Going Wild Over Foraged Food in Cloughjordan Sept 7th

Author Kit Ó Céirín and forager Sharon Greene will introduce foraging techniques and prepared food on Saturday, 7 September at 4pm at Sheelagh na Gig bookshop in celebration of the republication of Cyril and Kit Ó Céirín’s classic book on foraging, Wild and Free.

Husband and wife team Cyril and Kit Ó Céirín first published Wild and Free in 1978. Through their love of folklore and tradition they had collected many recipes and skills needed to use the hedgerow harvest, and they felt a book would help preserve knowledge and use of these traditional foods and techniques. Wild and Free explains how to make jams, soups, desserts, syrups, liqueurs, and wines. It includes tips and advice on the harvesting, drying and preserving of 22 easy-to-find wild foods.

Together with folklore, original illustrations, and a new introduction by Sally McKenna, Wild and Free includes 100 recipes and a month-by-month guide describing how these plants can be used and preserved throughout the year.

Sharon and Gordon Greene and their children forage wild fruits on their farm in Clonlisk, Shinrone, Co. Offaly. In 2012 they established The Wild Irish, a range of syrups, sauces and reductions made from foraged ingredients.

On Saturday, 7 September, Kit Ó Céirín will discuss the book Wild and Free and explain what foods are available to forage in September. Sharon Greene will discuss foraging dos and don’ts, and samples of The Wild Irish products will be available to taste.

All are welcome to this free event. For more information, contact Sheelagh na Gig bookshop on 0505 42123 or find Sheelagh na Gig on Facebook.

‘Going Wild Over Foraged Foods’ is part of the Cloughjordan Community Farm experience weekend, A Taste of Building Community, which runs from Friday 6 September to Sunday 8 September. This weekend gives participants an opportunity to find out more about community supported agriculture and explore how we, as communities, can provide our food and build resilience. The event highlights the ecovillage, the community farm and The Makery craft centre as well as offering workshops with the RED Gardens, Smallholding Ireland and WeCreate. There will also be talks with Mark Boyle and John Feehan, opportunities to share skills and stories, and events celebrating the harvest.