What about the Bees? - 18 June 2014.

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

 

 So the Nasheed competitions are over and some are happy and some may be a bit sad. I think we should not lose sight of the Nasheed initiative organised by Discover Islam Centre, to open social spaces for our youth and celebrate that. So, Mabruk to each and every participant - your contributions facilitated much joy and excitement and hope of what is possible with a bit of effort. In our house everyone has their own favourite, but at the end of the day we accede to the outcome of the competition and threaten each other with “just wait till next year!”

 

The bronchial flu doing its rounds is expected after the first real cold bout. Personally I am irritated with myself at the persistent coughing and fever, so much to do. So today, I forced myself out of bed, took a warm shower and steam, apply some Vicks, dressed warmly and started the day. The house needs cleaning and sweeping, washing needs to be done and of course the garden needs tending. I firmly order everyone around - many hands gets the job done. And I am out to the garden, eating the most tender young peas and radish, head to the potato baths and shovel soil to top them up. I sit down a bit when I am out of breath and pretend to give Abu a hand with planting out strawberry plants.

In the last few weeks two people use the term: “start the conversation” when you embark on a project or initiative and want ideas to take root.  In fact I want to start two conversations in this blog. The first is our efforts with the Grow Food not Lawn project and the second to pay attention excellent job done by bees, a ni'amah Subhaanallah.

We started about 115 days ago, and Alhamdulilaah we are almost able to sustain ourselves completely from the garden. Potatoes are still growing and no cucurbits. It took a lot of hard work, generous helping hands and cunning. To lure the bees and control the pests; to stagger the planting but more and more we are starting to realise the vegetables of our labour. We also explore growing in recycled containers in order that people who have little garden or no space can sustain themselves. So one flat tray can hold 4 to 5 head lettuce. A milk tray can be used for root veggies and of course the bigger wooden bins – 40 carrots, 40 beats and still space for leeks around it and the occasional spinach bush.  In the main no one wants to be in the garden in the cold weather, but there are so much vegetables that our garden yields in the winter months such as:

·         Beets

·         Carrots

·         Onions

·         Kale

·         Cabbages

·         Cauliflower

·         Fava Bean

·         Leeks

·         Turnips

·         Perennial Flowers

·         Perennial Herbs

·         Swiss Chard red and green

·         Chives

·         Radishes

·         Broccoli

·         Leaf Lettuces

·         Danya, methi etc

·         Mustard

·         Spinach

·         Peas

Imagine we all grew our own potatoes – in bags and tyres and baths and in the soil where we have space. We could all harvest at different times and share our yields with each other. Think about it, potatoes can cost up to R50 a bag.

About the other “conversation”,  the bees. During the last week I notice that bees are all around when we have tea or something sweet under the canopy. They descend on the dregs of tea and left over sweet sauces in plates. So I guess that there are not enough flowers around for them to collect nectar after the rains. I notice in Schaapkraal that many of the eucalyptus trees have been chopped down and spaces where there were flowers all year round has been filled in with clay ground and rubble.

We’ve been planting marigolds, pansies and calendula, borage and many other varieties of flowers furiously to entice bees, but not enough yet it seems. Did you know that 78% of our pollinators are bees and that bees are dying off? So I would like to start a conversation on being pro- active and inspire as many people as possible to set up a hive in their backyard at best and at least, plant flowers so bees can collect nectar. As soon as we set up our hives I will keep you in the loop inshaAllah!!!

"And your Lord taught the honey bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for mankind: verily in this is a Sign for those who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl (The Bee), 68-69)

Also, have a peep at the infographic:  http://www.beesfree.biz/The%20Buzz/Disappearing-Honey-Bees-Infographic. And I am back to bed!

Plant food and keep bees

Yasmine