Pip Podcast #46: Heidi Merika - Unlocking the Wild

In this episode of the Pip Podcast, Robyn Rosenfeldt sits down with Heidi Marika, naturopath, medical herbalist, and author of Wildcraft and From the Wild. Heidi shares her passion for reconnecting with the plants growing all around us and how they can be used for food, medicine, and healing—both for us and the environment. Together, Robyn and Heidi delve into the overlooked abundance of wild plants and the importance of re-learning what our ancestors knew. Heidi opens up about her childhood spent foraging, her journey back to wild plant medicine, and why these "weeds" are so vital in times of uncertainty and change. In this episode, Robyn and Heidi discuss: * Why wild plants contain more nutrients than cultivated vegetables. * How to safely identify and use plants like dandelion, plantain, and nasturtium. * The role of wild plants in healing the soil and our bodies. * Practical tips for foraging greens and incorporating them into your diet. * How to make simple remedies like salves, teas, and fire cider. * The deep sense of connection and belonging that comes from working with wild plants. This episode is a fascinating and empowering conversation about unlocking the potential of plants that many of us overlook. Whether you’re curious about foraging, wild food, or finding connection to place through nature, Heidi’s insights will inspire you to explore the food and medicine growing right under your feet. To learn more about Heidi and her work, visit our show notes here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/content-type/podcast/ Check out Heidi's "Wild Plants - Health benefits, medicinal properties and how to forage them" article in Issue 35 of Pip here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/wild-plants-health-benefits-medicinal-properties-foraging/ You can explore Heidi’s books Wildcraft and From the Wild here: https://www.murdochbooks.com/browse/book/Heidi-Merika-From-the-Wild-9781761500091 For more tips on growing food, foraging, composting, and living more sustainably, subscribe to Pip here: https://pipmagazine.com.au/subscriptions/ We like to honour the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded, who are the Walbunja people of the Yuin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present, and to any First Nations people listening today.