WYLDE, the podcast about foraging and herbalism in Europe

In this special episode, Lieve Galle takes you to the beautiful Alentejo region in Portugal for Herb Fest, a four-day gathering where herbalists, botanical artists, activists, and plant lovers from all over the world come together.

The episode features inspiring conversations with various international guests about their unique bond with the plant world and nature.

Guests & Topics:

• Fernanda Botelho (Portugal), co-organizer of Herb Fest, plant lover, and TV host, talks about the vibrant folk tradition of herbal medicine in Portuguese villages and her local fight against the use of pesticides like glyphosate. 
• Cristina Lima (Portugal) who works in sustainable tourism in the Lima Valley in the north of Portugal, shares her deep, musical connection with rosemary (alecrim). She sings a traditional song and talks about the powerful, feminine message of this plant. 
• Margarida Botelho (Portugal), an artist who gives 'sun printing' workshops using natural, photosensitive inks made from ingredients like beetroot and cabbage, emphasizes how art is a perfect tool to help city dwellers and children truly experience nature again. 
• Angie Oriana Jenkins (Canada), herbalist at Sister Lotus, talks about how she traveled to Portugal to connect with her roots. She also discusses the challenges of the diverse Canadian climates for herbs, and talks about her encounter with a new plant friend: Viper's Bugloss. 
• Nicolina Oedfeldt (Sweden), a herbal student, discusses the traditional medicinal uses of spruce and the complex legal status of the fly agaric (Amanita) mushroom in Sweden. 
• Romane Cornet (Belgium/Portugal), founder of Verbena Herbals in Lisbon, reflects on the differences in herbal knowledge and the pace of life between fast-paced Flanders and more nature-connected, slower Wallonia. 
• Cayetana De Sarriera (Catalonia), an educator who works with children in nature, talks about her application of the Hawaiian concept of Pono and how she teaches children the simple but valuable art of sitting in silence in the forest to observe nature. 
• Deborah "DeeDee" Davis (UK), a herbal student from Somerset, talks about how she realised during the festival that the love and intention with which you prepare herbs are just as important as the herbal ingredients themselves. 
• Antonella Vignati (Italy), a dietitian and naturopath based in Lisbon, talks about her workshop on botanical aphrodisiacs and menopause, explaining that a lowered libido often stems from stress, relationship issues, or the high use of antidepressants rather than a simple lack of herbs. 
• Sara Baga (Portugal), eco-feminist and documentary filmmaker, shares a powerful plea for seed activism and warns against large corporations trying to claim patents on seeds, plants, and traditional extraction protocols. 
• Rosemary Gladstar (US), a celebrated pioneer in modern Western herbalism, shares a heartwarming message about the need to stand up for the plants and protect them, as they need us just as much as we need them. 

And last but not least: 

• Alfredo Cunhal Sendim (Portugal), the custodian of the nature park where Herb Fest takes place, shares a humbling story about living next to a 2,000-year-old olive tree for 20 years without noticing it, emphasising the importance of taking your time to truly connect with nature. 

You can find all information about Herb Fest Portugal and the speakers on Instagram or Facebook:
https://www.instagram.com/herbfest_portugal/
https://www.facebook.com/Herbfestportugal/

And on the website: https://herbfestportugal.pt/en/



At the start of the episode you here a group of people at Herb Fest sing a very old Portuguese folk song "O Malhão".

The word Malhão has a dual, historical meaning in Portuguese:

1. Literal agricultural meaning: A malhão (derived from malhar, meaning 'to thresh' or 'to beat') is historically a "winnower" or "thresher." This refers to a farm worker who struck grain with a flail (a malho) to separate the kernels from the chaff.
2. Figurative meaning in the song: In the context of this folk song, Malhão has become an informal nickname or term of endearment for a young, somewhat lazy or carefree country boy (a "lad" or "chap"). The iconic opening line translates into English as: "O malhão, o malhão, what a life is yours! Eating and drinking, strolling down the street!" The song thus playfully teases this "Malhão" about his lazy, hedonistic lifestyle.

Famous Fado singers Amalia Rodrigues and Linda De Suza have also performed beautiful versions of this song for you to enjoy:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0YpuWkbc4SZcUx4aJDoMyF?si=53b2f26f264548a7
https://open.spotify.com/track/4F5aWdHnrPABOJF1FNmbIn?si=b25eca7cf35f402e

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Recorded at the 10th-anniversary meetup of the Association Of Foragers, in part 3 of this 3-part series, host Lieve Galle talks with Joanna Ruminska.


Originally from Poland, Joanna is now living and working in the UK where she offers foraging workshops, talks, and retreats. Her work is shaped by the attentiveness to place, season, and lived experience.

Enjoy our beautiful conversation.

About why it's important to have a community for foragers.

