Events
On a sunny September afternoon, the MidCoast New Mainers Group hosted an open house in a garden on Washington Street in Bath. About twenty very enthusiastic people attended, including Board members Georgianna Wright, Karen Armstrong, Cathey Cyrus, Nadine Twagirayeza, Joanne Rosenthal, Andree Appel, and Odette Zouri. We enjoyed some cool traditional west African drinks- including bissap, a rich, deep red tea made from hibiscus blossoms, as well as a very potent lemon/ginger iced tea, thanks to our friends Jeanne and Rachel.
Gardeners Odette Zouri and Hugh Briggs gave a tour of the garden and spoke about the traditional African vegetables theyhad planted including Amaranth, Jew’s Mallow and African beans. Amaranth is a staple of African cuisine, where it is greatly prized for its leaves; this differs from South American cultures where the red grain produced by the mature plants is predominantly used.
Participants were able to pick leaves and then learned how to make a typical African leaf sauce, thanks to Odette and Nadine. This was the second year of the garden, lovingly tended by Odette Zouri and Hugh Briggs. Although the plot on Washington Street may not be available next year, the group is committed to continuing this project and is looking to partner with other community gardening groups in Bath to make this happen.
