Issue 59                                                                                             November 2009

Garden

What a month!!  My partner and I have opened Pimento Café at Bryanston Sports Club and have been living, breathing and sleeping it since the beginning of October!! It is very exciting though, so if you are in the area come in and see us and have something to eat.   Barefoot Kitchen meals can now also be collected from there, plus we will soon be having a new range of frozen meals that will always be available and can be collected at any time

On the herb side it has also been busy. I was once again a guest on radio Islam, which is always a lovely show to do.  I have also done two talks for garden clubs, both at the most beautiful gardens, and we have had two courses here in Muldersdrift.

I do apologise for not sending out the October newsletter, but time really did run out for both Letitia and myself!

I hope you have a wonderful month

Sharon
   

Herb of the Month

Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum

Blending cardamom with coffee was originally not merely for the taste.  As coffee was known to suppress libido, both in men and women, cardamom, a well known aphrodisiac, was used to counteract the effect.

Records show that cardamom was used as a medicine in India more that 1000BC

The Romans used it for cooking, but very little else was recorded outside of India until the 13th century, when it began to be noted as a herbal remedy.  Like many spices, it improves circulation and is a digestive aid.  Similarly, herbs and spices that aid the digestive system are often beneficial to the respiratory system, and cardamom joins this group too. It is especially beneficial for bronchial spasms, such as asthma and severe coughs. It is a milder spice that chilli or ginger, and is therefore easier to take for people suffering with weaker digestive systems – including children and the elderly.  As it is a carminative, it will relieve bloating, flatulence, indigestion and the discomfort of over-eating.  It combines well with fennel seed.

It is a warming spice, and will help with mild circularatory problems, taken either as a tea or externally as a rub. 
   
A useful property of cardamom is that it counteracts mucous forming foods. Simply add a little spice to cheese or milk dishes or you can even add 1-2 seeds to cup of hot milk for a bedtime drink (I have tried this occasionally and it does work)

Cultivation: It is a tropical plant and needs hot weather, preferably in a rich moist soil.  It prefers a constant temperature, which doesn’t drop below 22 C.  It is part of the Zingiberaceae family and has thick rhizomes with erect stems bearing long lance shaped leaves.  The flowers are white with a lilac stripe and are borne on flower spikes in summer.  The plant can grow up to 3m high.

Medicinal: Aphrodisiac, digestive, relieving indigestion, nausea, bloating and gas, respiratory tonic and expectorant, stimulating for the circularatory system, relieves fatigue, counteracts mucous forming foods, detoxifies caffeine. Freshens breath

Culinary: Used in curries, spice blends, baked goods, milk puddings, coffee, liqueurs and sweets

Bath and Beauty: Used in perfume industry

Indigenous Page

Uit Letitia se tuin :
Botswana was ongelooflik!  Ek was in 1988 laas daar en was so bang dat my geheue my ‘n streep trek en dat ek net die mooi kan onthou en teleurgesteld sal terugkom. Inteendeel!!!  Dit was wonderlike 18 dae met onbeskryfbare natuurskoon.  Alle lof aan Karen en Craig Nelson van Nelson Safaris vir ‘n puik geörganiseerde toer.  Elke maaltyd was uit die boonste rakke en hulle entoesiasme en liefde vir die bos was aansteeklik.  Daar is regtig nie ‘n enkele ding wat ek kan aan dink wat beter gedoen kan word nie.  Ons het meer as 200 voëls gesien, onder andere Skimmers, Wattled Cranes, Collared Palm Thrush, Boulder Chats.  Het 1,164 fotos geneem!! Die veld was pragtig, en vir die volgende paar maande wil ek van my plant hoogtepunte deel. Die pers blommetjies van die Kalahari apple-leaf, die geur van die wilde salie, al die blomme van die verskillende combretums.   Ek is besig om al my vriende mal te maak met my stories en hoe ek dit alles mis – so as julle weet van ‘n Lodge wat ‘n Gasvrou (of enige iets soortgelyk) soek – laat my weet en ek is daar. Sal volgende maand na van die ander combretums kyk.

