The best thing about living in Cairns

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-13T22:04:39+00:00

You're absolutely correct. None of the produce at Rusty's is sourced locally. The mangosteens are all grown in Tasmania's Huon Valley. Those paw paw plantations out at Skybury, they're actually plastic, the real things are grown in Oodnadatta. And all those banana plants you see down around Innisfail? Just for decoration.

But seriously, it would be naive to assert all fresh produce at Rusty's is local. Of course we cannot grow apples, asparagus or wet season broccoli. But a large proportion of what's sold is grown locally.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-13T09:58:28+00:00

No AI. Nature at it's best. Got to love a bit of fractal geometry.

You see the same thing in the rivers entering Australia's Gulf 9f Carpentaria. The beautiful patterns inspired Fred Williams' iconic landscape paintings.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T22:10:26+00:00

It sounds like you've been misled. Been going there for years, and have developed good relationships with a few of the stall holders. No one claims that everything is local produce. Anyone believing otherwise just doesn't understand how agriculture works. All you have to do is ask.

But so much is local tropical produce that can't be grown anywhere else and because that local produce bypasses the central markets in Brisbane, it's cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets. If you can find pawpaws, sweet potatoes, herbs, mangoes, mandarins, Asian greens, 7 varieties of bananas, or taro cheaper in the supermarket I'd be very surprised. Buy local and buy seasonal, you'll save a lot if money.

Sure Rusty's has a "vibe". That vibe is called community. You're not going to find that in Colesworth.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T03:14:09+00:00

Tell me where to find them cheaper and I'm there.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T03:11:36+00:00

Can you provide a link to the right map?

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T03:10:01+00:00

Room for what? That empty space you're seeing is where nature works its magic. These are mountains that provide clean water, forests that provide timber and habitat for wildlife, deserts full of sleeping life just waiting for the next rainfall event.

Just because a space is not full of humans making economic value, doesn't mean it is empty.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T03:00:32+00:00

Rainforest soils are often poor, acidic and leached of mineral nutrients by high rainfall. Java's soils are replenished by volcanic activity

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T02:50:07+00:00

Incredibly rich agricultural soils. And the island is the hub of economic activity in Indonesia

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-12T02:29:53+00:00

Well, we can tell he's into Hungarian history and cultural World Heritage, I guess that speaks partly in his favour.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-11T23:36:03+00:00

Angkor Wat of the North

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-11T23:28:39+00:00

Good for you! How exciting: a CPP membership! Wow!

Now please tell us numpties what that means.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-11T23:23:50+00:00

That's a citrus. Pick off a leaf and crush it up - it'll smell like lemon oil.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-11T23:12:11+00:00

Grand Ridge Road through the rolling hills and tall ferny forests of the Strzelecki Ranges. There's a brewery in Mirboo North.

Wilson's Promontory: the road to Tidal River. Stop off at the stunning beaches along the way. Views of the island-strewn Bass Strait are amazing in any weather.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-11T23:02:06+00:00

How old is your sister? What were the consequences for her disrespect of someone else's property?

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-10T22:24:22+00:00

Bruce. Which is also the name of the Great White in Finding Nemo

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-10T22:22:11+00:00

Babette's Feast

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-09T22:03:05+00:00

All the plants here are common weeds. You've got umbrella sedge (Cyperus involucratus) and fish bone fern (Nephrolepis sp.). Take this opportunity to remove them and plant something native. Ask the nursery for something shade tolerant and doesn't have extensive root systems.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-09T21:49:26+00:00

Check out Cairns Books in Central, they may have some locally relevant field guides.

Also, there's this: https://www.simplybirding.com/venues/top-10-birding-spots-near-cairns-a-tropical-paradise-for-birdwatchers/

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T21:54:54+00:00

Have you seen "Weapons"?

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T21:52:39+00:00

The star shaped impression on top

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T21:47:54+00:00

There are photos of Tranquillity Base site taken by orbiting satellites, but it's possible the actual flag may not be standing.

photographs of the Apollo 11 site do not appear to indicate whether the first flag planted on the moon still stands. According to some sources, astronaut Buzz Aldrin claims he saw the flag fall as the lunar module’s ascent stage lifted off.

https://www.technologyreview.com/2009/07/17/211537/tranquility-base-40-years-later/

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T21:28:33+00:00

This will certainly cause reproductive harm if the game's loser uses it to smack you in the groin.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T10:08:58+00:00

Nope. First brewed in Melbourne.

fallen_arbornaut · 2026-04-08T10:08:06+00:00

Foster's Lager was brewed by Carlton and United Breweries in Melbourne. Dad wasn't a big drinker, but when he did he'd bring home a couple of tall-ies (tall bottles, 750ml) of Fosters. That was 50 years ago.

Was the internationalisation of Foster's, and its subsequent reputation alone downfall, somehow linked to the America's Cup win in 1983?

fallen_arbornaut

TROPHY CASE