Plants & People: An Ethnobotanical Journey Through The Plant Kingdom

A guided contemplative practice. Lean your back against a tree for five minutes of sensory presence.Robin opens with Tommy Cooper's "pick a card, any card." It becomes a playful doorway into stillness.He walks through breath, posture, and bodily sensation. The body settles into rhythm with its surroundings.The episode then turns reflective. Civilisation has distanced us from sensory, embodied intelligence.From hands-in-food eating to chairs and utensils, we've lost touch with our senses. This simple act of leaning against bark reclaims something.It's "the oldest conversation," Robin says. One living nervous system meeting another.This Episode Is Brought To You ByRobin HarfordTranscriptsThis episodeSelected Resources From The EpisodeConnect with Robin HarfordWebsite | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookBooksEdible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and IrelandForage In SpringForage In SummerForage In AutumnThe Eatweeds CookbookAudio Courses30 Days of Domei Plant PracticesMindful In NatureThe Green PathFree Resour

In the 17th century, Descartes, Galileo, and Newton transformed a living world into mechanical clockwork. Descartes drew the fatal line between mind and matter, rendering everything beyond the thinking self inert and available for measurement. This lens birthed science and medicine, but cost us what Goethean scientist Craig Holdrege calls living thinking - thought that is responsive, relational, and shaped by what it encounters.Goethe knew perception isn't passive: to truly see a plant, you must let it work on you. Through Domei's sustained attention, observer and observed dissolve into a meeting of subjects.This Episode Is Brought To You ByRobin HarfordTranscriptsThis episodeStay In TouchWebsite | Youtube | Instagram | FacebookFree NewslettersDomeiEatweedsBooksEdible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and IrelandForage In SpringForage In SummerForage in AutumnThe Eatweeds CookbookCourses30 Days of Domei Plant PracticesMindful In NatureThe Green Path

Chris Holland has spent over three decades helping people - young and old - find their way back to the natural world. In this warmly personal conversation, Robin and Chris reflect on the threads that have woven their lives together: a shared love of plants, the legacy of plant mentor Frank Cook, and the quiet revolution taking place in nature connection education.Chris is the author of I Love My World, widely regarded as the unofficial Forest School manual, and the founder of Natural Musicians. A practice that democratises music-making in wild places, inviting children and families to listen deeply and celebrate landscape through sound. His work sits at the intersection of nature pedagogy, John Young's Eight Shields framework, and a profound belief that connection to the other-than-human world is not a luxury, it is a necessity.They explore how children learn differently when handed a stick and a stone instead of a worksheet, why making music in a stone circle might change the listener more than the landscape

Robin Harford meets storyteller Clare Viner beneath a flowering hawthorn tree in Devon to explore the living tradition of oral storytelling.Clare shares how stories belong to everyone - not fixed texts handed down by celibate monks, but breathing, evolving things shaped by the teller's felt sense and relationship with land.They discuss how patriarchy silenced women's stories, how rivers and plants carry their own narratives, and why giving yourself permission to tell an imperfect story is a radical act.The episode closes with Clare's spellbinding retelling of Merlin and the Lady Nimue - a love story rooted in hawthorn, heart medicine, and the dreaming earth.About Clare VinerClare Viner has been a storyteller for 26 years.Her roots are personal. As a child, her grandfather wove fairy tales for her. That inheritance stuck, and eventually became a vocation.She has told to audiences of every age and disposition: toddlers, teenagers, the elderly, festival goers. Clare has performed in the children’s tent at WOMAD

Show Notes: Understanding DomeiThis episode explores Domei, a contemplative practice designed to bridge the gap between humans and the living world through sensory engagement and "deep listening."Domei ResourcesThe official Domei website30 Days of Domei: A Month of Botanical AttentionKey TakeawaysThe Origin of Domei: A neologism blending the Gaelic roots Domhain (deep) and Éist (listen).Beyond the Ears: Listening is defined as a whole-body experience—feeling into the environment rather than just hearing sound.A Shift in Perspective: The practice moves the participant from seeing nature as "scenery" to recognizing plants as "neighbors" and fellow beings.De-emphasizing Analysis: Domei encourages "wordless knowing," where the goal is to be with a plant without the need to identify, categorize, or extract information from it.The Practice: How to EngageThe core of the practice is rooted in voluntary, unhurried attention.Find a Plant: Locate a living thing, even just beyond your doorstep.Quiet the Mind: Move away f

