Ethnobotany project - need a few quotes

[THOaken]

Hullo, all. Hope you're all having a good afternoon.

As part of my ecology diploma I've been tasked with doing an independent project on a subject of my choice. So I chose to write a report/produce a poster (A2 double sided - it's a whopper!). I decided to base it on ethnobotany, the hypothesis being that an understanding of the traditional and contemporary practical uses of plants is beneficial to the promotion of conservation awareness in a community. I've covered some elements of the evolution of plants, early human use, Mesolithic use, until the modern day and so forth. I then gave a case study for two indigenous peoples, the Hadza and the Yanomami. To conclude I'm discussing the rise of Bushcraft, premaculture, forest schools and so forth.

I'd like to ask if anyone is involved in any of these activities, and better yet if anyone has education in conservation/ecology/biology, to summarise what they feel has been the impact for promoting conservation through bushcraft to children in urban communities. For example, you might have had a few success stories in teaching kids from an urban background the use of plants which helped promote conservation awareness in them.

Thanks.

 

[Robson Valley]

For years, I taught a Uni course with a lengthy piece about economic botany.
One concept was that of "multipurpose plants" = food, possibly medicines and construction materials.

The other point was the business of artificial selection.
Begin with the hunter-gatherers who might have travelled far and faced some risk to harvest
useful plant parts. Next is "dig it up and bring it home to plant." Less travel and for the energy invested,
which individual plants are the best-of-the-best to bring home?

For city kids, I'd claim that if it were their intention to plant a hedge for whatever reason, why not
plant something which has edible parts or useful wood from prunings?

In retirement, I plant the very best of the best grape vine cuttings from my annual spring pruning activity.
Later in the summer, I sell those, my garbage, in the local Farmers' Markets as 2/$5 and do quite well.

 

[xylaria]

I have just moved to a council house in an urban area. In my front garden I have planted two apple trees. When I told my new nieghbour she said the kids across the road will steal them. I replied "thats why I have planted them".

You see I was I kid that scrumped apples. They hang there like the biblical forbidden fruit educating the part of society that are most of needing a food bank that food does actually grow on trees. It also grows on the beach, the marshes the park the footpaths. I am sure I will be corrected but I found permaculture and forest schools are aimed at the "haves" not the "have nots". You ned some money to do a permaculture course or do a day with a forest school.

 

[Tengu]

Thats a very good view, Xylaria; I am in favour of priviledge (being the first to take delight in any special treat) but am against elitism. I dislike the idea of the `simple life` being something that you have to have wealth to obtain. Thats stupid, it goes against economic sense and is contrary to what we see in more traditional societies.

Anyhow, trees give far more fruit than we can use. (unless of course its a bad year.)

 

[Robson Valley]

When you catch the kids taking apples, teach them the principles of pruning.
You can grow a crop of golf balls, you can grow a crop of apples.
Plan accordingly, yes? Let them take some ownership for their pruning efforts.