"Arbor Week: Exploring Healthy Indigenous Edible Plants with Debbie Cockrell"

Debbie pictured above ( Far left) alongside her team at Community Green Projects

Welcome back, folks! It's that time of the week again, and I couldn't be more excited to share this week’s blog with you all! As many of you know by now, I’m all about discovering new ways to eat healthy and stay fit. (It's the Skinny Chef way, after all!) This week, I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with a dear friend of mine and one of my partners in crime in the culinary world, Debbie Cockrell. Together, with our other co-conspirators, we run the 'ParkHurst Dinner Club,' where we host intimate, bespoke dinners that are nothing short of legendary.This week, Debbie is here to share some incredible insights from Arbor Week! So, without further ado, let’s give a warm welcome to Debbie on the Skinny Chef Weekly Blog!

Skinny Chef: "Hey Debbs, thanks so much for joining us and for educating us today! Let’s start with a little introduction—who is Debbie Cockrell, and what are you passionate about?"

Debbie: "Hey Rodstar! I’m thrilled to be here. So, I was born and raised in the city we all love to hate, Johannesburg, or as I like to call it, Jo’burg! I’d describe myself as a polymath—basically, someone with expertise in multiple areas. My interests range from the food and beverage industry to the nonprofit sector, where I’m currently focused full-time on toy libraries, play-based learning, and environmental advocacy."

Skinny Chef: "Wow, Debbs, you truly embody the spirit of Jo’burg! Let’s dive into Arbor Week—what’s it all about?"

:A little snippet of Debbie's nursery in preparation for Arbor Week

Debbie: "Arbor Day is an annual event in South Africa during the first week of September. It marks the arrival of Spring and, more importantly, raises awareness about the importance of planting trees—a critical environmental issue worldwide. Trees are vital—they provide oxygen, help regulate temperatures, store carbon dioxide, stabilize soil, and improve air quality by filtering pollutants, especially in urban environments like Johannesburg."

Skinny Chef: "That’s amazing! Can you tell us about the nutritional value of these indigenous plants?"

Debbie: "Absolutely! Trees and plants have been foundational sources of food throughout human history, offering nuts, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers packed with nutrients in their purest form. Every cell in our bodies needs these nutrients to function properly. Lately, there’s been growing interest in indigenous plants for their unmatched nutritional value and adaptability to local climates. One such plant is spekboom, which is indigenous to South Africa. A local nonprofit I work with, Community Green Projects, will be planting 40 of these ‘miracle plants’ during Arbor Week."

Skinny Chef: "WOW! I'm so lucky to have friends doing amazing work—excuse my language, folks! So, Debbs, how accessible are these plants to us?"

Debbie: "These plants are quite accessible in urban areas. Health shops, plant nurseries, and specialty grocers often stock indigenous plants in various forms—capsules, powders, cereals, and teas. Fresh options can be a bit harder to find, but they’re definitely available. Many people are starting to grow their own herb gardens with mint, rosemary, lavender, and spekboom. These plants have medicinal qualities and are edible, plus there’s something incredibly satisfying about harvesting your own ingredients for meals or home remedies."

Skinny Chef: "I’ll definitely be experimenting with spekboom in my kitchen! Let’s wrap up with a look at your daily diet and fitness routine."

Debbie: "I love this time of year when the season allows us to eat lighter, healthier options and move away from heavy winter foods. I enjoy fresh salads with protein and often experiment with fruit combinations, like spinach marinated in fresh orange and red onion or pears and papaya on a bed of lettuce sprinkled with pecan nuts."

: One Debbie's foodie salad and fruit combo's

Skinny Chef: "That sounds delicious, Chef!"

Debbie: "Thanks! As for my fitness routine, I stay fit by being actively involved in all the projects I work on—no gym fees for me! I also practice yoga and meditation daily to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle."

Skinny Chef: "Wow, thanks, Debbie, for sharing all this incredible information. This was both educational and inspiring! There you have it, fellow Skinny Chef readers—I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Thanks again to Debbie for making this such an easy and enjoyable write-up!

Thank you all for reading, and if you haven’t already, grab a copy of the Skinny Chef Diaries. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! Stay safe and healthy—same time, same place next week!"