Re-planting knowledge on native fruits in Exuma

Mon, Apr 6th 2015, 10:53 PM

Has the papaya leaf been traditionally used by Exumians as a tea? Is "Strongback" the name of a tree that grows wild in Exuma? These are the kind of questions that Dr. Liat Racin, from the "A Sustainable Future for Exuma" project, posed to students at a series of workshops on local fruit trees in primary and high schools in Staniel Cay, Black Point, Little Farmer's Cay and Great Exuma.

There are many cultural traditions that connect Bahamians to the natural world, and perhaps none are as important as fruit trees. However, "these days, kids take for granted our fruit trees and don't know much about them" as one resident on Black Point pointed out, "so [the knowledge] might die away as older folks pass away."

The educational workshops were conducted throughout the month of March 2015. It was part of a citizen-science initiative, meaning that students become actively involved in research on local fruit and fruit trees. Each educational workshop reviewed the relationship between people and fruit with stories and demonstrations, and every student also received a take-home "Fruit Workbook". The workbook contained pictures of local fruit and fruit trees, and students were asked to gather as much information on these fruits and plants from their parents, grandparents, friends and community. The only rule they were given about filling the workbook was don't use the internet!

The aim is to reignite students' interest for local fruit trees and encourage learning from their communities. As one Staniel Cay resident underlined, "if our kids don't learn from their mummy or grammy today about what the trees do and how we can use them and why they are important, who will they learn from?"

The Sustainable Future for Exuma project is a collaboration involving the government of The Bahamas, the Bahamas National Trust and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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