A battle looms.

It's 9th grade science class with Mrs. Russel. I have chosen to do an experiment on duck weed for my final project. I can only remember working with the ridiculously stubborn and small plants laboriously trying to test something or other. I don't remember what my hypothesis was for that pond scum. Slaving over cups of green covered water –or brown covered-- resulted in a low A. I'll give myself an A at least! Yesterday I was reminded of those days after school looking at the half dead cups water scum.
It's toward the end of the growing season here and part of a side project I have is to collect indigenous plant seeds for next year. This is a small activity that supports a larger effort to get farmers more self-sufficient through their own seed production, to enhance their ability to raise income, and to conserve the environment. I write everything down. If I didn't I would forget why I have so many seeds laying around my house. Mostly, however, I'm also trying to get farmers to write down what they see. Unlike in 9th grade when my goal was probably just to get a grade and be finished, this project has a bit more purpose and meaning. I am feeding off that motivation right now.
Farmers love to ask why I just let the wild plants grow in my garden. “Aren't you going to cook them” some ask and many wonder.
I can't stand the plant to be honest. When it is young the leaves are a bright green. The plant itself emerges before most plants early in the growing season which is why so many locals enjoy it cooked. It's a simply sign of the coming spring and breaks the long forced fasting many families have endured for two, three, or more months. I haven't tasted it cooked well yet. There isn't much I can imagine it complimenting well on my plate but the Basotho love it and will buy it when in season. It's bought young and tender like most good vegetables. There is a great cringe when I think about it fully grown and matured. A great obstacle in my garden now, I have to dodge every piece of its existence to avoid the stinging retaliation for a false move.
Stinging nettle, evil plant of the devil, I don't know the scientific name though I probably should look it up. In Sesotho it is Bobatsi. An innocent looking plant with deceit in its photosynthetic walls. If you can tell, I have endured many stings just to learn more about this plant. This is nothing like duck weed. But I do appreciate all that effort which helps me now. So thank you Mrs. Russel. Your efforts then are a benefit to me now.