Author: EcoWisdom

An Explorer & Wanderer who is bewildered with the stunning diversity of Nature and the unassuming spirit of traditional communities. Independent Researcher and Practitioner of Agro-ecology & Indigenous Seed Conservation; currently engaged in conservation research of Indigenous varieties & Landraces of Paddy, Maize, Cotton, Finger Millet, Wheat, Barley, Mustard & Flaxseed through In-situ Conservation with farmer groups in eastern & central India. Working with Adivasi communities practicing Shifting Cultivation in eastern & central India towards Guided Fallow and Forest Gardens.

PLANTS TO DYE FOR

Published on December 30, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

The Birth of Patriarchy

Published on June 15, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Fragrance Trail: Basmati

Published on June 15, 2021June 20, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Being with the Trees

Published on June 13, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Friends of the Earth

Published on May 30, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds & Mammals

Pollinators, Predators, Foragers & Scavengers

Published on May 30, 2021June 13, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

The Thankless who run the Wilderness:

Published on May 30, 2021June 13, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Wild Flowers, Seeds, Fruits, Mushrooms, Lichens & Moss

Lagerstroemia Groves

Published on May 24, 2021May 30, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Wild Flowers

Wild Flowers, Mushrooms, Lichens & Moss

LESSER KNOWN PULSES

Published on May 24, 2021May 24, 2021 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Ploughs of India

Published on April 6, 2020 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

“Many attempts have been made to introduce into India European ploughs which turn down the surface soil, and which replace it with fresh soil from beneath. With few exceptions, in rare and unusual circumstances, those attempts have failed. The refusal of the ryot to adopt the new form of implement has been set down to ‘ignorant prejudice’; but after a careful and minute investigation of the facts and circumstances, I have come to the unqualified conclusion, that the extensive adoption of English forms of ploughs would be ruinous, and, if general, would probably reduce the crops so as to plunge the whole country into famine.”

Robert Wallace, 1887
Professor of Agriculture and Rural Economy
in the University of Edinburgh

Terracota Model of Indus Plough found in Banwali (Haryana) about 4500 years old

Ropes from the Wild

Published on April 3, 2020April 4, 2020 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

Ropes and Knots are among the most ancient & useful technologies developed by humans, predating the use of fire. Archaeologists believe that the use of ropes and knots dates to 25 Lakh years coinciding with the use of crude stone tools. Starting in prehistoric times, they were used for hunting, pulling, fastening, attaching, carrying, lifting and climbing.

Ropes were used to make fishing nets, traps, tying stones to spears, bows, shelters, baskets, fastening clothes, tying animals, harnessing animals, rafts etc. Yet, it is hard to find any important technology developed over the last 25 lakh years that did not, in some way, make use of ropes and knots.

These Ropes & Cordage are Eco-friendly and can generate employment & income; also different species yield different quality of ropes (e.g- durability, strength, waterproof etc) and are used for different purposes from constructing houses, tying bamboo, ropes of animals, fishing nets, snares, hangers, bow strings, cot strings etc. The skill of making such ropes are restricted to the elders and its disappearing fast.

Synthetic rope making is energy intensive and non biodegradable, they also have poor knot holding ability.

Making Sabai Ropes in Mayurbhanj, Odisha by Lodha Communities

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kc9GNAaCfmLkTb4zxwhuwG7XzeGmuPtt

Ropes need Knots to function and the diversity of knots that once existed for different utilities were bewildering. About 4000 different knots existed ranging from very simple to extremely complex.

Forest Oil seeds & Oil Extraction

Published on March 15, 2020March 17, 2020 by EcoWisdomLeave a comment

The Kernels of Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) Seed are extracted by splitting using a stone; this is dried and pounded into a kind of flour. After washing and further drying, the flour is steamed in an earthen pot with holes in the bottom, that is placed over another pot half full of water standing on fire.

When the flour is sufficiently steamed (realised by oozing oil when pressed), it is wrapped in a straw or sabai grass (Eulaliopsis binata) with a string and oil is expressed in a Wooden Press.

In Jasipur block (Mayurbhanj district, Odisha), a special container made from the bark of Siali (Bauhinia vahlii) made by Mankirdia community is used for oil extraction; the container is a natural elastic retaining its shape after pressing.

The Oil Press consists of 2 heavy logs with plane edges fixed on solid posts, on each end; in the lower log’s surface a ring is cut to collect the oil which runs over a small nozzle.

To press the oil- a rope is taken round the logs at one end and a piece of wood is inserted on the other end to keep it down, the 2 logs are pressed together to extract the oil. Kusum (Schleichra oleosa) seed oil is also extracted similarly.

Mahua oil is used for anointing, lubricating as medicine as well as cooking. The oil cake is used as a hot compress, fish poison and burnt to drive away snakes.

Other Wild & Tree based Oilseeds

Argemone mexicana
Lamp oil
Celastrus paniculatus
Medicinal
Jatropa curcas
Lamp oil; laxative
Azadirachta indica
Medicinal
Semacarpus anacardium
Oil is distilled and used for marking and to treat blisters of animals
Schleichera oleosa
Skin & Hair Oil
Spatholobus roxburgii
Cooking & anointing
Ventilago calyculata
Cooking
Shorea robusta
Medicinal
Ponagmia pinata
Used to treat scabies