Welcome

Here’s what you can expect from the Oak Gatherer Blog.

I love foraging and the history, science and folklore that comes with learning about our natural world. This blog is a creative outlet for my passion and is an opportunity to articulate long and short-form thoughts in my own time, without external influence dictating what I can or should publish, except that which inspires me to write.

I am not limiting this blog to any particular theme. I will share recipes, as I am a keen fermenter and mead-maker, I will write about folklore and investigate the roots of myths, I will even step into the realm of futurism and how the modern world affects our relationship with nature. Exploring nature by getting hands on and working with it is extremely rewarding, and I’d like to spread knowledge of our native flora and fungi, which offer us so much in regards to food and medicine, if only we respect them and help them to thrive.

Coming from an engineering background, I will also pass comment on the state of modern technology and how it links to the human condition.

Why the name?

The Oak is well-renowned for being a strong, dependable cornerstone of the British countryside. They weather strong winds, are struck by lightning and provide shelter in scorching summer heat. I love Oak trees (they’re in a close tie with Elder). They are prominently featured in a rich tapestry of European myth, from the Norse, to the Ancient Greeks, to our own Druids. Oaks are really a symbol of the countryside and forests as a whole, there is truly nothing more impressive than beholding a 1000 year old ancient oak (as pictured above) and wondering what it has witnessed throughout the centuries. I wanted to honor the Oak and present a similarly unbreakable spirit by adopting its name.

As for the Gatherer part, I am a professional forager, so you get the picture. Given that I will be writing on a whole host of topics, I felt the name was appropriately nature themed, but broad (rather than opting for “[insert name here] foraging“). Perhaps in the future I can orchestrate a gathering of the Oaks, and find other unbreakable metaphorical trees to populate a metaphorical forest.

I will be evolving ideas and a purpose as I go.

I hope, for anyone who takes time to read my writing (and thank you, even if you have simply skimmed my content for a fleeting moment) that you enjoy what I write, and that it will at least stimulate, if not educate and evoke some thought and emotion.

Welcome to the blog. You will learn how to make nice mead/metheglin at a bare minimum.

The Oak Gatherer