For two years now, Anette and I have been picking up fallen samia pods (prosopis juliflora) on our street to give to our horses. Our horses love them so much that for two years, I’ve been trying to find someone who will bring them on a larger scale, but to no avail. Grown men will not deal with “goad fodder” unless you pay them more than what they’re already dealing with, something I cannot afford.

This past weekend, three little friends from Eden Street came by while I was picking pods during the siesta and happily informed me that they were “off  to work”. Assumed they were heading for the bush to collect grass for the family goats, I asked them where they were heading. “We’re going  to help YOU pick these fruits!” they informed, and set about helping me clear the street of samia pods, with the kind of childlike eagerness that makes you smile. They would have helped me for nothing, but having searched for two years for someone willing to work for money, I decided to give the enthusastic young boys the same offer I’d give the animal fodder salesmen . The boys were thrilled!!!

They came back a few hours later with half a sack full, having harvested all the pods in the neighbourhood. I payed them as promised (half the value of a full sack) and by the look on their faces, this was the first time they were entrusted with such a mission and paid accordingly.

Arwen did not waste a minute before she started helping herself from their harvest; and the boys looked on in wonder. They asked me if I wanted more,the following morning, they came back with the same amount. They wanted to hand in the sack as they wouldn’t be able to pick any pods during schooldays, but I told them they could keep it and that they were welcome to come by as soon as soon as they had a new quantity to sell.

Although the word “samia” means sour in Hausa, ripe prosopis juliflora pods are sweet and full of fibers (the unripe fruits are used as local toothbrushes). A perfect choice for keeping our equines (especially the youngsters!) occupied for hours at a time!