Plants & People: An Ethnobotanical Journey Through The Plant Kingdom

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Eatweeds podcast, where host Robin Harford takes us on an auditory journey into the world of sound art and ecoacoustics with guest Jez riley French.In this episode, titled 'The Sound of Trees', we dive into the fascinating world of listening to plants and the hidden layers of sound that surround us.Jez, a leading British sound artist, shares the behind-the-scenes details of his latest exhibition in the Forest of Dean, revealing the actual internal sounds of plants and trees through his self-built microphones.The immersive live installation aims to change the way we engage with forests, moving beyond their traditional leisurely use.Highlights of the episode include Jez's discussion on the ethics of field recording, the importance of listening on nature's terms, and the significance of durational listening.He also sheds light on the often overlooked history of women in sound art and field recording, challenging the conventional narratives that have long dominated these fields.Listen

In this episode, #49 of the Eatweeds podcast, I sit down with Helen Kearney at the Betonica herb school on a lazy Summer day in the Devon countryside.We dive into the added value herbalists bring to the strained National Health Service (NHS) and discuss Helen's path from being inspired by her grandmother to becoming a medical herbalist and educator.We tackle the evolution of medicine since World War II, highlighting the crucial role of self-care and the struggle for herbal medicine's legal recognition.Helen shares the comprehensive training that goes into becoming a skilled herbalist and how Betonica equips students with necessary business skills to make the practice successful.Our discussion also spans the integration of herbal medicine into the NHS, social prescribing, and the need for herbalists to actively engage with their communities.I wrap up the conversation by exploring how herbalism is becoming more inclusive, the shift in gender dynamics in the field, and Betonica's community-focused principles.Hel

In this episode of the Eatweeds podcast, Robin Harford invites the seasoned forager, Andy Hamilton, for a deep and meaningful conversation about the evolving world of foraging, wild food, and wildcrafting.They take listeners on a journey, reflecting on their first meeting years ago and exploring the transformation of the foraging community's online presence over the years.Connect With Andy Hamilton Facebook Andy's website Back MatterFollow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach you how to safely thrive from nature's larder.

In this episode of Eatweeds, host Robin Harford interviews Matthew Pennington, co-owner of The Ethicurean restaurant. Matthew discusses the restaurant's philosophy of using 80-90% of its ingredients from its own Victorian walled garden and orchard, as well as from local suppliers. He also talks about the importance of foraging for wild food, and how it can help to connect us to the natural world.Other topics covered in the episode include: The challenges of running a sustainable restaurant The importance of using seasonal ingredients The art of fermentation The future of food This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in food, sustainability, and the natural world.Connect With The Ethicurean Facebook Instagram The Ethicurean website Back MatterFollow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach yo

This week on the Eatweeds podcast, we travel to the remote, idyllic region of Abruzzo, Italy, a haven for foragers, to meet our special guest, Marta Udalowa. Originally hailing from Poland, Marta has turned her passion for wild foods into a lifestyle, immersed in the bounty of nature.Join host Robin Harford as he engages in a fascinating conversation with Marta, a master pickler, about life in the Italian countryside, the art of foraging, and the delightful practice of pickling and preserving. This episode shines a spotlight on how Marta bridges the gap between the wild and the kitchen table, making the most of both cultivated and uncultivated plants. In episode 46, "Foraging In Italy", you'll discover:- The magic and abundance of Abruzzo’s unique flora, a true paradise for foragers.- The secrets and techniques of pickling and preserving, passed down through generations and honed by Marta to perfection.- The value and satisfaction of country living, and how the line between wild and cultivated foods can blur

Join us for a breath of fresh air with episode 45 of 'Eatweeds,' a podcast dedicated to celebrating the joy and richness of wild food. Our host, Robin Harford, transports us away from the bustle of daily life, inviting us to pause, reflect, and savor the exquisite moments of being at one with nature.In this special episode, Robin trades his traditional role as host to become our storyteller, bringing to life his personal essay on the pure, simple beauty of gathering Hawthorn flowers for syrup.Key topics covered include:- The art and wonder of foraging, in this case, focusing on the hawthorn.- The transformative process of wildcrafting, turning simple hawthorn flowers into a tantalizing syrup.- Embracing nature's cycles and the magic of spring when hawthorns bloom.Robin takes us on a sensory journey, painting a vivid picture of an English spring, when Hawthorn trees burst into life, their branches heavy with cream-colored blooms. As he walks us through the process of gathering these delicate blossoms, we are i

My guest for this episode of the Eatweeds podcast is the remarkable Mo' Wilde. An author and experienced foraging teacher, Mo' has done something few could even contemplate: she lived for a full year completely sustained by wild food. Her fascinating journey and profound insights will have you rethinking your daily meals and your connection to the world around you.Key topics for this episode include: The incredible diversity of the microbiome and its importance for gut health. The essential practice of foraging and how it connects us to our ancestors. The astounding variety and nutritional richness of wild food. An in-depth discussion on food choices, their impact on our bodies, and the environment. Throughout the episode, Mo' shares the highs and lows of her year on wild food, detailing how it impacted her health, wellbeing, and particularly her microbiome. You'll hear about the changes she observed, the challenges she faced, and how the experience deepened her connection with nature.Robin and Mo' also delve

