Ep 5: Rau Đay, Lalo, Saluyot, Ewedu, Molokhia

This episode is all about one plant with countless names: Molokhia (Corchorus olitorius). You may know it as Jute, Jew's Mallow, Egyptian Spinach, any of the names in the title of this episode, or as something else altogether! This plant is beloved throughout the world and so we talked to people whose roots are in Vietnam, Haiti, Philippines, Nigeria, Palestine, and Syria about how they grow, harvest, prepare, eat, and save seeds from this delicious, nutritious, healing, and slimy plant. You will hear many similarities and differences. One thing is clear: everyone holds it dear for the way the flavors, textures, and even the tedious plucking of leaves transports them back home.

 

SEED STORIES TOLD IN THIS EPISODE:

• Palestinian Molokhia
• Palestinian Kusa Squash
• Francois Syrian Molokhia

 

MORE INFO FROM THIS EPISODE:

Lan Dinh and Soi Trinh, "Rau Ðay," March, 2020

• VietLead: vietlead.org
• Resilient Roots Farm on Instagram: @resilientrootsfarm
• Order Lan and VietLead's seeds, including Rau Den (Vietnamese Amaranth), Smooth Bitter Melon, and Lá Tía Tô (Vietnamese Perilla)!

 

Chef Chris Paul, "Lalo," March 2020

• Instagram: @chrispaulchef
• Legim (Haitian Stew): tasteatlas.com/legim
• One Book, Many Voices Community Dinner, March 11, 2020

 

Nick, "Saluyot," January 2020

• Philadelphia Seed Exchange
• Saluyot and Cleopatra

 

Ruby Olisemeka, "Ewedu," March 2020

• Farm School NYC: farmschoolnyc.org
• Egusi
• Amala Flour
• Red Hook Farm: added-value.org
• Ruby's Teacher, Oríadé Ìp?`s?´lá Ajét?`lú - indigenous Yorùbá spiritual uses of Ewedu: oriade7.7network@gmail.com
• www.agloglob.com

 

Anan Zahr "Mlukhiyie," February, 2020

• Anan's Musakhan and Sumac class at the Free Library of Philadelphia
• Anan Zahr Instagram: @ananzahr
• Anan's Mlukhiyie: click here to see a photo and description
• Seeds mentioned in this interview: 
  • Palestinian Molokhia
  • Palestinian Kusa Squash
  • Lebanese Za'atar (Thyme)

 

Hoda Mansour and her daughter Noor "Mloukhia," August, 2019

• Instagram: @ootybabo
• Visit to harvest at Truelove Seeds: see photos here

 

Mason Harkrader, Bear Bottom Farm, "Molokhia," August, 2019

• Instagram: @bearbottomfarm
• Mother Earth Gardener, "A Taste of Home:" [PDF] or read online here
• François Selim Moussalli, 1923 - 2018, Obituary
• Francois Syrian Molokhia
• All Bear Bottom Farm's Syrian and Appalachian seeds at Truelove Seeds

 

ABOUT:

Seeds And Their People is a radio show where we feature seed stories told by the people who truly love them. Hosted by Owen Taylor of Truelove Seeds and Chris Bolden-Newsome of Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden.

trueloveseeds.com/blogs/satpradio

 

FIND OWEN HERE:

Truelove Seeds

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FIND CHRIS HERE:

Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden

 

THANKS TO:

• Lan Dinh and Soi Trinh
• Chef Chris Paul
• Nick from the Seed Swap
• Farmer Ruby Olisemeka
• Anan and George Zahr
• Hoda Mansour and her children
• Mason Harkrader and Mo Wiley
• Sara Taylor