In this new short-form episode, Robin Harford challenges our relationship with common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) – a plant we've dismissed for centuries simply because it grows freely everywhere.This episode introduces a new podcast format: short observations (2-5 minutes) with a call to action. Robin doesn't want you to just listen, he wants you outside, engaging with plants where you are.Safety note: If you suffer from kidney stones or sensitivity to oxalic acids, avoid sorrel due to its high oxalate content.

In this episode of the Eatweeds Podcast, Robin Harford is joined by Dr Sarah Edwards, ethnobotanist at the University of Oxford. Together they explore the 400-year history of Oxford Botanic Garden — Britain’s oldest physic garden — and why ethnobotany is vital for preserving both cultural knowledge and biodiversity.Dr Edwards shares her remarkable journey from Kew Gardens to working alongside First Nations communities in Australia, documenting traditional plant use and wisdom.She reflects on the threats facing global plant diversity, the role of botanic gardens in conservation, and why re-establishing kinship with plants is essential for our future.About Dr Sarah Edwards Dr Sarah Edwards is the author of The Ethnobotanical (link) and co-author of Phytopharmacy (link). She teaches Ethnobiology and Biological Conservation at the University of Oxford and manages plant records at the Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum (link). Her work bridges science, culture, and art, from field collaborations with First Nati

Tom Baxter is the founder of Bristol Fungarium, the UK’s first organic-certified medicinal mushroom farm. A former organic vegetable grower and forest school leader, Tom has spent years foraging in the wild across the Pyrenees, Siberia, and the forests of Somerset. Today, he leads a pioneering operation that not only cultivates native strains of mushrooms but also funds neuroscience research and runs the only dedicated analytical lab for medicinal fungi in the UK.In this episode, Tom joins Robin Harford for a rich and far-reaching conversation about the power, mystery, and challenges of working with medicinal mushrooms. They explore the rise of lion’s mane, the pitfalls of the supplement industry, why most mushroom powders are misleading, and what makes a mushroom extract genuinely effective. It’s a frank and passionate look into one of nature’s oldest and most complex kingdoms.

In this episode, herbalist and Ayurvedic practitioner Jo Webber joins Robin Harford to explore how Ayurveda — the world’s oldest system of natural health — can be rooted in the wild plants of Britain.Together, they unpack the Ayurvedic concepts of the five elements, the three doshas, and the six tastes — and how these ancient principles can guide your modern life, food choices, and foraging practice.Jo shares how local herbs like nettle, dandelion and wild garlic can be powerful food medicines, how foraging supports physical and emotional balance, and why bioindividuality is key to healing.This is a lively, grounded conversation blending Eastern philosophy with native plants, seasonal eating, and self-care rooted in the land.Links & Resources:Visit Jo’s course at: www.theayurvedaacademy.comFollow Jo and her work on Instagram: @theayurvedaacademyLearn more about Robin: www.eatweeds.co.ukMentioned books:Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker Quiet by Susan CainIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it

In this episode of the Eatweeds Podcast, Robin Harford sits down with Vivien Rolfe, a herbalist and researcher with a fascinating background in both science and herbal medicine. Recorded outdoors in the serene gardens of Penny Brohn in Bristol, this conversation delves into the art and science of herbal teas, the power of plants, and the rich cultural history surrounding their use.SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODECuriosity ResearchFree Subscription: Robin Harford's Daily Plant PracticesBook: Self Sufficient Herbalism by Lucy JonesABOUT VIVIEN ROLFEViv is a keen herbal researcher, educator and tea blender (and drinker). She splits her time between the National Centre for Integrative Medicine in Bristol teaching on the diploma, and researching herbs as part of her own business Curiosity Research. She is keen that people have fun and learn more about herbs, so co-founded the Cotswold Herb Centre to provide workshops and herb walks in Gloucestershire where she lives.

