WASTE NOT, WANT NOT FOOD WASTE PROJECT IN CLONAKILTY UPDATE
On Thursday September 19th, as part of the Clonakilty Guitar Festival Reverb program we were delighted to co-host an event with the Clonakilty Meals on Wheels community.
Meals on Wheels has been delivering hot meals to those in need for the past 50 years – and so we were able to mark the occasion with candles and a birthday cake! Norma O’Sullivan has been volunteering for the past 22 years alongside family and friends and says of her experience “you get great satisfaction out of volunteering and we’re always happy to welcome new faces at our Thursday evening socials”. Chef Tom Higgins who has worked with Meals on Wheels for the past year spoke at the event about how food waste reduction is an essential part of the work they do “we use every edible part of everything that is donated, from peelings, to the water the potatoes are boiled in. We receive donations throughout the week and we never know what’s coming, so being able to adapt to what’s in the fridge is very important.”
The following night was culture night and our contribution was photographer Thady Tra's 'WAISTED - The Culture of food'. Thady captured the 'beauty of ugly veg' in 10 black and white portraits that became the launching off point for some great conversations around a shared love of food, the sadness when you realize you've let food go off (there should be a word for this - 'vegret'?) and some very handy food storage tips! One photo, a wilting head of lettuce, prompted a conversation about the best way to revive your leafy greens (submerged in a bath of cold water - for hours, even overnight!) and sad state of tasteless uniform veggie in the supermarkets.
Last weekend we were in Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, with chef Gillian Hegerty delivering apple pressing. Using windfalls that the students brought in, students got to press apples and make apple juice. For some students this is the first time they've ever tasted freshly pressed apple juice. This was in preparation of the Clonakilty Apple Festival.
Upcoming workshops -
On Monday, 7th October from 6pm to 7pm, Susan Moroney will guide us through An Introduction to Kombucha at the Clonakilty FET Center, where you’ll learn how to make the perfect batch of kombucha. Tickets are just 5€ and must be booked via Eventbrite.
Sunday, 13th of October, 4pm to 5.30pm, Comfort Foods with chef Caitlin Ruth at O’Donovans Hotel. In this hands-on workshop, Caitlin will teach you how to get creative with leftovers like potatoes and pasta, turning them into delicious meals while fighting food waste. This workshop costs 10€. Book your spot and find out all the info on Eventbrite!
