These prickly pears grow too fast.  Critters like to eat the fruit.  The fruit can make their tummies hurt.  Use the fruit in other ways!

Women use the plants for fuel.  They also make juice and jam.

Pray people will be able to protect animals and find more good uses for cacti.

Read More:
People planted prickly pears in Kenya in the early 1900s. The cacti can grow into a natural fence. But the plants take over. They crowd out other plants. The tiny hairs on the fruit can hurt elephants’ stomachs. The sharp spines can harm goats’ mouths. A women’s group now uses the cactus pulp for fuel called biogas. Women also sell the fruit. They make jams, juices, and lotions. They often use the money they earn to pay for their kids’ school needs.

“The Lord has made everything for its purpose.” (Proverbs 16:4)

For more about cacti, see The Giving Tree of the Desert by Danielle Fradette in our Recommended Reading.