Shampoo Ginger - Julia's favorite plant in the food forest

Thought to be native to India and widespread in Southeast Asia, the shampoo ginger, or 'awapuhi kuahiwi, was introduced to Hawai'i by early Polynesians. They found many other uses for the versatile plant. Dried and powdered rhizomes were put between kapa, or bark cloth, for storage. Leaves were used as flavoring for foods.

Squeeze the bulbous flowering heads and out gushes a gingery-fragrant, watery sap. The slightly slippery liquid has long been used by Polynesians as a natural shampoo. It also was used as a refreshing drink.

Rhizomes and leaves also were used medicinally to treat cuts and sores, toothaches and headaches, and upset stomachs. Fresh rhizomes were ground, placed in cloth and tied to a sprained limb to give relief.

Bay Haven Food Forest has 30 visitors on day #1 of EAT LOCAL Sarasota

Saturday morning was a good time to gather some history about the Food Forest and meet some of the people instrumental in getting the edible garden started back in September 2014. At the event were Jayne Cobb from the Slow Food Board's Edible School Garden Committee and Roger Landree, one of Bay Haven's prime movers in getting the garden growing. One of big challenges they faced was designing an edible landscaped garden in area which does not get sun for six month out of the year. But the garden may not stop here. They hope to expand the garden into the courtyard area, if everyone agrees.

Harnessing basic permaculture principles, the food forest is and agricultural ecosystem intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient or as Roger Landree put it, permaculture is  "levering natural synergy to create abundance."

Bananas galore. Time to harvest

The bananas were getting too heavy for the the tree  so we decided it was time for them to be picked. Rolf estimated that the bunch weighed about 75 pounds. They are very green. Let's see how long they take to ripen.

Friends of the Food Forest -

Bon Fehling and her artists from the art camp visit almost every week to see how things are growing. They are creating a visual journal of the Food Forest.

"Wow, look at those bananas"

Tyrell's favorite food in the forest, star fruit.

 How to Choose a Ripe (or ripening) Star Fruit: When ripe, star fruit appear mainly bright yellow with tinges of light greenThey may have some dark brown along the five ridges - this is normal. The flesh should still be quite firm to the touch. You can also buy star fruit when it's green and wait for it to ripen - just leave it on your counter for a few days. When over-ripe, star fruit turns entirely yellow and starts to have brown spots all over.    Link to More information about star fruit

Tyrell

Garden Project - mulching

Mulching keeps the weeds under control and helps to hold moisture in the soil. Need shovels and a bit of muscle.

Elliot and Balthasar spreading the mulch

Elliot's dad lends a hand

Sugar Cane - sharing the sweentess

Our sugar cane was cut into small segments and put in pots for students to take home to start their own sugar cane crop.

sugar cane ready to grow

Horticulturists visit Bay Haven Food Forest

 Rolf Hanson with horticulturists...