Easter weekend I made a quick trip to Homestead, Florida to visit my dad. In addition, my sister and her son Brian, who graduates this June from high school also joined in the reunion. We had beautiful weather and I wandered the grove appreciating all the natural plants and produce. One of the most amazing plants that seems to grow almost wild is the aloe plant. The edges of its thick leaves look like the back or tail of a dinosaur with spiky points. I can only presume that these spikes are essentially the plant's mechanism to protect itself from predators. They didn't stand a chance against me! If ever you have suffered a sunburn, there is nothing more soothing than the gel which exists inside the aloe plant's leaves. In addition, many report this fresh gel is also useful as a hair mask. The gel is also used to ease digestive discomfort. Aloe contains enzymes that can help break down sugar and fats, promoting regularity and reducing inflammation. It's this same anti-inflammatory property that is soothing to sunburns. Aloe vera may also contribute to gut health by increasing the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Because the plant is abundant in our grove, I made it a point to cut a few of these dinosaur leaves and bring them back to Marco for experimentation. There have been times over the years when I would buy aloe juice from a health food store but I don't routinely drink or add the fresh aloe from the farm in my smoothies or juices.
It's simple to scoop out the gel. First cut off the spiky points, cut the long leaf into manageable pieces, and then carefully slice the thick skin of the plant off of one side. It's a bit like fileting a fish. You can then either use a spoon to scoop out the gooey insides or use your knife again to cut off all the skin leaving only the remaining, slippery gel. Add the gel to your blender and puree into a thickened liquid. Pour into a cup, cover and refrigerate for future use (within 7 days). The liquid could also be placed into ice-cube trays and frozen for up to a year. A word of caution, the outer aloe skin and the secondary layer contain a compound called aloin which can be irritating as a natural laxative and may cause skin irritation. Make sure you cut all the green off to avoid a harsh reaction. Some recommend soaking the leaves overnight in fresh water to help eliminate this compound. I will likely only use the gel post-sun and maybe mixed with my hair conditioner.
While I was wandering the grove, I happened to pass this unique structure, a swarm of bees had formed a colony in a tree! While we would often encounter wasps and yellow jackets while picking avocados, I can't say I recall seeing a bee formation quite like this one! Even my dad was intrigued so we ventured back with Brian to get a better view. Important too that my dad be aware of this swarm, because whether he or a grove helper is mowing or working in the area, one little disturbance could create a serious attack. According to Grok, this beehive in an avocado tree is often referred to as a "natural beehive" or "wild beehive" since it is built by bees in a tree without human intervention. These hives are typically made by honeybees and consist of wax combs hanging from the branches.
Thank you for reading!
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