Alexis Pitsopoulos, locavore, DJ and Edible weed expert, runs regular on demand wild foods workshops at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre. Call DNC on 5348 3569 to enquire about the next one or you can join Alexis' mailing list.
Also check out this awesome blog post by Patrick Jones on a recent weed walk with Alexis.
Showing posts with label weeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weeds. Show all posts
Monday, October 11
Feral food future
Eating weeds, as I’m beginning to understand, is the most radical food supply available. It is one that attends to the desire to make the transition to ecologically embedded modes of existence, transitioning to a feral food future perhaps more suited to non-Indigenous Australians. We are, after all, weeds ourselves. However, with expanding populations a relocalised food supply system is going to rely on biodiverse modes of supply that Malthus could have only dreamed of. Permaculture shows us how to cohabit the earth again alongside non-human nature while generating an abundant and diverse food supply. Permaculture is a transitional ideology, a framework for putting all the local food supply options back on the table – foraging for feral fruits and nuts, growing annual and perennial vegetables, eating edible weeds, developing reciprocal relationships with other species, eating much less or no meat, understanding the importance of micro-fauna and micro-fungi networks to enhance soils for greater food abundance
Patrick Jones from Greenwash #13 article published in In Trouble
Patrick Jones from Greenwash #13 article published in In Trouble
Wednesday, October 6
Sunday, October 3
Wild food foraging
What is important to me, and what Frank also taught, is people need to re-learn foraging, healing and celebrating with wild plants. These humble, undomesticated, feral beings. Domestication leads to docility, to a slow death of our senses and a loss of connection to our soul.
I believe individuals need to start learning ‘skills for self reliance’. We live in challenging times with global warming, peak oil, food security and sustainability being the new buzz-words.
Re-discovering the lost art of foraging is a joyous and pleasurable way to reconnect our fragmented souls back with Nature, back to the ancient roots of this land, and ultimately back to our true kinship with each other.
The coming years on an individual and collective level will be challenging, it is up to us to face those changes directly, to re-empower ourselves and support each other. And the humble plant kingdom has a lot to teach us all.
-- Robin Harford
Wild foods foraging courses
I believe individuals need to start learning ‘skills for self reliance’. We live in challenging times with global warming, peak oil, food security and sustainability being the new buzz-words.
Re-discovering the lost art of foraging is a joyous and pleasurable way to reconnect our fragmented souls back with Nature, back to the ancient roots of this land, and ultimately back to our true kinship with each other.
The coming years on an individual and collective level will be challenging, it is up to us to face those changes directly, to re-empower ourselves and support each other. And the humble plant kingdom has a lot to teach us all.
-- Robin Harford
Wild foods foraging courses
Wild edible resources
Food under Foot,
unleash the energy of wild edibles
Eat Weeds
Wild food guide to the edible plants of Britain
Herbs are special getting to know and use wild edibles
Self nutrition data Dandelion greens
Health benefits of dandelions
Much of what dandelions purportedly do in promoting good health could result from nutritional richness alone. Vogel considers the sodium in dandelions important in reducing inflammations of the liver. Gerasimova, the Russian chemist who analyzed the dandelion for, among other things, trace minerals, stated that "dandelion [is] an example of a harmonious combination of trace elements, vitamins and other biologically active substances in ratios optimal for a human organism" (Hobbs 1985).
unleash the energy of wild edibles
Eat Weeds
Wild food guide to the edible plants of Britain
Herbs are special getting to know and use wild edibles
Self nutrition data Dandelion greens
Health benefits of dandelions
Much of what dandelions purportedly do in promoting good health could result from nutritional richness alone. Vogel considers the sodium in dandelions important in reducing inflammations of the liver. Gerasimova, the Russian chemist who analyzed the dandelion for, among other things, trace minerals, stated that "dandelion [is] an example of a harmonious combination of trace elements, vitamins and other biologically active substances in ratios optimal for a human organism" (Hobbs 1985).
Stellaria media, Chickweed
Chickweed has been esteemed as an internal cleanser and external healer. It is a soothing and healing herb for the entire digestive system, helping to relieve conditions such as inflammation, ulceration, and bowel disorders. It is said that chickweed possesses many of the healing properties of the valued American Indian remedy, slippery elm. All respiratory complaints can benefit from chickweed. It also has been used as atea and the leaves are eaten for arthritis, rheumatism, blood poisoning, constipation, colitis, gastritis, acid indigestion, diabetes, candida, cancer, fatigue, fractures, mouth ulcers, to strengthen the heart, improve eyesight and to assist the function of the thyroid, liver, gall, kidneys, bladder and lymphatic system. Stellaria media, the plants botanical name, means little star and this plant with its star flowers, in herbal folklore is a 'star' at helping, when we need to gently dissolve something, or to relieve and cool inflamed tissue. As a folk remedy, taken daily over a number of months, it has been known to dissolve cysts, lumps in the breast and elsewhere in the body. Chickweed also thins the membranes of the cells, so that nutrients are more readily absorbed and utilised.
