Actually, it’s a sunflower

The Jerusalem artichoke is neither from Jerusalem nor is it an artichoke - it’s actually a sunflower, native to North America, and related to the common garden sunflower.

We grow Jerusalem artichokes for their tubers, which store the carbohydrate inulin instead of starch (as found in cereals, root vegetables and most other tubers).

Friends gave us eight tubers two years ago. The plants that grew from those provided us with enough tubers for several meals and 128 to plant.

Lest we forget

For Australians such as me, the key date for commemorating those who served and fell the nation in time of war is 25 April, Anzac Day, but Remembrance Day also has deep significance.

At the time of World War I, Australia had a population of just five million of whom 300,000 men and women volunteered to serve.

Their casualties were enormous in proportion to the nation’s population: 60,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen died and 156,000 were wounded or taken prisoner.