This will give you a buzz!

Trying to support all the kids' activities, clean the house, tend the garden and find time for yourself every precious Saturday?

You deserve a break!

How about you take part in No-mow May and give up on cutting the lawn for a full 31 days!

This is all in the name of rectifying the pretty precarious position we’ve gotten ourselves into regarding our food supply. Bees and other pollinating insects are crucial to our wellness, and indeed our survival on this beautiful planet, and collectively we must take action to address their dwindling populations.

Now, I can sense a few heart rates rising amongst those of you who get it and feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. But read on, I have a plan to help you do what you can to support the bees, and your own well-being in the process! Because I love it when multiple good things come together in a happy little wellness bundle!! 😍

Grow herbs!

Thyme, chives, oregano and dandelions are all really super for the bees and their pollinating pals. So aside from parking your lawn mower, take action by growing herbs. These really need no space, a window box or pots will do just fine (just make the pots bigger than the ones you buy the herbs in so they’ve got space to grow and make sure to water them in dry spells). If you’ve got a raised bed or veg garden, even better. Although I recommend a pot for oregano because it has a tendency to take over!! (And I can assure you it is very hard to dig out of your raised bed!)

Herbs are powerhouses of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. When they’re handy to your kitchen you can use them in their freshest state, just cut and add to your dish before serving.

[Psst, gardening is a super helpful for physical and emotional wellbeing too]

Here's some ways to use those Super Herbs

Thyme - use the leaves in slowly cooked dishes like beef/lamb stew or bolognaise. The flowers (leaving plenty for the bees) are a very pretty addition to a green salad and are edible. A bunch of thyme brewed as a tea is an excellent tonic for coughs, colds and respiratory issues and nicely sweetened up, if needed, with half a teaspoon of manuka honey.

Chives - use the leaves fresh with potatoes, eggs, soft cheese, soups, creamy sauces and in salad dressings or in the salad itself. As with the thyme flowers, chive flowers can be eaten raw and broken up into salads. I’ve even used them to decorate the turrets of a Fairy Castle birthday cake! Chives are prolific flower producers so I never worry about taking a few for our plates.

Oregano (also known as Marjoram) - good with strong flavours like Greek, Italian and Mexican dishes. I usually throw a couple of sprigs into a homemade tomato pasta sauce: a can or two of tomatoes, splash of olive oil, a clove or two of minced garlic and the oregano simmered for 30-45 minutes. Remove the stalks of the oregano before using the sauce in your dish.

Dandelion (pretty unlikely you’ll need to plant these!) - pick the tender, young leaves in Spring (leaving the flowers for the bees) as an addition to a green salad or throw them into a stir-fry at the last minute.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hype around superfoods, many of which have to travel thousands of kilometres to get to our kitchen, yet forget or not even realise how important and useful culinary herbs are - these humble little plants also deserve the label of superfoods!

I invite you to brew a nurturing cup of thyme tea, use the time previously allocated to doing the lawns to sit back in the Spring sun and literally watch the flowers grow! Health-promoting nutrients at your fingertips, a decent dose of vitamin D and an opportunity for a moment of calm contemplation all in the one package! Feel your body buzz with wellness, in tune with those happy bees.

That’s a little slice of joy right there!

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