About the omnipresence of foraging in Poland compared to the UK and Belgium.

About knowledge being passed on from generation to generation and foraging tradtitions.

About using what's available in nature for food and medicine.

About the effect foraging has on both people and nature.

About the strength and resilience of wild plants.


And lots more.


Follow The Association Of Foragers on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/association_of_foragers/
Or find more information here: https://foragers-association.org/


Discover more about Joanna and her work with Incredible Edible UK on her website: https://www.incredibleedibleuk.co.uk/
Or follow her on Instagram @incredible_edible__ or Facebook @joannaforager

We mentioned the book We Are The ARK by landscape designer and nature activist Mary Reynolds. You can find more information about the project and the book here:
https://wearetheark.org/ 

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Recorded at the 10th-anniversary meetup of the Association Of Foragers, in part 2 of this 3-part series, host Lieve Galle talks with Liam O'Brien.

Liam is a UK-based foraging teacher, mushroom hunter, and wild food enthusiast specializing in educational walks and workshops focused on foraging, wildlife, and sustainable wild food.

Listen to their inspiring conversation

About how moving to another part of the world and experiencing new things like snow as an adult makes you feel like a little kid again.

About reviving ceremonies and traditions to reconnect with nature and heal our society.

About foraging as an antidote for consumerism and doomscrolling.

About getting a dopamine hit from hunter-gatherer behavior.

About why being neurodivergent is an advantage when foraging.

About learning by doing, playing and teaching, normalizing foraging and our hopes for foraging in the next decades.

And lots more.



Follow The Association Of Foragers on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/association_of_foragers/
Or find more information here: https://foragers-association.org/


Discover more about Liam and his work, and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkingpaceonly/ 

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Recorded at the 10th-anniversary meetup of the Association Of Foragers, host Lieve Galle sits down with a diverse panel of wild food experts: Fern Freud, Richard Mawby, Nic Roams, Łukasz Łuczaj, and Monica Wilde.

This special episode explores the profound physical and mental shifts that happen when we return to wild spaces.

We dive into the hard science of the Wild Biome Project, revealing how our gut bacteria actually adapts to process wild plants. The conversation also unpacks the cultural phenomenon of "herbophobia" (the fear of eating wild greens), the emotional toll of media backlash against foragers, and the powerful necessity of finding a supportive, non-competitive "tribe".

Whether you are a professional herbalist, a passionate weekend forager, or someone who simply feels crushed by the expectations of modern society, this episode offers a deep sigh of relief.

You will hear fascinating historical and scientific insights, while also discovering why simply spending time in nature is the ultimate antidote to a disconnected world.

Listen in to find out why foraging isn't just about picking food, it's about reclaiming an ancient birthright and falling back in love with the land.



Follow The Association Of Foragers on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/association_of_foragers/
Or find more information here: https://foragers-association.org/

In this episode you heard:
Fern Freud https://www.instagram.com/foraged.by.fern/
Nic Roams https://www.instagram.com/nicroams/ 
Łukasz Łuczaj https://www.instagram.com/thewildfood/
Richard Mawby https://www.instagram.com/foragefrolics/
Monica Wilde https://www.instagram.com/monicawilde/ 

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Gabrijela Vrbetić is the passionate founder of "It Is Gaby's Garden" where she hosts wild plant workshops and sells products made with freshly foraged herbs. She's also a proud member of the Croation Botanical Society.
Growing up in a farming family, with an uncle who was a sailor, she developed a deep love for nature and traditional herbal medicine from a young age.

Join is in this wonderful conversation.

About her unique approach to foraging.

About witchcraft and herbal medicine in the Balkan region.

About the legal framework for foraging and practicing herbal medicine in Croatia.

About foraging in real life compared to what you see on social media. 

About the grey area in toxicity of plants and toxic plant stories. 
 
And lots more.

You can find out more about Gaby and her work on the website:
https://itisgabysgarden.com/
Or follow Gaby on Instagram @itisgabysgarden

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Eleni Bourou is a pharmacist, herbalist, and plant storyteller from Greece.
Her work moves between the clinical and the intuïtive, the ancestral and the contemporary. For the past 15 years Eleni has cultivated a unique practice in foraging, transforming plants into remedies, and creating experiences that guide people back to their bodies and to the land.

Join us in this lively conversation.

About the added value of having a background in both pharmacy and herbalism.

About the intimacy of foraging and building a relationship with plants.

About how important it is to share knowledge and talk to people, the basic botanical knowledge of the Greeks, and where to go for formal herbal education in Greece. 

About the black and white thinking about toxicity of plants.
 
About how alternative medicine is actually traditional medicine.

About the legal framework around practicing herbalism in Greece, and quality control on herbal products.

About Eleni's hopes and dreams for foraging in Europe and te consequences of climate change. 
 
