Friends of Serene Valley did a foraging walk on 18 May to celebrate International Day for Biodiversity.

They tasted the berries of buffalo thorn and cross berries, discussed the uses of khaki bush, and ate the gum from Vachellia Karoo. Chairman Carol Martin cooked some Amaranthus, healthy leaves full of protein, calcium, iron and vitamins, as well as blackjack leaves, which were eaten on roasted tubers (sweet potato).

There are two seeds inside, which can be roasted and ground to make a coffee substitute

Serene Valley is part of the green belt along the Moreleta Spruit in Garsfontein. It is roughly in the shape of a ‘Y’ with Serene Street to the north, private properties along the east, Hans Strijdom Drive to the south and Gilda Street and private properties to the west. The short arm of the ‘Y’ runs along the Constantia Spruit from Velddrift Street in the west to where it joins the Moreleta Spruit.

Cracking open the buffalo thorn fruit to get the seeds
Photos: Carol Martin

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