Buckwheat Pillows

BUCKWHEAT BLOOM

     You know, buckwheat is a really under-appreciated plant. Besides all it’s uses and derivatives, it is a plant that grows on poor soil with neither cultivation or fertilizers, and needs no pesticides, thus being naturally organic.

     Buckwheat hulls make the best ever filling for pillows, the very nutritious flour makes the best pancakes as well as other breads and noodles, the seeds (technically berries) are used as groats and kashi and who knows what all else as breakfast cereals. I understand the honey from the blossoms is an acquired taste, but loved by those who acquire it, and guinea fowl call out it’s praises with their constant “Buckwheat, buckwheat”.

     The stalks are used as feed for livestock, and plowed under as green manure (cover crop) and a field of buckwheat in bloom is a beautiful site to behold.

     I just read an article on the web, regarding a promising role of using buckwheat in the diet to treat diabetes. The University of Manitoba in Canada has found that buckwheat contains an unusually high level of chero-inositol, a compound that is very effective in lowering blood glucose in diabetic rats. They are proceeding with studies on humans, and believe it will show similar results.

     I think there should be a club or society formed to extol the virtues and benefits of the here-to-for lowly buckwheat plant, and all it produces. Maybe there is one already. Anyone know of one? Hail to the buckwheat! The guinea fowl could be the emblem and mascot.