El Conuco

A conuco is a traditional planting area usually located near or behind a person’s home. The organization of the conuco is rooted in indigenous knowledge, though many of the plants reflect the diversity produced by colonial trade and settlement. Daniela’s conuco extends from her house about a quarter acre to the edge of her lot. There, she grows food and herbal plants she uses in the preparation of her botella. There is a small outdoor kitchen where she cooks and makes jarabes. For special botellas, she goes to San Cristóbal in the south, to the market, to collect the medicines needed. But, for more common ailments, she grows a broad range of plants in pots and segments of her garden from which she can harvest quickly. Her husband planted a cherry tree years ago before he died. Along its branches, there are “chinolas.” And just beyond, a small plot of “arquitirea.” Her garden is hidden from the street, plantain trees disguising the area where the majority of her herbal plants are growing.

Daniela’s Garden, the view from her back door. Here we can see yautía and plátano, two of the most common foods in the Dominican countryside.

Plant Guide for El Conuco

Sitting in a chair with leaves in their lap, an outstretched hand presents a number of seeds, which have brown, solid-looking centers with white and yellow frayed edges in Daniela's conuco

Semilla de La Libertad

A hand holds a root - its shape is almost that of a sizable rock, with light brown coloring and inconsistent lumps in Daniela's conuco

Raiz de una mata de camaron

Next to a wood and wire fence grows a large amount of Oregano Poleo, which has near circular leaves that end in points with spike-patterned edges; other plants grow nearby in Daniela's conuco

Oregano Poleo

Against metal and wood grows several small plants, a light green color with elliptical leaves that have spiked edges, next to patches of green and brown earth in Daniela's conuco

Mostaza

From moist earth grows a variety of several small plants, along with a tree trunk with light brown bark that looks stripped in Daniela's conuco

Mata de Auyama

A hand holds a leaf from a Llanten plant over blue fabric and a gray floor - the leaf is a reflective green, and very large with jagged edges and brown spots in Daniela's conuco

Llanten

A spring of la libertad presented on a black reflective surface; connected to a branch are many small, oval-shaped leaves, mostly green but with some yellowing on some leaves in Daniela's conuco

La Libertad

On a black surface framed with red wood sits cuts of Diclofenol - broad green leaves than end in a point, all connected to branches; these ones are lightly damaged in Daniela's conuco

Diclofenlo

A light blue door, stone wall and white car in the background contrast with cuttings of Diclofenol being presented in someone's hand - broad green leaves that end in a sharp point in Daniela's conuco

Diclofenlo

Brown walls cover a traditional kitchen, with black, solid-looking cookware and logs under the cooking surface, which is covered in a light layer of gray ash in Daniela's conuco

Cocina tradicional

On a black surface, cuts of Acetomenofen are presented, with large, arrow-head leaves of a rich green color in Daniela's conuco

Acetomenofen

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