An Aussie Christmas: Celebrate the Season, the Land and Each Other
Christmas in Australia is unlike anywhere else in the world. Forget snowy scenes and roaring fireplaces—we’ve got blazing sunshine, backyard cricket, and the unmistakable scent of sunscreen in the air. But when it comes to the food? Let’s face it—those traditional Christmas staples like roast turkey, potatoes, and fruitcake can feel like they belong in another hemisphere.
Why weigh yourself down with heavy, out-of-season meals when you can embrace the vibrant, fresh, and seasonal bounty of an Australian summer? This year, let’s create a menu that reflects the land we live on, celebrates our local growers, and leaves the planet a little better off.
Sustainably caught fish seasoned with lemon myrtle, salt bush & wattle seed. Served with Warigal Greens and Sea Blight.
Why is Seasonal Eating the Ultimate Christmas Gift?
Eating seasonally isn’t just a choice—it’s a way to connect with nature, support your community, and make a positive impact. Here’s why it matters:
1. It’s a Win for the Planet
Have you ever thought about the journey your food takes to get to your plate? By choosing to eat food that is growing in season, you’re eliminating all that unnecessary environmental damage that it would take to transport produce being grown in a different climate. By eating locally, you’re saying no to CO2 emissions, to wasted energy, and to food that’s been flown thousands of kilometers when it could be grown in your backyard.
2. Experiencing Flavour That Packs a Punch
There’s no substitute for food that’s fresh and in season. It’s bursting with flavor, packed with nutrients, and free of preservatives and additives. Think of the first bite of a juicy, sun-ripened mango or the crunch of a cucumber plucked straight from the vine.
Compare that to food that’s been frozen for weeks or sprayed with sulfur dioxide just to survive the trip across the ocean. The difference isn’t just in taste—it’s in how it makes you feel. Seasonal eating is about vitality, about eating what your body truly craves.
3. Combatting the Food Waste Crisis
Food waste is a global crisis, and Australia is no exception. We throw away 7.6 million tonnes of food every year—that’s 312kg per person, costing households $2,500 annually. And the environmental cost? It’s staggering. The water wasted growing this food is equivalent to filling five Sydney Harbours.
Seasonal eating is one of the simplest ways to combat this. Locally grown food has fewer miles to travel, fewer opportunities for spoilage, and less waste overall. When you buy what’s in season, you’re helping to break the cycle of waste.
4. Supporting Local Farmers Feels Amazing
When you buy local, you’re not just getting fresher produce—you’re supporting real people. Farmers who’ve poured their passion into the land. Growers who wake up before sunrise to bring their best to your plate. Many of these people rely on their communities because they’re too small to supply supermarkets.
And here’s the thing: when you meet the person who grew your tomatoes or picked your berries, it changes everything. Suddenly, your meal isn’t just food—it’s a connection. It’s personal.
Native Ginger grown in our Bushfoods garden.
5. Celebrate the Land We Call Home
Australia is bursting with incredible native ingredients, yet most of us don’t include them in our Christmas meals. Why not? These foods are part of the oldest living culture on Earth. They’re packed with nutrients, perfectly adapted to our environment, and carry the wisdom of thousands of years of ecological harmony.
Imagine a Christmas pudding made with sweet and tangy Davidson plums, a roast seasoned with saltbush, or a cheese platter featuring lemon aspen or finger limes. These ingredients tell a story—a story of this land, its people, and its history.
How to Create a Seasonal Feast This Christmas
All this talk got you hungry for something? Here are a few ways you can introduce seasonal eating into the holiday season without having to rethink the whole menu or say bye to the family faves!
Start Small, Dream Big
Splash out with native foods in your sides or desserts rather than the main meal, with a pudding including sweet and sour Davidson plums, add lemon aspen or apple berries to your cheese board, rub your roast meat with saltbush, sprinkle Warigal greens in your salad or Pepperberry in your gravy.
Shop Local
Get at least some of your ingredients from a local farmers market. Chat to them about what's in season, their favourite ways to cook or prepare certain veg or why they love to grow for their community.
Plan Like a Pro
Create a Christmas day menu plan and really think about quantities and the amount of people you’re cooking for. You can create the sense of feasting through abundant colours, textures and small dishes without having to prepare over-abundant quantities. Plan to freeze or portion leftovers for work lunches or lazy dinners, or find local charities that are looking for food donations for people doing it tough this Christmas.
This Christmas, Let’s Do Better
This isn’t just about food—it’s about creating a celebration that feels authentic, meaningful, and connected. When you choose seasonal ingredients, you’re not just making a meal—you’re making a statement. A statement that says you care about the planet, your community, and the incredible land we call home.
So let’s make this Christmas one to remember. One where we embrace fresh, vibrant flavors. One where we support local growers and cherish native ingredients. One where we celebrate not just the season but the country we’re so lucky to live in.
Here’s to a Christmas that’s lighter, brighter, and more connected. See you on the 20th, where we’ll talk about creating mindful connections this holiday season.
Bergia, Katie & the team x