Dear reader,

Welcome to this Spring newsletter!  Everything is bursting forth with longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures.  Many wild edibles are flowering like speedwell (feature of my latest article), chickweed, onion weed, red dead nettle, annual nettle, bitter cress, shepherd's purse, Herb Robert and buckshorn plantain. What wild edibles are flowering in your garden?

I have a workshop coming up this weekend on Sunday 28th September at Jane and Kevin's property in Papamoa. See the flyer for all the details.

In October I am speaking at the Auckland Herb Society Seminar. Flyer below with more details.

Then in November I run the first workshop in the South Island in Christchurch which is very exciting! See the flyer below.
Please pass this information on to those who might be interested in learning more about wild edibles and how to use them.

The latest edition of the Wisdom Seekers Newsletter has an article I wrote on Speedewell Veronica persica

Here's the link http://www.wisdomseekers.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1734&Itemid=999

Finally, I feel very strongly that we kiwis all need to stand strong to defend our freedom of speech and freedom of democracy in New Zealand.  The TPPA (Transpacific Trade Agreement) is being negotitated right now. We must let Politicians know what we think of it. This short film explains the TPPA clearly http://www.wakeupnz.net/tppa-biggest-threat-nz-faces/

Click here to add a title or text.

Finally I wanted to share a photo of this shrub with you called Stachyurus praecox (it took me a long time to learn this long name). It is flowering at the moment and the flowers look like jewels hanging all along the branches. The bees love it. Why not plant one for the bees.

Have a great spring - sowing seeds and preparing your garden beds for the crops for this season's vegetables. 

Warm wishes,

Julia