Articles

No Fruit Smoothie 2 T Chia 1 T Pumpkin, sunflower or almonds, pinch of Karengo fronds seaweed Soak all of the above in 1 cup water Make a pot of tea...

I wanted to share some amazing new things I’ve learned about water, hydration and fascia. We know that water can be a liquid, or a vapour or solid...

Spring heralds the start of a new growing season, a fresh start with plants waking up and producing colourful flowers or soft new leaves that renew...

Have you come across yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) yet? It is a juicy, crunchy, sweet tasting underground tuber, also known as Sunroot, Yacón...

This month I’m offering a book review of an amazing book called “The new wild”. I delved into it and found it a mind stretch because of Fred...

I recently discovered a valuable plant in the garden I didn’t know I had. It’s Queensland arrowroot Canna edulis but it actually comes from South...

Choko Sechium edule. Is this highly underrated prolific producer of fruit on rampant vines a weed, a fruit or a vegetable?  Choko vines grow...

Oxtongue, or bristly oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides (formerly Picris echioides) commands respect. I got to know several of these plants when I...

Have you tried adding edible flowers to your dishes since my last article? This month I’ll introduce a few more edible flowers. It’s exciting to...

Chlorophyll is something we take for granted but it’s abundant all around us giving plants their green colour. It is an essential component of...

The beauty and fragrance of flowers have always drawn humans in nourishing our senses. Increasingly we see a trend to use colourful flowers to...

I’ve only just learned  that this month’s feature ‘weed’ is edible.  Ivy leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) has a number of other names such as...

I have a lovely young wwoofer (willing worker on organic farms) called Luisa who grew up in England but has a NZ mother and so NZ citizenship. She...

Gorse or Furze Ulex europaeus is right now covered in golden-yellow flowers adding colour to our wintery landscape. Not a sight many appreciate due...

Prickly pear cactus Opuntia stricta though not a weed on our shores of Aotearoa, in Australia has ruined the livelihoods of many farmers. It was...

I’ve had a lovely little patch of this on a walkway over summer and I enjoyed seeing and even walking over part of it every day!  It stays low to...

I've watched this documentary and was astounded at the inventions happening around the world that we have never heard about - inventions for...

Don’t you love it when you solve a mystery. I have an intriguing pretty plant in my garden that I couldn’t identify.  Finally a person with the App...

I had a big surprise in my garden this summer - a squash that grows like a ‘weed’. Zucchini rampicante (Cucurbita moschata) is an Italian heirloom...

Kaye is a very dear friend of mine who I met through edible weeds!  I asked her if I could interview her to share with you how we first connected...

Purslane Portulaca oleracea  is growing rapidly now that the summer temperatures are rising.  Many New Zealanders don’t know or value it.  It’s been...

What is sea kale? For starters, sea kale (Crambe maritima) isn’t anything like kelp or seaweed and it will grow far from the sea.  Sea kale is a...

This year of 2020 has been a very unusual with the lock-down time and borders still closed and all the unexpected effects on our lives.  For me it...

In this article I want to share a little from a captivating book I’ve just read called ‘Wilding’ by Isabella Tree.  It is about Isabella and her...

We’ve never had a situation like we’re experiencing in NZ and globally.  I see it as an opportunity to draw on our strengths and resilience to work...

“Weeds in Defense of nature’s most unloved plants” by Richard Mabey published, 2010 by Harper Collins is a really lively and fascinating tale of...

Happy New Year!  This is my first blog for 2020.  Its going to be a fantastic year! We in the Bay of Plenty, N.Z., are experiencing exceptionally...

I usually write about edible weeds that we can safely use and include in our diets.  This time I’m talking about two common plants in our gardens...

Daisies are thick in lawns at the moment, mostly in shadier spots in lawns, untended places and parks. I’ve recently seen huge thickly flowering...

You know onion weed is there if you walk through a patch or mow it as it lets off a strong smell of garlic or onions.  It’s flourishing now in...

  Cleavers also known as biddy-bid, goosegrass or sticky willie is flourishing at this time of year in August and September in New Zealand. It...

Down in the Manawatu on our dairy farm grew a few clumps of this crinkly grey leafed plant in the sandy soil of our orchard.  I always wondered...

At the end of April this year 2019 I visited my brother John and his family in Camden, Sydney.  The last time I visited them (they’ve been here many...

Why an article about parsley you may be asking, surely it’s a herb not a weed?  In a garden I look after parsley has become a ‘weed’ in a shrub...

I love this wild, imposing 2m plant that grows in a group with spreading rhizomes.  It is perennial with narrow, pointed leaves dull green on the...

Wild fennel: Foeniculum vulgare, Sweet fennel: Foeniculum vulgare var.  dulce Bronze fennel: Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ Everyone knows fennel –...

