Invest in Plants -Foraging information and recipes from Auckland, New Zealand

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Podcast - Neuro Bounty

Episode one- Lisa Cutcliffe (Edulis Wild Food UK)

nettle cordial in glass

Drink

Nettle Cordial

Nettle cordial adapted from Galloway Wild Foods recipe Collect nettle tops. Leave on a plate by window- so bugs can escape. Wash with tongs Citric acid 500g sugar 500ml water 200g-300g of nettle tops (collected Read more…

Nasturtium flowers

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Nasturtium butter

1 cup nasturtium flower petals, washed and patted dry 1 pinch salt 1/2 block of unsalted butter Mash flower petals in mortar and pestle with salt. Add to softened butter. Mix together. Spread onto gladwrap, Read more…

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It's all in a name Karamū ~ Coprosma robusta
🇳🇿 *Coprosma means 💩 'dung smelling'
Which refers to the crushed leaf smell of some species that do. (Coprosma foetidissima is deffo one)
But Karamu, doesn't.😢 Poor Karamū
*Edible orange berries
*Member of the same family as coffee - Rubiaceae 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
*Domatia (little holes)on the back of the leaves, their function seems to be inconclusive
Some theories are : spots for ants and tiny insects to hang out 🐜
Or bacterial nodules...? 🤔🤔 Also, just pretty 🧡🧡🧡

Amazing workshop this fair morn, focused on NZ na

Amazing workshop this fair morn, focused on NZ native plants, and we looked at some exotics as well! Thanks Angus and Steven! Curious to what insect caused the hole punches in the cherry tree... 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Pics:
Chinese happy tree
Yellow lichen
NZ cedar
🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃 Other learnings:
*Ngaio native Vs non native differences
*Coastal vs reg five finger /whauwhaupaku
*Frass is the name for insect poop 💩
*Giant aphids were spotted, and their sticky honey dew which then sooty mould grows on.
*Camphor tree- mothballs anyone?

Found this at the markets today. Portulaca olerac

Found this at the markets today. Portulaca oleracea.
What to do with it? #purslane #avondalemarkets #invest_in_plants #eatyourweeds #boughtnotforaged

Kohekohe ~Dysoxylum spectabile. You're so beautifu

Kohekohe ~Dysoxylum spectabile. You're so beautiful. I'm waiting for your strange lookin fruit to ripen and split open. In winter! I haven't seen them yet in real life.
So cool how the fruits come off a branch straight from the trunk and are usually hidden away. Kohekohe is mentioned in names of places
Pukekohe - hill of kohekohe
Kaikohe - to eat berries of kohekohe (I've never eaten myself and don't know if you can) 🍂🍂🍂 Wouldn't it be great if all places were named after what is reflected in the land. Trees/mountains views etc instead of people's names as it helps with navigation and story telling from the past.

Pickled red onions. Really good on top of a bagel

Pickled red onions. Really good on top of a bagel with avocado, halloumi, it adds that special something. I'm addicted. Very easy to make. I was inspired by @mtatkinson_coffee 1-2 red onions (depends on size of jar)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
Boiling water Chop onion, mix sugar, salt and apple cider vinegar together until dissolved. Pour water over red onions. Leave for one min. Pack onion into sterile jars. Pour apple cider mix overtop covering onion. Let cool. Put in fridge. Good after 1 day. Best after 3. #pickledonion #plantrecipes #pickle #brightcolouredpickle #kitchencreations #homeliving

ADHD may have been helpful for our foraging past!

ADHD may have been helpful for our foraging past! https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/21/adhd-may-have-been-an-evolutionary-advantage-research-suggests And link in bio #adhdforagers #neuroforager #nzforagers

Happy pride month! Jive dancing!!!!

Happy pride month! Jive dancing!!!!

Reading currently. Look at the tiny gorgeous forag

Reading currently. Look at the tiny gorgeous foraging illustrations shown in the headings (which I've made look big). I believe they are by Sian Wilson. So now I've looked at all the wee pictures I can start to read the book. 😂🍒🍒 How did she do it? -a year only eating foraged and free food in Scotland? #MonicaWilde #the wildernesscure #foreverforaging #foragedreading #foragingnz

Hello baby shiso. You're taking ages to grow, whic

Hello baby shiso. You're taking ages to grow, which is good so I can practice delayed gratification 💚💚💚 #shiso #japaneseherbs #notkoreanshiso #gardenforaging
#invest_in_plants

Foraged wreath time. Base is made of weeping willo

Foraged wreath time. Base is made of weeping willow.
Want to make your own? Link in bio. #foragedwreath #summerwreath #winterissummer #bayleaf

Hello Yarrow. One of my fav herbs. I collect it to

Hello Yarrow.
One of my fav herbs. I collect it to make a tea which soothes menstrual pains.
🌿🌿🌿
It's awesome at stopping blood flow so can be chewed and pasted onto small wounds. In my experience they heal pretty much scar free.
💚💚💚
Has also been used to stop shaving cuts from bleeding. Very beautiful plant I would not be without it.

