Suffolk Forager

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Afternoon all. We have just had to chop down a very large eucalyptus tree in the garden and I have taken off what I can use but if anyone else would like any then we are in lower hacheston and it will be available this afternoon and tomorrow if anyone would like any of the leaves. Thanks

.....sharing a passion for wild Suffolk...and great food!

13/08/2022

Chilling out in the heat!

17/04/2022

Happy Easter!

24/09/2021

Trigger: And that's what I've done. Maintained it for 20 years. This old brooms had 17 new heads and 14 new handles in its time.
Sid: How the hell can it be the same blo*dy broom then?
Trigger: Theres the picture. What more proof do you need? 😂

06/08/2021

We might not welcome the rain but nature does. Suffolk is incredibly green and colourful compared to the norm for August.

27/02/2021

Making bath salts with salt, seeds, botanicals and dried nettles

10/02/2021

Snowed in here!

19/01/2021

At last!

12/01/2021

11/01/2021

cold but beautiful

03/12/2020

Colours of Autumn!

30/11/2020

Atmospheric early morning light!

27/11/2020

Very cold out there

27/05/2020

Brilliant!

Dandelion : Don't Kill the Dandelion The dandelion has been used for centuries as food and for medicinal purposes. From a nutritional stand of view it ranks very high compared to most other food...

23/04/2020

Too cold for me to swim

18/04/2020

Gorse is often found in cottage gardens as you can set fire to it even when wet.

There is folklore regarding its non practical uses too.

Gorse: A Remedy For Hopelessness

By Flower Essences / Healingherbs

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a remarkable plant. While it comes to its fullest bloom in early spring, it is capable of unfolding its radiant yellow blossoms even in the depths of winter’s gloom. This strong and resilient quality is reflected in its sun-bright color, and also its structure; featuring sharp, thorn-like spines growing amidst its branches right into the flowering region. A member of the legume/ Fabaceae family, Gorse has bi-lateral “pea shaped” blossoms, and tenacious roots. Like other legumes, Gorse helps catalyze nitrogen from the upper atmosphere – with a special ability to bring fertility and vitality to otherwise isolated and barren places where other vegetation cannot flourish.

These penetrating, fierce qualities of Gorse help us understand why it is a remedy for hopelessness. As Dr. Bach wrote: “Gorse is for those who have suffered much and whose courage, as it were, has failed. … People who need Gorse are generally sallow and rather darkish in complexion, often with dark lines beneath the eyes. They look as though they needed more sunshine in their lives to drive away the clouds.”

Flower essence practitioner Ken Cohen reported a typical case to the Flower Essence Society, “A friend had a severe case of cancer. Within several days of taking Gorse essence, all feelings of hopelessness were eliminated.”

Gorse is certainly one of the very important flower essences for our times, when many are beset with seemingly overwhelming odds. This can include those who have received or are currently suffering a devastating medical diagnosis, or otherwise besieged with personal tragedy and loss. Gorse is closely related to its botanical cousin, Scotch Broom. However, Gorse is used for profound personal states of despair or feelings of self-defeat. By contrast, Scotch Broom is indicated for feelings of pessimism and depression regarding one larger matrix identity of community, nation, or a world-wide situation. Both flower essences can certainly also be used together.

The affirmation by Patricia Kaminski captures the healing dynamics of the Gorse flower essence:

I trust in a Higher Providence.
I remain hopeful despite tragedy or difficulty.
I have Faith in the right working of Destiny.
This tenacity gives roots to my Soul.

15/04/2020

Before school was available for all kids their role was to go out each day and forage for household essentials. Why was this collected and what was it used for? What is it???

15/04/2020

Stunning colours of lichen... shows how wonderfully clean our air is in Suffolk.

11/04/2020

Jack in the hedge delicious garlicky taste .. great in salads

02/04/2020

Lots to see.

01/12/2019

Worth braving the cold for!

25/11/2019

Autumn colours

20/05/2019

France Becomes The First Country to Ban All Five Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths In an attempt to protect bees from colony collapse disorder, France banned all five neonicotinoid pesticides linked to bee deaths.

02/05/2019

Just love bluebells!

24/04/2019

Enjoying the spring flowers

World Earth Day: The women working for change

24/04/2019

True heroes

World Earth Day: The women working for change Photographers at female-run non-profit Lensational have explored the untold stories of women in Africa making a living from environmental preservation.

Japanese cherry blossom in full bloom – in pictures

01/04/2019

Beautiful!

