曉畦春雨細如毛， 菜本青肥挾土膏。 葉㡳蝸牛曽濕久， 詩人猶欲刺升髙。 In the planting plots at dawn, with spring rain as fine as hair, Vegetables grow lush and plump,...

Painting and inscription by Wen Zhengming 文徵明 (1470-1559)

Learning about how to use cow dung from poetry.

An anecdote from Feng Menglong's 馮夢龍 (1574-1646) Gujin xiaoshi 古今笑史.

Spring colours.

On a new member of my vegetable garden: perilla.

Something to bear in mind before consuming ginger.

On a familar spring day.

In an attempt to learn more about the beast before our next encounter in my backyard.

For the new planting season.

A familiar story about modernity from the Ming Dynasty.

A tip for fresh breath.

A tippler's remedy to toothache.

Killing time like a sophisticated recluse.

Finding a new idol

An alternative remedy for hangover.

From Qing bai leichao 清稗類鈔.

Little things that make life better...

Album leaf by Shen Zhou 沈周 (1427-1509)