President Beth Griess welcomed members of San Saba Rotary to the regularly scheduled Thursday lunch meeting at Pepperbelly’s Restaurant. The luncheon meeting speaker was Savannah Early of Goldthwaite.
Ms. Early, Garden Manager of the Texas Botanical Gardens, explained the origins of the J. Waddy Bullion Garden located in downtown Goldthwaite. The Legacy Plaza facility was the result of community efforts to make good use of property that had experienced decline and deterioration of old buildings. After much discussion and planning, the community center was determined to be made into a garden with authentic replicas of housing, lifestyles, and plants of the First Peoples of Texas. With support and research from the Smithsonian in Washington DC, the Garden showcases shelters, cooking areas, foods, and plants of these hunter-gatherers who lived in Central Texas 7,00010,000 years ago.
At the time, hunting was primarily small game with deer and buffalo as some protein sources. Gathering provided most of food sources. Much of primary food and medicinal sources were native plants and flowers. The early peoples of these historical periods predate the arrival of Europeans and many of the animals brought into the western hemisphere by Spaniards and other Europeans, our domestic animals like the horse, pork, cattle, were not available for hunting and other uses. These early peoples walked, hunted and gathered for survival.
Ms. Early, knowledgeable regarding native plants and flowers, explained how plants were made into medicinal tinctures, boils to make decoctions, infusions like teas, poultices, and eaten raw. Wild native plants like yarrow achillea, onions, yucca, agarita, black willow, mullein, horehound, dandelions, and other plants were used as medicines and as food. She cautioned modern day gatherers to first ensure safety, knowing the plants are safe before experimenting with either as food or medicines!
President Griess reminded members that next Rotary meeting will be a planning meeting in anticipation of installation of new officers.
Submitted by Rotary Member.