Slow Food Hunter Valley received the Federal Government grant for a Native Food Garden in Maitland, following the successful nomination of their Ark of Taste project by Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson MP.

"This project firmly aligns with Slow Food's manifesto to protect and preserve biodiversity, particularly in relation to honouring traditional Indigenous food sources, the documenting of knowledge and cultural significance of food plants for future generations," said Slow Food Hunter Valley spokesperson, Amorelle Dempster.

"The Maitland Native Food Garden will be located in the grounds of the Maitland Guide Hall and feature around 25 species at risk of extinction in the region.

The Native Food Garden will be created, planted, monitored, maintained and harvested by a team of 20 volunteers drawn from the Maitland Rutherford Girl Guides and Slow Food Hunter Valley.

"Our first harvest probably won't be for two years, then the Guides and Slow Food will work out the best way to use the produce," Ms Dempster added.

Volunteers will also document the growth rates of the plants, their water requirements, nutrient uptakes, flowering, food production and their place in the ecosystem alongside insects and birdlife.

"This is such a fantastic initiative. I am proud to be helping deliver education and preservation of native foods," Ms Swanson said.

"The work organisations like Slow Food do is vital to our community. The protection and preservation of biodiversity is such an important local priority."

The plants used in this revegetation of threatened native flora have been sourced from the leading expert in local varieties, Noel Jupp from Riverdene Nurseries in Gresford and Hunter Indigenous Plants in Beresfield.

"We're very grateful to our local member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson, for giving us the opportunity to bring this Ark of Taste project to life," Ms Dempster said.

Ms Norburn added that, "The opportunity for Maitland-Rutherford Girl Guides to partner Slow Food Hunter Valley in this venture is very exciting.

"It will provide 'food for thought' for the Guides and the wider community and raise their understanding of the importance of the United Nations' sustainable development goals, set to be made a reality in 2030."

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