Nature 'n Nosh

My friend Jo discovered her passion for nature ten years ago and has since gained several years of experience guiding for Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature Reserve and Park Ariel Sharon. Last year, during Covid-19, she started Nature 'n Nosh, a tour for small groups that allows you to experience the plants, flowers and trees in the wild Israeli landscape by tasting them, smelling them and hearing their stories. I was lucky enough to join one of her recent tours.

We started the tour at a small grove on the edge of Modi'in, the city where we both live. Jo began by telling us that every plant has a story to tell and that by going back to a plant's roots, we can gain an understanding of the history and culture around us. She pointed out the Carob tree, above, whose fruit will ripen only in October. We learnt that the word carob is connected to the word carat, a modern unit of weight for gemstones like diamonds. This is not to be confused with karat, which is a measure of gold purity. The word carat derives from the Greek word keration meaning fruit of the carob. The Carob tree, or locust tree, is an evergreen tree with an edible pod containing seeds. Carob seeds apparently have a uniform weight of 0,20 grams, and therefore old civilisations used these seeds as a reference weight for precious gemstones and for weighing other small weight items. One carob seed equals one carat and therefore one carat equals 0,20 grams.

She went on to show us the Dwarf mesquite tree, above, a tree that actually looks like a shrub, which grows up to a height of 20-100cm. The root system of this plant is very wide and deep, and actually looks like a tree trunk with the branches growing down up to a depth of 20 metres. It is only the tree top which is seen above the ground. The fruit of the tree is edible. The Hebrew name of the tree is ינבוט, from the Arabic yanbut, which probably derives from nabata (it sprouted, germinated, grew).
We spotted the purple Common Globe-thistle, or Kipudan as it is known in Hebrew. The kipod is a hedgehog. Kipod derives from the root קפד and literally means, "that which rolls itself together". The root קפד developed from "be drawn together" to "be angry" and "be strict", and from here we have the common verb הקפיד hikpid, to be strict or pedantic.

I have written about the almond tree, the Shkedia, before. They are the first fruit trees in Israel to wake from their winter sleep and are a sign that spring is around the corner. Jo taught us that the Hebrew name of the tree, Shaked, is connected to what the tree does. A shakdan (שקדן) is a diligent person who gets the job done, which is exactly what the Shkedia is doing.

Further along we spotted a fig tree, above and below. We learnt that the white sap we can see when a leaf or stem is broken off can be used as a treatment for warts. It also has curdling properties like vinegar. Fig trees and fruit bats provide an excellent example of a dependent relationship in nature. Fruit bats nightly eat half their body weight in figs and, without these trees, the fruit bat's food source would quickly be depleted. The fruit bats return the favour to the fig tree by doing their own share of the work. They carry their food a short distance away from the tree instead of perching in it while they eat. The fruit's seeds fall as they eat and another fig tree has the opportunity to grow. In the case that the bat swallows the seeds, they pass through the animal's digestive tract unharmed and are expelled in a new location.

At this point of the tour we passed the synagogue at Umm el-Umdan, above, which is the second oldest synagogue found in Israel. It is believed to have been built in the Hasmonean period. The structure of the synagogue is similar in design and construction to synagogues excavated at Gamla, Masada, and Herodium, but this synagogue pre-dates them. It originally consisted of three rooms. In the time of Herod a square building paved with stone slabs, and whose roof was supported by eight columns, was constructed over it. Adjacent to the synagogue is a mikveh (ritual bath), below, contained within its own building.

Jo took us over to Givat Sher, one of Modi'in's most significant and well preserved archaeological sites. On the way she showed us Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace. We learnt that the whole plant is edible, including the flower, the root and the leaves. The root, which is white, can be used to treat jaundice, anaemia and the urinary system, while the leaf and root can deal with skin problems and acne.

We learnt that the black dot in middle of the Wild Carrot is there to attract insects. This is the plant's way of ensuring its continuance. By placing a small clump of brown petals that look like a fly in the middle, it is tempting other flies and insects to come and check it out.

As an interesting aside, Queen Anne's Lace earned its common name from a legend that tells of Queen Anne of England (1655-1714) pricking her finger and drawing a drop of blood while sewing lace.

