By Volunteer | Team
Dear supporters from Karama Organization!
In February we would like to send you a brief update about our activities in Deheishe. We are thankful for all the frequent and in-frequent supporters who continue to donate and share our message. While the Karama Team is preparing for a delayed start of the UN project (you remember this from a previous note possible... ;)) the female participants already active in Karama continue to move, grow and nourish. Read on to stay connected and let us know what you think through email or Facebook!
While a brief and relatively soft winter seems to come to its end, the women in Deheishe camp get extra busy on their roofs. The sun spreads its warmth and both the people and plants benefit from the extra sunshine on their skin. Chairs are carried up and a well-deserved break takes place in the warm sunlight instead of inside the walls of their homes. Women from extended families often share one roof and so these meeting places are more frequently used when the sun shows its face more often.
Most of the production coming from the gardens is immediately taken down from the garden to the kitchen and used in delicious salads, soups or dishes. Cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes form a healthy addition to a rice- and chicken-based meal while the zucchinis or aubergines (picked when they are small) are slowly cooked, stuffed with a rice and herbs mixture. Since last year, most women added several herbs to their garden's production. Women decided to add the often used herbs of parsley, mint and sage as a try-out and they all seem to grow very well. The women have harvested some of the largest sage leaves they've ever seen! :) While sage is most often dried before used, parsley and mint are added right away to dishes and salads. These herbs are such a staple in the Palestinian traditional kitchen that we almost forget what an incredible nutritional value they have!
Parsley is rich in many vital vitamins, including Vitamin C, B12, K, A and plenty of other minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron. This means parsley keeps our immune system strong, ones your bones and heals the nervous system too. It helps flush out excess fluids from the body, thus supporting kidney function. Not a bad idea to add to a salad!
Mint is not only known for its refreshing properties but also contains a good amount of Vitamin A and iron. Through its characteristics it improves oral health and supports digestion and the absorption of nutrition from food. Besides that it can be used to treat several common illnesses it is often used as refreshment as well.
Besides Vitamin K and calcium, Sage does contain numerous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds beneficial to health. Out of the many health benefits of sage, some of the most important include its ability to improve brain function, lower inflammation throughout the body, prevent chronic diseases, boost the strength of the immune system, regulate proper digestion and alleviate skin conditions. It is no surprise than that this herb is almost daily added to teas in Palestine.
With your help we can keep on growing and improving our diet and health!
Thank you for reading and caring!
Links:
By Volunteers | Karama Center
By Yasser and volunteers | Director
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