Like many people the enforced ‘time out’ caused by the coronavirus pandemic has given me a chance to stop, think and reflect.  The total cessation of all my planned workshops, talks and events took a bit of adjusting to.

Back in 2013 I was fortunate to visit Nepal, a trip that had a profound effect on me and was the catalyst for fundamental changes in my life including starting More than Willow.

This man epitomised my visit to Nepal. In a remote tea house in Langtang he produced the most delicious vegetable fried rice cooked on a clay stove using a few locally grown and freshly picked ingredients but prepared with care and served with a smile. It made me think about the need to produce rather than consume, to be content rather than strive.

Shortly after my return home I started to write a blog to share my thoughts on food, plants and life in general and so the free ranging blog was born. For the next three years I shared my random thoughts until More than Willow got established.

This covid-19 enforced isolation has given me once again the opportunity to think about what is really important  to me – contentment, valuing and taking joy in our natural world and treading with as light a footprint as I can as I journey through life.

So I thought it is perhaps time to share a few of my old free ranging thoughts and some new ones too.  It may be of interest to some or it may just be good for me to write but I hope  others will enjoy this random collection too..