Category Archives: herbs

An alternative to soapwort?

Posted on May 16, 2018 by

A year or two back, I read Mark Boyle’s The Moneyless Manifesto, which I found quite inspirational. Now, I am aware that if we didn’t have money, people would find plenty of other ways of being, say, corrupt or envious. … Continue reading →

Posted in herbs, Permaculture | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Ground elder

Posted on April 7, 2018 by

The warmer weather seems to have galvanised me into working (willingly) in the garden again. Thus, yesterday the first of the bean poles went up and then I wandered round my budding mini forest. It certainly does feel increasingly like … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, herbs, Permaculture | Tagged , | 12 Comments

St Aidan’s Nature Reserve (RSPB)

Posted on March 4, 2018 by

This morning, as the ‘great thaw’ has started, I got out my secateurs and trimmed the lemon balm bush. I’d forgotten that it had been planted as a single stem in a very small pot, which caused me some amusement … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Gardening, herbs | Tagged , | 18 Comments

Determined to have parsnips

Posted on November 13, 2017 by

Yesterday, I shared with you the news that the roots of evening primrose may be like parsnips. And since parsnips are one of my favourite vegetables, it would be a shame to put the seeds I collected in the municipal … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, herbs, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Positive vibrations

Posted on September 10, 2017 by

This weekend has been a bit different from usual. We went to our first ever festival, although it wasn’t the music kind. The theme was sustainability and was designed to be suitable for families. For anyone who wants to know … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, herbs, In the kitchen | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Bergamot

Posted on August 7, 2017 by

The final herb to be planted outside in the ground is bergamot. It can be used to flavour boiled sweets or as a hair rinse, although whether I ever use it as such or, indeed, am able to remains to … Continue reading →

Posted in herbs, Permaculture | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Sweet cicely

Posted on August 6, 2017 by

Today at Old Sleningford Farm (it was the volunteer workday), I asked if I could take some sweet cicely seeds. It is said that its leaves can be used to sweeten rhubarb instead of sugar, which would be fantastic. Rhubarb with fewer … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, herbs | Tagged , | 6 Comments