Wednesday 11 April 2012

One man's weed is a farmer's treasure


From the dirt, 






new life has emerged.








Introducing the latest cafe to gain a foothold on English soil, Salvation Jane





Like it's sister cafe, Lantana, Salvation Jane's namesake is an Australian weed. 


Introduced into Australia in the 1880s as an ornamental plant by an English settler named Jane Patterson, this adventurous little plant had other ideas. It spread uncontrollably, smothering all other flora, for which it earned its other name, Patterson's Curse.


Salvation Jane is what farmers called it because in drought times the hardy plant was a saviour to grazing livestock.  Farmers weren't the only ones to sing the praises of Salvation Jane. Aussie rock legends INXS  penned this tribute to our new cafe:

Wild wild flower of love
Salvation Jane
You've got the power to change
You're such an easy prey

Nine times the protector
Ten years and a day
Eleventh hour we're facing
Twelve o'clock in the sun

Oh mother nature
We're trying to kill you
Such greedy fools

Salvation Jane
Wild wild flower of love
Salvation Jane
Wild wild flower of love
You've got the power to change


Welcome back to England, Miss Jane. May you become a Shoreditch treasure.


Thank you to Tom Gildon for the beautiful photos- more to follow.