Artist shares wild idea
FARAH ABDURAHMAN
21 Mar, 2012 South West Advertiser
EVERYDAY plants found in your backyard could have health and medicinal benefits.
Diego Bonnetto, an artist with a love of all things botanical, has developed a movement within the local community to encourage foraging for wild plants.
The artist is working in partnership with the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre to deliver the Wild Stories exhibition this December.
Mr Bonnetto will host a range of workshops throughout the year to encourage the broader community to create their own Wild Stories through foraging in the local environment, cooking classes, skill sharing and story-telling.
Originally of Italian decent, Mr Bonnetto said the aim of the project was to bring people back to nature.
“I migrated to this country 20 years ago,” he said.
“Back in Italy it was normal for us or family members to pick wild mushrooms or herbs.
“Today’s foraging is not going to provide you with enough to feed or support you but it will give you a relationship with the land.”
Mr Bonnetto said sourcing food from the land was not isolated to indigenous groups.
“We are losing ancient herbal remedies and recipes and becoming disconnected with the environment,” he said. “We need to reassess how we live in the environment.”
Follow the project on this blog
or on facebook here
