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Icon & Proverb
The remarkable adaptation of the spinebill and hummingbird to hover and sip nectar from long, narrow flowers with their spine-like beak symbolises the
specialisation of form and function in nature. The proverb “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” reminds us that diversity offers insurance against the variations
of our environment.
Photo Story
The markets of Ollantaytambo in Peru are very popular for both tourists and locals alike. Local people from the region come to trade seeds, fresh produce and dyes, while the tourists come to visit the ancient city ruins and purchase textiles, arts and crafts.
Maize is a staple food for local people and the rich diversity in varieties available ensures good crops during the fluctuating natural cycles, each variety having its own specific qualities and climatic preferences.
Maintaining a pure strain of maize (unlike many other vegetables) requires the highest skill of the seed saver. These techniques have been perfected by the Andean peoples over hundreds, if not thousands of years.
See photolog for other illustrations of this principle |
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