Letitia: letitia@barefootherbs.co.za
082 451 9876

 
Leadwood

Combretum imberbe

Family: Combretaceae – Bushwillow family

There are 30 species of Combretum in South Africa, about 140 – 300 species of trees and shrubs in tropical Africa and in total about 250 – 370 species worldwide.  It generally produced distinctive fruits with usually 4 wings or flanges.  Leadwood is the tallest of all the South African combretums (up to 20 meters) with very distinctive deeply fissured bark – resembles a crocodile’s skin.  It is considered a protected species under the Venda Nature Conservation and National Parks Act no 20 (1986) and it is a protected tree in Namibia.

Also known as:  leadwood bushwillow (English); hardekool (Arikaans); umBondwe omnyama, uMangwenja (Zulu); mohwelere-tshipi (Northern Sotho), motshwere, mutswiri (Tswana)

What is in a name:  The Roman writer and Greek philosopher, Pliny (23-29 A.D>), used the name Combretum for a climbing plant.  “imberbe” means “beardless” in Latin, referring to the lack of hairs on the plant.  “leadwood” refers to the heaviness of the wood.

Cultivation:  Seeds collected from the ground may have as much as 35 % infestation rate by parasites.  The whole fruit should be soaked in water for a few hours before being sown in river sand. Only 3 – 5 % of the seeds will germinate.  A slow growing tree in a variety of habitats (from the Namid Desert to moist Savanna).  When cultivated it may grow fairly fast (a tree planted in the Limpopo Province grew 6 meters in 15 years)

Medicinal use:  Green leaves were burned and the smoke used to relieve coughs and colds.  A decoction made from the roots is used to treat diarrhoea and stomach pains.  An infusion of the root bark is used for the treatment of bilharzias.  The flowers are used in an infusion to treat coughs.

Traditional use:  Was known to be used to make blades for hoes. The trunk was used as grain stamping mortars.

Mythology:  Roots that grow horizontally and especially those that cross footpaths are used with other plants to restore or revive fertility in Vhavenda women (Mabogo 1990).  The leaves and fruit are believed to have mystical powers.  The Leadwood tree is regarded as the great ancestor of all animals and people by the Hereros and the Ovambos of Namibia.  They will never pass it without paying it the necessary respect.

Other uses:  Used for craft work (its satin-smooth finish makes it popular for sculptures) and is becoming increasingly popular with furniture makers in the Bushbuckridge district.  Leadwood burns slowly with little smoke and with intense heat, therefore considered an excellent fuel-wood for cooking, heating the home and for brick burning.  Used for campfires to burn all nights in order to keep wild animals at bay.  The wood is resistant to attack by termites and borers and used for fencing posts, as main supporting poles of huts, railway sleepers, and as baulks, pit props, and poles in the mining industry.  The calcium-rich ash is believed to be waterproof when mixed with milk or buttermilk and applied to buildings as whitewash.  The ash is known to be mixed with water into a paste and used as toothpaste and also to sediment clay from drinking water. The edible gum is part of the Bushman’s diet.  The young leaves serve as fodder for giraffe, elephant, kudu and impala.

RECIPE PAGE

Spiced Coffee Cake

1 cup margarine

1 ½ cups brown sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour

2 tsp instant coffee

3 tsp baking powder

Pinch salt

1 tsp ground cardamom

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

¾ cup milk

Cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and milk and beat well. Sift the dry ingredients together and fold into the mixture.

Pour into a greased baking tin and bake at 180 for 35-45 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Either decorate with chocolate or coffee butter icing, serve warm with custard or cream

Cinnamon Chai Tea

1 Green or
Black Tea Bag
4 Whole Cloves
Pinch of ground Cinnamon
Pinch of ground Cardamom

Place tea bags and cloves into hot water and let steep for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and cloves. Add cinnamon and cardamom and mix well. Add non fat milk or soymilk if you like. Serves one.

