Tuck into some Warrigal Greens – the French do. These native leaves, which are grown in the Illawarra, are being air-freighted to France and served in Paris restaurants.

This is just one of the fascinating titbits of information waiting to be discovered in the GROW LOCAL Illawarra Edible and Native Garden Guides, which will be launched on 23 November.

The two sustainable gardening guides have been written in partnership between Wollongong, Kiama and Shellharbour Councils, and with support from the NSW Environmental Trust. The free GROW LOCAL Guides cover everything from plant selection and garden design, to growing local native bush foods and vegetables.

“I’m so impressed with these guides,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said. “When you think of Australia’s bush foods you think of things like macadamia nuts, lemon myrtle and bunya nuts. But those plants aren’t native to the Illawarra. Here, in our backyards, we can grow our very own Sandpaper Figs, Lilly Pilly and Illawarra Plum Pines.

“Wouldn’t it be great if gardens across the Illawarra started to grow some of our own native plants – especially since the French have already discovered just how good Warrigal Greens are?”

All up, the guides have details of 115 local native plants, 100 edible fruits and vegetables, and 39 of these species are bush foods. The paperback guides also split the Illawarra into four geographic zones, so people can grow the plants best suited to their gardens.

“I’d really encourage everyone to come along to the launch at Old Wollongong Court House to pick up their free copies of the guides,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“If you can’t make the launch, the guides will be available from Wollongong, Kiama or Shellharbour Councils, and you can download them from their websites. This really is something great for the Illawarra. And it means it’s really easy for people to do their bit to support and protect the region’s plant diversity.”

Grow Local Illawarra Edible and Native Garden Guides, and the Illawarra Remnant Bushland Database, will be launched on Wednesday 23 November, 2011 at Wollongong’s Old Court House. At the launch, which goes from 2.30-6pm, there’ll be stalls, workshops and the chance to meet with some of the Illawarra’s permaculture champions.