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Showing posts with the label Earth’s Free Pantry

The Sea And Me

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 Keeping My Mind. I’ve been out at sea for the past 15 years now; it’s all I do. I wait for the tide to rise high enough to get the boat out of the Scottish harbour, travel five miles out into the North Sea (the most treacherous sea in the world), and then drop my anchor and grab about three hours of sleep. Of course, I check the weather beforehand, and as much as I try to be careful, the weather can change on a whim. I wish I didn’t have to sleep, but everyone knows that’s impossible. It can be even more dangerous when you’re asleep, not just because the weather can change suddenly, but also because fishing trawlers have a nasty habit of catching fire. There’s a mountain of electrical cabling mixed with a fuel tank containing 2000 litres of diesel, plus other hazards that I won’t bore you with being on board. This is a video I took not long ago, it was of a trawler on fire close to me. So yes, it is the most dangerous job in the world, just one wrong step and it's game over! Yet,...

Chickweed: The Forgotten Superfood Hiding in Plain Sight

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 Once treasured by healers, foragers and households alike, chickweed ( Stellaria media ) has quietly slipped from revered nourishment to ridiculed “weed”. Pulled out, trampled underfoot and ignored, this delicate plant is in fact one of nature’s most generous free gifts,  rich in nutrients, gentle in healing, and abundant almost everywhere we live. It’s time chickweed had its moment again ✨ 🌿 A Plant Loved by History For thousands of years, chickweed was not accidental — it was intentional . Across Europe, Asia and North America, it was eaten fresh, brewed into teas, and applied to the skin. Ancient herbalists described it as cooling, soothing and restorative . In medieval times, chickweed was especially valued in early spring 🌸 one of the first green foods to appear after winter. When diets were sparse, chickweed helped replenish the body with much needed vitamins and minerals, supporting strength, skin health and resilience. Poultices made from fresh chickweed were ...