This morning
the team and I did a little trekking. We marched through tall grasses, sloshed
through soggy rice fields, crossed a stream on a creaky footbridge, and rested
in the shade of a mango tree. Rod took us on this hike through the bush to give
us a lesson in West African trees and birds. There’s no better classroom for
this kind of lesson than outside, making the topic tangible.
I just want to
say one thing: God’s creation is phenomenal. He is Artists of artists,
Scientists of scientists, and Gardener of gardeners. There are unbelievable
properties to many different plants and trees around here, and Ivorians have
clearly tapped into these resources. I know that I’ve barely scratched the
surface in learning about how different trees are used here. But, what I know
already excites the nature-loving, natural-remedy-providing side of me.
The
Neem tree is used for teeth cleaning; just cut off a little twig and chew on it
for a bit. (I checked and there’s actually neem in my natural toothpaste! It’s
good stuff.) There are countless mango, coconut, avocado, citrus, and cashew
trees around here too. They’re growing everywhere – but most of them flourish
during the dry season. (I can hardly wait!) The Baobab tree is a symbol of
Africa. It is one of the hardiest, most resilient trees around here. Hack away
at it and it’ll survive, heal, and keep growing. There are numerous palm trees
as well. One of my favorite sauces to eat with rice is made with fresh-pressed
palm oil. Many other leaves, roots, and barks are harvested for cooking. The
Moringa tree has leaves that are dried out then crushed up into a powder, taken
for it’s herbal and medicinal properties.
Knowing the plants and trees is
important for life here in Cote d’Ivoire. My learning has just begun!
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