Sheep's sorrel flowers are out at the moment and a

Sheep's sorrel flowers are out at the moment and are a helpful identification feature. I love this little and tart flavoured plant.

Helen Lehndorf, an author and foraging guru from P

Helen Lehndorf, an author and foraging guru from Palmerston North, New Zealand, spoke at the Writers Festival this year. As she shared her humble story I was impressed by her strength of her spirit and her rich experiences of community.⁠
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In her memoir Helen Lendorf explores the part that foraging has played as an essential pillar of well-being she frequents when times are hard, for connection and for joy. Topics weave together including; neurodiversity, strength of community, family, and recipes. ⁠ Get your foraging hands on this gem now.⁠
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#neurodiversity #community #foragingNZ #helenlendorf #reconnecttonature

Nasturtium pesto! As the Northern hemisphere cele

Nasturtium pesto! As the Northern hemisphere celebrates the coming darker months, the Southern hemisphere moves towards more light and warmth. To celebrate Beltane I collected wild flowers and it seemed apt to make a pesto from the leaves of nasturtium. Such a happy plant, with its oranges,yellow blooms.☀️🔥🌺
Learn more about this plant in my online webinar. Link in bio.☀️ #beltane #nasturtium #invest_in_plants #wildfoodlove #foragingnz #foragedfun

Loquats are ready now, some will be ripening soon.

Loquats are ready now, some will be ripening soon. Get out to your local park, make sure you know the plant 100%.⁠ Please don't spread the seeds of this plant in Auckland, NZ it's invasive.
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I like to mindfully ask the plant if it's ok if you take some fruit. If you do take, you've just entered into a relationship with that plant, and it will be your turn to give back to it next time you see it. Maybe it needs a prune? Some water? Teach a friend its name. Give back❤️⁠
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#invest_in_plants #newzealandforaging #aotearoaforaging #forageauckland #foragingnz #aucklandforaging #forageforfoodconnection #nzforaging #eatweedsoften #freefood #mindfulforaging #slowlife #nzgarden #foragingnz #wildfoodlove #inthewild #lockdownforaging #lockdownlife

Free tasty tropical fruit? An invasive weed?Yes to

Free tasty tropical fruit? An invasive weed?Yes to both, so let's solve the problem and eat it. ⁠
Banana passion fruit is not permitted to be grown in Auckland, as it can smother other plants. It's very good at growing and very edible.⁠
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Want to know more about what you can forage during Auckland's lockdown? Online workshop coming Nov 13th. More details to follow. ⁠
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#forageauckland #foragenz #foragingforever #newfoods#invest_in_plants #foragingnz #aucklandforaging #forageforfoodconnection #nzforaging #eatweedsoften #freefood #mindfulforaging #slowlife #nzgarden #wildfoodlove #inthewild ⁠

Delicious pesto made from local weeds. I used onio

Delicious pesto made from local weeds. I used onion weed in NZ (it's called 3 cornered leek in the UK). Allium triquetrum makes a flavourful pesto. Spread on bagels, toast, spaghetti crackers... But! Do not spread the seeds of this plant due to its invasive nature.⁠
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ID check:⁠
- bell shaped flowers with green stripe⁠
-triangular stem with a ridge when cut⁠
- oniony/garlic smell when cut⁠
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As always harvest from clean areas, avoid cemetaries,away from busy roads.⁠
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What have you made with onion weed? 🌿🍤 apparently its great in tempura, that's next on my list to try.⁠
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#invest_in_plants #foragingnz #aucklandforaging #forageforfoodconnection #nzforaging #eatweedsoften #freefood #mindfulforaging #slowlife #nzgarden #foragingnz #wildfoodlove #inthewild

Nettle cordial online workshop! April 24th Sat 10A

Nettle cordial online workshop!
April 24th Sat 10AM
Collect some nettles mindfully, and let's make cordial together!
Thanks for hosting Transition Stirling.
Link in bio. Second picture shows difference brown sugar and white sugar makes to the colour. (White is pinky) #nettle #cordial #springdrink #makeityourself #invest_in_plants #fullofhealth #foragedmindfully #transitionstirling #nettlelove

Free colouring sheet to make you happy colouring i

Free colouring sheet to make you happy colouring in Flowering Currant. Swipe left to see. It's a great way to get to know plants, by drawing them. Colouring is the next best thing. Link in bio. 🌸❤️ #colouringforadults #colouringplants #foragedcolour #floweringcurrant #floweringcurrantdrawing #colourforcalm #pandemiccalm #joyforcolour #naturesgifts

Great workshop learning about seaweed with Jayson

Great workshop learning about seaweed with Jayson this morning! Interesting to learn;
*There are red, brown and green seaweeds
*Can store Nori in the freezer
*Take safety seriously, slippery + rocks= caution
*Use scissors to cut
*Collect from areas that are clean, can ring SEPA to find out.
*Use sea spaghetti as gluten free spaghetti 🍝 #seaweed #dabberlocks #nori #lockdownforaging

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