by Ruby Taylor | Jul 11, 2024 | Forage of the Month
Nettle Seeds Nettles are a truly amazing plant. They’re a valuable food source to key butterfly species, and also humans, plus their fibres are very strong and good for making cordage and textiles. Over recent years, the big nettle patch at the end of my garden...
by Ruby Taylor | Jun 15, 2024 | All Journal Entries, Forage of the Month
Elderflower Cake The fragrant, frothy elder flowers are out now, a lovely sign of summer. Elderflower cordial recipes abound, so here’s a favourite recipe of mine for elderflower cake. I’ve created a vegan version for this recipe too, which you’ll...
by Ruby Taylor | Jan 1, 2023 | Forage of the Month
King Alfred’s Cakes At this time of year there’s not so much around to forage, but these are a favourite for fire-making. I always keep an eye open for them when I’m out in the winter woods. Their Latin name is Daldinia concentrica and if you break...
by Ruby Taylor | Apr 4, 2018 | All Journal Entries, Courses, Foraging, Wild Basketry
After a day of making cordage from foraged plant fibres, my grubby fingernails show evidence of all the separating and scraping. Once you’re committed to the steady, repetitive nature of prepping and twining cordage, it’s a deeply satisfying process. So...
by Ruby Taylor | Mar 9, 2017 | All Journal Entries, Foraging, Wild Basketry
‘Plants are integral to reweaving the connection between land and people. A place becomes a home when it sustains you, when it feeds you in body as well as spirit.’ (Robin Wall Kimmerer) There’s an arable field margin under two ancient oaks that is species-rich with...