“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished” – Lao Tzu In the last blog we started looking at how connecting with nature can help with mental illness and wellbeing. The concept of ‘forest bathing’ has become a trendy topic in recent years with numerous research articles and other publications extolling the benefits of beingContinue reading “Connecting with Nature”
Author Archives: organeco2003
Plants, mental health and wellbeing
Most of us are very much aware of the prominence of mental heath in the news, especially during their current pandemic, more so with the various lockdown restrictions and the message to ‘stay at home’. Having worked in the land based sector for over 25 years and previously suffering from depression, I am very muchContinue reading “Plants, mental health and wellbeing”
Diving into the wortcunners’ store cupboard again!
Tansy – Tanacetum vulgarae I have a deep interest in plant folklore and herbal use, mainly driven by a close association with my nan whose family spent many generations working on the land in rural Cheshire. A lot of the stories she would tell us when we were kids were about uncles and other relativesContinue reading “Diving into the wortcunners’ store cupboard again!”
Henbane – a witches’ brew!
Henbane ( Hyoscyamus niger ) has long been associated with magic, ritual, murder and healing. A member of the Solanaceae family which includes daily food items such as the potato and tomato, it is highly toxic and along with other toxic members of the family including belladonna and mandrake , has a notorious reputation. NativeContinue reading “Henbane – a witches’ brew!”
The Mighty Yarrow
One of the nice things about this time of year, despite the heatwave and the parched grass is the ray of light poking through in the shape of flowering Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ). Flowering from June until September, Yarrow is an aromatic perennial that can attain a height of 3ft, though more commonly seenContinue reading “The Mighty Yarrow”
In a Prickle
Written by Elaine Gardener (Guest blogger) The adorable hedgehog … voted Britain’s favourite mammal however, numbers show our prickly prehistoric pals are in decline. Important information to make note of: take the time now to locate your nearest hedgehog rescue. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society can be called on (01584 890 801) to provide detailsContinue reading “In a Prickle”
The (not so) humble Dandelion
I love dandelions, no matter what people say about them being a problem ‘weed’ in lawns etc. I also dislike the term ‘weed’, in my eyes a ‘weed’ is just a wildflower in the wrong place. They also are a strong memory from my childhood; blowing the seed heads to tell the time or toContinue reading “The (not so) humble Dandelion”
Recipe ideas in tough times
Recipe links: Most of these are simple easy to make and, mostly with everyday ingredients. Students are always trying to stretch the budget, just adjust the quantities to suit the amount of people. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/student https://studenteats.co.uk/recipes/16-idiot-proof-recipes-all-students-should-learn-5647.html Budget meals, the BBC website has always been a good source of inspiration. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/budget https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/cheap-eat More budget friendly meals. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3166/cheap-easy-recipes/Continue reading “Recipe ideas in tough times”
Towards infinity and beyond – or at least 2030!
So we are nearly at the end of February already , sustainability is still high on everyone’s agenda with the 2030 targets all over the media and politicians from around the globe preaching on how we must hit our targets . This got me thinking about where we are and what’s happened so far this yearContinue reading “Towards infinity and beyond – or at least 2030!”
Cardboard and Home-made Napalm.
Clearing out the Loft Clearing out the loft is a bit of a random thing to talk to about, but there is a train of thought following my efforts. I have lived in this old house for about twenty-five years and in that time, I have had a bit of an obsession with keeping theContinue reading “Cardboard and Home-made Napalm.”
