People often ask me how I got into foraging, and this is the story I often share during my foraging walks. 🌿 I was called to walk in nature by my ancestral guides. I had no other option but to hear the call. 🌱 Nature became my medicine, healing me as I walked through the calming hues, and connected with medicinal fungi on my daily walks. 🍄 My inner child longed for connection to the natural world, and I found peace in the forests. 🌳
Your inner child is craving this connection, remember.. How do you find your piece of calm? ✨
TFF x
#mushroom#functionalmushrooms#natureconnection#wildmushrooms#healing#nature
The Velvet Shank, Enoki or Enokitake mushroom 🍄
A powerhouse of antioxidants, dietary fibre, and immune system support
Today, I stumbled upon, "Application of Enoki Mushroom (Flammulina Velutipes) Stem Wastes as Functional Ingredients in Goat Meat Nuggets." The study found that incorporating Enoki mushroom stems into goat feed not only boosts the nuggets' antioxidant power, but adds dietary fibre and ash, which is a nutritional win for goats. I have chosen an excerpt from the study below, which summarises the benefits of enoki mushroom 🐐✨
"The extract of MSW powder exhibited good antioxidant potential, which was attributed to its strong free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing power, and metal chelating ability."
👉 In a nutshell, this means, that consuming enoki may improve the goat's immune function to “forage” and eliminate heavy metal toxins and free radicals (free-flowing electrons, which can change lipids, proteins, and DNA, triggering several diseases in livestock and humans). "Ferric reducing power" is a scientific measure to indicate the antioxidant potential of a molecule and “metal chelating” indicates the potential of a substance to eliminate heavy metal ions. Heavy metals can lead to chronic fatigue and neurological disorders 🛡️💪
Incorporation of the extract into feed will additionally increase dietary fibre and ash content, and may have nutritional benefits to livestock. Ash contains, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium which can improve digestion in animals 🥝🐐
As an animal welfare advocate, knowing that something as simple as trimming waste from mushroom cultivation could be used as a restorative food additive, was mind blowing. Not only is it sustainable, but it also eliminates waste 🌍♻️ and improves our food chain, by improving the shelf life of meat products. As someone who has always wanted to have a small holding, to know that my small-scale mushroom cultivation and waste could be used to nourish my livestock, has had a ping ping PING effect on my mental health today. I just love knowledge like this and makes what I do all the more worthwhile 🌟💚
📷 Lovely specimen taken by @foragingmermaid
"🍄Exciting News: ACMD Calls for Changes in Psýchedelic Research! 🌿
On the 22 December 2023, the UK's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) urged Changes for Psýchedelic Research! 🌿🍄 Political figures, such as MP Charlotte Nichols are advocating for breakthroughs in PTSD using hallucin0genic mushrooms, and has previously spoken in parliament about a need for research into the potential medicinal uses of hallucinogenic mushrooms to treat her PTSD.
In England and Wales. Notably, 1 in 100 individuals who took part in the ONS report embraced hallucinogenic experiences. Surprisingly, older adults lead the rise, while drug use among 16-24 year-olds declined to its lowest since 2014. Magic mushrooms have gained popularity, with approximately 260,000 people aged 16-59 indulging in the past year – a notable increase of 100,000 from 2020. The shifting landscape prompts reflection on societal attitudes and perceptions. 🍄
The scene's evolving, and is making us ponder on society's vibes and perspectives. Are you feeling the psychedelic wave? 🌊
#Psychedelic#Mushroom#Research#MentalHealthRevolution#Fungi#Psychology#Science
🌿✨ Exploring the wild in June is like uncovering nature's hidden gems! 🌸🍃
Finding wild spring plants such as mugwort, wild chamomile, linden flowers, and hogweed buds is truly nourishing. Each plant has its own unique charm and uses, from calming teas to potent shamanic smudging blends. Whether you're foraging for wild plants to add to your meal, or simply enjoying the beauty of these wild botanicals, June is the perfect time to connect with nature and its bountiful gifts.
Curious to learn more about these amazing plants? You can catch me at @soul.revolution.festival this weekend!
#WildForaging#SpringPlants#NatureLovers#BotanicalGems#JuneAdventures#WildHerbs
Forgage With Us This Solstice ! 🌿💚🌞
Alexandra Lea is a biologist, forager and wild food teacher heralding from the rolling hills of the South Downs in Sussex.
