Mediterranean – My Favorite Trees

January 23, 2024

Episode 94: The Myrtle

The Myrtle is a small Mediterranean tree with significance tied to just about every culture of that region–due in large part to how fragrant the plant is. It enlivens Jewish holidays, protects one from curses, and is a display of love and beauty so powerful that it can start wars. Help me ring in the Jewish Tree New Year by learning how this fragrant tree can be so significant and how it shows up in our lives today.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/myrtle

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9933039/

https://www.uicnmed.org/nabp/database/HTM/PDF/p47.pdf

https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2018/06/28/myrtle-the-provenance-and-meaning-of-a-plant/

https://www.neot-kedumim.org.il/index-plant-of-the-month/the-myrtle/

https://reformjudaism.org/sukkot-diversity-and-unity-how-each-us-four-species

https://aqua-oleum.co.uk/2022/02/14/myrtle-symbol-of-love-and-beauty/

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023

Episode 87: The Pistachio Tree

The Pistachio is considered the most successful plant introduction to the United States in the 20th century. Up until then, they were a staple part of a diet that didn’t stray far from western Asia and the Mediterranean. Though they’ve been a part of human life for thousands of years, their presence in the global market is just a few decades old. And even if you’re at all familiar with how the western world perceives Iran, you may be surprised as to how much of an impact those relationships have affected this little green nut.
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://louiseferguson.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk6001/files/inline-files/7.pdf

https://ucanr.edu/sites/fruitandnut/files/73683.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/topic/turpentine

https://www.britannica.com/topic/mastic

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-34533-6_12

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/2/323

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440304001694

https://americanpistachios.org/growing-and-harvesting/history

https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2020/01/31/cashews-pistachios-and-mangos-oh-my/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/where-are-pistachios-from

https://www.bourseandbazaar.com/articles/2018/12/18/californian-famers-waged-war-on-iranian-pistachios-and-won

https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/plant-explorers-on-film

https://www.greece-is.com/history-aegina-pistachio-2-recipes-love/

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3108713/story-pistachio-nuts-origins-middle-east-and-how-italy-grows

January 11, 2022January 11, 2022

Episode 41: The Olive Tree

Sundown on January the 16th marks the beginning of Tu B’Shevat 2022. For the second year in a row, I’ve decided to celebrate this Jewish Tree New Year by covering one of the Seven Species of Israel. This time, it’s the olive’s turn. Olive trees have held importance to humans for thousands of years—not just as a food source but also for the many uses of olive oil as well as the tree’s symbol of peace and prosperity. Music is by Academy Garden. Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @MyFavoriteTrees or on Instagram @treepodcast.