Planting a Growing Experience
By Kween
Health Canada may have just released the rules and regulations around the roll out of legal edibles later this year, but there's still a ways to go before we can find government vetted confections at our local retail store.
In lieu of these exciting treats, we sent Kween (one of our CCC members) to experience a different kind of edible over the weekend...
We all love cannabis edibles, but cannabis isn’t the only plant that provides us with a connection to the natural world. The ever-changing cannabis industry is opening our eyes to the connections we share with Mother Nature. Furthermore, it’s bringing us back to surviving off our land in a proper way.
On June 15th, I was sent out by AHLOT to an exceptional event hosted by the Minga Skill Business Hub at the Ignatius Jesuit Center in Guelph, ON. Wild Edibles! Identification and Foraging, led by experienced forager Luke Eckstein, is a workshop designed to help gain basic knowledge about nature and how to eat safely in your own backyard. I must say this experience was much more fruitful than I ever imagined. Learning about the many benefits surrounding wild edibles such as food, medicine, clothing and furniture was an eye-opener – not to mention the benefit to your ecological footprint!
We were immediately welcomed to the workshop by the Minga Group, relaxing in a cool grassy area with some benches. The energy was really cool, people were super friendly. We were invited to stand up and be greeted by Luke. This opening was an impactful moment for me because we were then shown how many edible plants there were just beneath our feet. From the Sapi Mush, White and Red Clovers to BroadLeaf Plantain, Dandelions and even edible Mushrooms.
“There are some amazing things underneath your feet that you may not even realize. There is a whole system below your feet - it is just a matter of seeing it!” Luke Eckstein 2019.
I won’t lie – I was a bit hesitant at first to just try some of these things. I eat quite clean and green but there is something about my mindset that flowers seem wrong to eat even though they have so many benefits. So, off we were down the beautiful trails of the Ignatius Jesuit Center along a journey through the plant world. It wasn’t the best day with the rain and the wind, but the land was stunning, surrounded by trails and community gardens. We began learning all aspects of foraging plants from smelling, touching, feeling and tasting. Truly a workshop to ignite all your senses.
It was very enlightening to learn how many different parts of these plants you can eat and how many were actually quite tasty. And on the other hand, slightly nerve racking to learn about poisonous ones too! What I truly appreciated was Luke taking the time to also go through some of the non-edible plants and how to avoid the risks and hazards of foraging. In addition to foraging our own plants, each plant was given its own intricate breakdown of benefits and how you can properly use these edibles within your daily life.
It was a bit overwhelming but so fascinating to find out more about cannabis’ sister plants:
It was really brilliant how full of knowledge Luke was and he provided such a comfortable vibe that our walk not only impactful but fun! We learned great tips and tricks on how to forage, proper use, how to cook and eat things in our own backyards, ways to stay safe around risks such as poisonous plants, and how to maintain a sustainable harvest.
Kween and Luke Eckstein after Wild Foraging Walk.
From silly jokes to fun plant puns, this 3-hour adventure felt like a trip through a mystical land. Perhaps the 1:1 strain I was smoking that morning helped, but I truly felt connected to the Earth. Having a nice limonene based terpene strain is super helpful to keep you alert and attentive throughout the day. And even if you don’t want to smoke - this type of workshop is so soul healing, heartwarming, body centering and spiriting lifting that you won't want it to end.
Make sure to follow our IG @think.ahlot and @kween.of.kweenz to stay up to date on all the Curators' adventures!
An actor, dancer, singer and model, Kayla (Kween) also has a long and illustrious history as a cannabis supporter, managing compassion clinics for two years and helping to open a dozen more. She lends her communication skills to everything from advocating for minorities to documenting her personal strain discoveries.
Learn more about Kween and AHLOT's other Cannabis Curation Committee members here.