Objectives for a Community Compilation for A Printed and E-book version on “Regional Herbs, Plants, Wild Edible Weeds, Medicinal plants, Any Indigenous Indian Growing Matter that can be used as Food or Medicine’
This book will be available as an e-book and in a printed version. As e-book, we are looking to have a separate version in Hindi so as to reach out to the rural sector.
This project is not being planned for financial gain to anybody; but indirect financial gain can be derived by sharing the work that you do.
This compilation will act like a yellow pages to introduce the contributor. The name, location, email-id, contact number (optional) (your choice) will be printed in the directory at the end of the book. Your name will come under your article; if you need to be contacted by the reader, the reference of your name will be alphabetically arranged.
The project is being undertaken for larger good, to revive traditional food and culture, seasonal foods which give back to the environment instead of depleting it, which includes festival foods, fasting foods and what is eaten according to the climate of the particular state and its seasons, the benefits of such food patterns and how much better they are for our health.
Revival of wild edibles as food and knowledge of these which are mostly either lost or neglected. How to again propagate in rural and urban areas and the additional bonus that it creates a market, an extra income generation which is very economical, both for growers and buyers.
Millets, for example, used to be widely eaten but particularly in states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, they have really lost ground and therefore are scarcely cultivated. There is an important need to generate both demand and supply because millets are very healthy, climate-friendly, soil-friendly and require less water to grow.
Somehow, we need to break the mono-culture pattern introduced by the Green Revolution and this is important for the revival of our eco-systems.
Our local indigenous vegetables have evolved from wild species, often found in forgotten patches of land. For example, the cherry tomato which the urban populace has started associating with exotic imported salads, is an old indigenous fruit often found growing in wild patches of land. I myself have found it in ditches in both North and South India.
Desi indigenous plants are hardy and climate resilient; they germinate prolifically and require less water and care eg. Sonamoti and Khapli wheat.
Reviving ancient recipes and motivating people who normally are not used to consuming these foods is important. For example, the green leafy wild vegetable ‘pohi/mayalu/malabar spinach’, grows and is eaten practically all over India. Every state has a different recipe for the same vegetable. Sharing will inspire people to try and cook it in different ways if they don't like their own way and the farmers to grow it. Currently, we find it being largely consumed in small towns or rural sectors and scarce in cities. A larger distribution network needs to be encouraged.
Information about the plant, its recipes, health benefits, growing environment, history can be included. Also welcomed is an associate story or personal anecdote on the particular plant.
Comments
Post a Comment