Wild seed sprinkles. Wild oat milk. Wild grass flour. Welcome to the world of wild seeds and grains.
We will take a look at the wild ancestors of many of our well-known staple crops and journey deep into the past with strains of wild quinoa, buckwheat, and various grass species. The importance of these wild resources cannot be understated; our cultivation of many of them over thousands of years has allowed us to form the civilisations we know today. Fields of corn and wheat; our dishes of rice; a dessert with flour and oats. Experience first-hand the origins of these.
You will explore these amazing resources with internationally renowned forager and author of The Forager Handbook, Miles Irving. The day will begin with us venturing into the wild to pursue and identify many different species and discuss both the historical and current uses of various seeds and grains.
With unique access to our extensive stock of wild foods - both dried and fresh - you will have the chance to experiment with a variety of plants as well as our harvested grains and seeds. We will prepare a light lunch back in the Forager kitchen of foraged ingredients and highlight the nutritional credentials of wild species; with wild grains and seeds widely regarded as an incredible carbohydrate source.
Return home with our harvest and go home with many ideas to further deepen your exploration of wild seeds and grains.
Course outline:
- Introduction to wild seeds and grains
- Foraging in the wilds for various wild plant species
- History of our cultivated crops
- Practical skills to process seeds and grains to create milks, flours and many more
- Creation of various seed and grain dishes for us to taste
Details: 10am - 3pm | £90 | Meeting at Forager Map
About Miles Irving
Foraging expert Miles Irving has been writing, speaking and teaching on the topic of wild food for over fifteen years. His book The Forager Handbook was published by Ebury Press in 2009 and is considered to be one of the 'must-haves' for budding and experienced foragers alike.
He is the founder and director of Forager Ltd, and the host of the WorldWild Podcast connecting foragers, foodies, and philosophers from around the world. His travels in the world of wild food and in search of further knowledge have taken him to the depths of the Brazilian Amazon and the outback with indigenous communities in Australia.
Miles has led foraging workshops at Kew Gardens, the MAD symposium (organised by NOMA in Denmark) and for many of the top restaurants across the country (Dinner by Heston, Hix group, Restaurant Flat Three to name a few). He has been featured in the BBC 4 Food Programme, The Telegraph, Guardian Food Monthly, The Financial Times, at the Biohacker Summit, and is regularly sought out for his wisdom on a wide range of current ecological issues pertaining to our place as humans in the wild and the emerging future of food production and supply.