Dear reader,
Happy Easter and welcome to autumn! It definitely feels like the change towards winter with many plants like the dandelions and their aster family look alines e.g. wall lettuce finishing setting seed and the energies returning to the earth. We've had very heavy rain in the Bay of Plenty recently which has caused some dandelions to look worse for wear and leaves start to die off. I'll be digging the roots later in April to dry and make the delicious coffee like drink. I feature dandelion (including a new smoothie recipe) and the recent research that it can help prevent cancer in my latest blog. Check that out here.
Some tree leaves are already changing color. I just picked my abundant crop of gala apples this morning and the conference pears will need picking as I found the wasps happily eating a ripe one. We have an abundant crop of huge pumpkins that I deliberately grew in the compost heap I made last August. Once the pumpkins are harvested I'll spread the compost on the vegetable garden.
I've had a busy March spreading the word about wild edibles. It all started with the Sustainable Backyard Food Fest where I led a weed walk around the Historic Village site and Jane held a workshop on preserving your harvest. The two Sustainable Backyard workshops went incredibly well at Teacher in the Paddock, Papamoa with brilliant sunshine and at Janet's Art and Mosaic studio, with 16 people that rocked despite the rain, in Rotorua. In addition, I gave two evening talks - one for the Te Puke Spiritual Group, which was well attended and the other at the Whakamarama Harvest Festival, where Ruth the organizer and I were also the judges of the wonderful displays of fruit, vegetables, flowers, baked creations and the childrens' imaginative vegetable animals.
April sees me traveling a bit further afield. It kicks off 2nd April with Jane of Teacher in the Paddock fame and I traveling to Kerikeri to the flourflower venue. I'll be offering a wild edible workshop and Jane, nourishing foods.To book for mine go here. To book for Jane email teacherinthepaddock@gmail.com. See the flyer below.
Saturday April 23rd I'll be in Havelock North for the second collaborative workshop with Setha and Roddy of Setha's Seeds. This is being held on Craggy Range Road where Setha and Roddy grow all their seeds. To book for both workshops or just one go here. See the flyer below describing more details. We look forward to seeing you there.
April 29th, May 1st I'll be in Ashhurst, near Palmerston North offering events through Recap
(Society for the Resilience and Engagement of the Community of Ashhurst and Pohangina).
I'm looking forward to another visit to the Manawatu. There's an article about me and the event throughout the Recap newsletter .
Don't forget Daylight Saving ends April 3rd.
I wish you all a wonderful autumn of harvesting and the storage and preservation of all the food you grew this season. Walnuts and chestnuts are dropping ready to collect, dry and store. Remember you don't have to grow weeds and the winter ones that prefer cooler weather are now re-establishing like onion weed, chickweed, speedwell, puha, herb robert and cleavers. Add them to your smoothies and soups and be well nourished!
Weedy blessings and excellent health,
Julia
