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April  2003

An original experiment: 
Planting thornless Faveleira

Thanks to the good contacts we maintain with the Campina Grande University’s Forest Engineering Department, situated in Patos, a very unusual opportunity has arisen: the planting of  faveleira (cnidosculus phyllacanthus) bushes that are “unarmed” – with no thorns, to put it in layman’s terms – based on the work of Professors Olaf Andreas Bakke and Eder Ferreira Arriel.

In fact, among the forest species that occur in the caatinga region of Northeastern Brazil, the faveleira stands out for its hardiness. Its mature leaves and its bark serve as forage for goats, sheep and mules, and its seeds are eaten by domestic animals in the field, and by human beings in the form of oil and flour - the latter is rich in minerals and proteins.

It is hoped that the thornless seedlings will fruit more rapidly and grow to a smaller size, making it easier to collect and handle the seeds. A specific study will be carried out on the oil and cake obtained from the seed, so as to define their qualities, and later to determine if a dense plantation of the faveleira on a larger scale could be used for reforestation purposes, also ensuring a high-value protein source in the barren tablelands of the sertão.  

Recovering popular medicine for treating cattle

Recently Raimundo Nonato de Morais, our cowboy, was encouraged to make an inventory of the traditional teas and garrafadas (bottled remedies), using plants and flowers of the rich biodiversity of the sertão, that might be used to treat and cure the livestock at Fazenda Tamanduá. In fact, cattle, just like human beings, find within nature an ample phytotherapeutic  pharmacopoeia, widely sought after until recently, when it was replaced by products bought at veterinarian pharmacies.

The first plant approved was the “seed” of  macela-do-sertão, Egletes viscosa(L.) Less.This is a small, wild, annual, aromatic herb, found in places that are periodically flooded, on the banks of small lakes and streams.

In fact, what are used are the floral capitula, which are collected, dried, and vacuum packed so as to ensure excellent storage conditions.

A tea is made from these “macela seeds” and given especially to calves in the case of colic and diarrhea, treating them successfully. Recent studies of macela proved that the active element contained in it is ternatina, which presented anti-inflammatory properties and features that protect the stomach and liver, justifying its anti-diarrheic and antispasmodic action.

As a home treatment for human beings, macela is traditionally used in cases of digestive and intestinal problems, colic, wind, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea and migraine, as well as in cases of irregular menstrual periods.  

(Sources : Plantas medicinais no Brasil (Medicinal Plants in Brazil), by Harri Lorenzi, F.J. Abreu Matos).

Successful Course on Biodynamic Farming 
given to Fazenda Tamanduá  workers

Fazenda Tamanduá is in a conversion phase with a view to obtaining the Demeter Seal. It therefore became essential for each worker to be aware of this challenge and to be able to understand the basis of this philosophy.

For that reason, on Friday, March 7, our consultant, Richard Charity, gave the first talk in a series of four, designed to explain the reasons for biodynamic farming to the workers at Fazenda Tamanduá.

Close to 40 workers took part in the course, which had excellent repercussions and gave rise to interesting questions and discussions.Richard took this opportunity to congratulate everyone for the excellent work carried out up to now, and asked for this effort to continue. 

A tasty dinner was served afterwards, an opportunity for cheerful socialization.