ABOUT US

Murnong Mummas is an Indigenous-led enterprise based in Castlemaine, we are a program of and supported by Castlemaine Community House.

We established Murnong Mummas in 2017 as a catering company that could serve as a way for local Aboriginal women to come together and use their transferable skills to share culture and time together. We may have ceased catering, but our work is still about sharing together and with the wider community.

We are proud to employ First Nations people from the local community, providing them with meaningful employment opportunities and fostering a connection to Community, Country, and First Nation Foods.

In 2020, we collaborated with Gung Hoe Growers to plant 400 native herb, fruit, vegetable, fibre and medicine plants in our Bushfoods plot at the Harcourt Farming Co-op.

This initiative not only provided meaningful work for our isolated employees but also served as a way to encourage a connection to Country and promote food production during the initial lockdowns of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We have been growing, learning and teaching at the Harcourt Farming Co-op ever since, proud to be part of a supportive community that looks out for each other and is there to commiserate and celebrate the ups and downs of farming together.

Our bushfoods project has evolved over the years since it began, and we’re happy to nurture it and watch it grow.

FAQ'S

I want to learn more!

You can find a range of information, reviews and interviews here at www.linktree.com.au/murnongmummas
We try to keep people up to date on what we’re up to on our instagram www.instagram.com/murnongmummas and write up more detailed happenings on our websites blog www.murnongmummas.com.au/blog

Are you still catering?

Murnong Mummas wrapped up catering in 2023.

Due to rising food costs and capacity we will no longer be offering catering services to the general public. If you still want to feel nourished by Murnong Mummas, you can take home some of our products and incorporate bushfoods into every meal!

Do you sell produce wholesale?

We don’t sell our produce right now, but feel free to send an expression of interest if your restaurant or cafe is curious about the future - or perhaps if you have a collaboration in mind.

Where can I buy Murnong Mummas products?

You can buy Murnong Mummas products in-store at the Gabirra Gallery in Castlemaine, Bendigo Information Centre, Five Flags Merchants, Castlemaine Art Museum and Tribe Castlemaine.

I have Murnong Mummas products but don’t know how to use them, what do I do?

There are no rules on how to use our products, but we certainly have some recommendations to get you started so you can familiarise yourself with the flavours.

Our Bush Tucker Salt is great on everything but we recommend trying it on roasted vegetables, fries or fried eggs.

Our Bush Tucker Dukkah is great for dipping bread in olive or macadamia oil, but if that isn’t your style you can coat chicken, fish or tofu in the dukkah before frying for a satisfying crunch.

Our Curry powder is great as a base for peanut satay, to add depth of flavour to soups or stews, and of course old favourites like curried sausages.

Where should I buy native fruits and produce?

We highly recommend supporting Indigenous business by only purchasing produce from First Nations growers, you can purchase a wide array from Bush To Bowl, Bakarindi Bush Foods, and Indigiearth.

Can Murnong Mummas come into my school/community group and share what you do?

We can! Send us over an inquiry by filling out our contact form and we can explore what kind of incursion would work for you. There are times when we take breaks from events when working at limited capacity, but we will advise during these times to avoid disappointment.

If we’re too far away from Castlemaine, is there an educational experience Murnong Mummas can still offer us?

We will soon be offering ingredient and recipe packs that include lesson plans for teachers or groups - an easy way to incorporate a Murnong Mummas offering into your lessons or workplace. We are currently developing programs and packages to offer schools and organisations too far away so keep an eye on this space.

Can we come and visit the farm?

You can! Head over to our farm tours page and book from there. If your group doesn’t quite fit into the categories you can see, fill out an inquiry form and we’ll figure something out together. It is important to note that we don’t take unnannounced visitors at the co-op.

Do you sell plants?

Murnong Mummas doesn’t produce plants for the public, we have very basic nursery operations to expand our bio-diversity.

We recommend you purchase plants locally from the Nalderun Me Mandook Galk Bush Tucker Place, Grow Locals, Newstead Natives or the Goldfields Revegetation Centre.

What native plants can I grow where I live?

We recommend finding resources specific to your area, often local councils or even local native plant societies will have guides as to which plants are indigenous to your area, these are always your best bet for finding plants that will thrive in your garden.

Do you take volunteers?

We don’t currently take volunteers but are developing a volunteer program for the future. Fill out an inquiry form if you would like to be notified of volunteer opportunities in the future.

Do you have any jobs going?

At Murnong Mummas we try to be flexible with creating work for local First Nations people, send us an inquiry if you or someone you know is interested in connecting with us.

How else can I support Murnong Mummas?

You can support Murnong Mummas by following our journey on social media, purchasing our products or fundraising items when they become available.