In this episode of the Eatweeds podcast, Robin Harford is joined by filmmaker Nirman Choudhury to explore the deep connection between India’s indigenous communities and their traditional ecological knowledge of plants.Nirman shares insights from his project "Shifting Narratives," which highlights how tribal and Dalit communities use visual storytelling to document their relationship with their environment. The conversation delves into how these communities sustainably harvest forest produce, use plants for food and medicine, and maintain spiritual practices tied to the land. Through stories of resilience, they discuss the importance of preserving indigenous plant knowledge and the vital role it plays in environmental stewardship.SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEShifting Narrativesnirmanchowdhury.inMadia Gond Tribe uses the camera for the first timeThe Dongria Kondh say plot of James Cameron's blockbuster reflects their plight as they struggle to stop company from opening bauxite mine on sacred mountainSarna Rel

In this powerful episode, host Robin Harford welcomes Hannah-May Batley, founder of Hedge School, to discuss her groundbreaking work in plant-based healing and community regeneration.Hannah-May shares her journey from a post-mining community in South Yorkshire to creating a unique curriculum that addresses trauma, particularly sexual violence against women, through reconnection with nature.She explains how foraging, wild food, and traditional plant knowledge can be powerful tools for recovery and resilience.Highlights IncludeThe origins of Hedge School and its impact on post-mining communitiesHow plant-based practices can aid in sexual violence recoveryThe intersection of class, land rights, and healingPersonal insights into nature as an anchor during dark timesThis episode offers a sensitive yet hopeful exploration of how returning to our roots - literally and figuratively - can pave the way for profound healing and community restoration.Don't miss this inspiring conversation about the transformative power o

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Eatweeds podcast, where host Robin Harford takes us on an auditory journey into the world of sound art and ecoacoustics with guest Jez riley French.In this episode, titled 'The Sound of Trees', we dive into the fascinating world of listening to plants and the hidden layers of sound that surround us.Jez, a leading British sound artist, shares the behind-the-scenes details of his latest exhibition in the Forest of Dean, revealing the actual internal sounds of plants and trees through his self-built microphones.The immersive live installation aims to change the way we engage with forests, moving beyond their traditional leisurely use.Highlights of the episode include Jez's discussion on the ethics of field recording, the importance of listening on nature's terms, and the significance of durational listening.He also sheds light on the often overlooked history of women in sound art and field recording, challenging the conventional narratives that have long dominated these fields.Listen

In this episode, #49 of the Eatweeds podcast, I sit down with Helen Kearney at the Betonica herb school on a lazy Summer day in the Devon countryside.We dive into the added value herbalists bring to the strained National Health Service (NHS) and discuss Helen's path from being inspired by her grandmother to becoming a medical herbalist and educator.We tackle the evolution of medicine since World War II, highlighting the crucial role of self-care and the struggle for herbal medicine's legal recognition.Helen shares the comprehensive training that goes into becoming a skilled herbalist and how Betonica equips students with necessary business skills to make the practice successful.Our discussion also spans the integration of herbal medicine into the NHS, social prescribing, and the need for herbalists to actively engage with their communities.I wrap up the conversation by exploring how herbalism is becoming more inclusive, the shift in gender dynamics in the field, and Betonica's community-focused principles.Hel

In this episode of the Eatweeds podcast, Robin Harford invites the seasoned forager, Andy Hamilton, for a deep and meaningful conversation about the evolving world of foraging, wild food, and wildcrafting.They take listeners on a journey, reflecting on their first meeting years ago and exploring the transformation of the foraging community's online presence over the years.Connect With Andy Hamilton Facebook Andy's website Back MatterFollow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach you how to safely thrive from nature's larder.