Happy New Year Everyone!! This is my first post for 2019. Japanese Wineberry or Wild Raspberry -Rubus phoenicolasius.  Those of you who live in the...

Gotu Kola Centella asiatica is a weedy, creeping, perennial herb in the carrot or Apiaceae family.  Also known as Pennyweed or Pennywort it has...

My garden is full of flowers, giving me the idea to turn them into a slice.   Oat and flower petal slice INGREDIENTS 1 cup diced flower petals...

Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum) is the comfrey we commonly have in New Zealand.  It is a cross between wild comfrey S. officinale from Europe and...

In downtown Tauranga between the carpark and main street I saw this spreading plant known as  small-leaved wireweed Polygonum arenastrum.  Tourists...

 Brrrr it was a frost last night and there’ll be another tonight.  Just what we need to knock back populations of flies and other insects that built...

One of the things I do is talk to groups on edible weeds. I’ve spoken to quite a number of gardening groups all over the Bay of Plenty and to other...

This wild edible receives the most comment on my blog from absolute delight to abject hate. I  can understand both sides of the issue, although I...

February’s been hot and sunny as well as soggy and wet, but I’ve been grateful for the rain, as I haven’t had to water so much, and my water tanks...

Elder, Sambucus nigra is flowering now, although it is not common north of the Volcanic Plateau in New Zealand.  But it is very common south of the...

Every year the Great Barrier Island Community Art Gallery runs a winter lecture series.  I had the good fortune to be invited to run workshops last...

 I’m into my fifth week at my new home in Greerton.  I moved July 20th and it is starting to feel more familiar. It does take a while to transition...

I recently attended a Tree Croppers field trip to Puketoki Reserve on Whakamarama Road, Bay of Plenty.  We were treated to a wonderful talk by Colin...

Cudweed – Gamochaeta coarctata (formaly Gamochaetata spicata) I’ve seen and known about Cudweed in my foraging for some time, but this is the first...

I've recently enjoyed a visit to the Nelson area in the South Island where my friend Jasmin and I went searching for Hawthorn shrubs Craetagus...

In my travels around the country I have been enjoying seeing the bright yellow faces of Hawkbit (Leontodon taraxacoides) in the ditches like a...

Happy New Year everyone! This is the first blog for 2017 and I thought I'd start the year with a plant that receives a bad rap.  I’m sure you’ll be...

Puha (Sonchus oleraceus) or (Sonchus asper) are lushly going up to flower now in September/October. I notice that the pony is seeking Puha out to...

August 30th 2016 saw me flying in a tiny FlyMySky plane across the clear, blue sky to Great Barrier Island from Auckland. The smooth flight gave...

A sure sign of spring is the new nettle shoots that are growing on the perennial nettle Urtica dioica (below left) . Urtica urens (left) is the...

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) has beautiful bright, pale blue flowers on stems that can reach 120cm tall. It is not flowering now in July but I am...

I hear some groans with the mention of this plant because it is so hard to get rid of in the garden. Up until now I’ve not valued Oxalis at all as...

My ‘edible weed’ rambling this month covers three plants similar in appearance, although possessing distinct differences which I can clearly see...

Barberry Berberis glaucocarpa made its first impression on me as a painful thorn in the middle of my foot and the long needle used to get it out,...

I recently came across some interesting research revealing how dandelion, that plant with golden yellow flowers, many try to get rid of in their...

Rather than featuring a plant, this post is about my trip South.  I've recently come back from a fortnight visiting Collingwood, Nelson and...

The mallow family contains over twenty edible species of herbaceous plants that can be annual, biennial or perennial.  A number are considered weeds...

Scotch thistle (Circium vulgare), Californian thistle (C. arvense) and Nodding thistle (Cardus nutans) Have you ever really looked at a thistle...

Nipplewort - Lapsana communis You have to agree this plant has a weird name.  If it could it would probably change it. There are two reasons for the...

Borage - Borago officinalis Loved by bees this plant is both a weed and one we want.  If you don't have it, direct sowing of the seeds in spring and...

Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta I love this little compact, rosette shaped annual with lobed leaves, small white flowers and upright seed pods that...

Hi, I am Wilma. I am Julia’s friend. We met at her workshop and we clicked. Unfortunately I now live in Kaikohe, Northland and I miss her. There is...

Cleavers - Galium aparine There are young cleavers shoots coming up now in July. A sure sign we need this plant during winter to help clear and...

  Young plants of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) are flourishing all over our garden and bush edge as I write in May. A few mature plants...

I love Oxeye daisies - they are so cheerful along the sides of roads from late spring, all through summer and I even have them flowering now...

Nasturtium - Tropaeolum majus Description Nasturtium can be found wild as a garden escape it has beautiful round leaves that are thin, a bright...

Hello Everyone,  I had this idea to interview someone who has taken my Edible Weed course and ask how their journey has been since the course.  I...

Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris This is a gorgeous little plant flowering profusely now in January, in full sun or shade. I love it and want to share...

Amaranthus viridis - Green Amaranth or Amaranthus lividus -Purple Amaranth cultivated in Mexico since 4000BC - making it the oldest known food crop...

Speedwell - Veronica persica 
 Description: The Latin name of this pretty little blue flowered plant comes from a story of a woman, later canonized...

Description other names three-cornered leek light green, grass like leaves and flower stalks are triangular in a cross section (photo below) it is a...

Broad-leaved Plantago major, Narrow-leaved Plantago lanceolata Plantago Star of the Earth or Buck’s Horn Plantain Plantago coronopus The Māori name...

Chickweed  - stellaria media is a delightful plant and my favourite edible weed, growing lushly in the colder months.  It is one of the most common...

Violet - Viola odorata The delicate, sweet scent of violet flowers wafts in the air as I go near the heart shaped leaves of this plant. The meaning...

What is all this new talk about earthing? Earthing or grounding is actually not new but newly revived. It is a reminder of how we were previously...

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale Description Dandelions are one of the most health giving, nutritious and abundant wild edibles that I have come...

Purslane - Portulaca oleracea Purslane has to be the one of the least appreciated edible weeds in New Zealand with huge hidden benefits. The...

Magenta Spreen - Chenopodium giganteum  This is a beautiful plant to grow with it’s soft green goosefoot shaped leaves that have a splash of...

Microgreens from your own saved seed It is a great idea to let your vegetable plants go to seed and then harvest the seed for the next crop.  That...

  Amaranth, Green Amaranthus viridis or  Purple Amaranthus lividus Description These are summer growing annuals found in disturbed,...

Here is a recipe for Fudge Frosting and Strawberry Green Smoothie from Raw Food Made Easy for One or Two People, by Jennifer Cornbleet. Fudge...

As well as harvesting wild edibles to enhance my nutrition, I love making my own products for use around the house - I know what ingredients I have...

Greetings everyone, Spring is definitely here on the farm where I'm living with daffodils and some rhododendrons out along the drive. They look so...

Winter Wild Edible Pesto   Big handful of wild edibles (Abundant in August during winter I used storksbill, hedge mustard & chickweed)   Juice...

This green smoothie journey is so amazing!  My body is leading the way.  A couple of weeks ago I was having a lot of aching joints and realised...

Chickpea preparation - Soak 2 cups chickpeas overnight in pure water.  In the morning, drain and throw away the water and rinse well.  They will...

Galinsoga - Galinsoga parviflora Description This leafy, upright, summer annual has the common name used by my Dad ‘gallant soldier’ and is cursed...

Circulation Booster Smoothie with Gingko, Galensoga and Dandelion Did you know you can add gingko leaves to your smoothie.  Gingko is used for...

Greetings everyone, Exciting news that I've had a little movie made about my work and my love of weeds and eating them.  Aaron Smart a professional...

Purslane - Portulaca oleracea Description This has to be one of the least appreciated edible weeds with huge hidden benefits. It has 4mg per gram of...

I invite you to try this new smoothie recipe I have created with amaranth, galinsoga, raspberries and other greens growing abundantly in summer....

A fresh spring smoothie using red coloured greens and fruits. The two wild varieties of strawberry  Alpine - non creeping with white flowers and...

Weed Pesto  Play around with this recipe and invent your own version with whatever plants you have most of and love to eat. 5 rosemary sprigs 12cms...

Thought all you gardeners would enjoy this conversation between God and St. Francis. It is funny because it is so true. GOD: Frank you know all...

What has Shakespeare got to do with weeds you might ask? It turns out Shakespeare was very familiar with the wild flowers and folklore of his home...

Dove’s Foot Geranium - Geranium Molle  Description  I hadn’t met this plant until 2012 and now I seem to have it everywhere in the garden.  It seems...

Greetings everyone, I was in a hurry the other morning and couldn't do my usual morning wander so just grabbed 4 plantain leaves, 4 dandelion leaves...

Here's a smoothie recipe for increasing your nutrition in winter Winter Health Boosting Smoothie (The photo below shows the quantities of weeds I...

There are a number of weeds that provide lots of nutrition in winter. Well over my cold covered in the last Blog, in this edition I feature 5 health...

I have a cold and am in bed resting.  Before I came down with the cold I juiced 3 lemons and 6 mandarins to make a raw hummus (recipe will be posted...

This feathery leaved perennial grows in patches on cultivated land, road sides, lawns or in pasture. It has a pleasant smell and sends up tall...

These images are all from my garden. I grow wheatgrass in small containers and I have 6 going at once from freshly sown to tall. I start a new one...

This is a great video which is a trailer for the movie Go Raw Now. Some compelling reasons to go raw! The video below shows testimonials from people...