Monikah Kaaria
Blog Writer & Farm Consultant
Image credit : Monikah Kaaria
Let’s start with – Why so much health issues??
There are plethora health benefits associated with both traditional and exotic vegetables. Examples of traditional veggies includes, amaranth, pigweed, black jack, stinging nettle, cowpeas etc. Examples of exotic vegetables include, parsley, baby corns, asparagus lettuce broccoli etc.
These vegetables can be eaten when fresh ,dried for future use or preserved in fridge. This happens mostly in countries experiencing serious winter. They harvest during summer and store/ preserve as per individual preference taste as mentioned above.
Here in my country of Kenya, we don’t experience winter but prolong rainy season and vegetables don’t withstand the soil water logging. So, we have the summer period which is extremely hot. We practice the drying method, crush the vegetables into powder form and put into good storage containers. They are available in urban super stores in our country.
In my blog, would love to discuss on traditional vegetables or ” poverty food” as people nicknamed them. These vegetables have great benefits to, human beings, environmental and animals.
1: Friendly to environmental in a way that, they are adapted to local climate and soil conditions making them more resistance to pest and diseases and REDUCING need for fertilizer and pesticides.
2:The canopy formation while growing in the field looks very attractive, cool and green hence GREEN ENVIRONMENT.
3:They are fed to livestock. Either via free grazing, chopped into pieces or preserved as hay or spillage for future use.
A real Example:
Vegetables keep chicken busy by pecking and this prevents them from cannibalism. Other livestock fed with vegetables are cattle, donkey, rabbits, horse and goats.
4:Conserve water and soil in field.
They are good cover crops and acts like mulch.
Others like cowpeas are legumes and help in fixing nitrogen in the soil.
5 : Source of income.
They are sold in local grocery and supermarkets.
Customers prefer buying then in plenty because they are organically grown.
6: Can be stored for long time when sun dried unlike the exotic vegetables.
Cabbages can be stored in western countries in supermarket but too expensive for poor families to afford.
Let’s see the nutritive benefits of traditional vegetables.
1.Digestive health benefits.
2.mentains weak eye sight.
3.Cholesterol balancing levels.
4.Enhanching youthful skin.
5.High vitamin level.eg amaranth
6.detoxification.
7.Cuts and wounds healing e.g. black jack
Therefore, I believe GSGF can embrace traditional vegetables ( indigenous) to help diversify food on the table.
GSGF can also place traditional vegetables in school grocery ,super markets and increase the status and important of crops.
GSGF can promote learning institution and community by gardening.
Those living in apartments can plant in pots or percolated bags.
This enables every child or student to demonstrate his/ her ability in vegetable growing.
Balconies and compounds should be utilized fully.
I am taking time to write with GSFG foundation because am so passionate for earth (planet),farms and equips students with skills and knowledge in climate changes.
This topic on vegetative basket aligns with the mission of GSGF which endeavour learning through initiative like Innovation and entrepreneurship for kids program education(MASHAV) in Israel.
This highlights to our upcoming agriculture students and youth a better chance of WHAT,WHO, WHERE and WHEN to belong and be friendly to environment.
I conclude by saying.
“YOU CAN’T WORK AGAINST NATURE. HISTORY HAS PROVEN THIS. YOU HAVE TO WORK IN HARMONY WITH NATURE.”
By Henk De beer – Agriculturalist specialist.
Why sharing & joining such a Project like GSGF?
My donation to GSGF foundation is being educational and motivational to students. Moreover, vegetative nutritional benefits play a crucial role on Earth. EG green fields, farms, market garden and stunning views proving a nursing environment.
