Forage Tunbridge Wells

🍍🌼 Pineapple W**d 🌿✨

Have you ever stumbled upon a plant that smells like a tropical paradise and wondered what it could be? 🌺 Well, let me introduce you to Pineapple W**d! 🍍🌼 This charming little herb is not only a delight for the senses but also a versatile and useful plant. Let's dive into the world of Pineapple W**d and discover how to identify it and what you can do with this hidden gem. 🌱💫

🔍 Identifying Pineapple W**d:
Pineapple W**d, also known as Matricaria discoidea, is a low-growing plant that often goes unnoticed. Its leaves are finely divided, resembling delicate fern fronds, and they emit a sweet, fruity aroma when crushed, reminiscent of—you guessed it—a pineapple! 🍍✨ The flowers are tiny and yellow, forming button-like clusters that sit atop the plant's stems. Keep an eye out for this charming herb in fields, gardens, and disturbed soil areas.

🌿 Fun Fact:
Pineapple W**d is actually a close relative of chamomile and shares some of its calming properties. So, not only can you enjoy its tropical scent, but it may also help you relax and unwind! 🌼😌

🌿 Practical Uses:
Now, let's talk about what you can do with Pineapple W**d:

1️⃣ Herbal Tea Infusion: Harvest the flowers and steep them in hot water for a delightful, soothing tea. Just imagine sipping on a cup of pineapple-scented goodness while enjoying its calming effects. It's like a mini-vacation in a mug! ☕🌴

2️⃣ Culinary Adventures: Get creative in the kitchen and use Pineapple W**d as a unique ingredient in your recipes. Add its flowers to salads, desserts, or even infuse them into syrups and sauces. Let the tropical flavour surprise your taste buds! 🍽️🍍

3️⃣ Natural Skin Care: Harness the gentle properties of Pineapple W**d by using it in your DIY skincare creations. Create a soothing facial steam or infuse it into oils and lotions for a tropical pampering experience. Your skin will thank you! 🌸🧴

Remember, always forage responsibly and ensure proper identification before using any wild plant. 🌿🔎

Nettles picked ready to make nettle cake 💚

My first foraging workshop of 2023 was on Saturday. The rain stayed away and we had a lovely morning finding spring plants and enjoying a wild-inspired lunch 💚

Click the link in my bio if you'd like to join me at a future workshop!

Kale and Wild Garlic Soup

I went out foraging last week and was delighted to discover the wild garlic is already out! So after picking some I came home and immediately made a warming winter soup. This was made from curly kale that came in my Riverford organic veg box and a handful of wild garlic leaves. Just a small amount of wild garlic adds so much flavour to soup.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 handful of wild garlic leaves
2 handfuls of kale leaves (discard the tough stems)
1 medium potato, roughly chopped
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 garlic clove
1 vegetable stock cube
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Optional: 1 tsp. dried mixed herbs

Method:
I use a Morphy Richards soup maker. Add all the ingredients to the soup maker, top up to the max mark with water, and use the smooth setting to create a smooth, blended soup.
Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a pan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Blend until you have a velvety-smooth soup.

It's wet. It's cold. But the wild garlic is back! Signs that spring is not too far away 💚

Beautiful rosehips ❤
High in Vitamin C. Picked to make rosehip syrup which I love drizzled over coconut yogurt!

Some lovely Autumn produce 💚
Sloes, ground ivy, ground elder, dandelion and nettle as well as elderberries and chamomile

Back from holiday and time for some September foraging 💜

🌿 FORAGING IN AUGUST 🌿

This little one enjoyed picking blackberries for his breakfast 💚

The elderberries are ready for collecting too!

🌿 Summer Salad of Dandelion, Nasturtium and Tomatoes 🌿

Summer in a dish 😍

This salad was made with sliced tomatoes, podded broad beans, nasturtium leaves, dandelion leaves, capers, fresh parsley and lemon balm. Dressed with extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper and decorated with nasturtium blossoms 💚

🌿Join me for a wild foraging workshop! 🌿

If you’re looking for a fun, relaxing and inspiring day out then join me for a wild foraging experience in the heart of the beautiful Kent countryside.

The workshop starts with an informal chat over a hot drink and wild snack in my teaching space. If the weather is good we’ll always be outside.

You’ll learn the law around foraging and how to make sure you are foraging safely and sustainably. Then I’ll introduce you to some of the wild plants you are going to discover during the day.

🌿 The Walk 🌿

Next we’ll set out on a foraging walk where you’ll learn at least 10 easy to identify plants. Every season offers a unique opportunity to learn about the abundance of wild edibles that grow all around us here in the UK - there is always something new to discover and taste!

My aim is to give you the knowledge to safely identify several edible plants and head home inspired with some fun ideas of how to use them. This workshop is aimed at those new to foraging.

After the walk you’ll have a chance to try finding the plants you’ve encountered yourself, back at my teaching space. This is to ensure you go away having embedded your new knowledge.

🌿 The Picnic 🌿

We’ll end the session with a delicious and nutritious wild picnic where you’ll get to sample some of your foraged finds!

🌿 Takeaways 🌿

As a nutritional therapist I became fascinated by the power of wild plants when I learnt how nutritionally superior they are compared to our cultivated varieties. With the added benefit of being free and abundantly available all around us!

With the cost of living rising, I’ll show you how to slash your food bills with foraging, while providing highly nutritious food for your family. You’ll go home with a booklet with details and photographs of all the plants you’ve learnt about, plus recipes for how to use them. And I’ll include a simple weekly meal plan created using widely available wild plants.

Click the link below to book (various dates available) 👇

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-foraging-workshop-tunbridge-wells-tickets-339153646687

🌿 JULY FORAGING 🌿

Beautiful meadowsweet cordial / syrup on the go 💚

When I see meadowsweet growing it always reminds me of candyfloss!

Make the cordial in exactly the same way as you would elderflower cordial.

I add 450g sugar to 500ml boiling water, the juice of 2 lemons 🍋 (plus I add the lemons to the pan after squeezing out the juice) and leave to cool.

Add a few handfuls of meadowsweet flowers and stir thoroughly.

I then refrigerate for 48 hours before straining and bottling the cordial 🌼