Wild Combination is a experimental food project run by Sophie O. Underdown Lester and Tara Hill. Join them for a series of outdoor workshops on how to identify plants, their cultural and ecological importance, and the multiple ways you can preserve and process them for modern use.
In this series we will centre our meetings around The Elder, a tree known as a mother for its generosity in all that it provides. Often overlooked when not in bloom, the Elder is a culturally important tree full of folklore, tradition, and many practical, medicinal and culinary uses. This will be a chance to really get to know and develop a relationship with a plant, from buds to flowers, berries to bare branches and fungus. In each stage of growth we will explore how to preserve different parts of the tree, going way beyond elderflower cordial.
We will use our meetings to explore the ways people used to commune with trees could be brought into our lives as an act of resistance to modern malaise, creating a feeling of connection not only with the plant and the world around us but with each other too.
Each meeting will provide you with the opportunity for foraging, preserving, crafting and discussion. We will be sharing experiences and knowledge with plenty of wild cooking and recipes to try all from this magical, mythical, mama of a tree.
Session 1 –Yeah buddy
11 May
Identifying elders and other nearby foragables.
How to talk to your mother, exploring the folklore and customs linked to elders.
How to preserve and use buds.
Practical and medicinal uses.
Crafting from elder activity.
Wild snacking and refreshments – tasters of what you can make.
Session 2 – I’ll bring you flowers (not in the rain)
8 June
Identifying elderflowers and their lookalikes and other forageables.
Sweet and savory preservation methods.
Flower folklore.
Practical and nedicinal uses.
Make a face spray.
Wild snacking and refreshments – tasters of what you can make.
Session 3 – Berry good time to make tasty things
17 August
Wine, sauces, pickles, jellies, vinegars and more! Using elders and other nearby foragables.
Practical and medicinal uses.
Elder as a dye.
Sun printing.
Wild snacking and refreshments – tasters of what you can make.
Session 4 -–Lend me your jelly ears
28 September
Folklore of how the elder got its ears.
How to identify and use Jelly ear fungus and other nearby foragables.
Witchy business, craft activity and stories.
Wild snacking and refreshments - tasters of what you can make.
Grand finale! Bring and share makes.
Location
Wild Combination will arrange location in Sheffield one week before the event, following the seasons and choosing the best spot for each sessions' needs. They will likely be Whitley Woods, Cat Lane Woods, Heeley parks or similar.
