Snotty Gobbles

[wenshidi]

If someone were to ask you what you knew about “Snotty Gobbles” you might guess that he was the leading goal scorer for the 1941 Accrington Stanley Cup squad, or perhaps some kind of bubblegum popular when your great grand-father was still alive. I am afraid that you would be completely wrong in both cases. Surprisingly enough, you'll probably find an abundance of these ghastly sounding items right outside your window, in your very own garden as they are actually a kind a fruit. Yes, unbelievable as it sounds, snotty gobbles are just one colourful name for the fruit of the cordia tree, (Cordia Sebestena) also known as the geiger tree, the manjack or even the glueberry tree. Named after a German botanist and pharmacist, who lived in the early fifteenth century (Valerius Cordus that is, not Herr Snotty Gobbles), it belongs to the Boraginaceae or forget-me-not family, a large genus of nearly 300 species, which also includes the herbs comfrey and borage. Cordia is a fast growing tree found all along the coasts of Thailand, where it thrives in poor alkaline soils and has developed a natural resistance to salt laden winds. The English name has passed into Thai almost unchanged, and locals know it as ' khaw diaa'
Originating in America, the common name of geiger tree was bestowed by the great naturalist John James Audubon, in commemoration of Captain John Geiger, a Key West pilot, and notorious wrecker of the 19th century. Despite the unpleasant collection of names, this is actually an extremely useful, multi-functional plant and of great interest to sustainability designers like myself.
First of all, it germinates very easily, from which hardy seedlings then grow quite rapidly. The seeds will germinate within just three weeks in suitably sunny spots, and the roots spread quickly within the first month, making it an ideal candidate for soil stabilisation in areas that are prone to erosion. Not only is this a low-maintenance tree that can help rehabilitate problem soils, it possesses a very high drought tolerance, with an equally impressive flood tolerance. This means that it is a great choice for the Thai climate. Reaching up to twenty metres, it spreads equally as wide upon reaching maturity, the space beneath its branches providing valuable summer shade. Therefore it is a valuable addition at almost any level of an ecosystem's natural succession, from semi-shaded under-storey, all the way up to the upper reaches of the climax canopy. The fact that it is evergreen and prunes easily, makes it great for 'chop-and-drop' mulching, as well as careful shaping, to let valuable sunlight reach other species on the lower and ground levels. While it is wonderful support species in a food forest, urban planners also like it for use in parking lots, where it is a far more attractive alternative to corrugated tin roofs, and it also performs a useful function as a street edge species. Rich, dark orange, two-inch-wide flowers appear in clusters at branch tips most of the year, resulting in a very attractive ornamental tree. For amateur gardeners, this makes it a sensible choice as a patio or yard tree, since it has a neat habit and requires little or no pruning. The trunk is relatively slim and the tree is unlikely to outgrow its surroundings while constantly producing brilliant orange flowers. These eye-catching blooms are tubular-shaped and appear in clusters of six to ten paper-thin flowers, that are attractive to visiting bees and butterflies, while remaining highly resistant to pests and diseases. They are often used in leis and garlands, even though they are not particularly fragrant, while the old leaves have been used to make brown dye in some native communities.
Throughout its life cycle, this is a very productive tree with many interesting yields. In India, the small pear shaped fruits are used as a vegetable, raw, cooked, or even pickled. In Taiwan, they are eaten pickled in ginger and are available in many supermarkets. Not only do the large, dark green leaves make good fodder, they have a rough and hairy feel, somewhat like sandpaper. In fact, in some tribal areas, they have been long used by carpenters and craftsmen for that final, super smooth finish.
The various parts of the tree have a number of medicinal properties. Syrup of the bark, flowers, or fruit is taken for coughs and bronchial ailments. Teas made from the flowers have been recorded for use in treating venereal disease, and the leaves washed in warm water, or dressed with oil are often used as poultices for headaches and sprains. More recently cordia gum has been shown to outperform starch paste and chemical binding agents in the manufacture of pills such as aspirin, by factor of more than ten. It is completely non-toxic, and in the future may prove to be an easily available option, that does not destroy other natural resources
At the end of its life, this tree provides an attractive, banded, fine-grained wood. It was used by island cultures to produce food bowls, dishes, and utensils, as it would not flavour the food like some other types of wood. The sapwood was used to build huts, and dry sticks rubbed together, were popular for making fire. Cordia heartwood has a pinkish hue, and to this day, is still used to make attractive doors and furniture in South America. It polishes nicely, and is easy to work with, as it does not chip when cut and planed. Musicians favour the soft but durable wood due to its fine natural resonance, using it in a wide range of instruments, from drums to guitar bodies.
Some experts are saying that this is a masting year for the Cordia, as well as many other tree species. Masting remains a mystery, even to many professional botanists and permaculturalists. Basically it is an irregular mass seeding phenomenon, where certain species explode with abnormally large harvests of fruit or nuts. Scientists have theorised that this is done to temporarily increase the local small mammal and bird populations, resulting in a large die-off the following year, enabling the trees to grow quickly without any competition In reality we really still do not properly understand what triggers a masting event, and as yet are unable to predict its occurrence. Knowing that ecosystems function at their optimum when all the elements act in synchronisation, the current explanation is therefore rather unlikely. Whatever the cause, there is an abundance of snotty gobbles at the moment, and they are easily stored and collected. This is an ideal opportunity if you want to do a bit of guerilla planting, to replace some of the precious old growth that is currently being massacred in our mad dash for so-called development. In fact, what could be better than protecting the environment, and providing a rich natural landscape for our future generations, with something as disgustingly named as snotty gobbles.

