Have you heard of a very successful series of books on life improvement, called “Chicken Soup for the Soul” by Jack Canfield?
Well, here is “Nettle Soup for the Mind” – a positive, stimulating and tonic mixture of green ingredients inspired by of one of nature’s most useful plants, the humble and wholly underrated stinging nettle. Continue reading
What do you do when your garden is heaving with rocket, just about to flower and bolt into seed? The answer is Rocket Pesto, a way of conserving this lovely taste of summer for six months or so.
Pumpkin is a versatile food with many traditional, warming recipes ideal for autumn and winter. Here are recipes for Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Soup, which can also be used for squash. Continue reading
Simon Mitchell as ‘Nature Boy’. Join him on one of his favourite journies through spectacular Cornish valley countryside in springtime. This is a walk (or bike ride) along the River Fowey between the ancient Cornish settlements of Lerryn, St.Winnow and Lostwithiel. Continue reading
Fennel has been traditionally used for eye complaints, to induce sleep, aid digestion and to help nursing mothers express milk. Gerard says: “The pouder of the seed of Fennell drunke for certain daies together fasting preserveth the eye-sight”. Continue reading
Fragrant Valerian flower
In the language of love the gift of Valerian means: ‘merit in disguise’ – “Conscious of my lowliness, I aspire nonetheless to wed you”. Valerian once had a reputation for its mystic power of disturbing the sexual desires and maidens would carry a small piece about their person in the hope that the smell might attract a lover. Continue reading
American Mother in my orchard
I have never handled as many apples as I have this year. There seemed to be a bumper crop in the small orchard in our garden. As I sit here writing this I can hear the homely ‘glop’ noises from behind the woodburner as most of the juice from them is brewing into gallons of what seems a very tasty (and strong) cider. Continue reading
Tansy (Chrysanthemum vulgare)
It started with making and eating the Tansy cakes. I had to ask myself ‘Why would anyone eat anything that tastes so weird’? What developed from this strand was a strong argument for preventative self-medication. This has traditionally been part of our Western culture until removed by the separation of ‘physic and spirit’ and deference to the authority of doctors. Continue reading
swords into ploughshares
It excites me to see how the internet, a tool created to serve the purposes of war, has become one which is increasingly useful in servicing aspects of community. It is a fine example of ‘beating swords into plowshares’ a concept in which military weapons or technologies are converted for peaceful civilian applications. The phrase originates from the Book of Isaiah, who prophesies of a future age where there will be peace amongst all humankind:
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Isaiah 2:4 & Micah 4:3 Continue reading
Resilience is a key concept in the process of Transition, but like many abstract concepts, it is open to variable interpretation. Its meaning in green or ecological terms develops ideas of self-sufficency at a community level, again both these terms are open to levels of interpretation. Even the abstract concept of ‘transition’ itself has its own field variables – within one field it defines the process of gender shifting – as I found out when er, ‘researching on the internet’. Continue reading
In this issue of Nettle Soup I have decided to demonstrate a technique which combines science, art and nature, themes of these pages. This is the effect of salt on a watercolour wash. This effect creates a stunning texture which can be used in a number of ways including that of a generalised ‘nature’ texture / background. Continue reading