Foraging in Auroville’s Wild Places

Nina was encouraged to offer the exploratory walks by Aurovilians Anandi Zhang and Sarah Kundig who were inspired by Nina’s book Edible weeds and Naturally Growing Plants in Auroville, which was published five years ago. The walks are typically limited to ten participants to minimize trampling and encourage greater participation. 

Traditionally, women in India would sell seasonal uncultivated greens that they had foraged. Yet the knowledge and practice of eating weeds is dwindling in India, partly due to the stigma of weeds being perceived as a ‘poor man’s food’. But as Nina points out, weeds are full of micronutrients and can help tackle the malnutrition that currently affects millions worldwide, not just the poorest people. She notes that small weeds have enormous life force as they have to survive, despite not being cared for. She feels we benefit from that life force when we eat them. “You do not need a lot,” Nina states  “a handful is often just enough to add to my meal. It’s perfect for even a lazy forager like me.” 

During the lockdown, a small WhatsApp Group of wild green enthusiasts grew to 90+ people, who shared experiences and recipes. “It’s eye-opening noticing how much abundance Mother Nature offers us,” says Giovanni Parrillo, a newcomer who bought Nina’s book and took part in a weed walk. “We could really live out of the wild edible plants which grow so richly all around us.”

Solutide Farm’s Krishna McKenzie encouraged Nina to put up a YouTube channel of videos in which they explored different weeds detailed in the book. The weeds have also enriched Solitude Farm’s weekly basket produce. “We used to give chicken spinach, some amaranth if we were lucky, or maybe Malabar or New Zealand spinach,” Krishna explains. “Now in the basket we provide regularly from the farm to people they get Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica), wild passion fruit leaves (Passiflora foetida), Alternantheras and wild Amaranths. We already used some of the greens in the café, but the book has heightened our conviction about what we were already engaging in. Today I had visitors from Hyderabad who have gone home with Alternanthera, Chinese violet and Brazilian joy weeds to start planting in their farms. Local circle gardens are also planting them. So, one colour of Mother’s work manifests in a basket, then she manifests in food, Nina’s beautiful artful recipes and in education.”

Nina also points out that if we start recognizing and eating local, wild, seasonal greens, we can save on food miles. However, she advises us to learn more about the weeds before consuming them. Mostly they should be cooked before eating, barring some exceptions. Some need processing before adding them in our salads, soups or other recipes. “Weeds are the language in which the soil and the climate speak to us, if we care to listen,” says Nina. They are an excellent indicator of climate change or soil condition, and they help conventional agriculture by attracting pollinators. 

Nina’s book profiles uncultivated wild greens from India, the tropics, and sometimes even beyond. It has removable colour inserts to encourage readers to get closer to the plants they are discovering. Printed in an environment-friendly way, it was the first colouring book for adults published in India. 

Although the first edition is currently out of print, Nina is crowdfunding through AVI-USA’s website to get the book reprinted and to publish two more books in the series – on medicinal weeds and edible flowers. She also plans to initiate a training programme for educators and enthusiasts. She hopes that the focus on wild weeds will encourage people to continue deepening their connection with nature in art, food and awareness. 

As prolific as the weeds she highlights, Nina is very active on social media: she has a Youtube channel, Instagram and Facebook groups, as well as a weekly podcast on edible weeds. With a Masters in Ecology and a PhD in Wildlife Conservation, her academic background combined with her years in Auroville have made her an ideal champion for deepening our awareness of and connection with our less well known and under-valued local flora.