Also spotted these interesting looking greens amongst Shepherds purse and Puha plants…
anybody know what this is? Briar thought they might be fairy umbrella’s..

There’s so much of this Red Dead Nettle growing about the place at the moment,

though it’s taken me up until now to find out what it is…

Someone gave me a hint when they said they thought it was some kind of nettle,

and in spite of its name it’s tasty, edible and medicinal.

The leaves and upper plants can be cooked as pot herbs or added to salads,

and it’s very nutritious, high in iron, vitamins and fibre.

Hooray for finding new nutritious free food! Bet I’ll start seeing it everywhere now that I know what it is.

Red Dead Nettle, more purple than red..

For the uninitiated, guerilla gardening simply means planting things in public places, especially useful plants like herbs and fruit bearing ones.

I’m thinking borage, mint, raspberries and sunflowers but only cos we have heaps spare at the moment.

Anything that you would like to contribute is welcome, or just come along and enjoy the company and shared picnic lunch.
Bring food to share if possible, especially if it was foraged, from your garden, and/or grown wild…

c ya there!

Every Autumn we spend two or three days in Hagley park foraging for sweet chestnuts.
The best time to do this is in the morning after a windy night because people who know will be at the best trees early.
Wear gloves and good shoes because they are prickly and you can use your feet to open the husks and your hands to pick out the nuts.

My dad used to take us to collect sweet chestnuts every year, I was only a baby but my older sister’s say that he would boast that he knew the best tree, and they remember it as an Autumn-time family tradition.

He died the Autumn before last, and I managed to slip a few chestnuts into his pocket for him to take on his way.
Needless to say, the chestnut collecting expeditions will continue for me!

Kerry and our youngest ones collecting chestnuts.

Also known as “Mother’s hearts”.
Shepherds Purse can be found growing wild in almost every garden at all times of the year
though is little known for its wonderful delicate peppery taste when added to salads
and it’s useful healing properties.
Interestingly the heart or womb shaped leaves can be used as an aid in childbirth
to encourage contractions in a slow labour and after birth to reduce bleeding.
It is also useful for reducing the intensity of heavy periods.

Shepherds Purse Tea…

Dry the leaves.
Use one teaspoon per one cup of boiling water,
Simmer or brew for 2-4 minutes.
Drink as required.

,

Watercress grows wild in and around Christchurch especially along the Coastline in areas like Diamond Harbour,
Governors Bay and near the Estuary.

I collected a green bag full yesterday from one of the places put up on the Otautahi map,
dropped half of it off at a friends place around the road, and she suggested making a soup with it.

Yum!

We’ve now added a contact page to get in touch with us and more exciting
we’ve embedded the google map onto this site. The map still needs some tweeking
and is not editable from within this site so if you want to add any
new spots you will still need to go to the original map site.

Anna-Claire gets high!

Now what to make with them!?  Might need a few more for the syrup recipe…

We are hoping for this website to be a collaborative effort, so if you want to help by posting links,
info, recipes, or anything else you think might be worthwhile sharing,
please contact us. You can then be added as an contributor.

Happy foraging!