Yalke is an Indigenous enterprise based on an outstation east of Alice Springs (see Pantharrpilenhe).

As an Eastern Arrente family living there we aspire to develop an economic base for ourselves and our children's future. The 'bush food' enterprise idea came about in 1998 when a research project thorugh Rural Industries Research Development Corporation (RIRDC) were looking into cultivation and sustainable wild harvest of bush foods in Central Australia (see report).

A bush food garden was established as a trial plot. We have: Bush Raisins - Akatyerre (Solanum Centrale), Victoria Wattle - Arlepe (Acacia Victoriae), Bush Onions - Yalke (Cypress Bulbus), Bush Bananas - Alangkwe (Marsdenia Australis), Bush Passionfruit - Arrurtnenge (Capparis Spinosa), Bush Oranges- atwakeye and Prickly Wattle - Arlketyerre (Acacia Tetragonophylla).

After attending several workshops , meetings about the new and emerging bush food iindustry in Alice Springs we decided to have a go.

We observed other local emerging enterprises who collec , process and package bush foods and distribute them nationally.

We thought that we could do this and provide our families with meaningful employment.

Yalke products are continuing to develop new ways of bringing the benefits of bush foods to the greater community.

Yalke (translated in Arrernte as bush onion - cypress bulbus - onion grass)

Contact Deatils
Marilyn and John Cavanagh
(b/h) 89534004
0429 150 457
mni@octa4.net.au