#gazun

First blooms of the Rau Muong, aka Gazun, Water Spinach, Chinese Watercress, Ipomoea aquatica and so on. Inspired by stories of Vietnamese soldiers carrying sprigs of Rau Muong leaves to new areas where they’d plant them in watery bomb craters during the American war in Vietnam, we rooted bunches of these greens (from the market) and planted them in our wettest part of the farm. Thanks to @dinhteresting and @vietlead for sharing this story of resilience. #resilienceandresistance #seedkeeping #ipomoeaaquatica #raumuong #gazun #chinesewatercress #waterspinach

Water Spinach living a luscious life around the leaky water pump. Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) was introduced to me as rau muống by @dinhteresting of @vietlead, as she explained that Vietnamese soldiers during the American War would plant stem cuttings in bomb craters as they traveled to new places. The plants would root quickly and there would be fresh food to eat. Resilience. I bought these as two bunches of greens at Hung Vuong market on Washington Avenue in South Philly and rooted them in soil. Please share recipes! #gazun #raumuong #waterspinach #ipomoeaaquatica #seedkeeping #watermorningglory (at Delaware County, Pennsylvania)

Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) plants, flower and seeds. This plant was introduced to me as rau muống by @dinhteresting of @vietlead, as she explained that Vietnamese soldiers during the American War would plant stem cuttings in bomb craters as they traveled to new places. The plants would root quickly and there would be fresh food to eat. So powerful and resilient. I bought these as greens at Hung Vuong market on Washington Avenue in South Philly and rooted them in pots under the leaky part of the hose - they love it! You can see the flower looks like it's cousin, morning glory (and also sweet potato). These water spinach seeds (called gazun in Burmese) and several others were sent by Tri Sa and Nicole Accordino of Transplanting Traditions Community Farm (@farmtraditions) in North Carolina where Karen and Chin farmers from Burma grow traditional crops as well as foods native to their new home. Very excited about new seed pen pals! Shared these seeds already with VietLead, and will soon share with @novickurbanfarm. #gazun #raumuong #waterspinach #ipomoeaaquatica #seedpenpals #seedkeeping #watermorningglory (at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania)