Medicinal Herbs in my Backyard

The Paraguayan women in our community have a wealth of information about using local plants as natural remedies for everything from coughs, to stomach ailments, to skin infections. It has been fascinating to learn about how this knowledge has been passed down through the generations, among these resourceful women.  Over time, friends and neighbors have shared plants or cuttings, or showed me where I could locate specific specimens, and now I have a collection of medicinal herbs in my own back yard.

Yerba de Lucero (Pluchea suaveolens kuntze)- leaves used for intestinal disturbances

My first introduction to this topic arose out of necessity. The one and only time I was sick, during my Peace Corps service, I was REALLY sick. Let’s just say I had multiple stomach issues…. The woman we were living with at the time prepared a tea for me that included Yerba de Lucero and Ajenjo, two plants growing in the forest near her house. Though I was hesitant to put anything in my stomach, after much coaxing, I decided to give it a try. Afterward, I felt so much better- the results were amazing!

Kumanda Yvyra'i (Cajanus cajan)- leaves used to relieve cough

Since then, I have spent lots of time with these wise women who have helped me identify medicinal herbs in our area, taught me what ailments they are used to treat, and how to prepare them for use. During this time, I collected, pressed, and dried leaves from these plants, and recorded information about each one to create a

Poha ñana, (medicinal herb), notebook. To date, I have collected over 50 different plant samples with pertinent information about each. I was also able to locate the Latin names to accompany the common Guarani or Spanish plant names, so I can continue to cultivate many of these medicinal herbs when we return to the states.

Borraja (Borago oficinales L.)- flowers used to treat bronchitis

Yesterday, a neighbor stopped by our house to gather some herbs from our garden to prepare a tea, to ease her daughter’s cough. It made me feel so good to share some of my medicinal plants with her, something about which she had taught me so much!

So Much More Than 10 Fingers and 10 Toes.....

Our New Grand Baby Zayne!

We just returned from a visit to the states to meet our first grand baby. After returning to Paraguay, I’ve had time to reflect not only about this beautiful new addition to our family, but also about the circle of love he has surrounding him.

Thoughts come back to me like:

* Seeing your dad hold his great grandson and remembering him hold his granddaughter in the same way.

* Hearing of your son telling his new employer he couldn’t move and start the new job until after his sister’s baby was born.

* Knowing your daughter and son in law stayed up well past midnight several nights to ensure that her sister’s baby shower invitations and decorations were perfect.

* Seeing the care shared by family and friends in selecting the perfect gift or the love in each stitch of every handmade treasure.

* Watching your daughter and son in law work together as a team to care for and love this new little person they brought into the world.

* Hearing your mom say the same sweet things to this new baby, as she did 27 years ago to her own granddaughter.

* Seeing the smiles of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, as Zayne was carefully passed to each new set of waiting arms.

* Finding out how quickly you could fall in love with this tiny new person, in the same way you did when your own children were born.

Welcome to the world, sweet baby Zayne, and into this loving circle of family and friends.

Mi Amigo, El Libro!

Mi Amigo El Libro- This first grade class knows how to use and take care of books!

Our Library project is nearing the end of it's second phase. It has been an amazing experience to see kids so excited to have books to read- something so many of us take for granted in the states. Equally gratifying is to know that teachers now have books to use as teaching tools in the classrooms!

To recap- Phase 1 of our library project went something like this: a needs assessment survey at the school showed a need for books, book cases and staff development; the Parents Commission provided funding for book displays; a local carpenter built them; the book displays were transported to the schools in the back of the local police truck; the students varnished the book displays, then stocked them with the books. The books were purchased and surplus books written in Spanish that we brought from the states, with help from our parents, kids, and friends.

By the end of November, 2012, this collaborative effort resulted in 500 books with book displays provided for two separate schools in our community.

Phase 2 of the library project has been focused on teacher/staff development and determining how these books might be used in the schools. I started by putting my ideas and plans away, and really listening to the principal and teachers to determine their needs. These teachers had never had books to share with their students. Their thoughts ranged from: not letting kids touch the books for fear they might get them dirty, to wondering how they might use the books to help kids become better readers. I did my best to meet them where they were, and help them move forward from there. Together, we determined that staff development would include:

1.      Teaching students how to care for and use the books correctly.

2.       Sharing ideas for increasing students’ enthusiasm for reading.

3.      How to do a teacher “read- aloud” in the classroom, and developing a system for daily reading.

4.       Developing a system for borrowing books from the library.

I started by sharing some research with the principal and a key teacher about the why’s and how’s of reading aloud to students. We prepared a short presentation, which a teacher shared with the entire staff.

Mirta Provided Staff Development

 We also created a weekly schedule for class visits to the library to ensure books were getting into the hands of kids. Next, the principal asked me to visit every classroom, model a “read aloud”, and work with teachers to share information with students about taking care of books. I invited a teenage neighbor to model  “read alouds” with excitement and enthusiasm for the older students. 

Read Aloud with Enthusiasm!

 Every class visited the library, where teachers explained how to select and borrow books from the library.

We Love Books!

Next week, I will follow up by visiting every teacher to offer additional support if needed.

At a recent assembly, I heard the Principal encouraging students, to read and announced that a special reading day would be held later in the year to celebrate student reading improvement, with prizes to be awarded!

Somos Lectores!