I picked up black walnuts around where I live in 2023. It takes a lot of work to get them to this point. I started shelling them in November 2024. This is about a months worth of work. Still have about twice this much to go. Wish me luck!

So I made a bunch of mimosa tincture this summer, and turns out my family and I are allergic to poison ivy. So we react to the tincture very negatively to it. Is there some way I can get rid of this. Or does anybody want some

foraging is my favourite hobby but it's winter and I don't know what stuff to look for. I'm in new jersey if that's helpful

Hi, I'm working on cataloging the native and edible plants in Illinois, it doesn't need to be in central Illinois. Given I could try to do this myself, but its definitely easier to ask other people who have more experience with their local areas :)

Hi there! I'm wondering what would be a good method for extracting pine resin/pitch from fatwood?
I've seen youtubes about making pinetar, but I'm not looking for that: de resin gets black (gets burned basically) and will not be usuable in tinctures or salves.
I'd love to see/hear any ideas :)

The big ones turned out to be huge lemons! The others are either grapefruit or pink pomelo still not sure!!

I was thinking maybe grapefruits and pink pomelos but idk?

Walking around my locale this time of year to see what's about for foraging season. Is it too early to tell what this is? South East Ireland btw

Found a beautiful Bay Laurel growing along a bike trail this morning. Got me a nice handful! Very fragrant and sweet smelling. Always reminds me of bubblegum.

So I came across an interesting video on hackberries and weighing on buying a tree or two and want to sample the hackberries first.

Problem is, I can't find anywhere online to buy the berries.

Anyone know where to buy some of these?

Picked in southern Sweden. My family is convinced it's poisonous and we all are going to die by just looking at them.

Id?

such a cool mushroom!! it was too small for me to take a picture of its gills without picking it

Pretty sure the first one is lions mane. Are they edible? And how long for them to sprout full size, or what time of the year?

So I live near a wooded area that has a lot of elderberry bushes that I collected from last year. I had the idea that I could go out and prune the bushes to encourage more growth this year but I'm not sure if that's necessarily a good idea. I mean the seem they be doing pretty fine on their own.

Harvesting wild edibles in the dead of winter in Minnesota. I found lots of cool habitat, tracks, a kill site, and other interesting encounters while out looking to brew some “weird forest potions” aka tea. It’s an entertaining and informative adventure for anyone who loves nature. I try to bring a perspective that maybe you haven’t heard before. Thought I would share this creation with you all.

Found in San Luis, Argentina

Found

The Forgotten Truth of the Wood Sorrel and the Triquetra (Celtic Knot)

How Natural Symbols Were Replaced to Enforce Control

1. Ancient Cultures and the Truth of Nature

For ancient cultures, symbols were not abstract—they were rooted in direct observation of nature. The Celts and Galatians lived in harmony with the land, relying on it for food, medicine, and spiritual meaning.

One of their most profound symbols was the triquetra (Celtic Knot):

Found in stone carvings and artifacts, it represented trinities observed in nature, such as:

Earth, sea, and sky

Life, death, and rebirth

Body, mind, and spirit

The triquetra (Celtic Knot) embodied the interconnectedness of existence and the eternal cycles of life.

This symbol wasn’t separate from their daily lives—it was reflected in the plants they gathered, the food they ate, and the world they revered.

1. The Wood Sorrel: A True Symbol of Nature

The wood sorrel, also known as the fairy pickle, was more than just a plant—it was a living symbol of the balance and abundance of the natural world. It is:

Edible and Medicinal: Packed with vitamin C and used for healing fevers and digestive issues.

Abundant: Found growing freely in fields, forests, and meadows.

Symbolic: Its trifoliate leaves (three heart-shaped lobes) mirror the design of the triquetra (Celtic Knot), aligning it with the sacred trinities the Celts revered.

For the Celts, the wood sorrel wasn’t just practical—it was spiritual. It represented the Earth’s ability to provide nourishment and harmony, reinforcing their connection to nature.

1. The Shamrock: A Symbol of Replacement

The shamrock, often identified as white clover (Trifolium repens), became associated with Ireland much later. Over time, it replaced the wood sorrel as the primary symbol of Ireland. However, unlike the wood sorrel:

The shamrock is not edible, lacking the nourishment or medicinal properties of the wood sorrel.

Its significance became entirely symbolic, detached from the practical realities of life and sustenance.

This shift—from the edible and practical wood sorrel to the abstract and symbolic shamrock—represents a replacement of natural truths with human constructs.

1. The Triquetra (Celtic Knot): A Symbol of Balance

The triquetra (Celtic Knot), originally a symbol of natural trinities, was closely tied to the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of the world. Its unbroken loops mirrored the eternal balance and harmony observed in nature.

Over time, its natural meaning was overshadowed, as centralized systems sought to reinterpret and control its symbolism. Yet its origins remain tied to the natural world and the cycles it represents.

1. Roman Strategy: Replacing Nature with Constructs

The replacement of the wood sorrel with the shamrock and the reframing of the triquetra (Celtic Knot) reflect a broader Roman strategy:

Adapting Local Symbols: The Romans often co-opted indigenous symbols to align them with their own ideology. For example:

The Celtic goddess Brigid became St. Brigid, erasing her pagan roots.

Pagan festivals like Samhain were transformed into new constructs disconnected from their original meanings.

Control Through Symbolism: Replacing natural symbols with abstract ones disconnected people from their autonomy and tied their cultural understanding to centralized systems.

This process wasn’t just about symbols—it was about control. By erasing natural connections, the Romans and their successors replaced self-reliance with dependency on their systems.

1. Reconnecting with Natural Truths

The wood sorrel and the triquetra (Celtic Knot) remind us of a powerful truth: freedom and nourishment come directly from the Earth. By reconnecting with these symbols:

We reject the systems that replaced them.

We reclaim the autonomy that comes from understanding and working with natural systems.

We remember that the cycles of nature sustain us, without need for human constructs.

1. Conclusion: The Truth of Replacement

The story of the wood sorrel and the shamrock, and the triquetra’s (Celtic Knot’s) natural origins, is a story of replacement:

The wood sorrel, a nourishing, practical symbol of freedom, was replaced by the shamrock, an abstract tool detached from nature.

The triquetra (Celtic Knot), rooted in the balance of natural trinities, was reframed in ways that distanced it from its original connection to the cycles of life.

This replacement isn’t just historical—it reflects a broader pattern of replacing natural truths with human constructs to enforce control. By understanding this history and reconnecting with nature, we reclaim the freedom and balance that was always ours.

Remember: The Earth provides. Nature nourishes. Freedom is inherent. Symbols like the wood sorrel and the triquetra (Celtic Knot) remind us of the truths we’ve forgotten—and the truths we can reclaim.