Many long years ago, back in the 1990’s, I was living in a beautiful home-made house on the side of a forested hillside in West Virginia. I was homeschooling my two dear sons while my husband taught at a local high school. And as it happened, a close friend loaned me a book titled Medicine Woman authored by Lynn Andrews. As time passed, I read several more books by Lynn Andrews as well as by many Native American authors and teachers. I was quite charmed by the varied descriptions of their beliefs, customs, wisdom, views of the universe and spiritual and ceremonial practices. Among other things, I learned about Appreciation. I learned how important it is to be grateful for all good gifts. My experience with Kale is a case in point!
Homesteading and Medicine Way Values
Living as I did, close to the land, close to the forests, with a college “major” in religious studies, I began, as best I could, to walk in the Native American Medicine Way. I became obsessed with finding my own Medicine teacher. And strange as it may seem, I did not have to search very far—I found a teacher name Pa’Ris’Ha at an interfaith conference held at a Krishna community about an hour from my home! She had been raised by her own Cherokee Grandmother in southern Appalachia and was immensely and deeply learned in the Old Ways.
Pa’Ris’Ha lived in Cleveland, and she began to develop a following. She formed an organization called the White Buffalo Society and they built a conference center in southeast Ohio called Friendship Village, about an hour and a half from my West Virginia home. She also had a non-profit called the Learning Center For Human Development. And I began to spend weekends at Friendship Village, doing workshops and conferences there, and learning ceremonies and customs of the Cherokee.
Now how does all this relate to Kale?
At one of the health conferences, the virtues of chewing one’s food well was discussed. And I appreciate this important teaching to this day! Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha and Kale led the charge.
As I grew up in middle class America, I was always rushing off to school, or to some practice or other—swim team, perhaps or field hockey; to a church meeting or to a movie; to a date with my boyfriend! I flitted here, there and everywhere on a consistent basis. And so when it came to eating, I learned to eat fast! Surely you know the feeling. Does it surprise you that I started to suffer from nervous indigestion?
At a health conference one day, Grandmother told me that I should start chewing my food, each spoon or forkful, 100 times! Slow down and FULLY appreciate the gift of nourishment and the gifts of the Plant People!
Appreciation of Kale, the Food We Grow, and the Homesteading Lifestyle
What? This was actually a revolutionary concept to me! As a Christian, I would occasionally say grace, a simple prayer of thanksgiving before a meal. It had never occurred to me that chewing could be a kind of spiritual practice! But when you chew each mouthful 100 times, you have lots of time to think and contemplate the nature of the universe! !
At my home in West Virginia, I had some really nice gardens. That particular year, I had a very healthy kale patch! So, when I began to eat from it and chew each bite 100 times, something new happened to me! Kale began to communicate with me!
Thus it was that Kale introduced me to the Plant People.
Yes! Revelation! Kale might talk to you! Or even better. Kale may make you laugh. This is what happened to me!
The Kale People’s leaves have cute, funny little ruffled edges that curl back and forth, up and down. The curves on the edges of some breeds of Kale look like endless miniature waves. Take a good look at a fully grown Kale plant. Tell me: What is Kale doing with all those little curvy edges? Those little curvy edges are so endearing and downright funny!
There is probably some scientific, practical reason that Kale has these little wavy edges. Perhaps it contributes to Kale’s absolutely remarkable ability to survive the cold?
But for me, one day, when I was chewing and contemplating Kale, the vision of curvy leaves came before my Mind’s Eye and struck me as absolutely hilarious! And I could do naught but laugh and laugh and laugh along with all that funny kale in my garden, waving in the breeze!
Kale was telling me a joke!
Sincerely I tell you. Kale was telling a joke. 100 times to chew one tough little piece? Sure enough. How funny is that! The Kale People know how to amuse!
Start chewing some kale and realize: Kale is an incredibly hardy, hearty crop that can survive the cold. It is highly nourishing as well. And if you let it, give her some time, she will make you laugh. And, by the way. I no longer suffer indigestion.
And as foolish as it may sound to many, I LOVE KALE now, as if it were a People…., because it took the time to grow and capture my attention with its wild, powerful, jolly way!
All Hail Kale People! All Hail Plant People!
