| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Minamoo |
What a small small world........Still suffering from foraging withdrawal symptoms but I've come across (and nibbled) a few things that have at least made me smile since I got to Kenya.Hairy bittercress Sows thistle Chickweed Greater Plantain Clover Yarrow But the more exotic that I've had while I've been in Kericho are: Physallis Macadamia nuts This super yummy yellow fat fruit about the size of a victoria plum that tastes like this kind of pawpaw called a mountain pawpaw that tastes something like a cross between passion fruits and pawpaws. No........I don't know what it's called 
I also came across a clump of mushies that were unfortunately not edible. |
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| Jamanda |
How long are you out there for Mina? And is Misdemeanor with you? | ||
| Minamoo |
I've been here for doing fieldwork for 3 months already and have another one and a half to go. Misdemeanor is not with me and it has been blooming awful being so far apart for so long. We have promised each other though that we will never ever be separated this long again. Finances don't allow for him to come down unfortunately. Need to save up for wedding!
It felt so good to see some "English" plants over here. I'm missing my life over there so much. I could definitely not come back to live here. That place is in my bones now. 
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| Snowball |
Hello Mina, we miss you. | ||
| Chez |
Yup! 
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| Jamanda |
Poor Mina. I hope the last month and a bit goes quickly. (You never told us about that wedding corset btw) | ||
| Minamoo |
I've found elderflowers! I can't believe it! I'll pick loads before I leave Kericho so I can make some elderflower cordial when I get back to Nairobi. It'll be mum's first time trying it. Can't wait!
I would definitely like the pretty corset please. |
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| hedgehogpie |
Hey Mina, how's things? Very cool about the elderberries, it's fascinating to find plants common to both continents. I love that hairy bittercress is over there where you are, it's a little gem of tastiness IMHO! | ||
| Minamoo |
I noticed the most amazing thing today. Because of the climate we have here, the elder trees have both flowers and fully ripe berries on at the same time! So basically they fruit and blossom all year round cos when I came in June, they were flowering. HOw cool is that?
Oh and I also found some stinkhorn mushrooms in my aunt's garden. 
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| hedgehogpie |
Ha ha! We've been finding those up up in the local woods too.
Don't make the mistake that I did though. I harvested two to show a friend who'd not seen them before - cut open one so that he could get a feel for the unique radishy aroma and kept the other back to try later. Only I popped the box that it was in in the front room, got kinda distracted by other 'important' things & forgot about it. 
Two rather warm days later there was the most god-awful stench that I just couldn't place (something like really nasty dog poo), eventually after eyeing our two dogs suspiciously and searching the place from top to bottom I located the offending item where it had been accidentally covered by some paperwork & junk mail. The uncut stinkhorn had hatched!
By the by. We've got a huge abundance of hazelnuts here - I have been gathering loads to store for the winter but some are so big that I'm going to select the best & try germinating them. Do you have anywhere back home that you could plant something like that and if I'm successful, would you like one? |
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| Minamoo |
Ooh yes please on the hazelnut! I know just where to plant it. We don't have enough room in our garden but I shall do some guerilla gardening. I know exactly where to put it where it won't be disturbed.  I wish I was there to harvest the hazelnuts. Everyone's been having such an amazing harvest of those. I wonder if there will still be any when I get back at the end of the month? Fingers crossed eh! Or maybe I could barter with you. Some more medlar jelly in exchange for hazelnuts.......?
As far as stinkhorns go, I tried that one and put one on the wall at the end of our cul de sac but it dissappeared. No idea whether it hatched or not. 
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| hedgehogpie |
 You don't need to barter sweetie, I'll make sure to harvest some for you next time I'm out and about. Not that your medlar jelly isn't truly gorgeous of course! 
If you're doing some guerrilla gardening I'll see what else I can rustle up for you. I was thinking of having a go at getting some of the walnuts that we found to germinate too. If it works, then there'll be one put aside with your name on it. Found a beefsteak fungus this morning and a couple of pounds of greengages. we're sinking under the weight of all this fruit - I need to dig out more of my jars! |
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| Minamoo |
ARGH! It's not fair! I wanna be back there! I really hope that there will still be some left when I get back in three weeks time. Do you think the plums will still be around?
