Garden Route

«« Previous Page | Next Page »»

People and Plants

The Past

People have a continuous traditional assocation with plants that has evolved since pre-historic times. In the Garden Route region, as in the rest of Africa, plants have always been harvested for a multitude of traditions, ranging from food cultivation and commodity manufacturing, the medicinal and spiritual practices.

The different cultures of South Africa, from the Khoisan and the North African peoples to the Europeans and Eastern peoples, have shared and influenced each others plant tradtions. Due to the resulting changes in society, some traditions have faded and even disappeared, while others have remained and a number have grown into big industries.

The Present

Today, the once sparsely inhabited South Africa, is facing the inevitable challenges of a vast population growth. densely populated areas have suffered a deterioration of veld due to over-grazing and over-gathering of wild plants. This means that it is no longer practicable to source wild plants from areas surrounding urban settlements and that plants from rural areas now have an added commercial value due to the demands from the cities.

Unfortunately, due to a changed society, fewer and fewer people still have the traditional knowledge about indigenous plants, and people now rely on a much smaller variety of species. Coupled with the effect of harvesting practices that no longer seem to consider their conversation, these plants are becoming scarcer by the day - some are even threatened with extinction.

More and more people are realising that we have an interdependent relationship with plants and that the growing demand on these natural resources is taking its toll environmentally, socially and economically.

The Future?

Will we ever be able to meet the growing demands with supply?

The so-called “green” harvesting enterprises promise to address the challenge of meeting both conservation and development objectives. This has led custodians of protected natural areas to seek ways to accomodate the need to harvest natural products, while at the same time, maintaining the integrity of the ecosystems.

If levels of sustainable harvesting could indeed be achieved, it is unlikely that the growing demand on these natural resources would be met through sustainable harvesting alone.

There is an increasing urgency for people to determine ways and means to increase the supply, whilst at the same time, ensuring the future existance of this resource.

Points to Ponder: In this day and age, should we be harvesting from natural areas? What are the ways in which we can increase supply?

Wood Workers

Logging is an age old tradition that has grown into one of the biggest commercial operations on earth.
South Africa’s indigenous timber is seldom used for construction anymore, through the Yellowwoods, Podacarpus spp., once were the most expoited timber from the Southern cape Forests.

Along with Black Stinkwood, Ocotea butala, Yellowwoods remain the most attractive furniture woods. For turnery, engraving and precision instruments, candle Wood, Forest Elder, Kamassi and Safron are used. Water durable, or underground and termite-proof wood such as camphor bush, is suitable for use as fence posts and in boats.

Farmers and Gardeners

There is a saying that goes: “You shall reap what you sow.”... then let us get on with the sowing...

Beautiful indigenous garden plants include Cape Chestnut tree, White Stinkwood tree, Sage wood, September bush, Agapantha, Bulrush, Arum Lily, Chickerinchee, Dietes, Nerine, Watsonia, Lobelia, Ferns, Wild Garlic, Pelagoniums, Ericas and Proteas.

To attract birds to your garden, plant Cape Holly tree, Wild Peach tree, Wild Pomegranate tree, Tree Fuchsia; and if you’re a bee farmer, include White Alder and Forest Elder. Plants that make good hedges include Cape Honey suckle, Plumbago and Carrisa. Combat erosion with Wild Olive trees and stabalise embarkments with Sour Fig, Carpobrotus.

Healers

The wisdom of traditional medicine is meeting modern science in ways that capture the imagination.

Popular medicines include Wild Olive, African Wormwood, Everlasting, Geranium and general tonics like Bitter Aloe, Buchu and Cancer bush. Medicine for blood purification and circulation, is made from Aambeilbossie and Dawidjiewortel.

For respiratory problems Kattekruid, Suikerbos and Wild Garlic is used. Digestive problems are treated with Renosterbos, Fennel and Honeybush tea while general aches and pains are eased with Camphor bush, Tree Fuchsia, Plumbago and Water parsnips.

[read on]