September Workshop - Saturday 18th 2010

The next available workshop will take place on Saturday 18th September at my consulting rooms in Weston-super-Mare. This one focuses on Numerology.  £35 including eBook and certificate with CPD points.  Maximum of 6 participants. 

 See http://www.adayofenlightenment.com  for further details and online booking

Free Festival of Light
          Saturday 25th September 2010

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO4a9dIAOp4

I grow many plants in my garden and I have been cultivating various edible tomato and pepper plants, carefully watering and feeding them with comfrey liquid.  One of the pepper plants was doing very well until I noticed it had masses of pink un-pepper-like flowers.  I looked more closely and discovered that I had been cultivating a very healthy 'weed'.  I checked to see what it was and if it had any use as an herb.  I found the following:- The leaves and young shoots may be eaten as a palatable and nutritious leaf vegetable. It is often seen as a weed and rarely cultivated.  A yellow dye can be produced from this plant with alum used as a mordant. The Redshank (Persicaria maculosa, formerly Polygonum persicaria) is a perennial plant from the Knotweed family Polygonaceae. It is also called Persicaria, Redleg, Lady's-thumb, Spotted Ladysthumb. It grows up to 1 m high, and has narrow, lancet-shaped leaves 8-10 cm long. The leaves often have a brown or black spot. Flowering - May - October.  Habitat - Moist to wet waste ground, disturbed sites, meadows, streambanks, roadsides, railroads. Origin - Native to Europe. This species is recognized by the characteristic purple splotch in the centre of the leaf as if each leaf has been held between a ladies finger and thumb. . The plant is common in the habitats mentioned above and is somewhat toxic. VIABILITY OF SEEDS IN THE SOIL - 30 years. PROPAGATION By seeds. 200-800 seeds/plant. HABITAT Moist to wet waste ground, disturbed sites, meadows, streambanks, roadsides, railroads and my pepper plant pot.  SOIL Fertile, nitrogen-rich, friable, well-aerated soils. P. persicaria is a serious agricultural weed in many temperate regions. It greatly reduces yield and interferes with combine harvesting. Redshank produces many seeds in wet seasons.  So it is quoted as being as being nutritious by one source and toxic by another.  One to look at but not eat methinks!