Developing a Practice

Herbs

Since I was at school I have been fascinated by herbs, their uses, the folklore surrounding them, growing and foraging. My regular newsletters often include my reading and experience in my garden and kitchen. Studying the lore of traditional herbs has been a way into reading landscape, connecting with growers, healers, textile workers, craftsmen, lovers and housewives of the past, understanding the many kinds of skills and knowledge that have been passed down to us, the different relationships people have with land and plants and their own bodies.

I have found that issues around the growing studying and use of herbs provides me with a way in to reflect about and campaign on many of the issues that most concern me - migration, nuclear disarmament, disability (particularly neurodivergence and mental health issues), climate change and biodiversity loss.

I write about this in my newsletters, and in my blog Burnedthumb and many of these issues come up in my poetry and essays.