#12: Did You Know? Edition
Broccoli, Cashews, Controlled Hunts & Random Facts
Hey Friends,
This week felt like an episode of Did You Know?, packed with weird facts, curious discoveries, and a deeper appreciation for things we often overlook (like broccoli, cashews, and the magic of public land). Let’s get into it!
1️⃣ Broccoli: Built by Farmers, Perfected by Time 🥦
Did you know?…
Here’s something wild — broccoli doesn’t exist in the wild. Seriously. It’s a manmade marvel, crafted over centuries from a single species: Brassica oleracea (wild cabbage).
Let’s roll it back to 600 BCE, where Italian farmers were selectively breeding this humble plant for bigger flower buds. They probably didn’t realize they were building a veggie dynasty.
This plant is basically nature’s LEGO set:
Pick the leaves → You get kale.
Favor the terminal bud → Cabbage.
Go for swollen stems → Kohlrabi.
Focus on flower clusters → Cauliflower.
Aim for flowering stalks → You’ve just invented broccoli.
It took nearly 800 years to transform a bitter weed into the crunchy green we eat today.
Quick History Bites:
6th Century BCE: Etruscans start breeding the first "broccolo."
1767: Thomas Jefferson brings broccoli seeds to America.
1920s: The D’Arrigo brothers launch broccoli’s fame in California.
Why It’s Still a Flex:
🧬 Genetically unstable — left alone, it reverts back to wild cabbage.
🛰 Studied by NASA for space farming (grows fast and nutrient dense).
💊 Packed with sulforaphane, a powerful antioxidant that may help fight cancer, reduce inflammation, improve heart health, protect the brain from cognitive decline, and regulate blood sugar levels.
Broccoli is proof that humans can reshape nature—one crunchy stalk at a time.
2️⃣ Cashews: The Fruit That Hangs Upside Down 🍌
Did you know, Cashews are not your average nut?
The Truth About Cashews:
They grow attached to the cashew apple, which is technically the fruit.
The cashew nut itself grows in a hard, toxic shell at the bottom of the apple.
The apple is edible and sweet-tart, often turned into juice, jam, or liquor in places like Brazil and India.
Where They Come From:
Native to northeastern Brazil, cashews were introduced to India, Mozambique, and East Africa by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century.
Today, the top cashew-producing countries include Vietnam, India, Ivory Coast, and Brazil.
Why Cashews Are Pricey:
The shell contains urushiol, the same compound found in poison ivy.
It requires a labor-intensive process to remove safely.
Health Highlights:
Rich in healthy fats and magnesium.
Boosts heart health and supports bone strength.
Great source of copper, essential for energy production and brain function.
Cashews are basically the avocado of the nut world—oddly grown, surprisingly healthy, and worth the effort.
3️⃣ Oklahoma Controlled Hunts: Apply, Explore, Conserve 🌟
Did you know, many states offer opportunities to hunt public lands?
This week I applied for the Oklahoma Controlled Hunts program, and if you’re an outdoorsman, hunter, or conservationist, here’s why it matters:
What Are Controlled Hunts?
These are special hunting opportunities managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Limited-entry hunts on public and private lands that offer unique access and lower competition.
Why You Should Apply:
Access to prime locations with managed wildlife populations.
Promotes ethical hunting and sustainable harvests.
Great for deer, elk, antelope, turkey, and more.
Conservation Value – Nationwide and Local Impact:
Application and license fees contribute directly to conservation funding.
Supports habitat restoration, scientific research, and wildlife management.
Legendary conservationists like Aldo Leopold and Theodore Roosevelt emphasized the importance of regulated hunting in preserving species and biodiversity.
In Oklahoma, these hunts help manage herd health and ensure balance across public lands.
Did You Know?
Over 40 U.S. states run similar controlled draw systems to preserve wildlife and create equitable hunting access.
Programs like Pittman-Robertson (funded by hunting equipment taxes) contribute billions to conservation annually.
Deadline to Apply: Passed on May 20th (Mark your calendar for next year).
More Info: Oklahoma Controlled Hunts Portal
Whether you're new to hunting or a seasoned outdoorsman, controlled hunts are a great way to deepen your relationship with nature, support conservation, and maybe even bring home some wild game.
4️⃣ The Curiosity Effect: Why Random Facts Make You Smarter 🧠
You ever fall into a rabbit hole so random it feels like trivia night in your own brain? That’s not wasted time—it’s curiosity at work. And turns out, this kind of spontaneous learning boosts more than your bar conversation skills.
Here’s what the science says:
Research from the University of California, Davis found that when you’re curious, your brain lights up like it’s just been handed a reward.
Dopamine—the motivation molecule—is released, which enhances memory retention and overall learning.
The more curious you are, the more neural pathways you strengthen, which supports long-term cognitive health.
And it’s not just about trivia. Curiosity has been shown to:
Improve problem-solving
Increase resilience
Deepen empathy (yep, curious people listen better)
💡 “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” – William Arthur Ward
So yes—your broccoli and cashew discoveries this week? They just made you sharper. 🧠
Next time something makes you go, “Huh, that’s weird,” chase the thread. You never know where it might lead.
5️⃣ [Beverage of the Week] – The Cucumber Cashew Cooler 🥒
To keep the brain sharp and the body cool, try this unique, nutty, refreshing mocktail:
Cucumber Cashew Cooler (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
1 cup chilled cucumber juice (from 1–2 cucumbers)
2 tbsp raw cashew butter
Juice of ½ lime
1 tsp local honey (or agave)
1 pinch of sea salt
Ice
Optional: Mint leaves or a dash of cayenne for kick
Instructions:
Blend cucumber juice, cashew butter, lime juice, honey, and salt until smooth.
Strain over ice.
Garnish with mint or cucumber slices.
Why It Works:
Cucumber hydrates and cools.
Cashews deliver healthy fats, minerals, and subtle creaminess.
Honey and lime balance it with immune-boosting flair.
This one’s earthy, elegant, and just weird enough to spark a conversation. Perfect for the curious.
🍻 Final Thoughts
From broccoli’s long history as a slow-motion science project to the funky origins of cashews, this week reminded me: some of the coolest things around us were shaped by human curiosity and nature’s patience.
And when it comes to protecting what we love—like our land and wildlife—it’s up to us to show up, apply, and do our part.
Curiosity is a muscle—the more you flex it, the more insight you gain.
Stay curious. Stay learning. And stay wild, my friends.
– Chance
All great info for that next trivial pursuit game!