And lots more.



You can follow Eleni on Instagram @officinalis.drogeriii

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Columbia Hillen is a herbalist whose journey bridges the ancient herbal traditions of Romania and the wild rich landscapes of Ireland. She's the founder of Anamcara Healing Herbs Garden in Donegal.
She grew up in Transylvania where herbs and spices are traditionally important in both food and medicine, and is now on a mission in Ireland to help people rediscover and trust all that is around them, and teach them that medicine starts with food.

We hope to inspire you too with this tasty conversation.

About how Columbia's grandmother never used medicine, only herbal teas.

About how moving to Ireland and getting to know Nikki Darrell opened a new world for her. (Nikki was a guest on episode 12)

About getting people to trust herbs again and how medicine starts with food.

About Romanian folk traditions and herbal remedies vs modern medicine, and how that is opposite to Belgium and Ireland.

About plants growing where they are needed.

About challenges and opportunities for herbalism in Europe.

About how also being a photographer influences how she looks at plants.  

And lots more.



You can find out more about Columbia and her work on these websites:
Her herbalist website: https://www.anamcarahealingherbs.com/
Her writing retreat website: https://www.irelandwritingretreat.com/
Her photography website: https://www.columbiahillenphotography.com/  

Or follow her on Instagram @anamcaraherbalgarden or Facebook.

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Rita Roquette is the founder of Bloom Sativum, a botanical initiative in Portugal that bridges traditional herbal knowledge with contemporary practice. With a deep passion for plant medicine, Rita cultivates, crafts, educates, and helps you to embrace your wild side.

Join us in celebrating the healing power of herbs in this wonderful conversation.

About growing up as a city girl but spending weekends and holidays in rural Portugal.

About agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and working with the different ecosystems in the garden and on the farm.

About the general herbal knowledge in Portugal and the ongoing little rituals in daily life.

About how people in Portugal are connected to plants through family names and place names.

About folk herbalism and herbal education.

About the future of herbalism in Portugal, and how more popularity comes with more restrictions.

About Rita's favourite local plants to work with.

And lots more.



You can find out more about Rita and her work on https://bloomsativum.wixsite.com/bloom-sativum
Or follow her on Instagram @bloomsativum

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Dave Achula is a Dutch herbalist and educator with Ugandan roots.
He guides people on medicine walks, teaches the art and craft of herbal medicine, and hosts sacred ceremonies. Everything he does is rooted in the wisdom of ancestral traditions and informed by modern science, with emphasis not only on the medical properties of plants but also the relationships we cultivate with them.
We hope you will feel encouraged to (re)connect with the earth and with yourself through this conversation.

About how Dave's journey into herbalism began.

About feeling a strong connection with the earth and the natural process of transformation, and coming back to yourself.

About having a holistic approach to plant medicine.

About combining Eastern, Western and African herbal medicine practices and traditions.

About why you should connect with plants one by one instead of all at once.

About the time he spent with the Khoi tribe in South Africa and how that influenced his work.

About the comeback of natural medicine within different cultures around the world.

About how we can decolonize the botanical world in a constructive way, and how plants are a great way to learn about history.

About the challenges Dave sees for herbalism in the next 10 to 20 years.

And lots more.



You can find out more about Dave and his work on https://www.achula.com/
Or follow him on Instagram @achula__

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Gabriele Resch is a mother of 5 now adult children, and a health trainer with a big passion for herbs and natural living. She learned from her mother, from courses and from books, and loves to pass on her knowledge to younger generations.
She taught me a thing or two in this conversation.

About how she uses herbs in vegan cooking, juices and smoothies, and the combinations she makes.

About the way she sees the role of plants and herbs in holistic and natural health care.

About the popularity of Reverend Kneipp, and historical women like Hildegarde von Bingen and Maria Treben.

About the use of herbs for poultices and baths, with easy tips to try this at home.

About the state of basic botanical knowledge in Austria and Germany and the growing interest with the younger generation.

About herbal education and practicing medical herbalism as a 'heilpraktiker' in Germany.

About where she finds or buys good quality herbs, and the one herb that everyone should have in their garden. (spoiler alert: there's a whole list)

About the different flora and biodiversity in the mountains.

About how she sees herbal medicine evolving in Europe.

And lots more.



You can find all information about the Fruit Festival / Festival Frischer Früchte on the website: https://festivalfrischerfruechte.at/ 

There will be two more events this year:
Bad Gastein, Austria, 08.-14.09.2025 - in both languages English and German
Turkey, Dalaman, Dalyan, 22.-29.10.2025 - in both languages English and German

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation


Did you know you can book me as a keynote speaker?

Check my website for more information and enquiries:
https://wildplantforager.com/en/lieve-galle-keynote-speaker


I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe.
 
If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.
You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.

You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart


music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.