MARCH
Saturday 16th: Birch: Food, Medicine, Magic & Myth. 10am - 2pm. Leeds
Birch trees were highly respected and held in high-esteem all across the northern hemisphere for millennia, providing our ancestors with a myriad of useful and seasonal resources in both a practical and spiritual sense. This course will explore the multitude of potential resources Birch trees have to offer and hopefully, herald a return to the respectful and intimate relationships we once had with Birch (and wider nature). As a group we will get practical, theoretical and magical with; sap extraction & syrup making, pollen, catkins, edible & medicinal fungi, fire lighting, storage containers, birch tar, withies, habitat, ecology and of course the magic and spirit of Birch. Samples and tasters and a wild spring-time soup are included in the price.
Adults £50. Children £10 To book email: edible.leeds@gmail.com
May
Saturday 18th: Wild Foods of Spring. Leeds. 12 - 5pm.
This course will explore a range of in-season, wild edible & drinkable plants, herbs, tree's, flowers, fungi, and will feature all the usual (unusual) topics of learning, discussion, fun and info:
. Safe identification techniques
. Gathering, storing, cooking and preserving techniques (fermenting, drying, recipe ideas)
. Mindful and sustainable foraging
. Ancient folklore and myth
. Rewilding - landscapes, ecosystems and humans
. Other uses and resources ie fire lighting, clothing, art
The course will culminate in a wild inspired/themed, alfresco picnic: a great opportunity to relax, socialise and feast upon delicious wild foods.
Sunday 19th: The Art of Fermentation. Leeds. 10am - 4pm
Saturday 25th: Coastal Forage & Feast. Northumberland. 10am - 4pm
Join professional forager and wild chef, Craig Worrall, exploring this most stunning area of coastline in the North of England. Coinciding with the recent Full Moon, the day will begin exploring the recently exposed rockpools and shoreline for a range of versatile and delicious seaweeds and shellfish, some of which will be gathered and added to the wild feast later in the day. Once appetites for seaweed have been sated, there will be a short break, before exploring a range of coastal and saltmarsh plants/herbs/flowers. The day will culminate with a fabulous wild cook up and feast on the beach, allowing time for relaxation and socialising.
Adults: £75. Children: £5. Limited spaces available. To book email: edible.leeds@gmail.com
June
Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th: British Wild Food Festival. Hawkstone Park Follies. Shropshire.
How exciting! The first ever British Wild Food Festival! This festival, set in the magnificent grounds of Hawkstone Follies, will satisfy on so many levels with it's fantastic array of wild food, foraging, ancient skills and nature based activities, workshops, demo's and delicious foods. Featuring a wonderful ensemble of the UK's most innovative, pioneering and passionate foraging teachers, mycologists, herbalists, chefs, storytellers and all-round wild souls, there'll be something to sate the appetites of all who attend. We look forward to seeing you...
Tickets and information are available here: https://www.britishwildfoodfestival.com
September
Saturday 21st: Forage Anglesey. 10am - 6/7pm.
If you fancy a day of wild food adventures on Anglesey, complete with a wild and coastal inspired feast to round the day off beautifully, read on...
Currently, the plan for the day is:
. Explore saltmarsh and sand dunes for delectable coastal succulents and other seasonal green's
. Explore wild coastal heath/meadow for those elusive and tasty wild mushrooms
. Squeeze in an hour of mackerel fishing (bbq'd mackerel!)
. Check out some groovy and versatile seaweeds
. Get distracted by other tasty and versatile ingredients while doing the rounds
Once we've finished with exploring, learning and gathering, we will retire to a suitable coastal location, create a delicious meal, relax and socialise. The weather is currently looking fabulous btw!
I'll bring a range of wild ferments, pickles and drinks from my wild food larder for inclusion in the feast and provide a couple of pre-prepared dishes.
I'm keeping participant numbers low for maximum enjoyment and better interaction.
Price: £75pp - includes everything listed above.
October
Saturday 5th: Fungi Foray. Leeds/Yorkshire. 11am - 4pm
Discover the wonders of the 5th Kingdom.
Wild fungi are integral to the 'web of life', performing a
wide range of unique & exciting roles. This course will explore a diverse range of wild mushrooms including edible, medicinal, therapeutic, poisonous and the outright intriguing, in various shapes, colours and sizes.
The course will feature information regarding;
. Safe identification techniques
. Wider roles of fungi in nature
. Gathering, cooking and preserving techniques (fermenting, drying, recipe ideas etc)
. Wider roles of fungi in human health
. Fungi folklore and myth
. other uses and resources ie fire lighting, clothing, art
A wild mushroom inspired feast will be served at the end of the course.
Sunday 6th: Medicinal Mushrooms. Leeds. 10am - 3pm
Would you like to learn more about the natural, medicinal aspects of wild mushrooms for maintaining, balancing, optimizing and enhancing personal health?
This course will focus on a select range of wild medicinal mushrooms that can be incorporated into our seasonal diets and also turned into more potent and powerful forms of natural medicine.
Participants will learn how to:
. Safely identify a range of specific medicinal mushrooms
. Mindfully harvest, prepare and store them
. Create simple tinctures
. Create double extraction tinctures
. Create concentrated extract powders (with long shelf-life compatibility)
. Incorporate into diets in very simple ways
. Learn about the proven and potential health benefits of those mushrooms
We will also explore the science, research and theme of micro-dosing with psychedelic and psychoactive medicinal mushrooms for improved mental, physical and spiritual health.
Some simple refreshments will be provided on the day ie mushroom tea, simple snacks.
A 15% discount for NHS workers is available - please notify me when booking.
Friday 18th: Foragers Feast in Collaboration with Eight at Gazegill
In the spring of 2024, Eight by Doug Crampton, was launched at Gazegill Organic Farm, in Rimington, Lancashire.
Prior to becoming chef patron of Eight, Doug was head chef at James Martin's flagship restaurant in Manchester. Since the launch of Eight, Doug and I have been have been chatting about wild, foraged and organic foods and the sound philosophies and ethics of them: we very much share the same views and principles regarding their importance in creating a truly healthy and sustainable food system, for people and planet.
After much talking, idea sharing and getting to know each other, we are very pleased and excited to be offering this very unique and very delicious dining event to all you food lovers.
Please do check out the rest of Eight's website to learn more about their food philosophies, ethics and seasonal menu's. I have eaten here on several occasions now and have never been disappointed - Doug's food is creative, accessible and thoroughly delicious!
November
Saturday 16th: The Great British Truffle Festival 2024
Did you know that the UK is home to a wide range of wild truffles?
The Great British Truffle Festival was founded in 2022 by my very lovely and fungus-loving friend, Melissa Waddingham. In 2023, Melissa partnered up with Michael Corcoran and relaunched the festival under it's current name.
I'm thrilled to have been invited to take part in this year's festival (I was unable to attend the previous 2 years) and will be heading down to host some live, truffle cooking demonstrations. The festival is bursting with a wide range of fun, interesting and tasty, activities, talks, demonstrations and stall's, all hosted/brought to you by some of the most influential, knowledgeable, generous and fungus loving folk in the UK and further afield.
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