Green-bearded ageing hippie launches mind-altering herbs book

Steve Andrews, the Bard of Ely, has made the news before with his plant knowledge and horticultural achievements, having once been featured on the HTV Wales News for being the first person to cultivate a home-grown pineapple in Wales, as well as being in the South Wales Echo for growing kiwi fruit in his back garden. More recently he was quoted and referred to as "Weed expert" in The Ecologist.

Herbs of the Northern Shaman contains descriptions of herbs and fungi that are known to have mind-altering properties or could be potentially used in this way.

Hallucinogens, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilisers are all included. If there is some mental effect the plant can produce then it is included in the species covered but only if they can be found growing in countries within the Northern Hemisphere.

Bad Witch in her blog says: "Author Steve Andrews - also known as songwriter The Bard of Ely - clearly has a love of the subject of all thing relating to shamanic plants and the folklore surrounding them. Herbs of Northern Shaman delves into the history of the magical, religious and ceremonial uses for herbs and there are literary quotes from ancient texts to 20th century drug-culture best-sellers. "

Cardiff poet, author and literary critic Peter Finch said of the book: "If anyone can locate mind altering northern hemisphere plants then it's the bard of Ely (Cardiff) Steve Andrews. This easy to read, well illustrated and informative directory is about as comprehensive as you can get - how do you want your mind altered? How much do you want to pay? What risks do you run? is it illegal? Where do the plants grow? Can you nurture them yourself out the back? Steve does, shows how, explains and entertains. A must."

Author and journalist C.J. Stone wrote: "The writer is clearly an expert in several fields, being not only an informed naturalist, an inspired horticulturalist and experimenter with odd additions to his house-plant collection, but a mystic traveller too. One feels a certain confidence in his sure-footed guidance around this obscure but fascinating area of knowledge. So whether you merely wish to browse on the subject of alchemical gardening, or prefer to experiment with free and freely available mind-altering substances, this book is a must for you. Highly recommended."

And from the Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI USA: "Herbs Of The Northern Shaman is very strongly recommended reading for students of botany and natural hallucinogens, as well as personal and academic psychoactive plants reference collections."