Foraging for Mugwort
Nature. My grounding factor.
Downland walks, stormy seas, still waters or mossy woodland. It’s all there on my doorstep and I take every opportunity to be out in it.
This year has been tough for everyone and for me, nature has been the one constant that I have found peace in and have immersed myself in it daily.
Meeting another kindred spirit who loves the outdoors as much as I do always leaves me feeling uplifted and inspired.
Fern, a country girl at heart who spent her childhood ( much like mine) holidaying at farms with her family where they’d gather home grown veg, weave willow baskets, watch eggs hatch and go foraging for mushrooms. They’d go off for walks, pick as many different varieties as possible, spread them out on the kitchen table and then try and ID them from books.
It was this that prompted Fern to learn more about making whole dishes from ingredients sourced from the outdoors and Foraged By Fern was born. In her words.
“A collection of happy childhood days led to a future of feeling fulfilled and nourished by a wonder in the woods and a basket full of foraged goodies“
Both living in the same town, we decided to head out one evening for a forage and a lifestyle session.
We wandered over the downs harvesting sprigs of mugwort, laughing when the wind whipped off her hat tumbleweeding it over the corn stubble. Basket full, we then found a little nook in some earthy woodland, set up a campfire and made delicious mugwort hot chocolates.
I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious sage like flavour it gave, and while we sat back and enjoyed the warming taste, Fern told me stories on the folklore, history and usage of mugwort, including how it’s been used as a muscle relaxant and the vivid dreams and mood altering effects it gave some users.
I’ll keep you posted on whether it effected me!
Fern runs workshops and classes all over Sussex so if you’re inspired to learn more then get in touch with her.
Shades of mugwort. An introduction to the ‘travellers herb’.
