S2 Ep16: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Edible Plants and their Magical Uses with Val Thomas

S2 Ep16: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Edible Plants and their Magical Uses with Val Thomas

Author: Norfolk Folklore Society January 14, 2024 Duration: 1:02:56
Our December 2023 talk was given by the wonderful Val Thomas. Val, a good friend of the Norfolk Folklore Society (she was the first ever speaker the NFS had at our monthly talks!), shared some recommendations for a magical Yule or Christmas dinner  with our guests.

About Val:
Val Thomas is a witch, a craftsperson, herbalist and a teacher. For more than a quarter of a century she has lived in Norwich, working with the magic of the land – its plants and creatures, its gods and its spirits – and exploring the ways of Norfolk’s Nameless Tradition of witchcraft and magic. During this time, Val has played a prominent role in the magical and Pagan community in Norfolk, helping to run public events, workshops and rituals and guiding many seekers upon the winding paths of the Quest.
Val wrote her first book, A Witch’s Kitchen, in 2001. Since then, she has written articles for The Cauldron, has a regular column about Norfolk magic in Quest, and another about magical herbalism in Pagan Dawn.
Her most recent books are Of Chalk and Flint: A Way of Norfolk Magic and Bounded in a Nutshell: Lockdown, Magic and Infinite Space. Her newest book, Hallowtide: A Dark Devotional, is available on pre-order at www.troybooks.co.uk.

You can also support Val via her Patreon, which we can highly recommend - Val Thomas | creating a tapestry of magic: books, spells, charms and herbs. | Patreon

Hosted by Siofra Connor and Stacia Briggs, the Norfolk Folklore Society podcast is a series of audio expeditions into the weird and wonderful layers of England’s most enigmatic county. Each episode is a deep dive, moving beyond well-trodden tales to uncover the living strangeness in the landscape-from whispered ghost stories in forgotten churches and encounters with elusive big cats in the fens, to the peculiar history of village witchcraft and modern accounts of lights in the Broads sky. The conversations feel like joining two deeply knowledgeable friends on a long walk down a muddy lane, where every crumbling wall or oddly shaped tree might have a story. This isn’t just about cataloguing the past; it’s about listening to how these old currents of belief, fear, and magic still ripple through the present. Whether you’re someone who instinctively scans a field for fairy rings or you simply enjoy a compelling, atmospheric story, this podcast offers a unique and grounded perspective. The tone is one of genuine curiosity and respect, treating each subject, no matter how uncanny, with thoughtful consideration. You’ll hear firsthand accounts, historical research, and lively discussion that connects ancient folklore to contemporary experience, all centered on the rich, eerie soil of Norfolk. It’s for anyone who suspects there’s more to a place than what appears on the map.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Norfolk Folklore Society
Podcast Episodes
S2 Ep21: The witch of East Dereham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:26
In this episode Siofra and Stacia explore the tale of Melvena Spinks, and alleged witch from East Dereham.
S2 Ep19: A VERY haunted house at Thorpe Marriott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:52
This month we have a chat about a very haunted house in Thorpe Marriott. Inspired by the new BBC documentary about the Amityville Horror house, we searched our archives and dug out one of our creepiest stories to discuss…
S2 Ep17: The Good Sword of Winfarthing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
Today’s podcast is about the Magical Sword of Winfarthing, the Excalibur of Norfolk which helped women rid themselves of terrible husbands (and find their lost horses) from the safety of their village church. We have ple…
S2 Ep14: The Origin of the "Bedsheet" Ghost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
This month’s podcast is all about ghosts – or rather, the ghosts we’d all draw if anyone asked us to mock up a quick doodle. You know the one: looks like a floating bedsheet with eyes. Round on top, wiggly on the bottom,…
S2 Ep13: Norfolk Folklore Society presents Norfolk Ghost Hunters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:47
On October 24 Christian Hudson from Norfolk Ghost Hunters came to speak to us at the Norfolk Folklore Society’s monthly meeting. Christian works within a team of five, each of whom specialise in different fields, and is…
S2 Ep12: Apple Folklore at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:36
Today’s podcast was recorded on Gressenhall Farm and workhouse’s Apple Day, which we were delighted to be part of, representing Norfolk Folklore Society in the farmhouse kitchen. From the kitchen table we offered people…
S2 Ep11: Ghosts of Exchange Street, Norwich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:06
Simply because they are not expected, ghosts that appear in modern surroundings and with no warning often feel like the most terrifying of all. Today’s ghost is absolutely terrifying. Our witness tells us: “It was like a…