We saw beautiful flowering Caper shrubs, which bloom from April until September. The flower opens in the late afternoon hours and remains open for 16-18 hours. The flower buds can be pickled and are regarded as excellent seasoning. The caper, or צלף in Hebrew, survives even under harsh conditions. צלף is also the Hebrew word for a sniper or marksman. During pollination the fruit splits open and shoots out seeds - much like a sniper's weapon.

The wild fennel can be used as a herb to add aroma to all sorts of vegetable, meat and fish dishes. We spotted the tall cane-like stems that grow 60cm to 120cm in height, above, though it is currently not flowering. Wild fennel also has many medicinal properties; as well as enhancing eye sight it is also a great digestive. It is a rich source of fibre, which helps you stay fuller for longer, preventing you from cravings and overeating. The Greeks call it maratho. Marathon is the area south of Athens where the Greeks won a famous battle against the invading Persian army in 490 BC. The area probably acquired its name because of its abundant fennel fields. A young soldier, Pheidippides, ran the 42 kilometres from Marathon to Athens to announce the triumphant victory, thus inspiring the eponymous run.

We walked to the top of the hill, stopping on the way to learn about the Labiatae "lips" herbs. Plants in this family are herbs or shrubs often with an aromatic smell. Jo showed us an example of the flower which has a mouth and tongue, the meaning behind the nickname "lips". These plants grow mainly on rock surfaces and include the Zuta levana, commonly known as White micromeria or White-leaved savoury. It is known for its medicinal properties and is particularly good for upset stomachs. We also saw Sharp varthemia, known in Hebrew as כתלה or Ktella from the name Kotel or the Western Wall. The plant, which can only be found in Israel, Jordan and the Sinai, grows out of walls or rock surfaces and has an incredible rustic aroma. It is good for heart problems and diabetes - and seems like a very gentle herb to enjoy in tea. Another discovery was Syrian Oregano or Bible Hyssop. The plant is also called za'atar by association with its use in the herb-spice mixture of dried herbs, sesame and sumac for flavouring and garnish.

Givat Sher contains the remains of ancient settlements from three periods - late Hellenistic, Byzantine and Mamluke, as well as evidence of ancient agriculture. The hill's name apparently derives from the Arabic word "sur", which means a wall, and indeed, the hill contains many walled terraces. However, some people believe that the name Sur is a Hebrew name preserved throughout the various periods of settlement on the hill.
Close to the top of the hill we noticed a rusted metal grid on a round rock, above. The grid is covering a deep cistern that was used for water collection. There was no spring or other water source in the vicinity of this settlement. Therefore surface runoff water was collected in cisterns during the rainy season, to be used throughout the year. There was also a large guard tower constructed of stones, below. Guard towers, known as shomerot in Hebrew, were common in agricultural areas and allowed the farmer to protect his crop when it was ready to be picked, as well as a place for sleeping and storage.Within the area are a number of these watchtowers, along with wine presses and numerous rock cairns, meticulously placed on outcrops of bedrock. This is the only place in Israel where cairns have been found. They may have been used to support grape vines in the settlement, in the same way as a pergola does today.

We stopped at the top of Givat Sher to enjoy a light picnic with some of the delicacies Jo had brought with her or picked along the way. She brought out dried Saltbush leaves (maluach in Hebrew), a plant that grows near water and in the desert and is naturally salty, absorbing the salt from its environment. We ate these toasted, along with pita breads filled with tahina, sumac, milk thistle seeds, various cut vegetables and more. Freshly brewed tea was flavoured with different types of honey.
From here it was just a short walk back to our cars. The tour had been an amazing experience. Jo's passion and enthusiasm in her guiding made the Nature 'n Nosh experience inspirational, informative and yet still fun for us all. Her love of nature shines through. If you fancy joining a Nature 'n Nosh tour, you can contact her here. I highly recommend it!

* This post has been shared on Little Things Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Floral Friday Fotos, Friday Bliss, The Weekend Link-Up, Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Our World Tuesday, My Corner of the World, Tuesday's Treasures and Nature Thursday.