Author Archives: organeco2003

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 ( 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!”

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”

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”

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 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”

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!”

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.”

With the massive upsurge in usage and ownership of electric vehicles, just how green are they really? is a massive hot topic. Yes the car may produce 0 emissions , but if it’s plugged into the grid, then unless it’s renewable clean energy being generated is it really that green ? There is an awful lotContinue reading “Green motoring, how green are electric vehicles?”

As mentioned in the previous blog, I am interested in plants that have a range of uses and this year one of the species I am trialling will be Balsamorhiza sagittata. Native to the western areas of the USA and Canada, it is a member of the Aster family. In its native range it canContinue reading “Balsamorhiza sagittata (Oregon sunflower / Arrowleaf balsalm root)”