Sun, Soil and Sea. Rockmelon, tarla and hihi! -
Our Norfolk Island’s rich volcanic soil, abundant sunshine, and surrounding sea is a wonderful environment for cultivating distinctive produce. Let’s explore our agricultural landscape, the history and cultivation of local crops like rockmelons and taro/tarla, and one of our all time favourite traditions that is deeply intertwined with our island food, the cherished activity of ‘gwen rumma' and the gathering of 'hihi'.
Professor Peter Mühlhäusler shares a work in progress entitled ‘Plant Names in Norf’k’ as gathered from input by Norfolk Island community and botanists.
Quote:
...Norfolk Island has about 175 native plant species, fifty of which are endemic.
...The Pitcairners, when they arrived in 1856, brought with them a number of plants from Pitcairn including new varieties of bananas, sweet potatoes and other food plants.
From our rich soil to our life-giving sea surrounds, we have a fascinating ecological tapestry on the island.
Rockmelons thrive in the island's subtropical climate. An excerpt from Merv’s Homegrown Book shares;
Rockmelons come in a vast variety of shapes, texture, colours and size. Hybrid ones need new seeds each year but with non-hybrids their seeds can be harvested and planted year after year. I grow two types that I have kept going and producing and harvesting for more than 30 years. Both varieties are wilt resistant so this is great!
Rockmelons will set some fruit just after flowering starts and will keep flowering until the plant dies but it only sets fruit the once. Fruit usually ripen after 10-12 weeks.
>> LISTEN TO NORFOLK ISLANDER, MERV BUFFETT
Taro has been cultivated on islands in the Pacific for centuries, playing a significant role in the local culture.
Norfolk Island is home to a fascinating array of taro/tarla varieties, each with its own unique characteristics and culinary uses.
>> LISTEN TO NORFOLK ISLANDER, RUTH McCOY
Rumma: A Traditional Island Activity
A favourite traditional island activity is: rumma. This means ‘to gather shellfish by torchlight at night’. Gathering shellfish by torchlight connects islanders to their marine environment in a sustainable way. Rumma is a popular island activity in which families spend time together, create lasting memories, and enjoy the island's natural resources. It provides not only food, but also contributes to the social fabric of the island, where traditions are cherished and passed down through generations.
>> LISTEN TO MERV BUFFETT’S POEM
A bit more of a description about our hihi is shared in this excerpt from Rachel Nebauer’s article: Ode to Hihi
Hihi are medium-sized globe-shaped marine snails found in abundance on Norfolk Island's rocky foreshores. The shell is generally dark black and smooth when small, larger ones have more distinct whirling grooves on the shell surface and tend to be dark grey; with many variations of white, black and grey in between. These hard, thick shelled sea snails or shellfish are what many call 'periwinkles'.
From the fertile volcanic soil to the surrounding sea, Norfolk Island offers a unique blend of flavors and traditions that are waiting to be explored by visitors to the island. You can savour the sweetness of a freshly harvested rockmelon, learn about the versatility of tarla in our garden tours, or listen to a local explaining about their nighttime "rumma" adventures.
We look forward to welcoming
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email: res@baunti.nlk.nf
phone: (International +6723) 23693
To call from Australia: (02) 91368062
