Eucalyptus Honey

On a hunt for Nettle tips at Kingston Maurward in Dorchester we came across some really majestic Eucalypti trees - and noticed these amazing little buds shaped like knobbly stars -if you remember the game Jacks, they were a bit like those. We tasted one and the essential  oil content was very noticeable as perfumed juices hit our senses-then came a strong refrigerant effect and as we breathed deeply felt our airways really open. Very pleasant and lovely.The eucalyptus plant contains several chemicals, including eucalyptrin, hyperoside, quercetin, quecitrin, tannins, and associated acids. The primary constituent of the volatile oil is eucalyptol (1,8-cineole).

We pick a few and some leaves and brought them home for chopping and adding to some lovely local honey.

I goggled the buds and found that the trees are -Eucalyptus gracilis -


It is said that the Eucalyptus tree is one of the most useful trees in the world, belonging to the Myrtacea family –same as the Tea Tree. A tall water loving tree is also one of the fastest growing trees in the world  


Eucalyptus trees have always been part of my Materia medica as I often burn the essential oil when anyone has any respiratory infection as it is antibacterial, decongestant and stimulate the immune system. I have also made teas from brewing up the fresh leaves but this honey we'd made is amazing -

It was Baron Ferdinand von Müller, the German botanist and explorer, who made the qualities of  Eucalyptus known all over the world. He was the first to suggest that the perfume of the leaves resembling that of Cajaput oil, might be of use as a disinfectant in fever districts.. The rapidly growing Eucalyptus trees are now largely cultivated in many temperate regions with the view of preventing malarial fevers. In Sicily, also, it is being extensively planted to combat malaria, on account of its property of absorbing large quantities of water from the soil.

Next on the agenda is trying some pine needle honey out.... I think if anyone has any pine or eucalyptus trees near- start by going and tasting the leaves/buds/flower do this really slowly with attention to your reactions -if you feel benefits or drawn to the plant - simply take home chop up and add to honey.

Imbolc Germination Workshop

Three weeks ago we held an Imbolc Germination of Seed workshop both in Herts and Somerset. We based the workshop on the Energetics of Germination of Seed, having an in depth looking at differing herbs in their new bud stages. We got ourselves some seed trays and set about planting many differing herbs and plants -we raided the kitchen and found caraway, fennel, and poppy seeds on the selves, some aduki beans and milk thistles –

Fi also germinated 2 trays of Wheat-grass to juice. We wanted the essence of the message to be creating intentions from a clear and cleansed space, and really promote the message of detoxification for clarity of thought and actions.

We opened the workshops with thought of future projects -all lit candles to welcome the light back into our lives and with the light more fire energy to help drive us forward to achieve our goals. The groups made combined intentions for the coming spring -intentions to grow and nurture projects. As the Earth around us grows and nurtures all new life at this time. We juiced greens one by one pushing the vegetation into our juicer speaking aloud our intentions and then raised a glass of delicious nutrition vibrant juice to toast the energy.

The weather turned cold literally after the first workshop, it started to snow! The insulating blanket of pure sparkling white was so magical. The world turned into a fairytale adventure.  Elektra delighted in being able to eat it, create huge snowmen and sledge. I was slightly worried about all the new growth on the plants and how they would cope with the freeze. But they seem to be doing fine....

Now 3 weeks on, the front door is ajar letting sunlight flow into the home - planting on re-potting and clearing dead out in the garden today -Spring has Sprung.