EP43: Plants, Enchantment and Wild Words

11/04/22 • 66 min

Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants

In Episode 43, "Plants, Enchantment and Wild Words," Robin and Zoe delve into the enthralling world of plant lore and explore how enchantment and folklore have shaped our connection with the natural world. Zoe shares her unique insights into the role of plants in mythology and how anthropomorphism and gender have influenced our understanding and stories of the plant world.

This episode also uncovers the magic of wordsmithing and the art of storytelling, revealing how the power of language can evoke a sense of wonderment and help us foster a closer bond with nature. Robin and Zoe discuss the significance of writing as a form of ritual and ceremony, demonstrating how creative expression can lead to a more profound connection with the earth and its stories.

Highlights:

Uncover the mesmerizing world of plant lore, enchantment, and folklore.
Delve into the role of anthropomorphism and gender in our understanding of plants.
Learn about the magic of wordsmithing and storytelling as a way to connect with the natural world.
Discover writing as a form of ritual and ceremony.

Join Robin Harford and Zoe Gilbert in Episode 43 of the Eatweeds Podcast, and let them guide you through a fascinating exploration of plants, enchantment, and wild words. Ignite your imagination and enhance your relationship with nature through the transformative power of storytelling and creative expression.

Folk: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/folk/9781408884317
Mischief Acts: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/mischief-acts-joyous-the-times-best-summer-reads-2022/9781526628800
A Wild and Precious Life: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/a-wild-and-precious-life-a-recovery-anthology/9781783529643
London Lit Lab: https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/
Zoe's website: http://zoegilbert.com/
Zoe's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindandlanguage

About Zoe Gilbert

Zoe's first novel, Folk (Bloomsbury), was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and adapted for BBC Radio (read by the brilliant Samantha Spiro). She has just finished turning some of the chapters from Folk into a libretto, for a song cycle that will have its world premiere in 2023.

Her second novel, Mischief Acts (Bloomsbury), is released in March 2022, and is inspired by the past and future of the Great North Wood, which used to cover a large swathe of South London.

Since completing Mischief Acts, Zoe has moved from London to the Kent coast, which is (not surprisingly) influencing her third novel. It turns out that place - alongside folklore, nature and social history - is a starting point for her writing.

Besides novels, Zoe has been writing short stories for most of her adult life. You can find a few of them in anthologies by Comma Press, and they have also appeared in books and journals worldwide including The Stinging Fly, Mechanics' Institute Review, and the British Fantasy Society Journal. Some of her stories have won prizes, including the Costa Short Story Award.

Zoe is co-founder of London Lit Lab with Lily Dunn, where she teaches creative writing, and the co-editor with Lily of A Wild and Precious Life (Unbound 2021), an anthology of writers in recovery.

Highlights:

Uncover the mesmerizing world of plant lore, enchantment, and folklore.
Delve into the role of anthropomorphism and gender in our understanding of plants.
Learn about the magic of wordsmithing and storytelling as a way to connect with the natural world.
Discover writing as a form of ritual and ceremony.

Folk: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/folk/9781408884317
Mischief Acts: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/mischief-acts-joyous-the-times-best-summer-reads-2022/9781526628800
A Wild and Precious Life: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/a-wild-and-precious-life-a-recovery-anthology/9781783529643
London Lit Lab: https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/
Zoe's website: http://zoegilbert.com/
Zoe's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindandlanguage

About Zoe Gilbert

Her second novel, Mischief Acts (Bloomsbury), is released in March 2022, and is inspired by the past and future of the Great North Wood, which used to cover a large swathe of South London.

Zoe is co-founder of London Lit Lab with Lily Dunn, where she teaches creative writing, and the co-editor with Lily of A Wild and Precious Life (Unbound 2021), an anthology of writers in recovery.

Previous Episode

EP42: Medicinal Forest Gardens

Online: Course: Medicinal Trees and Their Healing Properties
https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/medicinal-trees

Website: Medicinal Forest Garden Trust
https://medicinalforestgardentrust.org/

Twitter: @herbaid
Instagram: @medicinalforest
Facebook: @medicinalforest

About Anne Stobart

Anne Stobart is a medical herbalist, herb grower and historical researcher. Previously, she directed the professional programme for clinical herbal practitioners at Middlesex University, UK.

Her research interests span domestic medicine in the early modern period to present-day sustainable herbal medicine supplies.

She is a member of the advisory board for the Journal of Herbal Medicine and is an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Exeter, UK.

Her publications include Household Medicine in Seventeenth-Century England (Bloomsbury Academic, 2016) and The Medicinal Forest Garden Handbook (Permanent Publications, 2020).

Anne co-founded the Holt Wood Herbs project in Devon based on permaculture design principles, transforming a redundant conifer plantation into a thriving medicinal forest garden.

Currently, she is developing the Medicinal Forest Garden Trust and working with several groups on medicinal forest garden projects.

Her latest online course is on Medicinal Trees and Their Healing Properties.

Next Episode

EP44: A Year on Wild Food

My guest for this episode of the Eatweeds podcast is the remarkable Mo' Wilde. An author and experienced foraging teacher, Mo' has done something few could even contemplate: she lived for a full year completely sustained by wild food. Her fascinating journey and profound insights will have you rethinking your daily meals and your connection to the world around you.

Key topics for this episode include:

The incredible diversity of the microbiome and its importance for gut health.
The essential practice of foraging and how it connects us to our ancestors.
The astounding variety and nutritional richness of wild food.
An in-depth discussion on food choices, their impact on our bodies, and the environment.

Throughout the episode, Mo' shares the highs and lows of her year on wild food, detailing how it impacted her health, wellbeing, and particularly her microbiome. You'll hear about the changes she observed, the challenges she faced, and how the experience deepened her connection with nature.

Robin and Mo' also delve into thought-provoking discussions about our food choices and how they directly influence not only our personal health, but the health of our soil and the broader ecosystem. Mo's unique perspective brings a refreshing and much-needed critique of our contemporary food systems, inspiring listeners to consider their own role within these systems.

Join us for Episode 44 of Eatweeds, 'A Year on Wild Food', and take a step into the wild side of nutrition and ecological awareness. Whether you're a seasoned forager or just starting your wild food journey, this episode is a trove of knowledge, inspiration, and food for thought.

Connect with Mo Wilde

Selected links from the show

About Mo Wilde

Mo is a forager, research herbalist and ethnobotanist. She lives in West Lothian in a self-built wooden house on 4 organic acres where she is encouraging medicinal and foraging species to make their home, creating a wild, teaching garden. She has a Masters degree in Herbal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the Linnean Society, a Member of the British Mycological Society and a Member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). She also teaches foraging and herbal medicine courses, with the aim of “Restoring Vital Connection”.

Back Matter

Follow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach you how to safely thrive from nature's larder.