September 20.   LOCAL IS LEKKER. “MAKE MOTHER NATURE YOUR FOOD GARDEN”   TONI’S CAMPAIGN WITH EDIBLE INDIGENOUS PLANTS.  (From BECOMING ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILIES)

Indigenous trees and shrubs, suited to the particular environment can save a lot of water, fight pollution and be sources of nutrients and medicinal help. Promoting their commercial cultivation can be beneficial to food security.  

My food security campaign began when I was introduced to the spekboom by our Cape Town Laudato Si’ community and adopted it myself. September 2 2023, Day 2 of the SEASON OF CREATION was the occasion of the Spring Breakfast at our retirement village. In 2022 I had promoted the health and environmental benefits of the edible spekboom and in 2023 I had gone further. Having researched and using recipes, which we gave out at the breakfast, we made spekboom jam and a breakfast smoothy,  with the spekboom leaves, blueberry fruit and yoghurt. Leaves can also be added to salads and cooked in chutneys and pickles and jams. These are some of its benefits .

Spekboom plants grow everywhere but extensively in the dry Eastern Cape in South Africa. They are popular with animals because of their water content. The plant is evergreen, easy to grow and is water-wise and drought resistant. It has medical uses for skin ailments, stings, bites and sore throats. It is one of more than 2000 edible indigenous plants growing wild that was known to local people, but sadly appears to be forgotten. A special blessing for the environment is its ability to absorb larger quantities of carbon dioxide than usual, e.g. 100 times more than e.g. a fir tree of the same size.  

But there are many more known and used edible indigenous plants, while some are spurned, described as weeds.  Morogo. a wild spinach, has different versions and is one of the number that are common and traditionally cooked and eaten. One version, amaranth, also grows almost everywhere and its leaves and seeds are very good sources of nutrients. It is recognised that younger people tend to look down on such traditional foods, having been trained to prefer western type vegetables.  Using the slogan  “Make Mother Nature your Food garden” invites us to promote the indigenous freely available plants, especially in school food gardens and also around homesteads as they can be of great help in fighting poverty and increasing food security, especially if leaves are dried or frozen and seeds used and kept for future use. .

Reflect, share, act. Scripture: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some feel along the path and was trodden under foot and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock, some among thorns, some on good soil. Luke 8:4-15. Pope Francis:  It is important that people experience the gospel of the family as a joy that fills hearts and lives because in Christ we have been set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.  As in the parable of the sower we are called to help sow seeds, the rest is God’s work.  it is essential to show special care for indigenous communities.   They are not merely one minority among others, but should be the principal dialogue partners in projects affecting their land.   Land is not a commodity for them but a gift from God and from their ancestors who rest there, a sacred space which maintains their identity and values. When they remain there their care is best. LS    The Church wishes with humility and compassion to reach out to families and to help each family to discover the best way to overcome any obstacles it encounters.  AL 200.   Eco-tip and prayer:  Learn more about edible plants e.g. the spekboom, amaranth/marog  and join a food gardening programme, grow your own vegetables and compost food waste. Take action to build healthy soil. Pray. Thank you God for the food we can grow and the food we can share.  DAILY PRAYER.  God of love show us as families how to be channels of Your love for all Your creatures.  Pour out Your Spirit upon us as we pray and work together to tend the garden and foster peace with creation.