Jody's Journal
Field Notes from the Heart of Wales
Seasonal observations, plant wisdom and hedgerow notes from Jody Valentina.
October
Preparing for Winter: Preserving Autumn's Harvest
Early October
Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. The hedgerows are filled with rosehips and hawthorn berries, apples and pears are ready for gathering, and the woodlands are alive with mushrooms. It's also the time when I begin preparing for winter, preserving what I can from the garden, orchard and surrounding countryside. There's something incredibly satisfying about gathering food and herbs while they're plentiful, knowing they'll still be there to enjoy during the colder months.
Read entrySeptember
Autumn Hedgerow Harvest: Gathering the Last Medicines of the Year
Late September
Autumn has arrived, and the hedgerows are beginning to offer up some of their final medicines before everything settles down for winter. This is the time of year when those beautiful flashes of red start appearing amongst the changing leaves. Rose hips and hawthorn haws are two of our wonderful autumn harvests, and both are well worth gathering.
Read entryLate August
Blackberry Leather: A Taste of Summer in the Freezer
Late August
The blackberries are ripening fast now and the hedgerows are dripping with dark, juicy fruit. It is the perfect time to get out with a basket and gather what you can before the season turns. Blackberries are wonderfully versatile: they can be eaten fresh, made into syrups, tinctures, jams, cordials and one of my favourite preserves, blackberry leather. I roll it up and keep it in the freezer, then pull a strip out in the middle of winter for a little taste of summer sunshine.
Read entryLate August
The Hedgerow Pharmacy is Opening
Late August
As the days begin to shorten, the hedgerows shift from summer flowers to autumn medicines. Elderberries are hanging in heavy purple clusters, rosehips are glowing like little lanterns, and nettle seeds are ready for gathering. This is the moment I begin preparing for the colder months, stocking the apothecary with immune support, soothing salves and restorative tinctures.
Read entryAugust Part One
The Most Underrated Weed in Britain
Early August
August brings the nettle seed harvest, so this month I want to give the humble stinging nettle the attention it deserves. Most people walk past it, or curse it, yet leaf and seed together make one of the most nourishing herbs we have growing wild in Wales.
Read entryJuly Part Two
Don't Miss These Before Summer Ends
Late July
As July moves on, some of the summer herbs are beginning to peak. Here is a quick visual reminder of the plants I am still gathering before the season turns.
Read entryJuly Part One
The Hedgerows Are Calling
Mid-July
July is one of the busiest months of the year for me. Everywhere I look, the hedgerows, meadows and woodland edges are bursting with medicinal plants, and many of my favourite herbs are ready to harvest. This is the time of year when I'm out gathering herbs for tinctures, infused oils and salves, while simply enjoying spending time amongst the plants.
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