John North
@johnnorthwrites.bsky.social
Tea and haiku...
Based in Cumbria UK.
Poetry & links at johnnorthwrites.blogspot.com
Co-owner at theherbfarm.co.uk
Based in Cumbria UK.
Poetry & links at johnnorthwrites.blogspot.com
Co-owner at theherbfarm.co.uk
Only then did I realise fate had lined it up like bloody magic #superbOwl
February 9, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Only then did I realise fate had lined it up like bloody magic #superbOwl
I recently designed 3 tea blends for a private spa. They specialise in TCM and seem really serious about herbs and teas!
We've hand-packed 360 teabags this week. One of the blends was pretty ambitious with five ingredients. Here's four of them; there's two in each bowl. Can you guess what they are?
We've hand-packed 360 teabags this week. One of the blends was pretty ambitious with five ingredients. Here's four of them; there's two in each bowl. Can you guess what they are?
February 6, 2026 at 11:39 AM
I recently designed 3 tea blends for a private spa. They specialise in TCM and seem really serious about herbs and teas!
We've hand-packed 360 teabags this week. One of the blends was pretty ambitious with five ingredients. Here's four of them; there's two in each bowl. Can you guess what they are?
We've hand-packed 360 teabags this week. One of the blends was pretty ambitious with five ingredients. Here's four of them; there's two in each bowl. Can you guess what they are?
My wife and I's book for children is on Amazon!
It uses familiar Cumbrian places and animals to tell a story about environmental destruction, sadness and hope.
amzn.eu/d/08BCapiS
It uses familiar Cumbrian places and animals to tell a story about environmental destruction, sadness and hope.
amzn.eu/d/08BCapiS
February 6, 2026 at 11:07 AM
My wife and I's book for children is on Amazon!
It uses familiar Cumbrian places and animals to tell a story about environmental destruction, sadness and hope.
amzn.eu/d/08BCapiS
It uses familiar Cumbrian places and animals to tell a story about environmental destruction, sadness and hope.
amzn.eu/d/08BCapiS
Publishing later this month!
My new poetic translation of Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea, the earliest known extant text devoted to tea.
#poetry #translation #tea #books
My new poetic translation of Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea, the earliest known extant text devoted to tea.
#poetry #translation #tea #books
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Publishing later this month!
My new poetic translation of Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea, the earliest known extant text devoted to tea.
#poetry #translation #tea #books
My new poetic translation of Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea, the earliest known extant text devoted to tea.
#poetry #translation #tea #books
Hello! Wonderful! Today has a real hint of early spring about it here in Cumbria, so I'm delighted to see that mirrored on Bluesky! Thank you for sharing! Here are some in return from The Herb Farm and our little church across the road in Ivegill! — John
January 28, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Hello! Wonderful! Today has a real hint of early spring about it here in Cumbria, so I'm delighted to see that mirrored on Bluesky! Thank you for sharing! Here are some in return from The Herb Farm and our little church across the road in Ivegill! — John
Not posting as many haiku lately.
I’m working on a book for publication early next year — a translation.
I’m working on a book for publication early next year — a translation.
December 15, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Not posting as many haiku lately.
I’m working on a book for publication early next year — a translation.
I’m working on a book for publication early next year — a translation.
Acceptable alternative to the dreams of the sleeping man
December 11, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Acceptable alternative to the dreams of the sleeping man
Rescuing a wonderful Alan Stones print from mould. It was used as a cover image on one edition of Martin Farrell, one of my mother Janni's wonderful novels.
It begins as grim as it means to go on: "This man, he had no sort of name to waste breath on, he filled his mouth with drink..."
It begins as grim as it means to go on: "This man, he had no sort of name to waste breath on, he filled his mouth with drink..."
December 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Rescuing a wonderful Alan Stones print from mould. It was used as a cover image on one edition of Martin Farrell, one of my mother Janni's wonderful novels.
It begins as grim as it means to go on: "This man, he had no sort of name to waste breath on, he filled his mouth with drink..."
It begins as grim as it means to go on: "This man, he had no sort of name to waste breath on, he filled his mouth with drink..."
December 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Full of ideas for the new year at The Herb Farm. Mostly ideas about tea...
December 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Full of ideas for the new year at The Herb Farm. Mostly ideas about tea...