Basundi

This is a traditional digestive aid that is often eaten as a desert

Heat 2 cups of full cream milk until it boils.

Continue to simmer until it thickens, stirring frequently.

Add 2 tsp cardamom powder, 2 tsp ground almonds or pistachio, a pinch of saffron and 1-2 tsp honey.

Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes. Cool before eating

Using Cardamom

Beverages: Add 1-2 seeds to coffee, hot chocolate, milk or mulled drinks or to fruit juices.

Soup:  Add 4-6 crushed seeds to pea, potato or squash soups.

Vegetables:  Combine cardamom, fennel, cumin and coriander seeds with a little chilli powder and rub over vegetables before roasting

Rice: Add 5-6 seeds to rice whilst it is cooking

Meat: Add 2-3 crushed seeds to 250g meat stews or curries.

Add ¼ tsp cardamom powder to 200g mince, sausage or hamburger mixture.

Milk puddings: Add ¼ tsp powder to 2 cups rice or semolina pudding. Add ¼ tsp powder 500ml custard or custard pudding.

Fruit: When stewing apples or pears add 2-3 whole seeds while they are cooking.

Cakes: Replace cinnamon or nutmeg with cardamom.  Add ¼ tsp to a chocolate cake.

Spice mixes: Cardamom combines well with fennel, chilli, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coriander and turmeric

Indian chai

30g freshly grated ginger root
7 peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
5 green cardamom pods

1 pint pure water
1 tbsp black tea or Rooibos
½  cup milk or soy milk
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Combine first 6 ingredients, simmer for 10 min

Add milk and tea, simmer 10 min more. Strain.

Add nutmeg and vanilla. Serves 4.

May add honey to sweeten.

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The Last Page

Courses and Workshops

November 2009

Venue :  Barefoot Herbs Muldersdrift

Contact – Sharon  082 415 3743

21 Nov
   
Bath and skin products

Sharon – Other Venues

14 Nov
   

Germiston Garden Club

 (Talk) Common herbs and how to use them

Venue:  Barefoot Herbs – Meyerton

Contact – Letitia  082 451 9876

12 Nov
   

(Talk) Common herbs and how to use them

21 Nov
   

Thai Cooking with locally available herbs – R200

28 Nov
   

Plant sales at Kliphouse Market, Henley-on-Klip

 
The following workshops are available on request

for groups of 5 or more:

Liqueur making,

organic gardening,

bath and skin products,

herb and spice mixes for culinary use,

herbal first aid box,

herbal products for babies and toddlers,

herbal remedies for common ailments,

green cleaning for the home.

Courses and workshops cost R300,

which includes all materials,

a recipe booklet and refreshments.

Disclaimer

Herbal remedies should be treated with the same care and precautions as all other forms of medication.  An illness should be taken seriously and self-medication used only with the confidence that comes with professional advice.  While herbal medicines are safe and effective when used appropriately, the author cannot accept liability for any consequence
   

Contact Us :

Sharon

sharon@barefootherbs.co.za

Tel 011 957 2413     Cell: 082 415 3743

Letitia

letitia@barefootherbs.co.za

Tel: 016 362 0754    Cell: 082 451 9876

Visit our Website

www.barefootherbs.co.za

and see photos, past newsletters, products and recipes

EIGSA Workshop

Date and time:  08.30—12.30 on Saturday, 17 October

Venue: Ditton’s Farm, 53 College Rd, Rietfontein (off Beyers Naude, near Random Harvest Nursery.)

Guest speaker:  Johann Noffke, Production Manager, ZZ2 Farms

Theme: Growing vegetables and herbs the natural way

Cost:  Adults R100 each,  Schoolchildren under 12 and Senior citizens: R50 each.

Bookings and enquiries: Advance booking is essential.  Entrants limited to 100.

Contact Allison at 083 791 1198 or by email at Allison@earthwormbuddies.co.za