2-Minute Tips: 45# On Taking A Chance

On the island of Reunion, deep in the Indian Ocean, there stands a bronze statue of a young orphaned African boy who was born into slavery in 1829. The story of how this statue of Edmond came to be, is a testament to ingenuity and incredibly the start of a billion-dollar industry.

Edmond was a trainee gardener under the tutelage of his master Ferréol Bellier-Beaumont. An avid horticulturist, Ferréol had collected many exotic plants from across the globe for his garden including several vanilla vines from South America.

Vanilla at the time, was highly sought after – Queen Elizabeth 1 had loved it in desserts and President Thomas Jefferson, had brought vanilla ice cream to the US. 

The problem was that vanilla pods only grew in Latin America. Mexico produced a meagre annual crop of two tons, not nearly enough to satisfy the increasing demand for the spice.

For 200 years multiple European colonial attempts had been made to grow vanilla - across Java, the Philippines and India, but all imported vines stayed bare. Whatever pollinated the fleeting vanilla flower was not making the journey from Mexico.

One day on a stroll through the gardens, Ferréol noticed some bean-like pods growing from his one surviving vanilla vine. A 12-year-old Edmond was met with disbelief, when he claimed responsibility for this rare feat. As more pods appeared, Ferréol asked for an explanation.

Edmond showed that with a thin piece of bamboo, he could gently peel back the cover of the flower and tease out the reproductive organs, before rubbing them together with his thumb. This delicate act allowed for self-pollination of the vanilla flower and solved a centuries old riddle.

Edmond was sent on a whistle-stop tour of the island, instructing farmers and owners how to perform his act. Through what became known as le geste d’Edmond – Edmond’s gesture, the vanilla crop on the island started to flourish and within a decade a couple of tons of vanilla were being farmed. 

By century end, Reunion Island delivered 200 tons of vanilla and neighbouring island Madagascar had become the largest producer in the world, easily outstripping Mexico’s yield.

Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, Edmond did not personally benefit from his discovery. He was freed from slavery at 19-years-old but struggled for work and eventually ended up in prison on a dubious theft charge. 

Ferréol’s efforts to garner a financial stipend for Edmond given the great benefit he brought to the island, were in vain and Edmond died penniless at 50.

His legacy does live on however, as Edmond’s gesture is incredibly still used to pollinate all vanilla plants across the globe. 

Wisdom 💎

“I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive.”

Albert Einstein

Tip 1 - Smart Play ✅

Learn vicariously. Edmond watched Ferreol self-pollinate a watermelon plant, which gave him the knowledge and inspiration to experiment with vanilla flowers.

Tip 2 - Avoid 🚩

Being purely discouraged by the failure of others. Edmond knew nothing about the centuries of failed attempts. This turned out to be a blessing, as he just had a go.

Tip 3 - Action 💪

Is there an area of your work or life, where you might experiment? Perhaps there is a billion-dollar industry ready to flower at your fingertips!

P.S. The original pollinator of vanilla plants turned out to be a little Mexican glossy green bee named Euglossa viridissima.

P.P.S. For other awesome stories of creativity and invention, check out the brilliant 'How to Fly a Horse' by Kev Ashton. One of the best books I've read for a while.