WATERBLOMMETJIE & WILDSVLEIS Stories
Waterblommetjies
BAREFOOT WATERBLOMMETJIE HUNTER-GATHERER
Ronelle Carolissen
Last night I made waterblommetjie stew, and it took me back to my childhood days in Hawston. My father grew up in Paarl and used to entertain us with his childhood stories – how his mom used to send them to pick waterblommetjies in freezing cold ponds during the Cape winters – testimony of his barefoot hunter-gatherer bravery.
He knew how to prepare this organic delicacy, so it’s ready for my mom to make a stew. The preparation is quite simple, yet time-consuming: soak it in salt and vinegar water to remove sand and pond insects, and remove the hard outer leaves – handy tips on how to prepare waterblommetjies.
As I was preparing this stew, my husband, John, told a similar story. He spent many childhood years in Botrivier, near Hawston, where his aunt used to send him to pick waterblommetjies in the local ponds. He also recalled his cold bare feet and his fear of crabs – a fear which made him pick a streepsak full of waterblommetjies in no time at all.
Clearly the collection and preparation of waterblommetjies is an arduous, unenviable task. Thank goodness I got mine from the Spar!
ALLE EER AAN KOMVANDAAN-WATERBLOMMETJIEHERINNERINGE
Rozette Jeptha
Vandag bring ek
