Mid April 2024

Quickie mid month issue with lotsa links...

I just wanted to make sure that you didn’t miss any of the upcoming workshops that were mentioned in the previous newsletter - with it coming out right before Easter, it may have gone to the bottom of the pile…

First off, THE FLOWERS ARE BACK!

So happy to see them. So happy to pick them! And even happier to share them!

The lovely Donna at FEMALE Mullingar is a regular subscriber. You can see how the bouquet below has blossomed in the shop window if you hurry. If you fancy a subscription, a bunch or a bouquet, get in touch! I should have ranunculus for a few weeks, and they are just so beautiful!

Thanks to those of you that voted on workshops - appreciate your input! Here are the results.

Upcoming events

I was delighted to get some funding from Creative Westmeath to run workshops in Cuige in Mullingar and in Water St in Castlepollard.

Cuige workshops:

On Sunday afternoon, April 14th, you can learn how to add fresh greens and sprouted seeds to your menu. You don't need a garden to grow healthy food - you'll be operating a 'windowsill to plate' system. 

Click here to book your place:

https://www.bigskyflowers.ie/product/growing-microgreens-course/

On Tuesday evening, 14th May, my next workshop at Cuige will demonstrate cold process soap making. You'll bring home some  'castille' soap that you'll make yourself, scented, coloured and amended to your exact specification, You'll then get creative with packaging, wrapping cured soap that I make in advance of the class. 

Click here to book your place:

https://www.bigskyflowers.ie/product/soapmaking-in-cuige-may-14th/

Water St, Castlepollard Workshops:

On Saturday, April 27th, I’ll be running a composting and no-dig workshop at the Water St Community Garden. If you have ever gotten me talking about composting, you’ll know that I’m passionate about this topic, I’m really looking forward to sharing my passion with this community. Also, I really love no-dig growing - it takes less of a toll on my body than digging, and it’s much faster to get started with converting a lawn into a productive growing space. Plus it’s much better not to disturb the soil structure and all the critters living below ground that help plants to grow healthily. I’m just back from an intensive day course with Charles Dowding, the king of No-Dig, so you’ll be getting all his tips passed on!

Click here to book your place on this workshop.

https://www.bigskyflowers.ie/product/composting-and-no-dig-water-st/

On Tuesday 28th May 7-9pm Nadia Pickersgill will be teaching Fermented food techniques. We’ll learn about sauerkraut, kimchee and how to ferment a wide variety of foods. Participants will go home with sauerkraut, kimchee or pickles. Fermentation is a great way to preserve food when there’s a glut, and eating fermented foods have health benefits.

https://www.bigskyflowers.ie/product/fermented-food-water-st-28th-may/

There’s a new festival coming to Mullingar - it’s called Bailiú- more details here. As part of this I’ll be running a seed saving workshop in Cuige on May 8th - 7-8:30pm. Here’s the booking link. Participants will go home with lots of seeds, and early May is a perfect time to be planting!

And - our podcast is live! I’m working on getting it onto lots of platforms, but for now, you can listen on Spotify or YouTube. Please leave a comment and tell us what you think.

And I’m really excited about a collaboration with Pure Space (fka Pure Camping) in Co Clare. on the Saturday of the May Bank holiday weekend, I’ll be teaching no-knead sourdough bead making. On the Sunday morning Brian will be doing a scything demo, and there’s a currach regatta in the afternoon. You can come for one event, or for many, and you can stay over if you don’t live close by. And it’s a Bank Holiday!

Sourdough Bread Making - May 4th, Pure Space , Co Clare

I suppose that I can’t leave out the music, even though this is a really short newsletter - there would be complaints!