Clearing Out My Allotment

I took some time and cleared out my allotment a few weeks ago.  Pulling potatoes is the most theraputic!  I also think it would be the greatest for kids to help with–digging holes and planting seed potatoes in the spring and summer, constantly piling up soil around the potatoes during the year, and digging them up when they're ready!  What fun! I also cut some of the proliferating calendula blooms for tea as well as a few pattypan squash

 As I was clearing out my plot I pulled some dandelion root to dry for tea, as well as some more plantain spears to dry for grain.

Lastly I found some mint roots hiding out underground, which I pulled and will plant under my tree to add to my mint/lemon balm/peppermint forest :)

Plantain Seed Grain

My roommate Alex Baczynsky has been foraging tea around the city and hosting the Red Tent Tea Party in Trinity Bellwoods Park each Sunday evening (www.facebook.com/RedTentTeaParty) This past Sunday she made plantain tea from my garden and I saved the seed spears to dry.

 Along with my island forages (much more impressive than the tiny plantain from my yard) I;m going to dry out the seed and try cooking it like quinoa–apparently it's a close relative! FREE GRAIN?!  Yes please!

http://www.voyageurcountry.com/htmls/floweringplants/plants/plantatain.html

Foraged Plantain Seed and Red Clover

I went out to Toronto Island on the weekend to relax for the day–how novel!  As I was headed to the beach I noticed all the wild red clover–something I'd been wanting to pick a bit of for tea.  After going on a bit of a walk around the beautiful neighbourhood, I also found some massive plantain spears calling my name.  

 I picked some of both before noticing the wildest, most vivid and colourful sunset  setting over the city.  When i finally came back to the city I felt completely rejuvenated–soothed by the wilderness still existing on the island and feeling blessed by it's gifts–both edible and visual! Nothing quite compares to those feelings!