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In house forager for The Fife Arms, Braemar. Hauser and Wirth flagship Hotel. https://thefifearms.com/experiences/

The Telegraph December 2020 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/astonishingly-beautiful-highland-hotel-ultimate-winter-getaway/

The people of the Fife podcasts. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-people-of-the-fife-podcast-the-fife-23E0iRAHf6M/

Blogger for Some Good Ideas website. https://www.somegoodideas.co.uk

The Mavericks podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/outdoor-voices-ep-4/id1249333134?i=1000483229125

The Telegraph December 2020 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/astonishingly-beautiful-highland-hotel-ultimate-winter-getaway/

Tatler August 2020 https://www.tatler.com/article/why-the-fife-arms-is-the-most-sensational-scottish-hideaway-to-book-now

The Telegraph Jan 2020 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/camp-glen-dye-family-travel-summer-festival/

BBC Olive Magazine January 2019 https://www.olivemagazine.com/travel/uk/scotland-travel/foodie-roadtrip-in-royal-deeside/

Nude Chocolate Bars, California. https://www.eatnudebars.com/inside-the-bars

ThatcherJoeVlogs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sW5H_1_Q2E&t=970s

Drink in the history of Braemar at Aberdeenshire luxury hotel The Fife Arms

https://www.unitedmags.com/downton-abbey-british-estates/

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Stinging nettle coming up through the snow. Did yo Stinging nettle coming up through the snow.
Did you know the stinging hairs contain acetylcholine, histamine (gives you the hive reaction), formic acid (gives you the irritation) and serotonin (boosts your mood). This wonderful and abundant plant does loads more than sting you. Want to learn more?
Let us guide you through the seasons with our online courses.

#nettle #foraging #herbal #snow #learning
Still chilly in Ballater. Relaxing in front of the Still chilly in Ballater. Relaxing in front of the fire.

#fire #relaxing #cosy #warm #joy #scotland
Enjoy the The old pretender cocktail recipe in tod Enjoy the The old pretender cocktail recipe in todays The Fife Arms post. One of the many cocktails Marco and myself enjoyed creating.

#foraging #cocktails #mixology @thefifearms
Rosie is relaxing and thinking about doing some le Rosie is relaxing and thinking about doing some learning. What would you like to learn? If you'd like to learn more about plants and plant recipes including cocktails take a look at our website.

#relaxing #calm #learn #foraging #scotland
The plants are waking up and these are the first l The plants are waking up and these are the first leaves of ground elder. When foraging for ground elder, the young light green waxy looking leaves are best. Don't use when in flower and after it flowers.

A low growing plant with creeping roots. Stems are hollow and toothed leaves are divided into three leaflets. The white flower umbels appear in May or June.

This makes a great hot drink when added to yeast extract based drinks. It also can be made into a savoury syrup for cocktails -  fantastic for a foraged Bloody Mary.

#foraging #hope #herbal #outdoors #newgrowth
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Make certain of your identification prior to harvesting any plant or mushroom as ingestion, application, or other use of some plants and mushrooms may cause illness or death.
A lovely article in The Telegraph a few weeks ago. A lovely article in The Telegraph a few weeks ago.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/travel/astonishingly-beautiful-highland-hotel-ultimate-winter-getaway/

#foraging #thefifearms #herbal #scotland #braemar
January is a good time cosy in and try and relax, January is a good time cosy in and try and relax, as daylight is starting to lengthen we can all start to feel a bit more hopeful.

#foraging #herbal #calm #relax #daylight
Nettle and milk thistle seed salt. Did you overin Nettle and milk thistle seed salt.

Did you overindulge over the festive time? Didn’t we all.

Nettle seed has a reputation for improving kidney function and milk thistle seed has a long documented and scientific basis for helping to improve liver function. Add the properties of a mineral rich sea salt and mineral rich sesame seeds and you have a healthy condiment.

These nettle seeds were foraged in the late summer.

I love this sprinkled on eggs for breakfast.

15g nettle seed
10g milk thistle seed
20g toasted sesame seed (unhulled)
 5g sea salt

Dry toast the sesame seeds by gently warming them in a pan over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the oil begins to release and the seeds start to turn golden brown, remove the seeds from heat and place in a bowl to cool. Place all of the ingredients together in a spice grinder or a fast blender to break down the seeds. Grinding the salt first (unless you’re using ground sea salt to start) makes for a more even tasting salt. Once all the ingredients are ground and mixed up together, place in a dry, sterilised container and label.

Learn more with our online courses. www.gatheringnature.com

#herbal #foraging #healthyhabits #cleanse #scotland
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. This is the day the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

This is the day the Three Kings reached their destination after 12 days of travelling and gifted Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Valuable gifts for the time.

Gold speaks for itself as a commodity. Frankincense has anti inflammatory effects and is an astringent which is great for the skin. Myrrh is a great antibacterial. Current research shows it makes a good mouthwash and is effective on the skin.

