Summer sprouting, foraging and juicing tips

Vigorous young dandelions, Chalice Hill

Summer is a great time for juicing. Ayurveda instructs us that summer is the season of pitta, fire.  Thus to maintain health through natural balance we need to cool ourselves. Juices are ideal in this regard and can be taken in lieu of meals.

Nature provides: in tropical climates, coconuts grow abundantly and provide excellent nutrition as well as a sweet and delicious drink.

Here in the UK, with a decidedly cooler climate we can make the best of what is offered to us. There are some marvellous water rich lettuces growing well, romaine or cos has the highest nutrient density and juices nicely as part of a light and refreshing green lemonade. I picked up some squat, knobbly cucumbers grown at a local farm, a welcome change from their sleek, smooth skinned cousins.

If you can make peace with the food miles and include European produce, then melons are a good buy at the moment and juice well on their own. The holy grail of melons for me is the dark skinned, red fleshed watermelon; if organic I will juice the rind, where 90% of nutrients are to be found. And then munch down on the slippery dark seeds, nothing gets wasted! The resultant juice is a murky brown; don't be put off; it tastes wonderful!

Fresh new nettle growth, Wick Hollow

The recent contrasting weather of heavy rain and blasting sunshine has reinvigorated the hedgerows of Glastonbury. I have renewed my foraging for wild greens, which adds robustness to summer juices.  My favourite leaves right now are dandelion and nettle. I am looking for new growth as this is where the vitality and vigour of the plant is to be found.

Dandelion leaves should be young: bright green, erect and bursting with life. Older leaves are darker, tired looking and with the classic toothed appearance. Leave behind any nettles that have flowered, their life force is now in the reproductive parts of the plant. Live and let live, let the plant complete its cycle. Look instead for fresh new growth, low to the ground. I pick off the tips, the first few centimeters only.

Sun scorched wheatgrass in recovery!

At home, I have had to modify my sprouting methods. I am finding that everything I plant wants to bolt towards the light. The perspex covered annex which perfectly supports my mini plant kingdom during spring and autumn in summer is conducive to yellowed wheat grass tips and leggy baby sunflower greens.

I  moved operations to a cooler, darker spot and mist more frequently, this seems to do the trick.

Recipe for green summer lemonade:

Whole cucumber, skin on 

Head of romaine lettuce

Melon of choice

Handful of fresh mint

Juice all ingredients, adjusting quantities to taste.  Drink as soon as possible after juicing, ideally immediately. Share with friends and bless Mother Earth for her gifts!