South African-born, Brooklyn-based author Marie Viljoen is our resident weed queen, professional forager, and, in her words, “a few times a month, she takes people to urban green spaces.” We offer portable picnics inspired by the wild to invite you into the wonders of the world.” She is also an avid gardener (with a background in garden design) and, fortunately, a long-time gardener. He is also a contributor. For the past ten years, she has enjoyed everything from her mother’s lush, rambling garden in Cape Town and her own small but expansive terrace garden in New York City, to foraging for dandelion leaves and picking wood ear mushrooms in the spring. I have written eloquently about this. autumn. Often, at the end of these stories, she treats us to one of her simple but genius recipes featuring the fruits she has foraged. (Thanks to her, we no longer look at mugwort the same way.)
Marie is the author of two must-read books, 66 Square Feet: A Good Life, One Woman, One Terrace, 92 Recipes and Forage, Harvest, Feast: Wild-Inspired Cooking. As such, I’m sharing my thoughts on potted cacti (meh), basil (yay), and more.
Photography by Marie Viljoen unless otherwise noted.
Your first garden memory:
When I was about four years old, I planted a big, fat seed in the garden plot my mother had allocated to me.
Garden-related books that I read over and over again:
“Brother Gardeners” by Andrea Wolff. She writes incredibly well, so that’s part of it, but I’m also fascinated by the story of how North American plants found their way to Europe. For example, our black locust (Locus acacia) is the European “acacia” (which bees turn into pale, expensive honey). She writes about how the warm colors of American trees and shrubs, such as maples and sumac, transformed and illuminated the European autumn landscape.
and Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass. It resonates with me on so many levels in how she views landscapes and plants. And it also informs me about indigenous traditions that have been lost, suppressed, or extinguished. She makes words very well. I just pre-ordered her new book, The Serviceberry.
Instagram accounts that inspire you:
Wildbird Fund @wildbirdfund. They care for New York’s injured and sick birds, from pigeons to extremely rare migratory birds that have crashed into windows or sidewalks. I find birds special and uplifting. I also feel that birds are remnants of the earth’s past. Despite all the obstacles we have thrown in their path, they are still following their ancient path above us. Their posts are very smart because they focus on positive outcomes while educating about the challenges big and small that wild birds face every day.
