oxalis
Where: Canticle Farm, 1972 36 ave
When: Feb 12
11-2 garden work party
2-3 potluck lunch
3-5 crafting and story sharing
Who: Oxalis aka Sourgrass aka Lil Yellow Spring Buddies
Hot takes: pesto, yellow fabric dye in a solar oven, Brigid’s cross in honor of Imbolc, mulch to return water and nutrients to the land
Our day was truly “transagnic” (think lasagna - with a silent g!) layered with cultural practices from different lineages represented and local ecological knowledge, all soaking in the juice of relationship.
The day was also temporally layered with the presence of youth volunteers in the morning and topped off with a golden crispy visit from our Lakota elder friend “Uncle Bob” who smudged and blessed us to continue in our plant-based play.
Here are some of the fruits of our experimentation:
Ruby made a delicious Oxalis Pesto. This is potent medicine for cleansing the liver - but careful not to overdose on this delicious spread! The oxalic acid (also found in raw beets and chard) can cause mild burning in the digestive tract when consumed in large quantities.
In honor of the Celtic Sabbath Imbolc, we practiced crafting “Brigid’s Crosses” together. Traditionally these are woven from rushes or straw, but in our experimental “transagnic” fashion, we decided to experiment with what is most abundant for us; oxalis flower stalks! Some of folks got even more creative and used the stalks as proboscises, embodying the form of the pollinators who frolic in these little yellow flowers.
We used a solar oven to cook down oxalis flowers into a potent yellow dye!
Folks brought their own clothes and strips of fabric to experiment with dying. Check out the vibrant color that set after just a few hours!
While some of what we harvested got transformed into food and craft, some of it was “chopped and dropped” as mulch - to eventually transform itself back into rich soil for the plants who remain rooted.
We like to invite TIWNers into an adaptation of the ancient Welsh bardic poetic practice of listening for the “secret names” of the being we’re apprenticing to. As we work throughout the day, we invite folks to tune into the essence of the plant - the true nature underneath the weight of their conventional name. Some of the names that made themselves known were “Sourgrass” (a kids classic), “Magic Carpet”, “Little Yellow Buddies” “Giddy Feet”.
We’re excited to continue experimenting with this abundant zingy treat. Do you have any favorite oxalis recipes? Do share!
