Any Zimbabweans here?

[caroline7758]

We are hosting a Zimbabwean refugee and he's giving me loads of help with my allotment. He keeps telling me we should grow "greens" like they have back home. Does anyone know whether this would be spinach, cabbage or something else?

[caroline7758]

[katynewbie]

I think Gavin used to live there, am sure he will be along shortly!

[Ellen K]

I have a near neighbour from Zim, she grows a lot of what she just calls African Rape.  It does look like the oil seed rape you see growing in the fields when it flowers but she eats the leaves.

The flying rats love it but it is a vigorous plant.  She just strips the side shoot off and pushes them in to the ground.  They seem to be able to grow roots and establish before they dry out, even when the weather is dry.  I guess that's what they need to do in Africa so in the UK it's a doddle.

She'll eat the leaves off some pumpkins as well, so you might find your friend will be interested when they start growing.

I will ask for more info when I next see her if you like.

[daveyboi]

It seems greens is a generic term for various green leaves of various plants
Search muriwo will give further info.

[gavinjconway]

Heloowa - yep I'm here ex from Zim..

Greens that the Africans used to eat were mainly called "Rape" like a very leafy plant like a Kale x cabbage but leafy with no head..  Very strong iron taste to it a bit like Spinach..

[pumkinlover]

Friend from Namibia loves spinach.

Just going off topic (sorry) but I wonder what the British would  mean by greens if the situation was reversed?
I love my brussels sprouts, but many people only eat them once a year!!

[grannyjanny]

PL, I have told them at the Co op that sprouts are not just for Christmas . Theirs are really nice ones.

[gavinjconway]

Ok then - here is more info for you..

A staple diet in Africa. Here is how to cook up a proper African greens dish to have with "Sadza" which is a thick dough like meal made of boiled maize (corn) meal.. This is dipped into the veg "stew"..

Get some greens - any type of brassica 'ish veg, some onion, tomato, chilli, some meat ... maybe chicken, beef, dried beef, and loads of salt. 

Cut it all up and put in a pot on an open fire. The smoke adds to the taste. Cook till ready.. Whilst this is cooking get the maize meal and add a few cup fulls to boiling water, stir in more meal till it is all hard like a dough. This is now ready and called "Sadza" (it is actually delicious and a great side dish at a traditional Braai (BBQ)..)

Now to eat it... Place generous helpings of Sadza and Stew on the plate and all sit around the fire, grab a handful of the Sadza, make it into dough ball and dip in the stew and eat.. delicious.

I had an engineering business and we did loads of work out on farms etc.. I would supply all the food ingredients to make a good meal for everyone, including myself, to make sure my workers all had full bellies at lunchtime. We had one guy who was always our designated cook when we went out on jobs..

[caroline7758]

Thanks for the replies- all very interesting!

[pumkinlover]

Interesting information Gavin

[macmac]

What an interesting thread

[Squash64]

Gavin, do you know anything about (something, but not 'deadly') nightshade?  (Our Kenyan
plot holder told me the name but I've forgotten the first part.)  He sowed the
seeds and asked me to water them because he had to go back to Kenya for
a couple of weeks.  Nothing has come up yet.

[galina]

Interesting information Gavin

Yes indeed, you paint a vivid mental picture Gavin 

[gavinjconway]

I've also remembered another favourite green veg.. Called "chowmoullier" - sort of similar to Swiss Chard / spinach.

Glad you like the info.. I still make stews like that here in the UK but not on a fire.. Also never bought any maize meal yet..

[gavinjconway]

Gavin, do you know anything about (something, but not 'deadly') nightshade?  (Our Kenyan
plot holder told me the name but I've forgotten the first part.)  He sowed the
seeds and asked me to water them because he had to go back to Kenya for
a couple of weeks.  Nothing has come up yet.

Mmmmm.. Dont really know why he would want to grow them.. I know them as snake apple.. Solanum species is probably what you need to look up. Solanum is a huge family and the ones I know grow like weeds!!

Sorry cant help you more..