Plotting For the Future

Plotting for the Future: Growing for sustainability and in collaboration with the NAS  and Bisley Climate Action Network (BisCAN) 

“Growing Your Own” is a great way we CAN help address Climate Change and Nature’s recovery. Our programme is:

You CAN can vegetables 3.30pm– Get into a pickle with Andy Crombie, Stroud’s fanatic fermenter! A mini-demo to show its easy to have home-grown food all year –no plastic, nearly energy-free, no waste of that glut of courgettes

You CAN go Peat-Free 3.50pm– Ian Plewis, BCCS Director, will talk about research into peat free composts – the good, the bad and the don’t buy it!! Some samples.

Plotting for Wildlife 4pm– Helping Nature’s Recovery in climate change times Caroline Billingsley shows us her plot designed for Wildlife

Questions-and-Answers -Sue Bradley Bisley’s gardening writing blogging guru leads Q&A on gardening in a changing climate and other gardening issues. Those “allotmenting” for many years add their wisdom, helpful hints and topical tips.

2020 Growig for Health and Wellbeing Year of COVID : Medicinal herbs in the Garden

Caroline Sheldrick MNIMH cjsheldrick@gmail.com (01453 884092)

Elder Flowers used fresh or dried, and berries. Combine dried flowers with mint and yarrow for feverish colds. Reduces catarrh, mild laxative. Berries anti-infective and good for colds.
Nettle Pick in spring (with gloves) and use fresh in soups, or dry for use as tea. Tonic for weakness and debility, convalescence and anaemia. Diuretic, relieves fluid retention, cystitis and urethritis. Softens kidney stones and gravel. Good for gout and all arthritic conditions. Helps reduce blood sugar. Contains histamine, serotonin, calcium, potassium.
Dandelion Root and leaves used, dried or fresh, and are diuretic, tonic, nutritious. Root is laxative and stimulates the liver. Blanch the leaves to eat in salad.
Lemon balm Leaves used, fresh or dried. Antiviral, decongestant, relaxant, antihistamine. Good for stress-related digestive problems, allergies, bronchitis and coughs, and the juice for cold sores.
Lime flower Harvest open flowers and bracts in June. Dry for use as tea: good for the nerves, relaxes muscles, relieves tension and anxiety, colic and cramp. Relieves water retention, helps with rheumatism and gout and high blood pressure.
Mint Leaves used, dried or fresh. Good for indigestion, colic and flatulence. Also has anti-inflammatory action and helps prevent and heal gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Fennel Seeds used. Collect when fresh or dried, and use fresh or dried, as tea. Good for indigestion and colic and heartburn.
Lavender Flowers used. Fresh or dried. Antiseptic, antibacterial. Good for burns, stings, headaches, coughs and colds.
Sage

 

Leaves used, fresh or dried. Gargle for sore throat, also for colds and indigestion. Mildly oestrogenic so good for menopausal hot flushes. Use sparingly.
Thyme Use fresh or dried in cooking and as tea. Strong antiseptic. Gargle for sore throat and infected gums. Expectorant. Use sparingly.
Rosemary Grow sheltered from wind. Useful for headaches, poor circulation and digestion. Oil is antibacterial and antifungal.
Marigold

(Calendula officinalis)

Petals or whole flower head. Stimulates immune system, active against flu and herpes viruses. Good for thrush, and mildly oestrogenic. Wonderful skin herb, for dry inflamed and itchy skin conditions.