γγ WHAT A WEEKEND γγ
Here is a little look at what I got up to at the @britishwildfoodfestival. It was so amazing to catch up with my fellow @association_of_foragers and meet some folk I have only known virtually. Honestly, they are the best people. My colleagues are spread out across the UK, so it can be a lonely profession. Luckily, I have my West Coast buddies at home, but we are so busy that it is hard to get together sometimes. Thanks @foragersam for organising this fantastic party for us to spread the foraging love and be together for the craic. My cup is full ππΏπ
γγ SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS γγ
It's looking like it's going to be a great day at the @britishwildfoodfestival ππ±ππ
γγ COMMUNITY FOOD γγ
It was so lovely to be with the Plantation community in Fort William this week looking at reducing food waste by adding wild foods to our diet. We had a wonderful walk and found at least 15 edible plants within a 10-minute walk from the estate πππΏ
We collected enough greens to make a nettle and sorrel lentil soup and harvested rose petals, spruce tips, gorse, and broom flowers for a salad. We made gorgeous pepper dulse butter for my nettle and seaweed oatcakes. I also made a lavender and lemon cake! ππͺπ
Using a small amount of (easy to identify) wild ingredients can dramatically reduce the amount of food you waste as well as your plastic and energy consumer consumption. On top of this we are increasing the nutritional value of meals, adding medicinal benefits, elevating the texture and taste to exercise our taste buds, learning about and respecting our environment, and gaining green health benefits by getting outside in nature. It's a win-win!! πππ
Thanks to everyone for coming and a special thanks to Jane from @hlhsocial, Lesley @lochaberenviro, and Mhairi from @hiclimatehub for organising and supporting.
I believe the event was made possible by funding from the @highlandcommunitywaste through the National Lottery Community Fund.
γγ EDIBLE FLOWERS γγ
Here are some of the gorgeous blooms I have been foraging recently. They include both sweet and savoury flavours! Delicious, nutritious, and beautiful π πΌπΈ
γγ FORAGE AND FEAST γγ
Ever fancied a day of foraging along Scotlandβs picturesque west coast, followed by a sumptuous feast with a stunning loch, mountain, and island view? π±ππΏ
I am working with my favourite restaurant @thepierhousehotel in the stunning location of Port Appin on the West Coast of Scotland to celebrate our natural larder, local produce, and seasonal highlights πππ
We have a few spaces left on this Saturdayβs event, and hereβs a little of what that looks likeβΊοΈ
π± Join me on an exploration of the shoreline, hedgerows, and woodlands, looking at seasonal highlights and secrets π
π¦ After your adventure, indulge in a feast where our Head Chef Mikeπ§βπ³ and his team will expertly pair your foraged finds with the freshest local ingredients and the bountiful seafood of the west, crafting a dining experience that truly celebrates Scotlandβs natural bountyππ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
This Saturday folks! Call our reservations team at 01631 730 302 to secure your placeπ±
We also have a Summer and Autumn date available!
γγ FORAGE & CASTLE γγ
How beautiful is Argyll? How lucky am I? Sometimes, this doesn't feel like work at all. More footage of my weekend adventure visiting Carnasserie Castle and taking the wooly road trip ladies from @damascus_fiber_arts_school with @nearlywildweaving for a foraging walk and wild food picnic π±ππΏ
γγ CHECKING OUT THE VENUE γγ
This is the stunning Hawkstone Park Follies - the location for the British Wild Food Festival, which is coming up in June! Yesterday, some of the @association_of_foragers running workshops, talks, and food stalls met for a recce there. What a magical place!! Imagine it full of wild food professionals sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm and ALL THE FOOD!!!π€€ππ
You can get tickets via @britishwildfoodfestival so..... what are you waiting for?!
So lovely to hang out with my fellow nature-nerd foodies ππΏ @foragersam @lisacutcliffe @eduliswildfood @andrea_pickleandbrew @cotswoldforager @force_of_nature_chef. It's going to be epic ππ€π
γγ LOCHABER COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES γγ
Hello friends, family, and followers. You may or may not know that I moonlight as a Project Officer for the Inchree Barn Project, based in Nether Lochaber (the community between Glencoe and the Corran ferry). We are fundraising to turn our derelict Barn into a wonderful social enterprise cafe/events space. You can follow our project here at @theinchreebarnproject πππ
SURVEY
We have a questionnaire open at the moment to help us make sure that the project is a success. It is aimed at residents and the wider Lochaber Community. You can it access on the Inchree Barn project page or here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F8HPK22
SPONSORED CANYON
Do you fancy a canyoning ADVENTURE for a good cause?!
We are teaming up with our neighbours @verticaldescents.scotland to offer you the opportunity of getting immersed in the waters of Inchree for an amazing canyoning experience!! Do not worry if you have not done anything like it before as we will have the VD team onsite to support you to enjoy the day and have the best time!! π¦ππ
To join our sponsored canyon event, you have to:
> be 8 years and over
> be fit and able to swim
> be free on Sunday the 26th of May
> fundraise at least Β£100 for the project
So..... are you in? Check out the website http://www.verticaldescents-scotlamd.co.uk/ for more information.
