Plant a Forest, Regrow Your Medicine

Faced with the loss of their natural forest, a community took action to plant a new one specifically for medicinal herbs.

By Padmini Bhoi · SKIP NO LOCATION

Responds to — Loss of natural forests, scarcity of medicinal plants

I remember when there was a forest, but it is no longer there. That loss meant we couldn't easily find the medicinal herbs we'd always relied on. So, we decided to act. We planted a new forest, specifically so we could grow those vital herbs again. It's our way of ensuring that our traditional medicines and knowledge continue to thrive, even when the old ways change.

The recipe

Plant a new forest specifically to cultivate medicinal herbs.

Forest restorationMedicinal plantsTraditional medicineCommunity actionSelf-sufficiency

Woven from 13 voices

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🐕

If I get 20000 rupees, I will cultivate dogs.

— Pankajini Chhatria

🌱

There was a forest, but it is no longer there. To obtain medicinal herbs, they planted a forest so that they could get the herbs.

— Padmini Bhoi

👯

There is Reena Saila Karma in the Gond community.

— Kekti Tekam

🥬

Locally, Collyria bhaji is the most nutritious wild food.

— Kachala Choudhary

🍼

Milk and sago are the best nutritious food for children.

— Chanda

🗿

Our songs are tribal, our culture, our tradition, our songs, dances, and musical instruments are unique. Therefore, it is essential to preserve this culture of ours.

— Parikshit Majhi

📜

Cultural language is our craft language. We live by cultural language. We, the people from the poor tribal belt, remain connected only through cultural language, and we are very happy with it.

— Sonmati

🚫

This is also traditionally complete. This too is not to be seen, no, no, not to be seen.

— Santosh Pradhan

🎣

As you get old, you must fish from the pond, and by catching and selling them, earn money for the progress of our family.

— Parikshit Majhi

🌾

I receive 20000. I will do business by cultivating paddy or with rice.

— Priti majhi

💧

We have a water shortage even for double cropping. Due to this, we are using our own seed paddy and doing less threshing, as we have sown the paddy in the field.

— Padmini Bhoi

🥛

Our milk, lentils, soybeans, and bread all come under nutritious food. They contain protein.

— Chanda

🌱

I am cultivating a second crop with zero irrigation. But I am not following traditional farming methods and seed protection.

— Pankajini Chhatria

Preserve Our Culture, Our Herbs, Our Forests

Nourish from What Creation Provides

Preserve Your Traditional Ways

Eat What Your Grandparents Ate