Grassroots Herbalism ~ where it all begun for me
~ Grassroots Herbalism ~
I first fell in love with wild plants years ago whilst living in Italy. Linden was one of the very first plants that I connected with: it's fragrant blossoms gathered for tea from the local park in Spring, and dried for use throughout the year.
I was taught about Linden by my partners Grandmother ('la Nonna', now 98) who had grown up in the Swiss Alps surrounded by wild plants, living with her peasant farmer father and 8 siblings.
In Italy wild plants are deeply engrained in the food and medicine traditions that are passed down naturally from one generation to the next, foraging and grassroots herbalism is very much a part of everyday life. This was new to me and not something that I had experienced growing up in NZ, where wild plants are generally ignored and seen as invasive 'weeds'.
Living in that environment, immersed in a culture celebrating wild food sparked a passion that has stayed with me ever since. I’ve always been drawn to the medicinal properties and potential of wild plants and for more than 20 years I’ve been foraging, growing, and cultivating medicinal plants.
Whilst I’ve dedicated many years to teaching people how to forage for their own food, it’s really the grassroots herbalism that lies at the foundation of what I teach, and what I’m most passionate about and excited to share with you.
My new book: Grassroots Herbalism, A practical guide to Homegrown and Foraged Medicine ~ brings together everything I’ve learned and practised along the way: how to grow, gather and store medicinal herbs, how to create simple medicinal remedies for everyday wellbeing, and connect with plants as allies and companions. The book is laden with the principles of Grassroots Herbalism, complete with a Materia Medica covering many easy to grow or forage medicinal plants, and a comprehensive section of recipes for creating healing remedies at home.
This new book, which is definitely my best work yet (with THE MOST gorgeous photos) is arriving from the printers next week!
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