Lance Powell’s stall is a glorious tumble of mostly bananas, barely blemished, all from his
property at Mount Chowan. On the north-eastern corner of Mount Jerusalem National
Park, the mountain is a winding climb to a height of over 500 meters, and it’s here that
Lance’s family has been farming for more than seventy years. The bananas have been there
since Lance’s father took over and, despite a cyclone in the late ‘60’s which, Lance tells me,
took them all out, their subsequent replanting saw them back with a vengeance.
From a teenager, Lance – fit and tanned and looking easily ten years younger – has worked
on the farm. (“If you leave the property you’re never coming back”, his father told him. ‘It
was a different time then.’) All that is grown is organic which, Lance says, is ‘a challenge’,
demanding physical exertion and at least six brush-cutters. Aside from the bananas – which
include the pretty pink dakkas, ladyfingers and good-for-cooking plantains – he grows
avocados, squash, zucchini and pumpkin. The broccoli and cauliflower, he tells me, are just
going in now.
That pumpkin, carved wedges of radiant orange, is making me think of soup, and I know
exactly which particular pumpkin soup I will make. Adapted from a Sara Lewis recipe, it’s
simple but unusual, a large knob of butter melted in a pot then a roughly chopped onion
added to soften. Dice 1 ½ kg of pumpkin and throw it in, tossing around for five minutes
before adding the grated rind and juice of two oranges, a litre of vegetable stock and three
whole star anise. Simmer till soft, remove the star anise and puree the veg. till smooth.
Season accordingly and garnish with a whole star anise. Perfect for this cooler weather –
and all that vitamin C as well!
Mount Chowan is at Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday from 7 – 11am
