Our Spekboom Edition
Discover the Spekboom: A Climate-Saving Succulent for Ecological Restoration and Education
Spekboom, a drought-tolerant succulent from South Africa, is gaining popularity for its ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The Spekboom Living Lab creates a micro-ecosystem with natural barriers, minimizing water run-off, providing outdoor learning, and restoring degraded spaces to tackle climate change and beautify communities.
About Spekboom
Spekboom, (Portulacaria afra), is a succulent native to South Africa.
It is also called "elephant's food" because elephants are known to eat the plant.
Growing Spekboom has become popular recently as a way for people to respond to climate change as it has the ability to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Some fun facts about Spekboom:
Succulent leaves:
It has small, fleshy leaves that are capable of storing water for long periods, making it drought-tolerant.
Carbon sequestration:
Spekboom is a carbon sponge, which means that it is able to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it a valuable tool in the fight against climate change. It can absorb carbon for much longer than most other plants even in the dark
Adaptability:
Spekboom is a very hardy plant that thrives in a range of conditions, including full sun, partial shade, and even areas that experience frost in winter.
Edible:
Spekboom is edible and is used in traditional South African cuisine, where it is eaten raw or cooked.
01
Sustainability.
Spekboom is easy to grow and care for and can be grown in containers or in the ground, and requires minimal watering and maintenance. It is also a valuable plant for ecological restoration, as it can help to restore degraded landscapes and improve soil health.
02
Biodiversity.
The Spekboom Living Lab are Spekboom hedges at each school that creates a micro-ecosystem as it provides shelter for insects, birds and small animals. It also acts as a natural barrier to minimise water run-off. This provides opportunities to study each individual element or its eco-systemic interaction.
03
Education.
By planting a hedge, it forms a natural barrier that can be used as an attractive outdoor teaching space. It also provides an easy intervention by learners and teachers to restore degraded spaces, improve soil health and enable young people to show agency in tackling climate change and community beautification and greening.