We gathered once again under the trees in Kaliwood with Haws and the Hawthorn tree our inspiration for the day. We missed some folk but others returned after illness & trips abroad, a mix of the vintage and new Elder’s and welcome, fortuitous guests!
So, what did we come to know?
We’ve passed through the Autumn equinox.
We have followed the Hawthorn through the spring with its tree lore, flowers and tales of fairies and now into Autumn, we find it adorned with fruit …its’s crimson berries .. the Haws….
Kally read Emily Bronte Poem – Leaves Fall
Seeds contain Cyanide like apple seeds. Don’t eat large quantity, maybe not at all…
I made a tincture with Haw flesh.
It’s good for the Circulation system.
Good idea to gather the haws after the first frost.
Hawthorn flowers were unusually pink this year.
The fresh young leaves of Hawthorn are known as Bread and Cheese!
Some Hawthorn trees stand alone, very thorny, berries like blood, so like the crown of thorns.
The Haw Lantern – collection of poems by Seamus Heaney. A symbol of the people of Northern Ireland in the face of adversity, an image of light and hope in the darkness.
Will brought some Polynesian bark paper patterned with natural dyes of the mulberry tree.
I’m interested to find out when the best time of year to collect twigs to get the strongest orange dye.
The most important thing I learned at school was to project my voice.
Very good for making jellies for cheese.
An ancient cure for cancer
Used in Chinese medicine.
May prevent skin aging, walking about with red dots all over our faces!
Esther made haw berry cookies- labour intensive work separating the flesh from the seed. (They were Delicious!)
Celtic may – a tree of protection so always ask for the fairy folk’s permission before gathering berries
Oak and ash and thorn… surely, we sing of no finer thing…
I thanked the tree before I took the bounty of haws, this early morning.
We walked to the field with Rachel and saw the Bryony tree, laden with berries…the oak galls under our feet and the changing landscape flora and fauna on the field. We learned about the Essex reptiles who have taken up residency in the carefully placed piles of stones. Mainly slow worms so far…
We tapped and moved under the Hornbeams, dancing with our hips and beathing in the fresh forest air.
We made Haw ketchup, Lesley & Diana pressing cooked haws through a fine sieve, and slow cooked chips. Bit bitter – Nicky forgot to add the sugar! But the flesh was quite tasty! We ate chips from newspaper cones.
Kally and the natural dyeing team made wonderous woodland chemistry with natural dyes of all conceivable origins, and we sunk yarn and cloth into them to see what colours would emerge over the coming week…
Rachel & the woodland weavers team planned ideas for an Earth loom with Anita who brought her Navaho loom expertise to share with us and advice and ideas for a new installation in Kali wood! Watch this space!
Hawthorn Drawings were made in the Elder book and skilful scribes wove in the stories and words of our day!
Chips were nice.
Fantastic day
The smell of woodsmoke and how to divert it!
Navaho loom
Being with everyone
Making the food and using all of the Hawthorn tree
Till we meet again!
Kinda Elders in the woods 