Resilience refers to the ability of environments and communities to react to change in a way that enables them to continue to thrive. How we create flourishing and resilient environments and communities is a pertinent question for our times.

Our new Summer Series of walks, talks and workshops encourages us to consider this question, by looking at nature and food growing in new and unique ways. We are delighted to welcome chef and herbologist Maya Thomas to the Growing Project, who will be discussing using herbs in the kitchen.

We often talk about food as medicine, and herbs were our very first medicines. Historically the lines have always been blurred between recipe and remedy, especially where herbs are concerned. Today in the UK herbs are wildly underutilised in the kitchen, despite being the easiest and most economical way to add extra nutrition to our diets. Join chef and herbologist Maya Thomas as we look at (and taste!) seasonal herbs, both foraged, grown or bought and how and why we should utilise them in the kitchen.

This talk will take place at the growing area / polytunnel at Vine Road Rec.

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About Maya Thomas

Maya Jayaweera Thomas is a herbologist, writer, workshop facilitator and creative consultant specialising in plant medicine, food and growing.

Maya’s background is in documentary filmmaking for Channel 4; ITV and the BBC, and script editing. Having left London a decade ago to pursue a life more closely connected to the land, she went on to gain a distinction from The Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in Herbology. Maya then worked with growers, plant medicine practitioners and chefs across the UK. On returning to London Maya’s work has centred on finding innovative ways to connect people with their environments through the stories of plants.

Maya regularly collaborates with Chelsea Physic Garden and Toast, and has worked with the Garden Museum; Soho Farmhouse; Charleston Plant Festival; Rough Trade Books and Bloom Magazine.