Episode 8: From Garden to Plate with Anna Greenland
Anna Greenland is an organic gardener. She comes from a family of gardeners and grown the highest quality organic food for chefs such as Raymond Blanc, Tom Aikens and Jamie Oliver. She was the Head Gardener of Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire. Anna lives in Suffolk where she has her own market garden. In this episode I’ll be speaking to Anna about her passion for herbs and encouraging people to grow their own.
In this episode, we talked about:
Anna’s interest in growing food that came from a move from London to Cornwall
The food scene in Cornwall e.g Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein’s restaurants, all looking for fresh produce
Supporting local, fresh produce
Having the idea to grow and sell herbs and edible flowers
Coming from a green-fingered family, so growing is in her bones
Her grandmother growing in her 90s and mother being a gardener
The impact of having a dad who is into cooking on her passion for growing plants
The purpose of medicinal and edible plants
Fresh air, exercise and meditation that comes from growing plants
You can’t rush plants and seasons, you have to be present
Managing thyroid issues
Replacing excess expensive supplements with home-grown produce
The benefit of dirt for the gut micro-biome
Lost connection with the soil and land
The challenge of access to land when you’re living in urban areas
Community gardens and allotments as a way of gardening in a city
You can even grow in a windowsill
Interact with something living
State of mind from bringing the outside world into an urban environment
Sourcing herbs from nurseries rather than supermarkets
Peat-fee compost
Liquid feed such as seaweed or you can make your own from organic comfrey and nettle although it’s smelly!
Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, sage, and rosemary are easier to take care of
Growing from seed if you can
Slowing down and nurturing
Cutting costs through growing your own
Gaining experience of traditional methods of gardening and then doing formal training in modern methods in Santa Cruz, California
Becoming Head Vegetable Gardener at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
The episode of Raymond Blanc on the Table Manners podcast
The supportive gardening community
Instand calm from engaging with nature
Teas, tisanes and infusions
Lemon balm for lifting the mind after experiencing crippling period pain
Dried herbs from Organic Herb Trading Company or Neal’s Yard
Herbal honey e.g. infused with sage for sore throats
Herbal salts for use in cooking e.g. rosemary, thyme and sage
Electuaries are mixed with honey
Thyme for mucousy colds
Women have held this knowledge for generations to help their local communities
Different types of mint such as apple mint, Morrocan mint.
Rose geranium infused with hot water or in a sugar syrup
Lavender for many uses
Touch, taste and smell the plants, especially herbs
Having a mindful moment each day
Resources
You can find more about Anna and her wonderful work here:
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