Tuesday, 28 February 2012

RESEACH FOLLOW ON - CREATIVITY AND STYLES

WAYS ON HOW TO CONVEY INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN IN A CREATIVE WAY:

- infographics




- charts and diagrams



 - appropriate use of colour
 - additions like: activity packs, games, stickers, DIY, checklist etc.
 - simple recipes with parents support:

- styles
Negative space left around for clear visuals appropriate for younger audience 4-7yrs old. Simple, brightly coloured drawings.


these are full colour page illustrations, a lot is going on the page, bright happy images, anthropomorphism is also portrayed , which children do like. This helps them to develop further children's imagination.


I like this one because of minimal use of colour but I think it could look better if it was created in different medium.


again, negative space but with a bit of unfinished background, I like this style because of the use of simplistic approach.



 this style is for older children, more sketched and realistic. I like the idea of only some objects being coloured, which in a way can tell or follow the narrative.





These are for older children, who comfortably can read themselves. still, simplicity is kept.



Above, very interesting idea! double spread used to its full potentials. cleverly 3D feel achieved by diagonal lines as well as walls overlapping to two pages. Text looking almost like a graffiti.. Like that!






a bit of beautifull retro style! Playful with the text being part of the narrative.


Similarly here the text fits with the image..


information overload, diary form, scrap book style illustration.


In my opinion the use of medium is a very important part of making illustrations because you might change the mood of the narrative. Still to be creative is a key!


I believe that in order to interest children and to make sure that foraging could be part of their lives is to start as early as possible. There isn't much, actually I haven't seen any books that are purposely written for that age range, perhaps due to those being more story based rather than guided books as such.
I would like to design a book that would be fun, interesting, engaging as well as educational and motivating to explore the wilderness. It will be a challenge.

The question I have is: If I was to write about section on berries for example, do I have to design the whole idea within the 2 double page spread? or is it the concept that perhaps could flow throughout the whole book. I suppose that will depends on the approach I will take whether that will be a story, a guide or other sort.


 






Monday, 27 February 2012

RESEARCH - STORIES, GUIDES, ACTIVITIES, COOKERY BOOKS

COOKERY BOOKS:











 



IDENTIFICATION GUIDES:




 



STORIES:







ACTIVITIES:










RESEARCH AND THOUGHTS ON FORAGING: FUN FAMILY TIME, A-Z WILD PLANTS

FORAGING:

 - enjoyable, simpler way of entertainment
 - it menas to be in touch with the nature; lots of fresh air whatever the weather
 - picking wild fruit marks the seasons; you notice different fruits during different seasons
 - fun, natural and free, and is a great activity to do as a family
 - you and your family get more knowledgeable

SOME WILD PLANTS:

· Alexanders
· Birch Sap
· Broom Buds
· Burdock
· Chamomile
· Cleavers
· Dandylion leaves
· Elder Flower
· Elder berries
· Ground Elder

· Hairy Bittercress
· Hawthorne berries
· Hawthorne Leaves
· Hawthorne Blossom
· Hedge Garlic
· Hog Weed
· Laver bread
· Marsh Samphire
· Meadow Sweet
· Nettles
· Pennywort
· Plantain
· Primrose leaves
· Red Dead Nettle flowers
· Red Clover Flowers
· Rock Samphire
· Rosehips
· Rosebay Willow Herb
· Rowen berries
· Sea Beet
· Sea Purslane
· Sloe berries
· Sorrel
· Spear Leaved Orache
· Spruce needles

· Sycamore sap
· Wild Garlic
· Wild Garlic Flowers
· Wild mint
· Wild Rose

·
Wild Meadow Hay
· Wood sorrel




SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR EDIBLE WILD FOOD PLANTS

WARNING! Do not eat any wild edible plant unless you are 100% certain of its identification.

Rule 1: Always make certain when talking about wild food, that you are clear on the Botanical name, that way there is very little room for doubt. For example the English name for Taraxacum officinale is Dandelion, and the Botanical name for Dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. Well I did want to make that clear

Rule 2: Make absolutely certain that you have made a 100% positive identification before ever trying out wild food.

Rule 3: If you are in the slightest bit of doubt about a plants identification, do not try it. There are too many other plants you can try out. As the adage goes “If in doubt, find another plant”.

Rule 4: Assuming you are 100% certain you have the right edible plant in front of you, proceed with the “Tolerance Test" :
  • Take a small piece of the raw edible part of the plant (e.g. the tip of a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) leaf. Put it in the front of your mouth and bite on it a few times, then spit it out. Wait for 60 minutes. If you experience no bad reaction, proceed…
  • Now try a larger piece of the plant (edible part only!). In our example of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), try boiling the leaf and eating and swallowing a quarter of it. Wait for 60 minutes and see how you feel. If you don’t experience any negative reaction, proceed…
  • Try a tablespoon amount mixed into a suitable recipe. If you do not experience any negative reaction after 60 minutes, you’re body should be OK consuming that specific wild edible plant in larger quantities. But go slowly.
IMPORTANT! The “Tolerance Test” is only to be tried on wild edible plants that you are 100% certain you have identified correctly. It is not to be used to test unknown, unidentified plants, that you are attempting to discover whether they are edible.

Only ever eat wild edible plants that you have 100% identified correctly, and never, ever, eat large quantities of wild edible plants that you have not performed the ‘Tolerance Test” on.

(from www.eatweeds.co.uk)

RESEARCH ON FORAGING

RESEARCH ON FORAGING:


in this video you will hear about the healing power of Ribwort Plantain plant that might stop the bleeding or reduce the pain of Nettle sting  :


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In this short video you will discover:
  • How the dandelion got its name
  • A dandelion recipes
  • How to make plantain flour
  • And an interesting sting treatment for insect stings

 there  are many more interesting videos with Andy and Dave Hamilton on : http://www.selfsufficientish.com/main/

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Chickweed: A wild food and diaper rash remedy:


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In the above video: free food around the UK in late summer - collecting and preserving it.

With the economy in the state it's in we all need to look at ways of not only saving money but also ways on how to reap benefits from our mother nature.

So if foraging saves those £'s then it is a perfect solution! ...and it is fun!

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IT'S NEARLY SPRING TIME! MUST SEE: