07/06/2026

Free Event - Mark Your Calendar! 📆

Time: 9:30 AM
Date: Saturday, 20th of June
Location: Goomboora Park, Brinsmead

Come along and join a bunch of amazing people as we take a short, insightful walk around Goomboora Park.

Goomboora is one of the best parks in the region for family fun and recreation — it's clean, has great facilities, and offers excellent parking.

On this walk, we'll be exploring the area to identify and learn about various traditional bush tucker food sources.

Feel free to bring the kids! This is a completely free, family-friendly event.

🎒 What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.

📌 How to join:
Please respond to the Facebook Event or post a comment to let us know you are interested in attending 🤞🙏

Feedback from previous events:
"What a wonderful morning! Deep gratitude, Zane 🙏 I learnt so much from you and appreciated getting to taste the bush foods we learnt about. I look forward to the next one."

"Thank you so much for your time Zane, was a wonderful experience, with so much learning!!"

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Cairns, QLD
4870

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