IndigiGrow to open new wholesale nursery Jan 21-22, 2023

Sydney-based Aboriginal non-profit organisation IndigiGrow is opening a new wholesale native plant nursery that will give it room to grow its business and provide work experience for school students and apprenticeships for Aboriginal youth.

IndigiGrow, which specialises in producing native plants, including bush tucker and species from the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS), will officially open the wholesale nursery on 21-22 January, 2023  at Matraville Sports High School, Anzac Parade, Chifley, in the eastern suburbs (Bidjigal Country). On this occasion, it will be open to the public.

The new wholesale nursery will supply native plants to the following: tradespeople, government gardeners and horticulturalists, garden designers, landscape architects and corporate clients as well as other nurseries. The nursery will also open to the public on special occasions.

This Saturday will feature a joint talk with IndigiGrow CEO Peter Cooley and Gardening Australia presenter Costa Georgiadis on the benefits of native plants and a cooking demonstration by Indigenous chef and season four Master Chef contestant Mindy Woods. The nursery will be open 10.00am to 3.00pm on Saturday and Sunday for the launch.

For the launch weekend, the nursery will allow the broader public to purchase native plants at wholesale prices. The two-day event will begin on Saturday with a Welcome to Country at 10.00am followed by speeches from Matraville Sports High School principal Nerida Walker and federal member for Kingsford Smith, the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP.

Also speaking on Saturday will be landscape architect and ABC TV Gardening Australia presenter Costa Georgiadis, sharing his gardening wisdom around native plants. Mr Georgiadis will team up with Mr Cooley to talk about native edible plants, local endangered plants, wildlife and biodiversity, and how the wider community can support and protect the environment.

There will also be a cooking demonstration with native edibles at 1pm on Saturday. Mindy Woods, an Indigenous chef (Karkalla restaurant at Byron Bay) and a season four Master Chef contestant, will be cooking up her signature dish: kangaroo skewers with macadamia satay sauce.
About IndigiGrow

Now in its fifth year, IndigiGrow is a native plant project of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation. It has two nurseries: a retail nursery at La Perouse Public School and the second, a new wholesale trade nursery at Matraville Sports High School, which opens in January 2023. IndigiGrow also has an online shop at indigigrow.com.au

IndigiGrow specialises in the propagation, growing and reviving of Australian native plants and bushfood, especially species from the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS). It aims to empower, educate and engage Indigenous youth in culture, and connection to Country and teaches them how to care for Country, helping them make positive choices for the future.