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Hedge Walker Wild Herbals and Crafts

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Hedge Walker Wild Herbals and Crafts

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A WARMING FERMENT WITH THE ENERGY OF THE SUN, OF SPRING, OF BRIGHDE: <br /> <br /> TOMATO BAKED CHICKEN DRUMS W/ SPICY SPRING GREENS OYSTER MUSHIE ACHAR &amp; DANDELION FLOWER AREPAS : 😍🐔🌿🍄🙆<br /> <br /> Oyster Mushrooms- Pleurotus ostreatus<br /> <br /> Dock Leaves- Rumex species<br /> <br /> Bittercress- Cardamine hirsuta<br /> <br /> Dandelion Leaf &amp; Flowers-Taraxicum officinale<br /> <br /> Ever since the Total Solar Eclipse, I have really been feeling the energy of the spring Sun and its power on my skin, mood, and daily activities. This also happens to be when the Dandelions, looking like little sun discs, are spreading in their full carpets in my backyard, in empty yards and parks; even coming up through the concrete. Though a potent symbol of spring, Dandelions are often overlooked, as they are such a ‘common flower’ but every single part of this herb can be utilized for food and healing preparations. And they are strong AF. If any plant would be considered high survival status, the Dandelion is high on the list. <br /> <br /> Of course, they are not alone. Many spring greens are wildly hearty and available to us at this time– Dock leaves growing tall, pockets of Bittercress hanging about Violets and Dead Nettle, all doing their thing. Why not preserve these backyard forages into a delicious and healthy ferment that will last for several meals? <br /> <br /> Fermented foods are very healing to our digestive tract, which in turn always supports a healthy immune system. It is estimated that approximately 70-75% of our immune system resides in the health of our gut. And as I have often explained, having a healthy gut is directly linked to the health of our brain. This is especially evident in the vagus nerve brain-gut highway, where information is taken in and quickly communicated in a back and forth fashion. There is now strong evidence that particular strains of good bacteria that relate to our moods, ability to think clearly, and emotional well being, affect our abilities to reduce stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Pretty important information these days, wouldn’t you say?! This information is old news, but it doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves.<br /> <br /> The world within our digestive system is multi-faceted, alive, interconnected, and in constant engagement with the rest of our holistic body. If we think of our gut like a wild garden or meadow, teeming with flora, so too do we need the right soil in order for things to grow. If we feed the ‘soil’ of our gut with healthy food full of nutrients and good flora (bacteria), we are encouraging this environment to thrive and work properly. <br /> <br /> And if we are including foods from the wild, these are often plants and mushrooms that are ancient energies. Some have evolved before us, some alongside us, and wild foods are tough. They must endure a lot more than a garden vege or houseplant. Wild plants must survive more extreme conditions, which translates to its energetic and DNA strength. Don’t get me wrong, I love a juicy, summer tomato. But by intaking wild plants, we are literally consuming our land and its cohesive experiences as they have all co-evolved, sometimes over thousands of years. <br /> <br /> So what does it mean to eat an Oyster mushroom or Dandelion flower? Am I not also eating the elements of sun, wind, rain, and soil it experienced? The leaf pile the herb had to push up and away as it grew? The pollinator that assisted in its bloom? Eating wild foods is an act of intaking the spirit of plants and place. The nourishment we seek as we consume wild plants is a beckoning to place, to what is home, to the essence of the collective eco-system experience. In Scottish gaelic, there are many terms that may describe this experience. I choose to call it brigh–a word that means power, essence and nourishment, and is associated with the spring goddess Brìghde. She is most known for the festival of Imbolc; a fire in the belly, which I will soon connect to this discussion. And the mighty Dandelion is one of her sacred flowers. <br /> <br /> In all things, we work as spirit beings that are manifesting in a physical reality. The ancestral energies of plants and mushrooms are no different. In Celtic folklore, these spirit beings are often protected by or are considered the nature spirit themselves. I am talking about the fae. There are types of fairies in charge of this or that flower; orchard fairies, meadow fairies, devas, woodland elves, tree dryads… and they notoriously love wild foods such as nectar and honey, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits, hearty grain breads and fresh dairy. Whether you realize it or not, eating real food, wild or otherwise, is a spiritual experience, and we are not separate from the elder ancestral spirits that assist these land functions. <br /> <br /> As we are but a small speck in a greater whole universe. Fermenting these wild plants is like creating little healthy cities of flora that can find their way to our systems as ancestral connections. As our own bodies, for these bacterial entities, we are their universe and spirit protectors.<br /> <br /> Speaking of Dandelions, Dock, and Bittercress, (all somewhat bitter), let&#039;s not forget to discuss flavor– Did you know that over 200 million years ago, our human ancestors- while eating quite a bit of bitter foods, developed what are called bitter taste receptors? This engagement begins as we chew and release these compounds into our saliva. We are our environment and our environment is us.