Editorial

So long, and thanks for all the herbs

Kyra Pollitt, Maddy Mould, Ella Leith, Marianne Hughes, and Anastasia Joyce

This month, Marianne Hughes and Hazel Brady introduce that most fragrant and graceful of summer herbs, Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). We learn of its role in the life and death of the great Scottish warrior Cú Chulainn (Foraging through Folklore; Botanica Fabula), as Amanda Edmiston swears she catches a glimpse of the shape-shifting goddess Morrigan amongst the 'creamy clouds' of the herb's flowers.

Anthroposophical Views explores the healing purpose of fever and serves us lemonade, whilst Ann King brings us recipes for a calming infusion and a scented, soothing balm (Notes from the Brew Room). The Chemistry Column explains the role of esters in creating fragrance, whilst Elizabeth Rimmer's poem (Red Squirrel Presents...) evokes the scents of yore, when Meadowsweet was used as a domestic scatter herb.

Our Artist of the Month, Johanna Dollerson, explains her art as a call to reconnect with and care for our Earth, and a special In Focus column from Patrick M. Lydon and Suhee Kang takes this notion further, examining the Natural Farming movement. Patrick Dunne (The Climate Column) issues a rallying cry for solidarity in the face of climate destruction, whilst Callum Halstead (Sage Advice) encourages us to actively regenerate earth by getting started with composting.

Finally, Marianne Hughes reviews another new book from Aeon Press, this time on inflammation and chronic disease.

Regular readers will know that at this point in the year, we take a break. This year, the current team has decided to bow out, as gracefully as the Meadowsweet. We have thoroughly enjoyed our journey with Herbology News, and we are very proud of our achievements. Over the last two years, we have published twenty-two issues— generously supported by as many artists, many more columnists, and our five staunch patrons. In that time, we have grown a mailing list of 281 active readers, with an additional online readership of 412 who regularly join us from here in the UK, the US, Germany, Malta, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, and India— as well as our network of stockists. We thank you all. You are a wonderful community. Your engagement has encouraged and fortified us over the last two years.

As we go to press, we are hopeful that the Herbology News baton will pass to a new generation. We leave it in the lap of the shape-shifting herbal gods, but be sure to keep one eye on this space...

Honorary Executive: Catherine Conway-Payne

Editorial team: Kyra Pollitt, Ella Leith, Maddy Mould and Anastasia Joyce

Illustration: Maddy Mould

Finance and Distribution: Marianne Hughes

Herbology News is printed on FSC certified, carbon neutral, recycled paper, using non-polluting vegetable-based inks, made from renewable sources.