In this episode of Eatweeds, host Robin Harford interviews Matthew Pennington, co-owner of The Ethicurean restaurant. Matthew discusses the restaurant's philosophy of using 80-90% of its ingredients from its own Victorian walled garden and orchard, as well as from local suppliers. He also talks about the importance of foraging for wild food, and how it can help to connect us to the natural world.Other topics covered in the episode include: The challenges of running a sustainable restaurant The importance of using seasonal ingredients The art of fermentation The future of food This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in food, sustainability, and the natural world.Connect With The Ethicurean Facebook Instagram The Ethicurean website Back MatterFollow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach yo

This week on the Eatweeds podcast, we travel to the remote, idyllic region of Abruzzo, Italy, a haven for foragers, to meet our special guest, Marta Udalowa. Originally hailing from Poland, Marta has turned her passion for wild foods into a lifestyle, immersed in the bounty of nature.Join host Robin Harford as he engages in a fascinating conversation with Marta, a master pickler, about life in the Italian countryside, the art of foraging, and the delightful practice of pickling and preserving. This episode shines a spotlight on how Marta bridges the gap between the wild and the kitchen table, making the most of both cultivated and uncultivated plants. In episode 46, "Foraging In Italy", you'll discover:- The magic and abundance of Abruzzo’s unique flora, a true paradise for foragers.- The secrets and techniques of pickling and preserving, passed down through generations and honed by Marta to perfection.- The value and satisfaction of country living, and how the line between wild and cultivated foods can blur

Join us for a breath of fresh air with episode 45 of 'Eatweeds,' a podcast dedicated to celebrating the joy and richness of wild food. Our host, Robin Harford, transports us away from the bustle of daily life, inviting us to pause, reflect, and savor the exquisite moments of being at one with nature.In this special episode, Robin trades his traditional role as host to become our storyteller, bringing to life his personal essay on the pure, simple beauty of gathering Hawthorn flowers for syrup.Key topics covered include:- The art and wonder of foraging, in this case, focusing on the hawthorn.- The transformative process of wildcrafting, turning simple hawthorn flowers into a tantalizing syrup.- Embracing nature's cycles and the magic of spring when hawthorns bloom.Robin takes us on a sensory journey, painting a vivid picture of an English spring, when Hawthorn trees burst into life, their branches heavy with cream-colored blooms. As he walks us through the process of gathering these delicate blossoms, we are i

My guest for this episode of the Eatweeds podcast is the remarkable Mo' Wilde. An author and experienced foraging teacher, Mo' has done something few could even contemplate: she lived for a full year completely sustained by wild food. Her fascinating journey and profound insights will have you rethinking your daily meals and your connection to the world around you.Key topics for this episode include: The incredible diversity of the microbiome and its importance for gut health. The essential practice of foraging and how it connects us to our ancestors. The astounding variety and nutritional richness of wild food. An in-depth discussion on food choices, their impact on our bodies, and the environment. Throughout the episode, Mo' shares the highs and lows of her year on wild food, detailing how it impacted her health, wellbeing, and particularly her microbiome. You'll hear about the changes she observed, the challenges she faced, and how the experience deepened her connection with nature.Robin and Mo' also delve

Folk: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/folk/9781408884317 Mischief Acts: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/mischief-acts-joyous-the-times-best-summer-reads-2022/9781526628800 A Wild and Precious Life: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/a-wild-and-precious-life-a-recovery-anthology/9781783529643 London Lit Lab: https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/ Zoe's website: http://zoegilbert.com/ Zoe's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindandlanguage About Zoe GilbertZoe's first novel, Folk (Bloomsbury), was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and adapted for BBC Radio (read by the brilliant Samantha Spiro). She has just finished turning some of the chapters from Folk into a libretto, for a song cycle that will have its world premiere in 2023.Her second novel, Mischief Acts (Bloomsbury), is released in March 2022, and is inspired by the past and future of the Great North Wood, which used to cover a large swathe of South London.Since completing Mischief Acts, Zoe has moved from London to the Kent coast, which is (not su