I’m Mariko, a permaculturalist, sharing my thoughts on “playing, living, working and studying” from New Zealand!
Last weekend, I participated in a wild plant picking workshop.
I attended her first workshop two years ago. That was her very first own workshop. Then she was no longer nervous, but now she has a wealth of knowledge, is perfectly organised, and has grown into a charming instructor who is always smiling and cracking jokes.
I thought I had found my ideal model for my future workshop of my own.
Avoid the risks and enjoy wildflowers
I would try anything I could eat, but I can’t do that with my guest.
In this class, we avoided the risk and went out to pick wild plants (weeds) that were definitely edible.
The view is spectacular like this.
This is the view you can see just a five-minute walk from the instructor’s house.
Beyond the forest is the sea.
I noticed a nice, familiar smell on the roadside, and as I walked along, I wondered what it was…
This was it.
Paragonium Pelargonium is a member of the geranium family. Apparently, the fact that the petals are separated into two on top and three on the bottom makes it edible.
However, this is not certain, so this time it’s on our “don’t eat” list…
There are so many varieties of geraniums, and some of them can cause stomach upset.
Miner’s lettuce
Miner’s Lettuce is recommended in gardening magazines as an edible weed.
I had always wondered what kind of plant it was, and now I’ve finally found it.
It’s bigger than I imagined and doesn’t look like lettuce at all, more like a begonia leaf.
I received some seeds so I’d like to grow some at home.
My top pick is this
This was my second tour, so I didn’t learn about many new wild plants, but
this was the first time I tried it.
Plantain flower .
I was told in advance that it tastes like mushrooms.
If it tasted like mushrooms, it tasted moldy???
I was doubted to taste it, but when I tried it…it really did taste like mushrooms! What’s more, it had a buttery aftertaste.
Enjoy the food too
Such colorful wildflowers. The instructor said that the basket was cheap at an op shop.
The house is also cute.
I’m going to make lunch now.
Healthy Lunch
When I say “make it,” I mean just tear it up and mix it together and the salad is ready! Easy as!
Mix in various wild herbs, sweet potatoes, and quinoa.
Finish with a drizzle of orange or lemon juice. The onion weed, with its scallion-like aroma, adds a nice flavor.
Weeds are not the enemy
I want to say it loud and clear!
Weeds are not the enemy. This will take too long to explain, so I’ll save it for next time.
If you understand how nature works and incorporate it into your body in the right way, many things will start to run smoothly.
Communicating the cycle of nature
This will be my theme from now on.
