A poem to bring in the new Summer season and blessings for our land Welcome May, May King, May Queen; Leading processions to bring the new month in; On the cusp of a brand new Summer season; Gaelic festival of the Fires of Bel, and bonfires of Beltane. Welcome May, baskets full of wildflowers; Beautiful blossoms from the rain of April showers; Livestock return to pasture, to roam free again; Children run in bare feet, quick and nimble like mini-hurricanes. Welcome May, Jack-in-the-Green of milk pail fame; Dancing figure of foliage in a wicker-wood frame; Embodiment of the Spirit of Spring ..read more

Debunking a work of fiction to replace it with a true story that speaks of the innate beauty and ingenuity of Human Nature Over the years many of us have heard made-up stories that we may have known were not true, but may not have realised, altered our perception and understanding of ourselves and the world in some way. Spurious stories that make us question our self worth and innate goodness as spiritual and conscientious beings, are worth noting for their power of persuasion and ‘Lord of the Flies’ is no exception. The 'best selling’ Lord of the Flies is a perfect example of the imperviou ..read more

The science behind our need to be closer to Nature and creating environments where human beings can thrive This post is a prelude to a series of reviews on five of Erich Fromm's books exploring Human Nature with scientific knowledge on what it means to love ourselves and each other, and why we need to live closer to Nature in natural environments in order to thrive. The books I have re-read after many years include To Have or To Be, The Art of Being, The Art of Loving, Man For Himself and Escape From Freedom. They are listed at the end of this post. Today, I am sharing two main concepts or ..read more

An exquisite account of Nature in the fields of England through the seasons In 1972, concerned about the natural environment and the quality of our food, Richard Mabey wrote the first edition of Food For Free as a cheeky, challenging, a snub to domesticity as much as domestication. This remarkable book, was born of an increasing belief that foraging might be an excellent way to reconnect with the wild. As foraging has become common currency on TV food programmes and restaurants with courses and guided walks available to search for and collect all manner of wild foods, some varieties have be ..read more

A poem about a magical place where wild Wood Anemones grow An ancient path, worn, steps rooted, Following an old stone wall, to the rocks above; Penny Pies, Moss and Lichen growing side by side; In early Spring, as Nature opens with new life. At the top of the path, the trail flattens, New Wild Garlic leaves line the way in patterns; Going on to twist and turn like a ribbon; Along the curve of the river, as leaves sparkle and glisten. Two mighty Oaks, doorway to a magical place, A steep track leading down to the water‘s edge; A path soft with fallen leaves and dampened soil; Winding steps ..read more

Wise words about the wonders of wild food how best to eat them Discovering, collecting and preparing wild foraged food is a process that teaches us how to connect more closely with Nature and how to enjoy her abundance through the seasons. There is something about cleaning, storing, preparing, cooking and eating wild food you have gathered yourself that brings so much joy and many benefits. We know that the art of going organic requires us to revisit, reshape and adapt our way of living to accommodate a more holistic approach to life. It takes time to learn so that we understand how best we ..read more

Gathering and preparing food to eat from Mother Nature's store cupboard  I felt inspired to write this post as I have been making a concerted effort at the start of this new Spring Season to spend more time learning about, foraging for and preparing wild food to eat and enjoy as part of my natural organic diet. I have always dabbled at foraging as certain crops of wild food have presented themselves to me over the years. I have learned a lot about certain fresh herbs to forage and grow for my herbal teas and detox remedies. This is a continuing and unfolding journey which I am delighted to ..read more

A poem about connecting to the love and joy Mother Nature brings If you love Mother Nature; She will love you too, in abundance; With unlimited gifts of beauty, healing energy and nourishment. When you feel happy; Mother Nature will smile with you; In any weather, see her sparkle, feel her resonate around you. When you feel low; Mother Nature will lift and comfort you; Feel the ebb and flow of her gentle waves within you. When you feel anxious; Mother Nature will reassure you; Helping you take away your stress and grounding you. When you feel fearful or afraid; Mother Nature will protec ..read more

An exquisite account of Nature in the fields of England through the seasons Meadlowland is a wonderful book that takes you to the heart of the English countryside to experience the flourishing, blossoming and dying down of Nature through each month of the year. John Lewis-Stempel tells the story of Nature as it passes through the seasons in an ancient meadow on his farm. As an addendum in the final chapter, John recalls how he first became interested in Nature. He was a boy given to rambles with his black Labrador dog. Usually alone although sometimes with cousins or friends, John donned an ..read more

A summary of things to watch out for and enjoy in Nature through April At the beginning of April our woodlands, hedgerows and gardens burst into life in an abundance of flower buds, opening bulbs and fresh new leaves. In the early morning the Dawn Chorus is in full swing as Dandelions, Buttercups and Daisies adorn lawns, fields and verges with their brilliant splashes of gold. April comes from the words 'Aprilis' (Latin), 'Aperto' (Italian) or 'Aperire' (Roman) meaning to open up . In history, it is recorded that April came before January and February and was the second month of the Roman c ..read more