Deserts have been given a very enigmatic aesthetic when it comes to watching the orange sunset from a tent, or engaging in thrilling desert safari or watching the cultural belly dance in the middle of a camp. But reality is harsher than this. For those nomadic tribes who have made the desert their home survive the harshest conditions like sandstorm, no water, scorching sun and no overhead shade for miles. At a place where plants, animals and humans barely survive, there still exists a wonderful ecosystem. While plants and animals have adapted their bodies to survive in a naturally arid condition, humans learnt desert foraging skills to sustain themselves. Before delving deeper into what desert foraging is, it is important to point out that the deserts in this article are the arid, ones like the Sahara Desert. Different deserts have different constructs and foraging for survival has varied requirements.
Keeping everything aside, oxygen, food, water and shelter are the four basic requirements for any human to survive on this planet. While deserts do have oxygen, and shelter is taken care of by building caravan or taking rest under shady trees, it is the lookout for the other two that are most concerning. And desert foraging is a skill which allows the nomads to successfully attain that. Keeping in tandem with the modern world, one might ask the need to know of these skills. But remember desert foraging might save you if you want to camp in a desert or get lost in the middle of it with no network. Thus, knowledge of skills is never a waste.
A splash of water: Oasis is hands down rare! If you find one, collect as much water as is possible, store them well and drink judiciously. In the absence of proper water source, the nomads look for cactus plants. They survive on their own because of the stored water in their leaves. Once they trace the cactus bushes, they know how to extract water from the leaves. With knowledge and skills handed down through generations, they are also aware of where to dig for underwater water resource.
Edible plants: The community survives on green leaves – not from roots or vegetables – but from plants. Cactus, abal, chia sage, and dates etc can be eaten, whole or in parts. These not only help them survive but also provide the body with essential nutrients.
Animal meat: Insects like lizards, bugs, and beetles, non-poisonous snakes, and small mammals and rodents are typically hunted down, cooked well and eaten. They never touch dead meat since how the animal died and what bacteria thrive in it is unknown to them. Moreover, uncooked or undercooked meat is also a strict no.
Livestock: Nomads have their own livestock, like camels and horses. These animals are known to survive well in the dry regions. In fact, camel milk is a very popular variant in these parts. The community also breeds falcons. They are used to mark territory, check on enemy tribes, discover hunting and foraging grounds and send messages.
Sun and sand as cooking equipment: Long before social media was full of meme showing how the heat of the sun could fry an egg, the desert community has been harnessing this property. In the absence of electricity or heat sources, the sun becomes the cooking source apart from fire. Sand and sun together work as an oven and breads and other food can be baked or cooked in this heat.
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