What relationship does vetch illuminate between the earth and humans?
Turning to the Kinney Center’s rare book collection, we can discover how vetch, among other plants, has connected humans and the earth for centuries. In a popular herbal first published in 1597, The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard, Gerard discusses vetch and its uses. Within his observations, Gerard concludes that vetch does not provide good nourishment to humans and can even lead to someone feeling melancholy after eating it. While vetch may not provide the same sustenance as other crops according to Gerard, he does go on to praise vetch for how it nourishes the land and acts as a great tool in feeding cattle. Considering these things, we can begin to process how humans may not have reaped the same benefits from plants compared to the earth and our soils. However, it is clear that through the years vetch has continued to support farmers through their land, and improved soil health because of its restorative qualities.
After its introduction to North America in 1860, various Native Americans began using Vetch in numerous ways. The Cahuilla, Havasupai, Shoshoni, and the Navajo Nation have used vetch for food over the years. While the Shoshoni, in addition to the Thompson, have created dermatological uses for the plant, including creating infusions of vetch as eyewash and as a wash in sweat houses. A lot of the medicinal uses of vetch have been employed by the Hopi, Shoshoni, or Navajo Nation. While the Shoshoni use vetch for eye medicine and toothache remedies, the Navajo Nation have found the plant to be a good orthopedic, throat, and gastrointestinal aid. It is also interesting to consider how vetch has met veterinary needs for the Cheyenne and Keresan. Native Americans have even had their horses smoke the plant to increase their horses’ endurance. Due to its many redeeming qualities, Vetch is considered not only an aphrodisiac but also a good luck charm for some Indigenous people.
“Tare, Vetch or Fetch”, “Bush Vetch”, “White flowered Vetch”, and “Strangle Tare, Tine, or wild Fetch” (Gerard, 1227)
Understanding the history and origins of plants such as vetch is significant in honoring the history of and relationships to the land we occupy. Looking at the history of vetch, it is intriguing to see how authors like Gerard secluded vetch to land and animals, whereas, over the years, Native Americans cultivated an array of uses of vetch specifically for humans. Gerard limits vetch’s advantages to land prosperity and cattle health, but Indigenous people expanded vetch’s versatility through medicinal and dermatological care. Having said that, Native Americans and Gerard both observed the benefits of vetch in taking care of animals and being a valuable asset to daily life.
What is Vetch?
If the pea-shaped flowers and rich green leaves of vetch look familiar to you, there’s a reason for that. Vetch (Vicia), also known as Tare, is an herbaceous plant that is a member of the pea family. Vetch enriches our soil through the addition of nitrogen which helps plants grow taller and produce more food or flowers. Thanks to its nutrients, vetch is often raised as a cover crop or used as green manure in farming. Vetch is not native or indigenous to North America, but can be traced to areas within Europe and Asia.
—Hannah Gould, RoE Fellow
References:
American Vetch Plant Fact Sheet – USDA www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/mdpmcfs10336.pdf.
Gerard, J. (1633). Herball. Spring Books.
“Native American Ethnobotany Database.” BRIT, naeb.brit.org/uses/species/496/.
“Vetch.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/plant/vetch.
“Vicia Cracca (Tufted Vetch).” Minnesota Wildflowers, www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/tufted-vetch.