Day 79 - Coconuts are important here. In fact, they account for more than 12% of the total agricultural output in Sri Lanka. The figure I found more staggering is the total harvest is in the order of 2.5 to 3.0 billion per year, and that number came from back in 2017. In a small way, we contribute. Just last week, a guy came to buy about 150 excess ones from the 20 trees around the house. They're plucked every two to three months.
Some of you may have never seen the husk part of a coconut. In the supermarket, if you're lucky enough to get fresh coconuts, you'll only find the round seed part. The husk is a bit of what makes coconuts magnificent though. It is an excellent fiber used for making ropes and other industrial products. Almost none of the coconut ends up as waste on this island. However, it's also great because it is a sort of built-in boat. Coconuts that make it into the ocean can drift thousands of miles and end up growing on a distant island, perhaps even a newly formed, volcanic one.
In all my years visiting here and other tropical places, I'd never seen a sprouted one first hand.
Jay found this one in the back which must've been sitting around on the ground for at least four or five months. Dampness had allowed it to sprout. He knew that I might like to try eating it.
Inside there's a spherical sponge-like embryo part that can be eaten.
It was interesting but I cannot call it a favourite. There are dozens of other ways I'd rather have my coconut prepared.
