Emma shares her top four reads for Autumn that influenced some of our newest collections. Time to grab a cuppa, fluff up your cushions and dive into one of these inspiring books this Autumn.
Pattern: Mushrooms- it’s easy!
An Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake.
He’s very cool, and tells us how fungi are basically running the world- his book is highly recommended as a vital ‘get with the project’ read for anyone trying to master some of the emerging knowledge of the natural world and whether plants are actually chatting together...
Pattern: On the subject of Oak Trees, inspiring our Spongeware pattern, I’d recommend...
The Glorious Life of the Oak by John Lewis-Stempel.
He’s a wonderful writer, who has won many prizes for his nature writing- he shakes a load of lovely learning into a kaleidoscope of compelling prose- you’ll be an instant expert, with all sorts of erudite and fascinating facts at your command after you’ve read this. And - I love this- if you like his writing, he is prolific on all the most interesting nature topics.
Pattern: As for Rowan, here’s a big one. One of the best EVER books for your kitchen shelf, sooo much more than a cook book is...
Dorothy Hartley’s Food in England.
I’m almost certain she will tell you how to make wine, cordial jelly and all sorts of game accompaniments with Rowan berries- I am away trom home so I can’t check this, but bear with! Even if it turned out that she covers this bright and cheery ( also possibly magical) berry in another tome ( she’s written many books) you’ll be so glad you bought this masterpiece because it is very compelling, and bursting with folklore, history and regional knowledge regarding food and cooking from all over the country.
Finally, one last title, in case you haven’t read it yet, I urge you to get hold of and read...
Wilding by Isabella Tree.
She and her husband are busy proving that if you have the courage, and the humility as farmers, to turn your back on conventional agriculture - there’s an extraordinary surprise awaiting.
They fenced their farm, introduced an interesting combination of animals, then stood back, cameras and notebooks ( and many academics ) to hand, and they waited and watched and recorded, as nature reclaimed their land, and all sorts of rare creatures moved in and proliferated.
We are all increasingly anxious about environmental degradation, pollution, species loss and the failure of intensive farming- well here is the antidote!
I describe this book as an anti depressant- literally!