Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants

• EP53: Crafting Herbal Teas

  In this episode of the Eatweeds Podcast, Robin Harford sits down with Vivien Rolfe, a herbalist and researcher with a fascinating background in both science and herbal medicine. Recorded outdoors in the serene gardens of Penny Brohn in Bristol, this conversation delves into the art and science of herbal teas, the power of plants, and the rich cultural history surrounding their use.SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODECuriosity ResearchFree Subscription: Robin Harford's Daily Plant PracticesBook: Self Sufficient Herbalism by Lucy JonesABOUT VIVIEN ROLFEViv is a keen herbal researcher, educator and tea blender (and drinker). She splits her time between the National Centre for Integrative Medicine in Bristol teaching on the diploma, and researching herbs as part of her own business Curiosity Research. She is keen that people have fun and learn more about herbs, so co-founded the Cotswold Herb Centre to provide workshops and herb walks in Gloucestershire where she lives.

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• EP52: Indigenous Plant Practices in India

  In this episode of the Eatweeds podcast, Robin Harford is joined by filmmaker Nirman Choudhury to explore the deep connection between India’s indigenous communities and their traditional ecological knowledge of plants.Nirman shares insights from his project "Shifting Narratives," which highlights how tribal and Dalit communities use visual storytelling to document their relationship with their environment. The conversation delves into how these communities sustainably harvest forest produce, use plants for food and medicine, and maintain spiritual practices tied to the land. Through stories of resilience, they discuss the importance of preserving indigenous plant knowledge and the vital role it plays in environmental stewardship.SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEShifting Narrativesnirmanchowdhury.inMadia Gond Tribe uses the camera for the first timeThe Dongria Kondh say plot of James Cameron's blockbuster reflects their plight as they struggle to stop company from opening bauxite mine on sacred mountainSarna ReligionIntroduction to India's TribesAdivasiActivists from Tribal IndiaPhotojournalist Sudharak OlweMinor Forest produceMadia Gond tribes leave ancestral land, to make way for tiger conservationImportant stories from Rural and Tribal IndiaHow one man fought a patent war over turmericABOUT NIRMAN CHOUDHURYNirman Choudhury is a film-maker and Visual Artist working in the intersection of storytelling and films for change, with a strong focus on human rights issues such as caste discrimination, hunger and inter sectional indigenous/tribal issues. Using lens based practices to engage with communities and foster growth and social change. He also runs a commercial video production studio based in Mumbai.

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• EP51: Green Recovery - Beyond Sexual Trauma

  In this powerful episode, host Robin Harford welcomes Hannah-May Batley, founder of Hedge School, to discuss her groundbreaking work in plant-based healing and community regeneration.Hannah-May shares her journey from a post-mining community in South Yorkshire to creating a unique curriculum that addresses trauma, particularly sexual violence against women, through reconnection with nature.She explains how foraging, wild food, and traditional plant knowledge can be powerful tools for recovery and resilience.Highlights IncludeThe origins of Hedge School and its impact on post-mining communitiesHow plant-based practices can aid in sexual violence recoveryThe intersection of class, land rights, and healingPersonal insights into nature as an anchor during dark timesThis episode offers a sensitive yet hopeful exploration of how returning to our roots - literally and figuratively - can pave the way for profound healing and community restoration.Don't miss this inspiring conversation about the transformative power of our connection to plants and place.Rape Crisis ResourcesRape Crisis- England & WalesSurvivors NetworkRasacRecommended BooksWomen Who Run With The WolvesThe Sun & Her FlowersThe Body Keeps The ScoreGirlhoodCaliban & The WitchAbout Hannah-May BatleyHannah-May is an unruly educator & the founder of Hedge School, a school that seeks to recover, reconnect & restore our relationship with kith & kin through plant-work, traditional skills & unruly education. She would describe herself as a woman deeply interested in the human relationship with plants, minerals & mark-making. Hannah-may teaches foraging, community herbalism, wild food, how to forage & process wild pigments & botanical inks, preservation methods & folk medicine.She is a writer with work published in several UK journals & magazines & is currently working on her first book. Hannah-May is a member of the Society of Ethnobotanist & Pigments Revealed International. She specialises in working with community trauma, taking plant-work into marginalised communities.Connect With Hannah-May BatleyInstagram: Woman of the HedgeInstagram: Hannah-May BatleySubstack: Root and RockWebsite: HedgeSchool.co.ukBack MatterFollow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Substack, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.If you're ready to uncover the secrets of Britain and Northern Europe's wild plants, grab a copy of my bestselling foraging book. Inside, you'll learn how to safely harvest and thrive on nature's bounty.Embark on a journey through 48 essential wild plants, all beautifully illustrated in full colour. Rediscover the forgotten wisdom of our ancestors and revive our ancestral heritage. Get your copy today and start your foraging journey!

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• EP50: The Sound of Trees

  Welcome to Episode 50 of the Eatweeds podcast, where host Robin Harford takes us on an auditory journey into the world of sound art and ecoacoustics with guest Jez riley French.In this episode, titled 'The Sound of Trees', we dive into the fascinating world of listening to plants and the hidden layers of sound that surround us.Jez, a leading British sound artist, shares the behind-the-scenes details of his latest exhibition in the Forest of Dean, revealing the actual internal sounds of plants and trees through his self-built microphones.The immersive live installation aims to change the way we engage with forests, moving beyond their traditional leisurely use.Highlights of the episode include Jez's discussion on the ethics of field recording, the importance of listening on nature's terms, and the significance of durational listening.He also sheds light on the often overlooked history of women in sound art and field recording, challenging the conventional narratives that have long dominated these fields.Listeners are encouraged to rethink their relationship with nature and sound, embracing the complexity and beauty of the world's acoustic environment. Whether you're a seasoned sound artist or new to the concept of ecoacoustics, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the art of listening and the power of sound to connect us more deeply with the natural world.Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the sounds that often go unnoticed.Show notes are below for a deeper dive into Jez riley French's work, and the transformative power of sound.Connect With Jez riley FrenchWebsiteLinktreeFacebookInstagramSoundwalk: The Secret Sounds of TreesCreditsMany thanks to Pheobe riley Law for permission to use her photo of Jez in the episode artwork.WebsiteInstagramBack MatterFollow 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.

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• EP49: So You Want To Be A Herbalist

  In this episode, #49 of the Eatweeds podcast, I sit down with Helen Kearney at the Betonica herb school on a lazy Summer day in the Devon countryside.We dive into the added value herbalists bring to the strained National Health Service (NHS) and discuss Helen's path from being inspired by her grandmother to becoming a medical herbalist and educator.We tackle the evolution of medicine since World War II, highlighting the crucial role of self-care and the struggle for herbal medicine's legal recognition.Helen shares the comprehensive training that goes into becoming a skilled herbalist and how Betonica equips students with necessary business skills to make the practice successful.Our discussion also spans the integration of herbal medicine into the NHS, social prescribing, and the need for herbalists to actively engage with their communities.I wrap up the conversation by exploring how herbalism is becoming more inclusive, the shift in gender dynamics in the field, and Betonica's community-focused principles.Helen details her vision for Betonica as more than just a school; it's a place that connects and builds community in response to healthcare challenges.Join me in this episode for a direct discussion on personal experiences and insights into the future of medical herbalism.Connect With Helen Kearney and the Betonica Herb SchoolBetonica on FacebookBetonica on InstagramBetonica School of Herbal Medicine websiteBack MatterFollow 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.

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