ANSWERS BACK: Q&A with 'Grow your own Drugs' presenter James Wong

[RachelMumsnet]

This week we're joined for a Q&A by James Wong who is working with Ecover, sponsor's of this year's RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. James Wong is an ethnobotanist studying the relationships between people and plants and he has presented the award-winning BBC TV series 'Grow Your Own Drugs' which centred around creating plant-based remedies for everyday ailments, as well as appearing on BBC's Countryfile.

We're inviting mumsnetters to tap into James' passion and botanical expertise, and send over questions about plants and gardening. Anyone who sends in a question will be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Show. Closing date for questions is end of day on Wednesday 7th June and we'll be posting his answers up by 20th June.

Oooh, I'm trying not to hi-jack either but you can drink caffeine and alcohol if you are BF, in moderation. But I'm also interested in plants that you can use to make drinks.

yeah, I know EauRouge (appropriately named!), but even though I don't have any problem stopping at just the one when pg/bf, the alternatives are often just sooooo boooooooring. I'd like to actually look forward to non-alc/caff drinks, out of preference.

Hi, I'm really into herbs, for food/health benefits. Is this a possible career path, what qualifications would I need? Do I need to be a qualified gardener? herbalist?
Is there a responsibly sourced vanilla product available? either pods or extract which protects the farmers/habitat
I've grown pretty much everything with success except rosemary, which keeps dying? what could I be doing wrong?
Why isn't ladys mantle promoted more? It's great.
Lastly, have you ever tried chocolate mint plant, to eat :o

Sorry, the career question would be to be a supplier of herbs to trade or to sell direct as live plants/dried herbs?

And, what is your qualification, what made you decide to do it and how relevant to your career has it been?

Thankyou very much.

And to the posters complaining about the title, some plants are far more intoxifying than cannabis, which I've never grown, so knowing pharmaceutical properties of plants can save you/your dc's from ingesting something nasty.

Can't believe the one comment asking how to actually grow drugs, was deleted.

They chose the sensationalist name to make the topic sound more sexy.

So a bit rich to delete said comment.

And, I swear this is definately the last question, honest.

What herbal remedies are good for depression in pregnant/breast feeding mothers? I've been asked by a few people and can't find any.

And, sorry, what plants should be avoided by pregnant women, babies and children?

Hi James

Can you recommend any garden designers who would design a garden following your kind of principles, including being organic, and featuring loads of edible plants?

Morning, this Q&A is now closed. We'll send over your questions to James and link to his answers from this thread once we've got 'em.
Thanks :)

Congratulations to ethelb who has won a pair of tickets to RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012. We will pm you more details.

James' answers are now back and you can read the full Q&A here

James Wong Q&A