I’ve been fascinated with nutrition for as long as I can remember – how it influences our mood, our energy, our sleep.
In training to become a Nutritional Therapist, I learnt a huge amount of science, but when it comes down to our individual health, it is important to remember that we can do so much to help ourselves by making healthy food and lifestyle choices. It can be in the simple changes, the habit building that keeps us in, or helps us back to balance.
Plant Foraging Walks are my way of tapping into, or perhaps extending the lifestyle choice of spending time in nature together with enjoying the nutritional benefits of the foods which are available to forage.
My interest in wild edible foods isn’t just about cooking! It is deeply rooted in my love for flowers, gardening, and the simple joy of watching life unfold. Starting small, I was amazed by the abundance of edible treasures in my own garden – flowers, plants, and even the humble ‘weeds.’ This revelation sparked a passion that gradually expanded beyond my garden.
This time of discovery was ironically propelled by a slowing of my pace of life – while my son was small and little legs couldn’t keep up with long legs! Walking more slowly allowed me to literally ‘stop and smell the roses’ and to truly delve into my local surroundings. It became a ritual to stop, identify, learn and appreciate the wild foods all around.
My son and I now share the joy of spotting and identifying plants – well – most of the time! Sometimes I get limited on the amount of times I stop to look at plants, as his legs are now considerably bigger than they were, as is his personality! I love that he has a keen interest in nature too.
During my edible adventures, I have come to realize that there’s a whole world of nourishment waiting to be discovered right on our doorstep. If you would like to take time out of the fast-paced, hectic, ‘busyness’ of daily life to slow down and re-connect with nature, I’d love you to join me on this journey of embracing the abundance of nature, one edible plant at a time.