Please private message us with your email address, and we'll be in touch! πππ
DONATIONS
If you fancy supporting the project but don't want to wet your feet, you can send donations through our @justgiving account accessible through the link in the bio of the project page or here
https://checkout.justgiving.com/c/3550457
γγ AN INTRODUCTION TO SPRING FORAGING IN MUCH WENLOCK γγ
What a lovely experience yesterday! We escaped the rain, had a lovely walk, looked at a variety of plants, and then celebrated with a wild picnic! I'll do a plant and food focused post at some point πΏπ€π½π
Big thanks to the guys @the_edge_adventure, my family, and bestie for their help and support πππ
π· @gemmald7
γγ BRITISH WILD FOOD FESTIVAL γγ
I am delighted to be part of a massive line-up of foraging wizards coming together in Shropshire this June to create the @britishwildfoodfestival thanks to Wonder Woman organiser @foragersam! I will be running an introduction to local summer foraging on both days πΏππ€π
You can get tickets for the festival, my walks, and loads of other amazing activities on the website- https://www.britishwildfoodfestival.com/whats-on
June 8th and 9th 2024
Hawstone Park Follies
Shropshire
γγ WELCOME HOME γγ
The best type of homecoming greeting! Hello Shropshire, it's been a while and the motherland does not disappoint! ππ€πΏ
Please get in touch to take the last spaces on my course next weekend!
γγ FORAGE FERMENT FLOW - SUNDAY γγ
We would like to say a massive thank you to our wonderful guests for joining us on an unforgettable experience this weekend. You are all so wonderful. We'll share more photographs soon. If anyone is interested in joining us next year, please get in touch. We will share the dates as soon as they fixed ππ ππΏ
π· @finnnmatheson
γγ FORAGE FERMENT FLOW - SATURDAY γγ
What a wonderful day full of learning, sharing, and fun π ππΏπ
Oh the food! We have been absolutely spoilt by a visit from @mike.leathley, head chef @thepierhousehotel with the most beautiful lunch. We had a lovely visit to thd beach looking for seaweeds and considered a swim @julesinthestorm π€£π€£ but thought the hot tub sounded better! After several workshops on the magical world of fermentation Hannah treated us to a stunning selection of fermented foods for dinner! Sustenance at every level!! πΏπππΏπ€
π· @finnnmatheson
γγ FORAGERS FEAST γγ
We wish you were here....
@gut_feelings_kombucha and @julesinthestorm
π· @finnnmatheson
γγ PROFESSIONALS γγ
Things are off to a flying start on our first ever Forage Ferment Flow weekend experience. It's a good job we have arrived a day before our guests.... we have a few things to sort out π€£πππ
γγ MY WORKSHOP IN ONE MINUTE γγ
Thanks to all my guests for coming out and braving the storm with me yesterday. It certainly felt like we were dusting the cobwebs off!! πΏπ¨π
I will post some more dates soon, but for now, I have to prepare for my exciting collaboration on Mull at the weekend! Aaaahhhhhh, how exciting! π πππΏ
π· @sgsdoc
γγ LAST SPACE γγ
I have room for one or two people max to join us on Saturday for an introduction to spring wildfoods workshop in North Ballachulish. It includes several hours tuition and a wild food lunch for Β£45 pp. Do you fancy it? πΏπΈπΏ
γγ WILD GREENS WORKSHOP γγ
What a lovely day it was yesterday! I met up with @new_connections_lochaber and the fabulous folks from @montrosecentre to explore the local area and see what we could take back to cook with πΏππ
We found nettle, ground elder, sorrel, Herb robert, plantain, dandelion, raspberry canes, Dock, and cherry blossom π±ππΈ
We picked some ground elder and blossoms to take back. We looked at, smelt, and tried some wild garlic that I brought with me. Our chief scone maker, Katie Louise, got cracking on making some nettle, wild garlic, and ground elder scones. The rest of the guys started shaking some cream to turn it into butter, which we mixed with chopped wild garlic and wild garlic salt. I used the blossoms and some flowering current to decorate my nettle Victoria sponge cake sandwiched with raspberry jam and rose cream. Then we ate!! All of it!! πππ€
Best quotes from the day:
" I haven't eaten cake in over 40 years, but I tried your nettle cake because I trust you."
" Honestly, that's it, you're changing my way of life!"
CLEAN PLATES ALL ROUND!!
A massive thank you to @hiclimatehub for supporting the event through the Climate Action Fund. If you get a chance, do visit @new_connections_lochaber. The @montrosecentre run a vintage cafe there twice a week. It's a wonderful community initiative, and it's pay what you can afford πππ
γγ LAST CALL TO JOIN US γγ
Can I tempt you to take one of the last few spaces on our weekend trip next month?!
Forage Ferment Flow is a weekend of yoga, gut health, preservation, and wild foods. Explore a beautiful part of the world, learn, laugh, and feast. In collaboration with me The Wild Cooke @julesinthestorm and @gut_feelings_kombucha πΏππΉπ«
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3 nights
April 12th to the 15th
Achaban House, Fionnphort, Isle of Mull
Transfers available from Craignure
Prices from Β£550 to Β£750
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Get in touch to book
Oban has direct ferries to Craignure and is connected to Glasgow and Edinburgh by rail and bus services πΆπππβοΈπ’
