Claim OwnershipThe Botanical Lovecast
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© 2022 The Botanical Lovecast
Description
The Botanical Lovecast is a love letter to the plant world. We are exploring the relationships between people, plants, and culture.
30 Episodes
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If you are fond of plants and live in the UK (maybe even if you don't) you will have heard of Alice Vincent; author, journalist, plant person. We discussed Alice's new book, Rootbound, and talked about the upcoming Houseplant Festival at the Garden Museum in Lambeth. We also discussed gardening for millenials, social media, and a more edible city.
Nick Hayes recently authored The Book of Tresspass, which is equal parts anecdotal, historical, political, and inspiring. As well as illustrating and printmaking Nick is a land rights campaigner. We talked about the commodification of wildness, the history of land rights in the UK, the value of time spent in nature, and worked our way through the tangled knot of class, economic inequality, and land access, You can get involved at Righttoroam.org.uk
UK rappers Too Many T's made a song called This Earth Is F*cked. It's a great tune (listen through to hear the song) but it's a depressing message; Ross and Leon felt they needed to do something positive to balance out the energy of the song so they launched a tree planting initiative; Too Many Trees. Ross joins me to talk about his history as a sustainability major, the impetus behind this track, climate change, and tree planting.
Rasheeqa is a north/east London herbalist. In this episode we discuss intersectional health care, radical herbalism, unani medicine, as well as the power of tinctures and teas.
Is flowering to plants as art is to the human? Miss Jake is a creature of drag whose creations are both otherworldly and oddly natural. During lockdown Jake's houseplant collecting has reached new heights. We discuss gender, art, houseplant care, nature, and creativity.
I busted my collarbone and did nothing for weeks... except play animal crossing. Also, some Russian scientists recently regenerated incredibly old seeds, for science.
It's a wild time to be a live. Here's a hot take o the state of things; BLM, climate change, etc.
What's edible and growing in the northern hemisphere right now? We will let you know. Also, a recipe suggestion, and ethical discussion.
This week we learning how etymology and ancient punning framed apples as the forbidden fruit. We learn about their heterozygosity, the wild ancestors, and... how to make cider. My husband Josh is joining me this week because he makes cider, and because everything is more fun with a friend.
Nettles! Edible, medicinal, industrially useful and almost universally maligned. Let's learn about this remarkable perennial.
In which we address the unavoidable spectre of Covid-19, talk about digital communication and the similarities to mycelial networks, and explore what community looks like amongst trees.
Blue zones are places on earth where people live the longest. Filmmaker, teacher, and plant based diet enthusiast Lincoln Hall heard about the blue zones, and decided he wanted to experience them. In this episode Lincoln shares his observations and experiences of the five blue zones.
Indigo producing plants exist all around the globe. These plants tend to be entrenched in indigenous cultures, spirituality, tied ceremony, industry, even class. The pigment the plant creates is one of the most durable, ancient, technical and history-rich pigments known to humans. The whole topic is endlessly fascinating, and Lucy Patterson is a researcher, photographer, and expert on textile traditions of the indigenous people of Northern Vietnam who have their own unique relationship with Indigofera tinctura.
I had heard of cacao ceremonies, and was curious. I imagine you are too? How does something so commonplace have ceremonial, or shamanic properties? What are the benefits? Do you need to be with a shaman to enjoy the benefits of cacao yourself? So many questions, and I was lucky enough to be in the same place as shamanic practitioner Hamaima this summer; I attended a cacao ceremony, and sat down to a chat with Hamaima where she covers all my questions and more.
Coffee is a considerably influential plant. It changes our mood, affects our cognition, and is a daily part of many lives. I love coffee, and Petroesjka Grundemann does too. I met Petroesjka by accident really; I was out in Bethells beach and had run out of coffee. I'd seen the sign for the Bethells Beanz coffee roasters as I drove out to the beach and rather than drive all the way into the city I decided it would be worth stopping in to see if they would sell direct to the public (they do). Petroesjka was there and I was immediately drawn to her passion and enthusiasm for this little bean. Have a listen, and learn about this influential little bean. You can find more info about their beans at bethellsbeanz.co.nz
Kauri trees, Agathis australis, are a keystone species of New Zealand's Native bush. Phytophthora agathadicida specifically affects this tree but there is very little information about it, or research on it yet. Mels Barton runs the Kauri Rescue project trialling treatment methods for affected trees. We spoke to Mels about the disease, the effects, the research, and the civic response.
Bamboo is a weird and wonderful plant; it's a grass, an economic force, and it's flowering pattern is mind boggling. Carolyn also talks about her family history of plant hunters and gardeners, the land she cares for, and her philosophies of plant care.
Theophrastus, Linnaeus, Banks; we're well acquainted with the Fathers of Botany but the female pioneers of botany are often overlooked, if recognised at all. Robin Long works for the department of Conservation in New Zealand, surveying plant life across New Zealand. She didn't want to talk about work though, she wanted to tell the stories of Jeanne Baret, and Ellen Hutchins, and their contributions to Botany.
Shanna likes plants, and runs an instagram account that focuses on her bedroom jungle. You can find her at @mybedroomjungle.
I wanted to know how and why sound therapist Nicole Bettencourt Coelho incorporates seasonal herbs into her sound baths. The process of answering this question lead us through abstract thought, altered states of consciousness, seasonal and physical entrainment, Chinese medicine, and alchemy. You can find Nicole, and her work, on instagram @nmbc, and @curveasc
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