Monthly archive November, 2012
Chickweed
Have you heard of chickweed? Chickweed is a little known herb thought to have a great variety of medicinal uses. It is also an edible plant which can be used in cooking or to make teas, (in tea form it is supposedly an excellent acne wash). And with its high content of vitamin C, calcium,...
Herb Garret Visit
In September we took a trip to the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret near London Bridge, where we were given a fascinating talk on the history of herbal remedies. We were also able to explore some of the beautiful, 300 year old rooms in the old Saint Thomas Hospital where herbs and medical equipment was stored. Thank...
Dandelions
You may think the dandelion is a lowly weed, and although it is often regarded as a pest by gardeners, the dandelion has many beneficial uses! Historically, the dandelion has been used for a variety of medical purposes and even today many people praise its curative properties. The root of dandelion can be used for...
The Roots Talks at InSpire
On August 14th, as part of our programme of events The Roots held a series of talks at the InSpire community space in Walworth. These talks spanned the history of the local area, the history of G. Baldwin & Co and herbs and home remedies. We also had a poetry reading, quizzes, hand massages, sarsaparilla...
Ginseng
Traditionally regarded in China as the ‘Herb of Aging Emperors’ due to its high price and exclusivity, ginseng is a perennial plant with fleshy roots, which has been used all over the world for thousands years to improve peoples’ health. Luckily it’s much more widely available today! The root (and sometimes the leaf) is the part of...
A Walk in Burgess Park
In August, for the second workshop with Art in the Park we went on a Wild Herb Walk around Burgess Park. Burgess Park in Walworth is a beautiful space filled with wild herbs and plants which can be used for both cooking and healing. As we wandered through the park we learnt about some of...