A Sydney asylum seeker help centre has found a new way to bring in much-needed funding, by selling workshops in sustainable living, including in bush foods and in urban beekeeping.
The popularity of the courses offered by the Asylum Seeker Centre of NSW, and in particular the beekeeping workshops, has stunned the organisers.
They have had to repeat them three times to cater for the demand, and it still shows no sign of slowing. "We had no idea of the amount of interest in this, it was extraordinary. It looks like we're going to have to put on quite a few more," says volunteer Jessica Perini.
NATIVE BEES
The beekeeping workshop focuses on Australia's native bee trigona carbonaria, which is tiny and has no sting. Of the country's 2000 species, it is the only one that lives in a hive, rather than a burrow, which makes it ideal for beekeeping.
Its popularity among urban gardeners is largely due to the fact that - being harmless - there is no need for the expensive and complicated equipment usually associated with beekeeping.
Trigona is an avid pollinator, but it produces relatively little honey - just one kilo per year.
However that honey is prized for its low glycaemic index that makes it safe for diabetics.
"The traditional people, the Aborigines … also used the resin in which they store the honey in traditional medicine," says workhop leader Gavin Smith.
The native bee has a mild temperament, and the architecture inside its hive is 'exquisite', says Mr Smith.
"There's nothing more beautiful than them fly back, with big golden balls of pollen on their legs, and disappear into the nest," says Mr Smith.
Trigona carbonaria does well anywhere from tropical north Queensland as far south as Bega, in NSW, and is thought to thrive in Western Australia, however Victoria and South Australia are too cold for it. Its hive is so small, it fits easily in a small yard, or even on a balcony.
WORLDWIDE THREAT
The Australian bee is special for another reason. A mite called varroa destructor is wiping out bee colonies around the world, threatening vital food crops that rely on them for pollination.
Australia currently exports billions of bees (of various varieties) to help pollinate crops in the US, where the local bee population is succumbing to the mite, and to Colony Collapse Disorder - thought to be caused by pesticide use.
However, recent studies show trigona may be a saviour from the catastrophe that looms when varroa reaches Australia.
Unlike other bees, its miniscule size allows it to groom itself all over, ridding itself of the mite - which attaches itself behind bees' heads, where most species can't reach. If trigona proves able to survive the mite, it will continue to pollinate Australian crops, averting disaster.
ASYLUM SEEKERS
The Asylum Seeker Centre of NSW looks like an ordinary house on a quiet street in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills.
However, between 300 and 500 asylum seekers find help there each year. They are given food, health care and assistance with their refugee applications, and they are offered support and counselling.
"It's a healing space, a quiet place where people can come and talk and just be at peace," says Ms Perini.
The centre receives no government funding, but City of Sydney council has given it grants to pay the workshop leaders.
Workshop attendees who hold negative attitudes about asylum seekers have said they changed their minds after meeting them at the centre, Mr Perini says.
"They see they're just normal people, trying to live their lives," she says. Local businesses often donate surplus food, and the asylum seekers are also free to harvest the vegetables and herbs growing in its small garden.
INDIGENOUS TIES
The centre places a strong emphasis on indigenous knowledge. Its front garden is home to 36 species of edible and medicinal local plants, which were chosen based on advice from Dharawhal elder, Frances Bodkin.
"She told us all the stories about the plants," says Ms Perini.
The centre's bush food courses are taught by John Lennis - who is also a Dharawhal man.
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