Japanese cherry blossom in full bloom – in pictures

13/03/2019

The movement of these sculptures is mesmerising

NASA Happily Reports the Earth is Greener, With More Trees Than 20 Years Ago–and It's Thanks to China, India

27/02/2019

A little good news for a change

NASA Happily Reports the Earth is Greener, With More Trees Than 20 Years Ago–and It's Thanks to China, India This heartening reserach from the last 20 years has spurred NASA researchers to encourage optimism for humanity's future on Earth.

25/02/2019

Our daffodils are out in force, which means Spring really has sprung! Has anyone spotted any wild ones locally?

Wild Daffodil | The Wildlife Trusts

18/02/2019

Beautiful light on a frosty morning

06/02/2019

A spectacular lunch in Tokyo, with a kimono to wear - what a treat!

30/01/2019

Back in China, ready for some serious eating!

03/01/2019

Welcoming the New Year sharing champagne in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.

22/09/2018

Folklore: In folklore Toadflax was considered a herb of Pluto who was the God of riches from the earth and God of the Underworld. Toadflax was also associated with protection from witchcraft and useful for breaking hexes. According to Scottish superstition, walking around toadflax 3 times will unbind any spell, while the English believed that 3 toadflax seeds strung on linen thread would ward off evil. In the 17th Century, many people wore Toadflax on the soles of their feet to ward off fevers.
There have been associations with the Virgin Mary, and it has sometimes been given such names as Mary’s Flax, Virgin’s Flax, Madonna’s Herb and Lady’s Slipper. It appears in the list of flower remedies as helpful in fostering independence and dealing with loneliness.

Medicinal Action and Uses: Toadflax has powerful qualities as a purgative and diuretic (remove urine) and it is used for jaundice and liver and skin diseases. Gerard informs us that 'the decoction openeth the stopping of the liver and spleen, and is singular good against the jaundice which is of long continuance,' and further states that 'a decoction of Toadflax taketh away the yellownesse and deformitie of the skinne, being washed and bathed therewith.'
The fresh plant was historically chopped and boiled in lard till crisp, then strained. The result is a fine green ointment, a good application for piles, sores, ulcers and skin eruptions.
The juice of the herb, or the distilled water, has been considered a good remedy for inflammation of the eyes, and for cleansing ulcerous sores.
It was combined with yarrow as a poultice to staunch bleeding, ease pain and induce sleep. As the skin of a toad is covered with warts, it was thought that Toadflax would remove warts from humans.
The flowers have been employed in Germany as a yellow dye. Boiled in milk, the plant is said to yield an excellent fly poison, and it is an old country custom in parts of Sweden to infuse Toadflax flowers in milk, and stand the infusion about where flies are troublesome.
.and for Dave Jackson.and all other bee lovers.!!
The mouth of the flower is completely closed and never opens until a bee forces its entrance. The only visitors are the large bees - the humble-bee, honey-bee, and several wild bees - which are able to open the flower, and whose tongues are long enough to reach the nectar, which is so placed in the spur that only long-lipped insects can reach it. When the bee alights on the orange lip it falls a little, disclosing the interior of the flower, which forms a little cave, on the floor of which are two ridges of orange hairs forming a track between them which leads to the mouth of the long, hollow spur. Nectar trickles down along a groove to this spur. The bee pushes into the flower and sucks the nectar while its back is being coated by pollen from the stamens which run along the roof. It is reckoned that a humble-bee can easily take the nectar from ten flowers in a minute, each time transferring pollen from a previous flower and thus effecting cross-fertilization.

Common Names: Snapdragon. Flaxweed. Ramsted. Snapdragon. Churnstaff. Dragon-bushes. Brideweed. Toad. Yellow Rod. Larkspur Lion's Mouth. Devils' Ribbon. Eggs and Collops. Devil's Head. Pedlar's Basket. Gallwort. Rabbits. Doggies. Calves' Snout. Eggs and Bacon. Butter and Eggs, Buttered Haycocks. Monkey Flower. Bunny Mouths. Pigs Chops. Impudent Lawyer.

11/07/2018

Now we are well into strawberry season its time to start experimenting!

Yotam Ottolenghi’s strawberry recipes This summer, think outside the box when cooking Britain’s favourite seasonal fruit

28/05/2018

Duck supper in Shanghai...!

23/05/2018

Lovely dinner tonight of tofu soup cucumber salad and bamboo shoots .. delicious and a very friendly next door table. The Chinese are so warm and friendly

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