Harvesting Taro/Cocoyam from a grow bag

I planted a tiny taro or cocoyam(as we call it in Nigeria) tuber sometime in March this year. It was staring to grow roots and leaves, so even though I'd never planted it before and have only eaten it a few times, I decided to bury in some soil that I put in a sack bag.

Over the next few months, I watched it's leaves grow bigger and bigger. I knew nothing about growing Taro and only watered it occasionally. I did ask a neighbor how long it takes to mature and she said about 6 months. She also said you would know it was ready when the leaves start to die. 

Cocoyam before harvest

Dead leaf

So, when I noticed last week that the leaves were starting to die, I decide to harvest the tubers. I wasn't sure what I would find but I was hopeful it would do better than my Sweet potatoes did. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a bad harvest at all. After all, it was one tiny tuber or corm that I planted.

My harvest

I made a pot of Ofe Onugbu(bitter leaf soup) from the Cocoyams, using them as a thickener. I will definitely be planting Taro/Cocoyam again!

How to Care for Your Natural Hair

So you've had your big chop and have now stepped into the world of fros. You've tried to google how to care for your new fro but you're finding all the information overwhelming. Well, let's start with the basics.

MOISTURE

Natural hair loves moisture. Dryness is the enemy. Grab a moisturizer. If you can't go to the stores just yet, mix 8-parts water with 2-parts light oil, like sunflower oil in a spray bottle. Remember to shake up whenever you want to use it. However, to moisurise your hair properly, you'd need to follow a two or three-step process. It could be LOC - Liquid, Oil, Cream , LCO - Liquid, Cream, Oil or LC and LO, whichever you find out works best for your hair.

DETANGLING AND MANIPULATION

Detangling should be done after applying products with adequate slip, so the hair doesn't break. Combing should be done from the ends to the root, always gently, as any form of manipulation should be done gently. Do not detangle or comb dry.

STYLING

It is advisable to do low manipulation hairstyles. Tight hairstyles put a lot of tension on hair follicles and can cause you to lose hair especially around the edges. If you can, go to a Natural hair salon or find a Natural hair stylist. You could also learn to style your hair by yourself. There are a lot of tutorial videos on YouTube.

CONFIDENCE

Now wear your beautiful crown with confidence. Natural hair is beautiful, styled or not. You do not have to manipulate your hair into uncomfortable styles for it to be considered beautiful. Embrace the shrinkage and frizz. Do not let anyone put to down for wearing your hair. Most of all, enjoy your hair!