Folk: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/folk/9781408884317 Mischief Acts: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/mischief-acts-joyous-the-times-best-summer-reads-2022/9781526628800 A Wild and Precious Life: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/a-wild-and-precious-life-a-recovery-anthology/9781783529643 London Lit Lab: https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/ Zoe's website: http://zoegilbert.com/ Zoe's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindandlanguage About Zoe GilbertZoe's first novel, Folk (Bloomsbury), was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and adapted for BBC Radio (read by the brilliant Samantha Spiro). She has just finished turning some of the chapters from Folk into a libretto, for a song cycle that will have its world premiere in 2023.Her second novel, Mischief Acts (Bloomsbury), is released in March 2022, and is inspired by the past and future of the Great North Wood, which used to cover a large swathe of South London.Since completing Mischief Acts, Zoe has moved from London to the Kent coast, which is (not su

Online: Course: Medicinal Trees and Their Healing Propertieshttps://www.eatweeds.co.uk/medicinal-treesWebsite: Medicinal Forest Garden Trusthttps://medicinalforestgardentrust.org/ Twitter: @herbaid Instagram: @medicinalforest Facebook: @medicinalforest About Anne StobartAnne Stobart is a medical herbalist, herb grower and historical researcher. Previously, she directed the professional programme for clinical herbal practitioners at Middlesex University, UK. Her research interests span domestic medicine in the early modern period to present-day sustainable herbal medicine supplies. She is a member of the advisory board for the Journal of Herbal Medicine and is an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Exeter, UK.Her publications include Household Medicine in Seventeenth-Century England (Bloomsbury Academic, 2016) and The Medicinal Forest Garden Handbook (Permanent Publications, 2020).Anne co-founded the Holt Wood Herbs project in Devon based on permaculture design principles, transforming a redund

A short audio essay on sustainable harvesting and ethical wildcrafting. Spoken by Robin Harford from Eatweeds. Receive more audio essays, articles and wild food recipes by email. Sign up at https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/subscribeRelated articles Archive of shows of the Eatweeds Podcast Botanical Society Code of Conduct Sustainable foraging guidelines Foraging safety guidelines Careful with that plant ID app

In this episode I talk with natural plant dye artist, Flora Arbuthnott. We discuss here fascinating with using wild plants to create beautiful art and how the practice of gathering feedsback into nurturing creativity and wellbeing.

Mark Duffell is one of Britain's foremost botanists and ecologists. We discuss...  The best way for beginners to learn plant identification. Why the ecology of a plant is important to know before harvesting. Forager or pillager? Which one are you? How to overcome your fear of botany and science jargon. Why learning plant families is important. Sustainability and commercial wild food harvesting. Is there a problem? How ecology can guide us to live harmoniously with the Earth. Full show notes at eatweeds.co.uk/ep39

Nick Hayes author of the 'Book of Trespass' discusses the reason why Right to Roam is so important to the nation's mental health and wellbeing.  Why access to the countryside helps people deepen their connection to nature so they become better stewards of the planet. We discuss the concerns landowners have over littering and damage to their property including fences, gates, livestock etc. Also covered is the criminalising of trespass and its potential impact on already marginalised communities, as well as the rest of the general public. How will it impact your life and liberty? Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk/ep38

Emma Welton, a musician who lives locally to me discusses listening as a nature connection practice. How active listening can develop a deep empathic relationship with the natural world. The section on using sound to identify trees is very revealing. As well as creating soundscapes of botanical gardens and different habitats where plants grow. If you have followed my work for any length of time, you will know that I teach sensory engagement with plants, yet the practices I teach can be applied to the whole of the natural world. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk/podcast

Tom Hirons is a nature based poet and storyteller. In this interview we discuss his work and how as creative humans we can all express our inherent wildness through creative and magical acts. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk/podcast

A quick plant talk on silver wattle, Darwin's barberry and catkins which I found a few hundred metres from my house.

Nicole Rose runs Solidarity Apothecary which materially supports revolutionary struggles and communities with plant medicines to strengthen collective autonomy, self-defence and resilience to climate change, capitalism and state violence. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk/podcast

Lucy O'Hagan takes us on a journey exploring ancestral ways and rewilding, foraging and nature connection. Why do it and how relevant is it in a hyper connected digital world. Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk

Fergus Drennan and Courtney Tyler discuss their pioneering work exploring the cutting-edge of food and medicine using the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria). Show notes at eatweeds.co.uk

Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelationship between people and plants, historically and cross-culturally, particularly the role of plants in human culture and practices, how humans have used and modified plants, and how they represent them in their systems of knowledge.