What is ethnobotany and why do plants matter?
Prior to Maria Fadiman's presentation, I don't think I had ever even heard of the term ethnobotany. However, in retrospect, the interaction between people and plants is a vital piece of our world that has enabled many rich cultures and ideas to exist.
I found particularly interesting the different ways Maria connected aspects of our everyday life back to plants. I feel that our modern society has been severed from our roots (both literally and metaphorically), thinking of clothes only being produced in factories and medicine only developed in labs.
The primary connection that came to mind for me was the necessity of particular plants as a food source. All across the globe, certain plants have proven vital in the survival of entire peoples. Whether it be rice in Asia or corn in Latin America, crops that proved their worth during challenging times continue to be revered and celebrated in the modern world.
This idea of crops gaining significance through hardship reminded me of a story from my own culture. One of my mom's favorite shows is titled Pachinko, and follows multiple generations of a Korean family, contrasting the struggles of the past with those of today. In a flashback to the great grandmother's youth, the woman is shown to be in extreme poverty, barely able to afford any food. However, upon being given the smallest portion of white rice, the girl's face lights up, indicating the dish's significance as a delicacy. My mom then explained to me that this was by no means an exaggeration, and, although the crop has become much more affordable, white rice continues to be revered by my own Halmoni today.
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