I'm finding it impossible to describe how good mint, lemon balm and verbena smell together. If anyone would like to write a #haiku... there's your #prompt
#haikuprompt #teasky #herbsky
#haikuprompt #teasky #herbsky
December 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I'm finding it impossible to describe how good mint, lemon balm and verbena smell together. If anyone would like to write a #haiku... there's your #prompt
#haikuprompt #teasky #herbsky
#haikuprompt #teasky #herbsky
Wrong all wrong.
November 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Wrong all wrong.
My wife and I's life and dream and work is our home at The Herb Farm. We're now actually taking pre-orders for teas and herbal teas at theherbfarm.co.uk
Orders will start going out after Monday December 1st, when we officially "launch".
Living in a state of thankfulness 🙏
Orders will start going out after Monday December 1st, when we officially "launch".
Living in a state of thankfulness 🙏
November 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
My wife and I's life and dream and work is our home at The Herb Farm. We're now actually taking pre-orders for teas and herbal teas at theherbfarm.co.uk
Orders will start going out after Monday December 1st, when we officially "launch".
Living in a state of thankfulness 🙏
Orders will start going out after Monday December 1st, when we officially "launch".
Living in a state of thankfulness 🙏
AGREEED. Loverly mulch on here at The Herb Farm, Ivegill!
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
AGREEED. Loverly mulch on here at The Herb Farm, Ivegill!
We’re a small family in Cumbria, bringing her grandparents’ herb farm back to life. If you would like to read and share our story, we’d be so grateful.
theherbfarm.co.uk/page/ourhist...
theherbfarm.co.uk/page/ourhist...
November 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
We’re a small family in Cumbria, bringing her grandparents’ herb farm back to life. If you would like to read and share our story, we’d be so grateful.
theherbfarm.co.uk/page/ourhist...
theherbfarm.co.uk/page/ourhist...
Happy #tankagiving
世の中は
常にもがもな
渚こぐ
海士の小舟の
綱手かなしも
If only the world
were constant —
like a fisherman’s boat
pulling its rope
along the quiet shore.
Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192–1219), Shōgun. Poet.
世の中は
常にもがもな
渚こぐ
海士の小舟の
綱手かなしも
If only the world
were constant —
like a fisherman’s boat
pulling its rope
along the quiet shore.
Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192–1219), Shōgun. Poet.
November 27, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Happy #tankagiving
世の中は
常にもがもな
渚こぐ
海士の小舟の
綱手かなしも
If only the world
were constant —
like a fisherman’s boat
pulling its rope
along the quiet shore.
Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192–1219), Shōgun. Poet.
世の中は
常にもがもな
渚こぐ
海士の小舟の
綱手かなしも
If only the world
were constant —
like a fisherman’s boat
pulling its rope
along the quiet shore.
Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192–1219), Shōgun. Poet.
We're so grateful to have the support of Rachel's family, and hope to restore this place to something like the way it is so fondly remembered. The most encouraging word we have had so far was from Rachel's mother, who told us that Harry and Rosemary, the original Herb Farmers, would be proud of us.
November 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
We're so grateful to have the support of Rachel's family, and hope to restore this place to something like the way it is so fondly remembered. The most encouraging word we have had so far was from Rachel's mother, who told us that Harry and Rosemary, the original Herb Farmers, would be proud of us.
My wife and I are re-establishing a fondly remembered herb garden at our home in Cumbria. These old buildings - traditional long narrow cottage and barn - have been here several centuries, but our connection to the place goes back to Rachel's grandparents who founded The Herb Farm in the late 1940s.
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
My wife and I are re-establishing a fondly remembered herb garden at our home in Cumbria. These old buildings - traditional long narrow cottage and barn - have been here several centuries, but our connection to the place goes back to Rachel's grandparents who founded The Herb Farm in the late 1940s.
up in the hills
letting all of life's worries
and stress and anxiety
just fall away
#Cumbria #LakeDistrict #HeatherMoorland #LichenLove #UplandFlora #UKWildlife #NatureInFocus
letting all of life's worries
and stress and anxiety
just fall away
#Cumbria #LakeDistrict #HeatherMoorland #LichenLove #UplandFlora #UKWildlife #NatureInFocus
November 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
up in the hills
letting all of life's worries
and stress and anxiety
just fall away
#Cumbria #LakeDistrict #HeatherMoorland #LichenLove #UplandFlora #UKWildlife #NatureInFocus
letting all of life's worries
and stress and anxiety
just fall away
#Cumbria #LakeDistrict #HeatherMoorland #LichenLove #UplandFlora #UKWildlife #NatureInFocus
November 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
