The Ornamental Garden Plant That Eases Insect Stings on Contact – And Nobody’s Talking About It
I remember the first time I met Cotton Lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus). I had moved to Exeter in Devon. As I walked past the hospital, … Continue
Eatweeds wild food foraging guide to Britain and Northern Europe
The Forgotten Summer Solstice Harvest That Tastes of the Sea
Old wisdom says to cut an ancient salt marsh plant fresh on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. For the best … Continue
The Wild Rose That Was Worth a Cow
Down here in Devon, dog rose – Rosa canina – is coming into full bloom, and I adore the pink and white blush of … Continue
How a bunch of bloody-minded monks produced a secret elixir for health
What happens when you find yourself in 1084 amongst a group of men in the Chartreuse Valley in the French Alps? You went there … Continue
EP60: Connecting Children and Families to the Wild – with Chris Holland
Chris Holland has spent over three decades helping people – young and old – find their way back to the natural world. In this … Continue
Slow down. Look closer.
Foraging has taught me to have profound trust in life. To know that, usually, all will be well. It’s a hard thing to do. … Continue
EP59: Storytelling, Plants and the Feminine – with Clare Viner
Robin Harford meets storyteller Clare Viner beneath a flowering hawthorn tree in Devon to explore the living tradition of oral storytelling. Clare shares how … Continue
Foraging is a conversation
Most people forage with their hands. They go out, they reach, they pick. They pop it in a bag and they carry it home. … Continue
How To Read A Hedgerow
Most people walk through the countryside without noticing much of it. Attention is a skill that needs to be practised. Most of us were … Continue
The Traditional and Modern Uses of Lesser Celandine
Lesser Celandine belongs to the buttercup family. The bright yellow flowers appear briefly in early spring. The plant has a long history as a … Continue
What Persian Cooks, Cajun Cooks, and Native American Foragers All Knew About the Spear Thistle
I’ve walked past spear thistles (Cirsium vulgare) for decades. I cursed them when they put a spine through my trousers. Most farmers and gardeners … Continue
Plants for eczema, psoriasis and acne
Your skin flares. It settles. Then it flares again. You’ve tried things. Some helped a little. Nothing broke the cycle. This recording is worth … Continue
The Weed That Seasoned Prehistoric Soup
Eight thousand years ago, someone was seasoning their stew with a weed you walk past every day. In 2013, researchers discovered phytoliths — tiny … Continue