Thursday 24 December 2009

Monday 21 December 2009

Grow Your Own Drugs!

I’ve never seen this series before. I saw it advertised on the Radio Times website but didn’t read the blurb about it. Just shows I should have bought a hard copy!

The title created images of cannabis plants with tinsel or Christmas lights. However late last night after a film finished it came on and we watched it. Have to say it was fascinating stuff, nothing like I’d imagined. Just shows how you can be misled.

Ethnobotanist (didn’t know there was such a job and me an ex careers adviser!) James Wong, took an organic approach to the festive season using lots of Christmas plants to create remedies, gifts and wonderful decorations. The programme culminated in a winter garden party of all things.

He showed you how to use winter plants from your garden make things such as ivy toning cream, holly truffles and an anti inflammatory orange, clove and myrrh massage oil. To help those who have a tendency to over indulge, he created a rosehip sherbet fizzy drink remedy, and fennel and peppermint rice just in case you’ve eaten too many sprouts! Then there was a stress busting egg nog, a hot toddy made from a Christmas tree and cystitis relieving cranberry mince pies.

I loved his presenting style, enthusiastic and humorous. I’ll watch out for his next series.

If you want to see his recipes they’re available here Grow Your Own Drugs Christmas Recipes and the programme is available to watch on iPlayer for the next seven days.

Information about his previous series is available here and you can get his recipes such as lemon balm for cold sores, plantain cream for bites and stings, thyme breath spray and herbal body scrub. Grow Your Own Drugs Series 1

I didn't get to see the Victorian Farm Christmas which I had intended to watch. Never mind, no doubt they'll show it again.

Post 136

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