Sunday, April 22, 2012

World Earth Day

Lesser Celandine & Dandelion
Forget-me-not & Bluebells
Nettles & Wild chives
Wild primrose & Lady's Smock
Bay Tree
Wild Garlic
Wild violet & Angelica
Angelica
Angelica
In the last few weeks we've been blessed with a world of overflowing colour, pattern and form. So much is taken from the earth but it just keeps giving. I've got an abundant, organic deli on my doorstep where everything is free. Dandelion and nettle leaves are at their best this time of year when they're fresh and young. Wild garlic can be used to make pesto or soups, and when mixed with butter can be used to make garlic bread. You can't mistake it and end up eating something poisonous because you will know when you find it; the strong garlic smell pierces the air when the leaves are walked on. Am I worried that dogs have peed all over this woodland salad bar? No. I walk my dog here often and he has never peed anywhere near the edible plants. And I think a bit of pee is far less disgusting than a vat of poisonous spray. The other day I noticed someone at the allotment had sprayed their plot. The beds were surrounded by paths of collapsed, yellow, dying grass. Fortunately the plot is quite a distance from mine and the majority of allotment holders these days grow organically, without dangerous chemicals. The rules and regulations, issued by the Council, that are there to insure everyone enjoys their growing experience and gets the best from their land, do not include a ban on herbicides. Why? What kind of crazy world are we living in?

 I used to hate dandelions. I'd had years of indoctrination. "Pick a dandelion and you'll wet the bed" I heard often as a child. The French name is pis-en-lit. Taraxacum officinale. It wasn't long ago that I discovered the myth comes from the use of the dandelion as a diuretic in herbal medicine. Bees and beneficial insects love them. The use of herbicides to kill dandelions and other wild plants has been linked to Parkinsons disease, cancer, embryonic cell damage, infertility, genetic damage and a decline in bird species in the UK. There's no need for herbicides and it's a disgrace they are still being used with abandon. It's time to start loving our wild plants and flowers. We need them more than they need us.

12 comments:

  1. Lorna, I wholeheartedly agree with these sentiments. Also amusing and truthful comment on “a vat of poisonous spray”! Excellent capture of the Lady’s Smock, I am yet to see any blooms around here yet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting to hear your blooms haven't started blooming yet Bertie. Just goes to show how completely different nature is from one area to the next. I have to admit I wasn't expecting to come across quite so much myself!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's such a shame that councils still allow herbicides on allotments...it's the same here on the Isle of Man though fortunately our allotment is a private association. So no herbicides, pesticides or other spraying (bordeaux mixture) is permitted.

    And lovely shots of your wild 'Deli' Lorna. I can imagine my bees buzzing around all those delicious looking flowers. They particularly like Dandelions :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was photographing wild flowers today including forget-me-nots. Yours is a lovely photo. We use the wild garlic which grows in our garden. The nettles we had for the butterflies kept growing out of control so we collect wild ones again. I'm a bit wary about where I pick them though.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think your allotment set up must be rare Tanya, let's hope the rest come round to this sane way of gardening. I feel less worried about the bees when I see how much is growing around me that they love.

    Lovely to see you back Janet! It's good to be cautious. I wouldn't pick near areas with a lot of traffic because of the pollution. This little woodland is not used by a lot of people believe it or not. It's in an urban area and has a bad reputation because there is drug dealing sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fascinating stuff, just the sort of post I love to read. Saw nettles at my farmers market today but I have to admit to not knowing what to do with them. Apart from tea, can you chomp at will on nettles?
    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Paul, interesting to hear that nettles are being sold at your farmers market. I'm glad to see our native edible plants are being appreciated. They can basically be used in the same way you would use spinach. The meals you put together look amazing so I'm sure you would be able to come up with something really delicious. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is where I go first for inspiration as he is not afraid to serve up wild edibles. There's a lovely article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/30/nettle-recipes-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall. But I really want to see what you're inspired to do! Have fun!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  8. Will try the link again: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/30/nettle-recipes-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sorry didn't work, you'll have to cut and paste.

    X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your pictures just show how much we have to be thankful for. Respect all living things.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I gather wild food often, something I have always done from blackberries in childhood to anything I can identify as delicious today...
    my allotment and garden are pesticide free and I have untidy corners for the wildlife,
    there is so much beauty around us ,
    deserves our appreciation, care & respect..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for your comment Sylvan. I've enjoyed looking at your blog and I look forward to reading more about your foraging.

    Thanks Elaine.

    X

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...