<br /> <br /> Separation is quite literally a complete illusion. And this is one reason, out of many many reasons, why it is important to care for our land and its non-human inhabitants. We are the foods and medicines we consume. We need healthy, thriving cohesive ecosystems. As humans, we rely on them every single day.<br /> <br /> Fermentation as a process of ‘breaking down’ by its very nature works to ‘warm’ our systems, assisting our gut microbiome with healthy bacteria. Fermented foods are like sending in delicious tiny armies to populate our immune system with the good little dudes, increasing our digestive fire and therefore its strength. (In the ancient system of Ayurveda, this is called Agni). <br /> <br /> As this digestive fire breaks down foods, it is also creates by encouraging healthy gut microbiome bacterial populations. Brìghde–a fire in the belly. Whether you may know her as Brigid, Brig, or Brìghde, it is no wonder the dandelion is a sacred herb to her. She is usually associated with a creative fire, and the passion of the seeds and the quickening of the earth. Yet just as she is this embodiment, we too have the seat of our healthy, creative minds in the spirit of our soil–our gut, what feeds.<br /> <br /> When we forage for wild foods, we slow down and observe our land and its connections. This also encourages us to befriend our bodies and listen to our own inner physical and emotional terrain. How did your food make you feel after you ate it? Did it give you energy or make you sluggish? Did it lift your spirit or make you depressed? Every single time we eat or drink anything, we are making a deliberate decision which affects our overall health, the health of the land, and all inhabitants that rely on that land. It affects how well we think and therefore how we are living. <br /> <br /> In truth, money is not the real currency of earth, it is energy. As Einstein states, “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another&quot;. The foods we choose are our energy source. Let us be cognisant of the types of energy we put to plate and to our wellbeing, and the wellbeing of Mother Earth!<br /> <br /> *****************************************<br /> <br /> SPICY ACHAR RECIPE W/ WILD BITTER GREENS AND FORAGED OYSTER MUSHROOMS: 🌿🍄🌞<br /> <br /> To make this Spicy Achar ferment, I gathered Dandelions, Dock, and Bittercress, and combined them with foraged Oyster Mushrooms, my oil of choice, sesame seeds, herbs and spices.. <br /> <br /> If you are unfamiliar, an Achar is a pickled/fermented food made from a variety of greens, vegetables or fruits preserved in brine, vinegar, edible oils, and various South Asian spices. There are many, many combinations you could make. <br /> <br /> I cleaned and steamed the mushrooms then combined the greens, seeds of sesame, coriander, and chia in addition to several powdered herbal spices, oil, and maple syrup. My ferment kickstart was drawn from my jar of well established ferment of Magnolia Flower Quick Pickle; a few tablespoons. <br /> <br /> After letting the ferment sit for a bit of time, I paired this Achar with Tomato Baked Organic Local Chicken Drums, and made Arepas with pressed Dandelion flowerheads; a real spring feast for me, and for my little gut army. <br /> <br /> &quot;The source is within you, and the whole world is springing from it&quot; --Rumi<br /> <br /> ~~￦omanimalistic~~<br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/womanimalistic">Hedge Walker Wild Herbals and Crafts</a> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FInstagram.com%2Fwomanimalistic&amp;h=AT3Ls5qJXDCkxBNgFwNus8b_uQ01TOTuxTwC7Fd-CS5AqxfAlR21e2Y1bxXu7O-9eltg8GCm9OK5Uv0jrHNdZSQkmPLlFf-OC9Ty4pOUbxjsIv7WtFzLP-gW38J2cGHF-WP6Bx6tTtrGgh6fVBNZlulO_Aae-s2HnY_jrw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">Instagram.com/womanimalistic</a><br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fhedgewalkerwildherbals.net%2F&amp;h=AT3FSWyI6Oi8Kusje6k9DxXyNdKQSZbwSEGyqqM2aJMFM-BnLVO741QKbENvZQ4fHQt45PVzEY3O5WXVmY0SbTx6FUPMn48xtv6QmKy8Tli4AIN9Zw4xJHQTPsgaCft88_E7vD0cJxLQlDLI4pU9_ED1dKxTfUO7HGqVtA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">hedgewalkerwildherbals.net</a><br /> <br /> 🌞Did you enjoy and learn from this forage recipe blog? Please let me know with a like, comment, share, and follow! I truly appreciate all your support. <br /> <br /> 🌿My apothecary offers tincture of plants and mushrooms mentioned in this post: Dandelion whole herb and Oyster Mushroom. Please email for inquiry and purchase. <br /> <br /> 🌞The terms medicinal and edible are used generally, and do not provide which part of the plant is utilized for such purposes. Comment or email with inquiries.<br /> <br /> 🌿This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information and/or product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare provider for guidance. <br /> <br /> 🌞 Achar ferment recipe inspiration by Pascal Baudar <br /> <br /> #springforage #foragedspringgreens #foragedwildmushroom #oystermushrooms #MushroomAchar #spicygreens #kentuckyforage #dandelions #dandelionflowers #brighde #powerofthesun #nourishment #fermentation #fireinthebelly #fermentyourforage #goodbacteria #bitterreceptors #gutflora #womanimalistic #hedgewalker #sacredflower #gutisagarden <br /> <br /> Images and content by Womanimalistic 2023-2024, with exception to the artwork by Helena Nelson Reid. All rights reserved.

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