Thrives in the cooler months and in shade, as a sprawling ground cover with soft 1cm long, ovate-shaped, lime green leaves; a line of tiny white hairs runs down the opposing sides of each stem, between each pair of leaves; star- like, tiny white flowers form at stem terminals. In some areas of Europe, chickweed is encouraged in orchards, as it is believed to increase yields of fruit.
From this article 'Getting to know and use edible weeds' from Isabel Shipards's how can I be prepared With Self Sufficency and Survival Foods? book
Thrives in the cooler months and in shade, as a sprawling ground cover with soft 1cm long, ovate-shaped, lime green leaves; a line of tiny white hairs runs down the opposing sides of each stem, between each pair of leaves; star- like, tiny white flowers form at stem terminals. In some areas of Europe, chickweed is encouraged in orchards, as it is believed to increase yields of fruit.
From this article 'Getting to know and use edible weeds' from Isabel Shipards's how can I be prepared With Self Sufficency and Survival Foods? book
Thursday, September 30
Drawing weeds
Friday, September 24
Upcoming Very Edible Gardens workshops
Poultry Systems Establishment within Permaculture Paradise
Come along to a stunning property in Heathmont - one we designed over three years ago - to learn how to set yourself up for chickens and ducks in your backyard. We'll look at and thoroughly explain an integrated chook house-greenhouse-strawyard-run-garden-orchard system. We'll also build a duck pond that uses slope to direct nutrient-rich water to fruit trees, look at sensible duck housing solutions, and generally go through all things duck (note - we think ducks are under-rated in the suburbs!). As part of the day we'll also have a tour of Kim's permaculture system which is like flipping through any permaculture book on suburban possibilities.
Sat, Oct 9th, @9:30am - 01:30PM
Edible Weeds Walk
Many if not most common urban weed species of Melbourne are edible and can provide valuable and nutritious fresh food. Learn to enjoy dandelion, sow thistle, mallow, amaranth, wild onions, wild celery, stinging nettle and many more (with seasonal variation). Many weeds are used by health practitioners for their curative properties. Learn too about some of the ecological uses of weeds as soil improvers, soil indicators and compost additives.
Sat, Oct 30th, @11:00am - 01:00PM
An Introduction to Urban Permaculture
Permaculture is a broad design system for building sustainable human habitats, drawing inspiration from patterns in natural systems.
Sat, Nov 13th and Sat, Nov 20th @9:00am - 04:00PM
Have a look at the VEG website to read more about their workshops and come along, I went to their Fermentation workshop a few weeks ago, it was super great, everything about these guys come highly reccomended.
Come along to a stunning property in Heathmont - one we designed over three years ago - to learn how to set yourself up for chickens and ducks in your backyard. We'll look at and thoroughly explain an integrated chook house-greenhouse-strawyard-run-garden-orchard system. We'll also build a duck pond that uses slope to direct nutrient-rich water to fruit trees, look at sensible duck housing solutions, and generally go through all things duck (note - we think ducks are under-rated in the suburbs!). As part of the day we'll also have a tour of Kim's permaculture system which is like flipping through any permaculture book on suburban possibilities.
Sat, Oct 9th, @9:30am - 01:30PM
Edible Weeds Walk
Many if not most common urban weed species of Melbourne are edible and can provide valuable and nutritious fresh food. Learn to enjoy dandelion, sow thistle, mallow, amaranth, wild onions, wild celery, stinging nettle and many more (with seasonal variation). Many weeds are used by health practitioners for their curative properties. Learn too about some of the ecological uses of weeds as soil improvers, soil indicators and compost additives.
Sat, Oct 30th, @11:00am - 01:00PM
An Introduction to Urban Permaculture
Permaculture is a broad design system for building sustainable human habitats, drawing inspiration from patterns in natural systems.
Sat, Nov 13th and Sat, Nov 20th @9:00am - 04:00PM
Have a look at the VEG website to read more about their workshops and come along, I went to their Fermentation workshop a few weeks ago, it was super great, everything about these guys come highly reccomended.
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