In this episode of the Curious About Nature podcast, host Rachel Mills interviews Julia Bedford, a multifaceted herbalist, artist, and food activist. Julia recounts her move from London to Glastonbury to deepen her connection with nature and discusses her projects at Herbal Brue, aimed at educating people on foraging and herbalism. They reminisce about their nature-filled childhoods and how they shaped their current interests. Julia offers advice to herbalism novices and stresses the importance of community. She shares her nature journaling practices, her artistry with natural dyes, and her exploration of Somerset's herbal traditions. The episode touches on biodiversity, Remembering Remedies, a collaboration between Julia and Rosie, future projects, and the role of plants in personal growth, emphasising the significance of a grounded, plant-centric lifestyle.
Remembering Remedies is a collaboration between Julia and Rosie and for more details on how to share your stories please go to herbalbrue.org.uk
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Curious About Nature is hosted by Rachel Mills, educator and founder of Buttercup Learning.
Website: https://buttercuplearning.com/
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Curious About Nature is a podcast for families, home educators and teachers who want to help children build a closer relationship with the natural world.
Through conversations with guests working across wildlife, conservation, outdoor learning, creativity and child development, the podcast explores the many ways we connect children, families and communities with nature.
The podcast is currently resting, with the full archive available to explore.
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What we discussed in the episode
The background of herbalism (00:00:44) Julia's background in herbalism, foraging, and community projects.
Early memories of foraging (00:01:21) Julia's childhood experiences with plants and foraging, and her transition to foraging in Glastonbury.
Transition to herbalism (00:03:04) Julia's journey into herbalism and her desire to help people through plant-based remedies.
Starting out in herbalism (00:04:09) Tips for starting out in herbalism and foraging.
Influential resources (00:04:44) Julia's recommendations for books, films, and groups related to herbalism and foraging.
Documenting foraging and herbalism (00:06:26) Julia's methods of documenting foraging trips and herbalism, including using a receipt book and photography.
Exploring traditional practices (00:09:34) The tradition of herbalism and foraging in Somerset and the influence of local landscapes on foraging practices.
Remembering herbal remedies (00:10:39) Julia's project to collect and share herbal stories and remedies from the community.
Connecting with nature (00:13:29) Julia's thoughts on how families can connect with nature and the importance of gentle engagement.
Favourite foraging season (00:14:29) Julia's reflections on different foraging seasons and the unique beauty of each.
Observing changes in nature (00:15:29) Julia's observations of biodiversity loss and changes in the landscape over time.
Future plans and projects (00:17:37) Julia's plans for continuing her herbalism studies and mapping local medicinal resources.
Embracing the pace of nature (00:19:23) Julia's perspective on how working with plants helps in letting go of a constant need to do everything.