Want to learn more about our online courses? www.gatheringnature.com

#herbal #foraging #onlinecourse #history #modernresearch
The traditional day to take down your Christmas de The traditional day to take down your Christmas decorations is the Twelfth night of Christmas, which is the 6th of January also known as Epiphany. It took 12 days for the Three Kings to travel to see Jesus hence the 12 days of Christmas. The 6th of January is usually marked by having cake. We have chosen to make a festive Scottish shortbread with a ginger twist - here is the recipe for you so you can celebrate too.

Ginger Shortbread recipe

100g plain flour
50g cornflour
100g butter (room temperature)
50g icing sugar
20g granulated sugar infused with dried ginger

Cream the butter and icing sugar together in a bowl or a food processor then add flour slowly until it starts to become a crumbly ball.

In a bowl knead the crumbly ball until it starts to firm up. Roll into a cylinder shape. Coat with the ginger infused sugar by rolling over the sugar on a plate.

Ginger infused sugar

Combine 60g of granulated sugar with 5g(one teaspoon) dried ginger in a jar and leave overnight and use when required.

Chill for two hours and then slice roughly into 1cm discs. Place these on a baking tray and bake until golden brown, usually, 10mins at 170c.

#baking #celebration #twelfthnight #prep #shortbread
Despite so many changes last year, we have learnt Despite so many changes last year, we have learnt to value one another and our locality and there has been a lot of creativity. Our grounding is in our community and our environment. We can take solace in nature and being outdoors. Learn to connect with the seasons with our online courses and join the community.
#herbal #plant #creative #nature #environment
Happy Hogmanay! Here's a delicious simple whisky c Happy Hogmanay! Here's a delicious simple whisky cocktail for you to ring in the New Year with.
We hope you all enjoy it and here's to a better year ahead!

Whisky
Lemon juice
Cranberry syrup
Soda
Homemade orange bitters.

#hogmanay #newyear #scotland #cocktail #herbal
This is the last stone left standing of St Manires This is the last stone left standing of St Manires Church in Crathie.  Dated back to the 6th Century. There is a burial ground here too.  In the background is Creag Nam Ban. The hill of the woman. It has long been remembered as being the site where Katie Rankin was apprently killed after being accused of being a witch. I've driven past this stone so many times but didn't know the history of the stone. What is in your local area you haven't discovered yet?

#local #undiscovered #timetoexplore #scotland hi in
Merry Christmas! #christmas #seasonal #mulledwine Merry Christmas!

#christmas #seasonal #mulledwine #gatheringnature #scotland
Wassail Brandy Cocktail . Cinnamon Infused Brandy Wassail Brandy Cocktail
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Cinnamon Infused Brandy / 35ml
Cider / 20ml

Top with Apple juice
& a few drops of Winter Solstice bitters

Add over ice and add a garnish - Enjoy!
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#scotland #cocktail #gatheringnature #yule #solstice
Happy Solstice! As we reach the shortest day so th Happy Solstice!
As we reach the shortest day so the days will start to lengthen again...the light is returning.

#solstice #light #hope #season #outdoors
It's time to relax and enjoy the holidays. The ide It's time to relax and enjoy the holidays. The idea of not having anything to do for a few weeks sounds really appealing. This was part of the idea of wassailing and the 12 days of Christmas. This time incorporates the winter Solstice also known as Yule. The shortest day of the year. When there is more darkness, it’s a bit colder, and the return of the light is upon us. This is a perfect time to cosy in and relax. Spending time with neighbours and friends is not something we are able to do this year, but these ‘digital’ days we can do it virtually. We have created a solstice cocktail and made some winter solstice bitters. The bitters recipe is listed below so you can recreate them at home and share the recipe with family and friends, and hopefully you can all celebrate virtually together.
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Winter Solstice Bitters

Sliced ginger 5g
3 cloves
Half a cinnamon stick
Yarrow 5g
Gentian or bog bean 1g
Chamomile 3g
1 star anise or 3 crushed cardamoms.

Top with vodka and splash of water.
Allow to steep for two to four weeks. You can use it beforehand it just won't be as strong but still delicious.

#cocktail #bitters #foraging #scotland #cosy
Time to relax with a cup of tea. This is a herbal Time to relax with a cup of tea. This is a herbal blend of equal parts elderflowers, peppermint and yarrow, traditionally used in the Winter months. Learn more with our seasonal online courses.

#tea #herbal #foraging #relaxing #art #gatheringnature
Scotland in December. Beautifully quiet and peacef Scotland in December. Beautifully quiet and peaceful. Sat and listened to a small trickle of water when taking this photo. Nature is so relaxing.

#scotland #december #outdoors #nature #relaxing #beautiful
Pickled pears made with festive spices. Cinnamon, Pickled pears made with festive spices. Cinnamon, clove, star anise and ginger. Really looking forward to having these thinly sliced with a mature cheese in a few weeks. #cooking #preserves #prepare @herbalistical
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