Under her dynamic brand @the_female_forager Alexandra has joined forces with innovators like Nomadic and the Psychedelic Society, leading transformative mushroom identification workshops across the UK, and teaching us to connect with the forest landscape, while honing participants' skills in finding gourmet and medicinal fungi.
Alexandra’s passion for mushroom foraging stems from her deep, intuitive bond with the forest. She inspires others to reconnect with nature’s edible and medicinal treasures, sharing her infectious enthusiasm for the mystical fungi kingdom 🍄🌳
#foraging#mushrooms#psychedelics#biology#fungi#nature#cpnnection
Spring Foraging Retreat ✨🌼
Under the warm glow of the sun, amidst fields adorned with a delicate haze of cow parsley, we came together in reverence of nature’s abundance.
Weaving dandelion wishing bracelets sealed with intention, immersing ourselves in the lore of the land’s plants, engaging in sacred storytelling, cherishing silent moments, relishing a lunch of dreams, crafting intuitive teas, and embarking on a journey meditation guiding us back to ourselves… back to stillness.
It’s hard to encapsulate the joy of hosting yesterday’s Spring Retreat in a few words, but in essence, we sowed seeds of hope.
Thank you so much to all who joined 🌞
Just 10 days until our Spring Wellness Retreat! 🌿☀️ Saturday, May 11th, in Hertfordshire, North London.
Join us at @wildivyretreats and @rightsforweeds for a celebration of Beltaine and spring’s renewal. Explore the art of foraging, learn about wild plants’ benefits, and craft your own wild tea blend. Indulge in a plant-based gourmet lunch and snacks, and rejuvenate through guided meditation sessions and nature connection.
Experience a day of rejuvenation and connection with nature. Hurry, spots are limited—click the links in our bios to book now and learn more! 🍄🌿🪲
A little reminder that I am running a workshop with @foragebox next Sunday. The location in the heart of the Hampshire countryside is simply stunning. Tickets are a cool £25 and the spring blooms are luscious and ripe for the picking. We will be sampling wild greens, and I can't wait to show you this special place.
Ticket link in my bio 🌿🍄🤲
#foragingworkshop#wildgarlic#wickerbasket#ukforaging#hampshirelife
Spring Foraging Day Retreat
Saturday 11th May
Puttenham, Hertfordshire
Join Alex, Izzy and Rosie for a blissful day in Nature! Soaking in all that Spring has to offer through Foraging, Food, Guided Meditations, Bespoke Tea Blending, Community and Rest!
Spaces are going quickly, Message below a nature emoji if you’re interested in finding out more! 🌿🪲🌸✨🌛🌞🪻
🌿 Nature Lovers, this one's for you! 🌿
Embark on a journey into the wonders of the natural world with my new Foraging Newsletter! 🍃✨
Ready to join our community of nature lovers? 🌳👣 Sign up now for your regular dose of inspiration and handy foraging tips.
And guess what? In the newsletter, I update you first on where you can catch up with me this year! 🗓️🌍 From Mushroom of the Month to exciting interview announcements – it's all there!
🔗 Link in our bio – let's explore nature's wonders together! 🌼🌿 #TheFemaleForager#NewsletterAlert#ForagingForMushrooms#NatureLovers 🌳
Spring Wellness Retreat
Saturday 11th May
Hertfordshire, North London
The land speaks to us, telling stories with each green bud, cool breeze, and bird song. As we emerge from winter’s hibernation, the earth awakens from her slumber, painting the world with vibrant hues of green and blossoming life.
Wild Ivy is collaborating with renowned foragers Alexandra Lea and Izzy Johns, and facilitator Rosie Hill to celebrate Beltaine and the flurries of Spring.
Together, we’ll rest, set hopeful intentions, and cultivate your deep connection to wild nature.
Together, we will embark on a guided foraging walk where we’ll get to sample some wild plants and learn about their nutrition, traditional medicinal uses, history and folklore. We’ll also learn about the history of this ancestral land, and connect with our lineage through ritual, ceremony and folklore.
You’ll have the opportunity to design and create your own wild tea blend to take home. Enjoy a gourmet, plant-based lunch and snacks throughout the day, nourishing both body and soul.
Guided meditation journeys will reconnect you to your inner roots, fostering a deeper connection to yourself and the natural world around you.
Come, join us on this journey of discovery and rejuvenation as we embrace the beauty and wisdom of wild nature.
Follow the links in our bios to book your place and find out more ✨🌿🪲