[margaretcarnes]

One thing I've never found in Thailand is a decent book on the local plants written in English - and with illustrations. So this is good stuff, especially for farang planting new gardens there.

But I'm curious about the fruit. Sounds gross of course (a kilo of snotty gobbles please) but is the fruit that one they use in green curries? Kind of like a tough pale green little lime - bitter taste.

[hhfarang]

is the fruit that one they use in green curries? Kind of like a tough pale green little lime - bitter taste.

According to the missus, that's a variety of Thai eggplant.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_eggplant

[wenshidi]

One thing I've never found in Thailand is a decent book on the local plants written in English - and with illustrations. So this is good stuff, especially for farang planting new gardens there.

I would love to write a lot more of this kind of article, and to put together a book would be great, but unlike yourself, I do not think that there is enough interest. Natural farming, permaculture even general sustainability just does not have the ground swell of interest here that it does in Australia or the Pacific North West. People here are much more interested in big SUVs and pools than they are in forest gardens or home grown produce. How many people even have any form of solar power? It seems to be almost non existent here, compared to countries like China, where almost everybody has a solar water heater.

Most farang properties seem to be fighting nature rather than working with it. Lots of thirsty lawns and sterile patios. Golf courses are the extreme opposite of sustainability, but there seems to be a higher concentration here than almost anywhere else I have been too. Even the temples are barren, soiless places where just about anything that can be burnt goes up in smoke. It all seems so wasteful.

Perhaps things will change when Thailand reaches the same stage as Greece or Ireland......I sure hope that it does not come to that.

[ozuncle]

Very interesting wenshidi.

A photo, or a link to one would finish it off nicely.

Thanks

[barrys]

Wenshidi, thank you very much for your really informative post.

I think there might be more people here interested in this than you think.

I for one would like to see a lot more information like this.
We are about to start building our home on 1 rai of land here in Paknampran (not on a development) and I would be really interested on knowing how to plan a sustainable, natural garden.

[migrant]

Nice, informative post, thanks

[PeteC]

This thread content and interest expressed is too good for Foo. Perhaps the Mods can move it to Lifestyle & Family. Pete

[wenshidi]

I am really pleased to hear that there are others in HH that are interested in permaculture and sustainability. I shall start another thread, specifically on this topic (with a clearer subject heading ) and see if we can generate a bit of useful discussion on the subject.

[kendo]

Thai Aubergine, or Egg plant, to farangs my mrs makes an awsome green curry with these !
Kendo.

[Takiap]

is the fruit that one they use in green curries? Kind of like a tough pale green little lime - bitter taste.

