“This tree. For you it’s just a tree. But for us it is the home for 20 birds. If you cut it down, you’ll make 20 birds homeless. That’s only one example. And then there are the butterflies.” - Arhuaco
I recall sitting around the outdoor table the first night with Miguel and his family. The sandy earth at our feet and our faces illuminated by the green-orange color of the flood light. Fresh veggies sauteed with eggs and a side of plantains were gobbled down quickly as it was a pretty long day of travel. As we sat together I noticed this huge tree to our left that seemed to be filled with birds. We talked about the different variety of life that lived in the tree. It was notable the amount of time the Arhauco spend thinking about the life around them. When they eat something they are present to where it was harvested and the life that surrounded it, the hands that gathered it and prepared the food and how it arrived on their plate. There is a sense of compassion and empathy for the nature around them and true appreciation for what they have. As we have been slowed down quite a bit I’ve taken more time to be present specifically with my food. I watch with great anticipation as my small plants grow, anxious for their harvest. The time and energy it takes for life to grow for our nourishment is something quite incredible. We started the seeds in February and last week had our first plate of lettuce. It will still be a month for many of the other veggies to be ready. Lately I feel my grandmother with me as I save each scrap for another meal. The left over rice from last night goes perfect in black bean soup. The left over potatoes will go perfect in some morning eggs. My Grandmother was a professional conserver of food. A way of life that many of us have forgotten in times of plenty and when we just simply go to the store and get more or perhaps just lack the energy to put the leftovers in the fridge for a second meal. My favorite memory of my grandmother was the day I realized she scraped the syrup from our plates back into the bottle because she didn’t want to waist the extra…a true conservationist!!!