I grew up believing food was simply something we ate.
Then illness led me to ask better questions.
Those questions led me to bread, traditional food, foraging, and eventually to write What's On The End Of Your Fork?
The Silver Fork Movement grew from a simple belief...Better health often begins with better questions.
From a July Hedgerow
When you hear the word "nettle" what comes to mind?
For many people 'sting' comes to mind. Or tea.
But what if nettles have far more to offer?
A few days ago I was walking home carrying a little trug full of freshly picked Nettles when a man stopped me in the lane...
I hear Nettle Tea from most people when I mention Nettles. He did as well. There is so much more to the humble or annoying Nettle, depending on your experience.
Did you know:
Nettles have more Iron than Spinach? And they taste way better than Kale!
Once you chop or heat Nettles they lose their sting!
My favourite way to enjoy Nettles is Nettle crisps: eMail me for a video recipe or follow instructions below.
Fill a bowl with Nettle leaves, drizzle olive oil, pinch of salt, mix well. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 160 for 8 minutes.
Love the crunch!
What grows around you that you've never really noticed?
What knowledge did your grandparents have that we've forgotten?
If nature provided this every spring, what would you choose?
If we've forgotten something as common as nettles... what else have we stopped noticing?
Every walk begins with noticing something that was waiting.
From an August Hedgerow
How to Forage Your Laundry Soap naturally.
Walk out into any English Country lane, and you will find yourself surrounded by one of nature’s most misunderstood survival assets: Common English Ivy (Hedera helix). While modern marketing forces us to buy synthetic, chemical-laden laundry detergents in plastic bottles, our ancestors simply looked to the trees.
The secret lies in biology. Ivy leaves are naturally packed with saponins—plant-based glucosides that act as nature’s organic soap. When agitated in warm water, these saponins dissolve surface tension, actively bonding to dirt particles and lifting oils straight out of fabric fibers without stripping or damaging the cloth. It is a completely free, zero-waste, and non-toxic gift from the landscape sitting right on our doorstep.
Pick about 30 large Ivy leaves. Once back home tear them into small pieces and put into a sock or better yeat a mesh bag from your local veg shop. Leave some wriggle room and tie securely. Bash a few times with a wood spoon and pop in your washer.
Love the scent!
From a September Hedgerow
End of Summer or ...
With a British heat wave many of us saw shriveled Blackberries rather than the plump juicey ones anticipating a Blackberry Apple Crumble.
Nettles took a beating as well.
Haws were plentiful as were Damsons.
Lesson learned was use what I find. Foraging always yields something so i made Damson and Haw Hedgerow jam. I must say the combination was better than the two individuals on their own. What lesson was there in this?
Good seeing my favourite Nettles all brown and thirsty made a spectacular comeback. Lush vibrant green leaves better than before!
From an October Hedgerow
The bounty surrounds us
Gathering apples that only me and the squirrels seem to enjoy excites me no end!
We're not put off by a blemish or a bite. I remember taking a bite of an apple as a child and one eye looking to be sure there wasn't half a worm in either half.
Shop bought apples are lacking in taste and adventure.
My favourite use is Sourdough Apple Cake. Recipe is in my book What's On The End Of Your Fork?
