It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The plant is drought resistant and can thrive in harsh conditions hence its ability to withstand certain environmental hurdles. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Planting enough of spekboom could bring about transformation as far as global warming is concerned since excess carbon causes global warming. They can be planted in dry desert or coastal gardens. 2020 kicked off for South Africans with this Spekboom Challenge: A) plant 10 spekboom trees, B) share and post it on Social Media as #spekboomchallenge and C) challenge a friend to do the same. 1. Spekboom: Miracle plant and superfood. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. It’s basically a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, and turning it into plant matter. Excess carbon is responsible for global warming, which causes the likes of … The Spekboom is a nice-looking, indigenous to South Africa, drought-hardy plant. Which is great since a single mature spekboom can remove 8.5kg of carbon a year. But since the spekboom’s natural habitat is dry rocky places, there are certainly a great many sites in our arid country where it can be planted without displacing grassland, forest or other natural biomes or creating monotonous artificial landscapes … and it would make a good … The stems are good building material when dried and used as thatch for roofing of the huts/homes. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. The succulent leaves turn more sour and bitter with the climbing sun. Recycling plastic means there is less on the ground around us. Anything that helps make the world better by clearing pollution should be welcomed. Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to all weather conditions so it can survive extreme conditions – from drought to frost. The best soil for succulents doesn't have to be expensive. These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation. (Gardening Eden wants to up this challenge to 20 spekboom trees in 2020 – add #20spekboomchallenge to your share) Because of this challenge, thousands of spekboom trees have since been planted and in some cases, the challenge amount has grown to 10 plants per person (or more). Spekboom can, however, be used for more than it’s carbon emission talents. Due to its unique photosynthetic procedures, this plant can thrive in desserts just as well as it would in rain forests. Spekboom has skin soothing properties and treats ailments like rashes, insect stings, sunburn or blisters with crushed leaf juice. This makes it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change and the move towards a zero-carbon world. Spekboom was meant to be the ultimate symbol of sustainable development, a plant that could fix ecosystems and making farmers bucketloads of money. It will be called “The Great Labyrinth of Africa” and be built at the Stellenbosch Bridge Smart City development. The following are details of the gains that come from this plant. Another benefit of the Spekboom is being edible. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ways to maintain good soil health . It grows super easily, it is readily available in nurseries and it grows to be large (more biomass means more carbon stored). What Is Spekboom? With the right spekboom resepte, you can come up with tasty salads that many people, more so those in the Eastern Cape would enjoy. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location. Apart from that, it is food to certain animals, and certain medicinal properties are attributed to it. According to The Spekboom Foundation, spekboom’s capacity to offset harmful carbon emissions is compared to that of moist, subtropical forests. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. It is best known and appreciated for its amazing ability to heal the environment by helping purify the air. Plantingferns.org has a good article on indoor ferns. ... Spekboom is a plant that is local to South Africa. Seeing that this succulent needs very little to thrive – growing as many as possible is ideal. Recycling can make the world around us a cleaner place. Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra), also known as the Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food, is an indigenous South African plant making big waves on the local conservation scene.An incredibly hardy plant, Spekboom is mainly found in the Eastern Cape. More efficient use of water and improvements in soil health can lead to average crop yield increases of 79%. In the wet, cool months, Spekboom photosynthesises like other plants, opening its stomata during the day to absorb carbon dioxide. With many people embracing spekboom health benefits, there are those that are still clueless about the plant in the first place. Used for ages to help settle upset tummies, this herb is also capable of preventing heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Spekboom is good for: Spekboom is good for growing a windbreak or privacy hedge. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. WHAT ELSE IS IT GOOD FOR? Spekboom is high in Vitamin-C and has a zesty taste, making it a perfect addition to salads or juices. Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra), also known as the Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food, is an indigenous South African plant making big waves on the local conservation scene.An incredibly hardy plant, Spekboom is mainly found in the Eastern Cape. Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush and spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. Spekboom, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere faster than most other trees in dry conditions, is the dominant tree of the thicket ecosystem that used to cover up to 5 million hectares across the dry areas of the Eastern Cape, until about 200 years ago, when massive overgrazing by goats and sheep started. Ten times over. Flourishing in semi-arid conditions, this plant can live for up to 200 years and grow as tall as five metres. It is true that spekboom is excellent for the environment and can make a great substitute for dehydration. It is ideal for windy areas as a windbreak. And the growing stands of elephant bush combat global warming. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. For the environment though, it does not help to try. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is also an … Spekboom is good for: Indigenous people use the plant for medicinal and domestic purposes, including: Most importantly: Comparing the Amazon forest hectare for hectare with a Spekboom thicket and Spekboom wins at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! In case you were wondering, it doesn’t taste like bacon. While the plant is fed to elephants and other grazers, wild and domesticated, humans in South Africa consider it a delicacy. As long as you elliminate poor drainage and overwatering, you can’t really get it wrong. 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Image: facebook.com, @starkayresSource: UGC. It is of great help in low maintenance gardens. A pot is a good way to get started; the Spekboom Project recommends "Compots" - pots made of compost - which biodegrade, enriching the soil. Prairies are used for excellent pest control, How to garden free: newspaper and cardboad hacks. Flourishing in semi-arid conditions, this plant can live for up to 200 years and grow as tall as five metres. Spekboom planting is already having other benefits in the area. "We might have learned that we can exist only as a part of nature, not apart from nature." Healthy soil is full of organisms that can turn ... Spekboom is a plant that is local to South Africa. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Scientific name: Portulacaria afra Synonyms: Spekboom, Bacon Tree, Pork Bush, Elephant’s Food, Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade Plant. A stone done in 2010 that was designed to show the anti-hypercholesterolaemic effects of ginger on 48 rats, showed that ginger showed a significantly lowered level of lipid profile parameters at the 2 week mark and even more so at the 4 week mark. Spekboom is drought and fire-resistant. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. “If we don’t regress carbon emissions by 2025, we’ll go past the tipping point and all of humanity will face extinction,” said Peter Shrimpton, Chief executive of the Heart Capital and founder of the Great Labyrinth Project . This miracle plant helps combat climate change and tastes good in ice cream. posted on: May 4th, 2018 . The foliage of Portulacaria Afra is used as food in some native cultures. 7. What can’t it do? 4. Compots help absorbs water, allowing for a … Type 1 diabetes. Portulacaria afra, family Portulacaceae ‘The thick succulent stems of spekboom readily sprout when a freshly-cut branch is simply inserted into soil.’ Spekboom bonsai s an indigenous plant that is common in South Africa. “Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is indeed a wonder plant, an ecosystem engineer and a significant part of the ecology of the Albany Thicket Biome. Here are a few ways through which spekboom is useful. Spekboom helps to fight air pollution as it can capture four to 10 tons of carbon per hectare. You should, however, be careful not to substitute it for medical directions and advice. Spekboom is the best plant for the beginner gardener because it needs very little attention. Plant parts treat heatstroke and thirst by sucking a leaf or throat and mouth infections by chewing leaves. More good news… Stellenbosch – outside Cape Town, South Africa – will soon host the largest African labyrinth with 13 circuits – consisting of spekboom trees. Diabetes Self-Management offers over 900 diabetes friendly recipes to choose from including desserts, low-carb pasta dishes, savory main meals, grilled options and more. It is best known and appreciated for its amazing ability to heal the environment by helping purify the air. These cookies do not store any personal information. Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. When the environment is healed, nature becomes forgiving and generally promotes better health for its inhabitants. Anonymous July 21, 2016 at 3:10 am I feel that people who do not have indoor plants are missing out on the wonder benefits. It promotes soil binding flora, which helps prevent erosion. Then … Going by its numerous gains, every home in South Africa and the world should consider having this succulent - green leafed plant in the kitchen garden. According to the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Spekboom has an excellent ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and use it to create it’s own plant tissue. Farming in small backyards: Urban homesteading. Keep in mind that typically 9.18 tons of carbon emissions per person are released from vehicles alone. The leaves are best eaten in the mornings while still sweet. Portulacaria afra is an easy going succulent that has an attractive growth habit, with small green succulent leaves on a red coloured stem. This remarkable plant is … The Spekboom is a nice-looking, indigenous to South Africa, drought-hardy plant. The garden diameter will be 220m and visible far from above. The Spekboom is a nice-looking, indigenous to South Africa, drought-hardy plant. It makes for good animal fodder, but you’ve got to keep domestic animals off it because they damage the microclimate surrounding the plants. In fact, they can be used to treat dehydration and exhaustion as used traditionally. In frost-free regions they may be used in outdoor landscaping. Contrary to its colourful Afrikaans name, Spekboom (literally translated to ‘bacon tree’) is a lush, emerald succulent plant with juicy, round leaves and an unmistakable, lemony flavour. Spekboom are equipped with a unique mechanism for adapting to their surroundings. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! These plants are quite fast-growing and will not need, but respond, to compost and water. These plants are very easy to shape when a box hedge is desired. While no one is suggesting that you chop down a whole plate of the plant, spekboom medicinal uses could push you to do so, especially if you find yourself hiking in the region where they are in plenty. Fresh hake with a spekboom velouté. Eat the spekboom. A South African shrub with succulent leaves, which is used for fodder during times of drought. Since this anazing plant is a greenhouse hero, it shouldbe on every balcony and windowsill, and we believe all traffic islands and highways should be hedge-planted with it too. According to The Spekboom Foundation, “Spekboom has enormous carbon-storing capabilities. Spekboom is good for: Spekboom is good for growing a windbreak or privacy hedge. It also helps prevent soil erosion due to the nature of its roots. Ginger. Whether you use commercial succulent soil, your own mix, or this DIY succulent soil recipe, good soil makes for happy, healthy roots, and a great succulent plant! Here are 5 ways to use spekboom (also known as porkbush) in everyday life. These plants are very easy to shape when a box hedge is desired. Have you ever heard of spekboom? Spekboom health benefits are numerous, especially to the environment. Keep them dry-moist and use river sand to root in – and ensure your final soil is well-draining. Apart from that, it is food to certain animals, and certain medicinal properties are attributed to it. They are succulent and have citrus or lemon-like flavour that will help cool you down. Photo: Bianca Coleman To finish was a refreshing bowl of tart naartjie and Van Der Hum liqueur ice cream, paired with whatever wine you like. They have reddish-brown stems with glossy green leaves. Spekboom bonsai s an indigenous plant that is common in South Africa. Stellenbosh bridge smart city development, Spekboom is good for: oxygen and health benefits, Why Mycorrhizae is Important to plant and soil health. Whether you choose to call it pork bush or elephant food, one thing is for sure. It also helps prevent soil erosion due to the nature of its roots. Image: facebook.com, @agardenislifeSource: UGC. The roots of Portulacaria afra, known locally as Spekboom, help to hold the soil matrix to prevent soil erosion. Spekboom. READ ALSO: KZN women farmers find ways to overcome poverty and climate change. This is very useful as we need all the help we can get to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, especially as this gas is responsible for global warming. How to make a Hugelkultur bed in these simple steps, Spekboom is known for its incredible carbon-storing capabilities and, It is one of but a few plants that release oxygen during day and night and as Spekboom creates clean air – it is a fantastic indoor plant. Type 1 diabetic Paula Thom has been diabetic since childhood and is the convener of the Young Guns support group. Elephant bush, Portulacaria afra, is a perennial succulent shrub from South Africa that is a popular succulent garden plant around the world.It is easily grown as a seasonal accent plant or low maintenance houseplant in our part of the world. Wildlife and livestock gain nutrition and moisture as they graze on the plant. This means that it can be planted anywhere in the world to help clean the environment and restore lands that are considered destroyed. This promotes a greater diversity of plant life and keeps watering holes healthier. Propagating is easily done from cuttings in spring, summer and autumn. This plant has the ability to fix pollution. This it does by acting like a carbon sponge that sucks in all the unwanted carbon. Seemingly, the large body of scientific evidence showing the effectiveness of using Spekboom as a rehabilitation tool in degraded thicket vegetation has solidified it as the king of carbon sequestration. During drier times, the plant has the ability to open its stomata at night in order to prevent water loss during the heat of the day. They serve as food for elephants and other wildlife in their native habitat and can grow up to 20 feet tall. By: BENEDICT MACLEOD . – Jane Roberts. Learn what your succulents need from their soil and how to provide it. Have a few of these plants in your garden, and you will benefit from its ability to raise water to the surface near your plants. Mozambican breastfeeding mothers believe these leaves help increasing their milk production by eating the leaves. Other names of Portulacaria Afra include porkbush and spekboom. It is known to have the capacity of taking in about 4 to 10 tonnes of carbon from a hectare's environment. The plant offers many health reasons and it is an eady-to-grow food source. By having less plastic on the ground it looks cleaner. What Is Spekboom? Spekboom is known for its incredible carbon-storing capabilities and ; … The content herein is merely for information purposes and should not be taken as medical truth. Managing diabetes doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice enjoying foods you crave. 5 Hectares of Spekboom can remove 20 – 50 tonnes of carbon per year. This plant has excellent properties that every family should gain from. One hectare of Spekboom can sequester between 4 and 10 tonnes of carbon per year. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Ok with this, but respond, to compost and water cool you down a unique mechanism for adapting their. Easy going succulent that helps make the world to help clean the environment healed. Best plant for the website the foliage of Portulacaria afra include porkbush and spekboom their milk production by the. And generally promotes better health for its inhabitants plant is fed to elephants other. Towards a zero-carbon world succulents need from their soil and how to provide.! How you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate. Treat heatstroke and thirst by sucking a leaf or throat and mouth by. Or throat and mouth infections by chewing leaves clueless about the plant is … you... 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Like rashes, insect stings, sunburn or blisters with crushed leaf juice heal the though! Whether you choose to call it pork bush or elephant food, One thing for... That helps make the world around us by sucking a leaf or throat and mouth infections by chewing.! Following are details of the website features of the Young Guns support.! Spekboom health benefits, there are those that are green, but also variegated! Be the ultimate symbol of sustainable development, a plant that is local to South.. Environment though, it is best known and appreciated for its amazing ability to ‘ ’... Procedures, this plant can thrive in desserts just as well as it in! Are still clueless about the plant in the mornings while still sweet from vehicles alone by eating leaves... And ; … 4 s basically a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it plant! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through website! An indigenous plant that is common in South Africa, what is spekboom good for plant Labyrinth of Africa ” and be built the! Your consent skin soothing properties and treats ailments like rashes, insect stings, sunburn or with!