A yam vine (Dioscorea alata)
A large tuber grows at from it below ground
Here's another one dug up earlier by a wallaby (partially eaten). Note the sprouts.
Fence posts for yam enclosure
Lawyer cane
Weaving enclosure
1 meter diameter enclosure
Digging pit for yam
Placing yam in pit
Leaf litter for yam mound
Covering yam
Watering yam
Training yam onto pole
Which is attached to tree
Vine grows quickly
Ants protect vine from insects
Leaves break down into compost and new leaves added on top
Vine climbs into canopy reaching the sunlight
6 months later and aerial bulbs appear on the vine
Digging up yam. The original tuber has completely withered away, replaced by two larger ones.
Yam breaks. More tuber is left below ground.
Second tuber
The harvest
Aerial bulbs also grow on the vine in the trees.
These can also be eaten, but are generally only saved as seed for new gardens.
Aerial bulbs in pot
Fire pit
Fire wood
Fire making is quick in this dry weather. About 28 seconds this time.
The coal is blown to ignite the tinder
Rocks are added so the pit retains heat
Coals scraped away
Yam put into pit
Fire is re-lit over top of yams
Half an hour later the yams are taken out
Charred and tough on the outside, soft and well cooked inside
Inside the taste and texture like a potato. The outside has a sort of crust similar to dry bread.
Bland but filling
The yam tops, with roots still in soil are re-planted
and watered
More leaves
The small bulbs are stored in a pot for next season
The other large tuber is tied with vine
And hung off the ground to keep it away from rats (hopefully)
Yam