My latest blog is on this amazing health giving plant.  It bridges the boundary between herb and weed.  Herb because of its many culinary and medicinal uses, but it is a spreader.  For that reason might also be called a 'weed'.

I made an Asian dish with Gotu kola called Kola kenda (rice porridge).  It was easy to make using sticky rice and delicious. The recipe is in the blog.

Magenta spreen is growing fast at this time of year.  In the photo you can see it at different stages.  Even a tiny seedling just germinated it has pink leaves, making it easy to identify.  I dried a whole lot last year in the warming drawer of the oven.  I powdered some the other day and added it to bliss balls along with flower petals.  I wanted to add green nutrition without dominating the taste.

The petals and powder before being mixed in.

Finished bliss balls. Recipe below:

Christmas bliss balls

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Cranberries

• 1/2 Cup Dates

• 1 Cup Cashews

• 2 T Magenta spreen powder

• 1/2 cup of flowers e.g. oxeye daisy, pelagonium, stock, heartsease pansy, red clover. Remove petals from the base of flowers and cut them into smaller pieces

• 2 Tablespoons cocoa (or use raw cacao powder if you prefer )

• 1 Tablespoon desiccated coconut (plus more for rolling)

• 1-2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (I found 1 was plenty) - If you do not wish to use coconut oil, leave this out completely as it is quite a sticky mixture .Instructions

• Place the cranberries and dates in a small bowl and cover in boiling water for a 2-3 minutes to soften then drain off water

• Put the cashews in a food processor and blitz until tiny bits

• Add the cranberries, dates, cocoa powder, magenta spreen powder, petals and coconut. Process until a paste is formed

 ·  Add the melted coconut oil slowly while pulsing the mixture until it comes together to form a sticky dough - I found 1 Tablespoon was plenty sticky enough!

• Roll the dough into small balls and roll them in coconut to coat the outside then place on a tray

• Freeze for 30 minutes then enjoy!

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat.

Ruddy with all the harvested flowering onions

The pickled onions. The 3,2,1 method.
The onions were cut up and placed in the jar.  The greenery in the middle is celery.  Ruddy added cloves, star anise, turmeric, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaf and mustard seeds.  The brine is
150 gms sugar, in 300 gms vinegar with 600 gms water. (Or it could be 3 cups water, 2 cups vinegar, 1 cup sugar). He brought this to the boil and then poured it over the onions and spices in the jars.  Then he put on the lids.  I normally don't use sugar but I wanted to see how he made the pickles. They are yet to be tasted!

This is NOT a PRETTY picture of Broad leaf plantain (Plantago major), but don't you want to HONOUR this plant for growing and surviving in such a harsh compacted environment, rolled over and neglected. This is a true SURVIVOR!  It is well known as a wound healing remedy as well as providing relief from stings and bites.  Plus you can drink it ( but find a less damaged plant) as tea to draw out toxins and give you minerals like magnesium. 

Judy Keats of (Green Sister - edible garden design, garden mentor and workshops) and I designed this bag at the Permaculture hui in March.  I wanted a bag that is light, with lots of pockets especially for my opinel foraging knife.  Judy has created a wonderful bag using up-cycled jute from coffee sacks.  It is fully lined inside, with lots of contrasting denim pockets on the outside and it can be closed with a nice button.  These sell for $80.  I have one left.  Email me if you fancy it julia@juliasedibleweeds.com or contact Judy 1greensister@gmail.com

Marion Arts, singer/songwriter recently attended an edible weed workshop at my garden.  The connection with the wild plants really resonated inspired her. She later kindly gifted me her beautiful song about wild places.  Here are the words.

Chorus
Where will we go
If you take the wild places
Where shags patrol,
Where lovers rol
And artists stroll
To take their inspiration,
Fuelling their formed creations
That feed us all

Verses

We have need of wild places full of waving weeds  Of uncontrol and flowers, where there's room for trees To stand to full measure  Where rivers teem with mystery and seethe with life.

We have need of the wild places for where will children play Relief from plastic playgrounds
Designed to be safe and free from all fantasy
Refresh the mind with wilderness, where will we go... Chorus

We just let it happen for we do not believe That greed will take completely What it should leave and shocked we just stand by While wild places are taken before our eyes ...... Chorus

I WISH you all a JOYOUSLY WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A MAGICAL, EXHILERATING NEW YEAR.  BRING ON 2019!!

Thank you all SO much for your awesome encouragement, love and huge support this past year.  It means so much to me having you along on this ride with the Wild, vibrant edible plants.

See you in 2019.  Love, health and green blessings,
Julia