Mallokup Garden

Louise Kaestner
Dec 27, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Dec 29, 2024

Tropical Food Garden.

Source: The Gnawnster YouTube (2024).

Interview with the Mallokup Garden

Mallokup is Wardandi, a Nyungar language group, for a place of shadows and shade (Boodjar n.d.). After much searching in the designated area, I found this delightful bush food garden in the shadows and shade of Building 209 in the Creative Quarter of Curtin University. It covers a small area of ground and is in 3, reticulated raised garden beds. Surrounding it is a dirt path.

The garden spoke to me as I videod it. There were dead weeds and live herbs mixed between each other. This garden was much happier than the others I had spoken to. There was no rubbish. However, the garden felt that the pathway was not wide enough between the beds. It felt that students with accessibility challenges might not feel as welcome as others.

Though the garden was in a busy and obvious place, it took time for me to find it. The garden mentioned that it still felt quite invisible to busy staff and students. Across from the garden was a place to eat and drink. It felt that staff and students spent more attention on that area than it did the garden.

Requests from Mallokup Garden

Before I had a chance to move to my next location, Mallokup Garden pulled me aside and whispered into my ear. As it spoke, shudders speared down my spine. Mallokup Garden, plants and bed, wanted a bush food education for staff and students. The Garden has fierce ambitions of staff and students learning how to use the bush food garden the Nyungar way. This meant an education both on the food and medicinal properties. Furthermore, Mallokup Garden suggested that the education be both online and in person. Mallokup Garden finds accessibility for all staff and students and important issue.