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| hedgehogpie |
Hmm. Possibly not (sorry!).
Many are getting quite soft already. Do you want me to keep an eye out for you though just in case? I'd offer to put some in the freezer but we're tragically short of space at the moment. The Sloes are likely to still be ok though. I know you don't drink but there's still plenty you can do with them (maybe try Fergus's 'olive' style preserving technique?). |
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| Minamoo |
I use sloes to make cordial. It's my all time favourite followed closely by japanese wine berry. It's such a shame about the plums. I'll see if I can get misdemeanor to go pick some plums for us and stash them in the freezer for me to turn into jam. He's already picked quite a few and turned them into cordial and leather. (I think!) Maybe if I beg and plead enough.....
And I will definitely be trying the olive preserving thingy. Quite intrigued by it.
It looks like all that I'll have left will be apples, sloes, quinces and medlars. This is exactly why I didn't want to stay this long. I blame my supervisor. I've finished my interviews now (apart from a few that I'll be doing on the 22nd just before I leave) but I have to spend ages here until I go. I hate missing the summer I really do.
Are the blackberries still around? |
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| hedgehogpie |
It's a bummer hon. We're missing you too.
The blackberries are in full flow at the moment and again it's generally been a good crop although I've seen some areas where they're already dried on the bushes. The same goes for the elderberries some of which are totally laden with deep dark fruit that just scream to be picked (and I have to walk on by till I've dealt with the current lot, which breaks my heart they look so good!). Do you know any reliable methods for storing walnuts? I'm eyeing several local trees but I've never had enough of a crop previously to warrant doing it. This year it may just be worthwhile though (perhaps I ought to go & prod Fergus and see what he can suggest). |
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| mihto |
The sentence of finding plants common to both continents made me stop and think. Is it possible that the eldertrees were imported to Kenya from Europe? Other continents are full of plants/animals from Europe and some of the imports have gone the other way - to Europe - as well. Only lately has the phrase "alien" been used for species which were outside their normal domain. We now begin to realize the enormous consequences and damages these "aliens" have on the natural habitat. Africa in particular in many places has a climate which make European plants and trees run amok and spread outside any possibility of control. We must be much more careful when we move plants to another continent. It is by now strictly forbidden, but I have come across many people over the last years who think nothing of it and gladly break the rules in order to have just that sweet plant/tree in their garden. |
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| hedgehogpie |
According to PROTA*, Sambucus nigra occurs in temperate regions across Europe, Western Asia, northern Africa, North America and Central America and was introduced to tropical Africa as a medicinal and ornamental plant.
* http://www.prota.org/uk/About+Prota/ |
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| Minamoo |
The tree is very widespread in the colder areas (so Nairobi and Kericho is where I saw it) but it's not prolific. Driving round nairobi I have only spotted it in about 4 places, one or two trees in each. And Nairobi is absolutely massive. So no cause to panic just yet.
I didn't get round to picking any in the end though which is really dissappointing. I've been so busy with interviews and only had yesterday completely free. I had been hoping to be able to go today but it took me 3 hours to pack up my bedroom to catch my flight back to Mombasa. I know I've been in Nairobi for 2 months now but that's still no excuse for my stuff to have doubled in size! I blame it on the second hand clothes (a.k.a. mitumba) markets. How am I supposed to resist buying gorgeous clothes and shoes when they cost a whopping 80p a piece! (or even crazier.....40p or 15p a piece!) It's a good thing I had so much stuff in my bags when I came from the UK that I knew would be staying behind or I'd be stuffed.
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| hedgehogpie |
3 hours!! Good grief woman, how will you get it all home?
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| Minamoo |
Hehe! I shall stuff the extras into my brother's golf bag. It doesn't get weighed. It's also an excellent way to sneak tropical fruits into the UK. People just assume the odd smell coming from the bag is his golf shoes.
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