That's called "pea eggplant" or "platebrush eggplant"

[Takiap]

Nice post Wenshidi. I've really gotten rusty as far as this subject is concerned, but it still fascinates me. I am with you as far as lawns are concerned, and have never bothered having a lawn here because of the fact that they demand so much water. Saying that, we used to get a lovely green lawn during the rainy season, but that no longer happens since the chickens have wiped it out completely....lol.

I also have trees planted in such a way so as to stop the sun warming the house too much, and yes it does work because we get by fine with no aircon. If you're ever out here in the vicinity of soi 6, you could always stop by and give me a few pointers....lol.

[margaretcarnes]

I agree about the lawn thing - I think we've touched on this before but the Thais tend to leave a low growing plant to spread instead of grass in many places, and it looks good (and at least stays green!)

Solar power - not sure Thais are quite ready for that. Although Barry here hasn't mentioned that he has solar powered boats! Otherwise the best you can say about solar energy in Thailand is that water tanks up on roofs do a decent job by accident. I don't think many Thais would see the cost of solar panels as being a good investment - and to be honest they could easily look out of place IMO.

Finally - sorry wenshidi - had to laugh at your comment about everything going up in smoke in temples!

[wenshidi]

Nice post Wenshidi.

Pleased that you enjoyed it nearly as much as I enjoyed writing it

I've really gotten rusty as far as this subject is concerned, but it still fascinates me. I am with you as far as lawns are concerned, and have never bothered having a lawn here because of the fact that they demand so much water. Saying that, we used to get a lovely green lawn during the rainy season, but that no longer happens since the chickens have wiped it out completely....lol.

Have you thought about using them in a chicken tractor and then following up with some planned planting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tractor

I also have trees planted in such a way so as to stop the sun warming the house too much, and yes it does work because we get by fine with no aircon.

This is definitely the kind of passive solar technique that Thailand needs most at the moment. Otherwise the Mekong is going to have to be dammed every five miles and Australia is going to be a big hole in the ground where there was once a working coal mine

Last year I was visiting the orchards around Chantaburi and spent a bit of time relaxing down at the beach. I remember seeing one old wooden house nearby that was nestled in about a rai's worth of old growth trees. Just stepping into the drive was like walking into full air con. The temperature drop from the road to the property was unbelievable.

If you're ever out here in the vicinity of soi 6, you could always stop by and give me a few pointers....lol.

I am not very far away so I would be happy to drop by with a few permaculture videos to get you inspired if you like.

[wenshidi]

Solar power - not sure Thais are quite ready for that. Although Barry here hasn't mentioned that he has solar powered boats! Otherwise the best you can say about solar energy in Thailand is that water tanks up on roofs do a decent job by accident. I don't think many Thais would see the cost of solar panels as being a good investment - and to be honest they could easily look out of place IMO.

I too am not big on solar panels. Even though they are pushed as being sustainable by big industry, it is all a bit of a con. They cause massive amounts of pollution to be produced and there is no way that you can make solar panels using the power from solar panels, so they cannot be sustainable by definition, especially if they are going to need replacing every ten of fifteen years.
Actually there is only one really sustainable solar set up that really impresses me and that is the open source solar furnace in the Open Source Ecology project.

http://www.solarfire.org/

Nothing can be truly sustainable unless it is able to replicate itself in the same way that a tree does.
This means a solar furnace that can reproduce itself using only solar power.
Forget giant wind turbines and massive hydropower dams, this is true sustainability.

Even so, what I was really talking about with regard to my earlier post was solar water heaters, not panels.
These really should be ubiquitous in Thailand by now. Still the advantage of no one having them might mean that the country jumps on the next generation, which are just coming out of China at the moment and are so efficient that they can be hooked up to steam engines, which in turn can generate electricity.

Finally - sorry wenshidi - had to laugh at your comment about everything going up in smoke in temples!

True, it would be funny if it was not so sad. All that wonderful land and much of it either thirsty and ornamental or sterile and soiless. If monks could be encouraged to compost rather than just sweeping up leaves and burning them, then many temples could become exemplar oases of sustainable greenery.