Eequ · After school. In place of school. Beyond school.

Crafting Stories And Foraging Food

A marriage of storytelling and foraging

Mentored by Fergus DrennanMentor summary: Fergus the Forager
Fergus The Forager
Location address: Forest Row, RH18 5JX
Chosen age group:

For ages: 18+ years

Available tickets:
Standard £280Concession £250
Next date: Saturday 6th Aug,

What we'll do

Join myself and co-host Arthur Dyer on a journey of food, fire and folktales: 4 seasonal weekends of foraging, fire by friction, cooking food and conjuring tales. You are welcome to join us at any point in the year. As a story is woven from key moments, the craft of foraging arises from the sustainable gathering of roots, fruits, seeds, and leaves. In both these spheres, we need to cultivate an awareness of our place in the physical and imaginative landscape. Preparing for and marking the transitional moments that connect each story scene, or the seasonal shifts in a plants developmental journey is essential. In both storytelling and foraging, we learn that an appreciation of transitions or threshold moments brings exciting new possibilities. (Note, hosted at Emerson College which reopens in September. Copy and paste this link for a detail of Covid 19 safeguards put in place: http://www.emerson.org.uk/covid-19-student-information) COURSE REVIEWS Dear Arthur and Fergus, Thank ...

Fergus Drennan·Fergus the Forager
Fergus Foraging is a life-long learning process, and Fergus has been at it for 30 years. Not only does he have great depths of knowledge in all the key aspects of identification, processing, use and best sustainable practice, but he combines it with a fun and engaging manner that brings the craft to life and makes it accessible to all. He has been described by his foraging instructor peers as "the Starship Enterprise of foraging". Forager Mark Williams enthused: "We need gastronauts like Star Fleet Commander Drennan to chart new worlds..." His favourite was when he was described as "Heston Blumenthal, Rene Redzepi, and Pascal Bauder, rolled into one.” Having run wild food courses since 2003, Fergus has naturally told many stories during that process. During 2013 he developed that skill further through completing The Art and Craft of The Storyteller, The International School of Storytelling's flag ship 3 month full-time storytelling course. Arthur Having completed the full time 3 month Storytelling course with The International School of Storytelling in 2008, Arthur has since applied and developed these skills in educational, care and community settings, as well as performing at clubs and festivals. He has been running successful courses on the Art of Storytelling for many years. In 2014, Arthur trained with WildWise in Environmental and Outdoor education, developing Bushcraft and Firecraft, while deepening his relationship with nature through song, poetry and fireside storytelling. Arthur went on to work as a mentor and Storyteller with various Outdoor Learning providers. He has since completed a 4 year part-time training in Imaginative movement, play and spatial dynamics. He currently works as a Steiner School teacher, specialising in Games and imaginative movement but also runs storytelling courses for adults, sometimes collaborating with Dramatists and Puppeteers. Arthur has a love of foraging, fermenting and wild food. Some of his favourites include: Wild Garlic Flower fritters, Elderflower champagne and chicken of the woods sautéed with ginger.

A Weekend for each season

Weekend by Weekend: what to expect 1st (this is somewhat arbitrary. If joining for a year, your first weekend could be spring, summer, autumn or winter) Weekend- AUTUMN This is the season of fungi, the arch-communicators and storytellers: The world wood web mycelially whispering beneath our feet. Foraging Fungi, roots, and seeds: These are the key botanicals of autumn. Using some excellent fungi identification keys, we will learn how to distinguish the edible and medicinal from the inedible and poisonous species, all the while taking creative inspiration from the incredibly diverse, ephemeral, and beautiful forms of the fungi themselves, as well as their often hidden nature. Key botanical characters of the season: Hairy Nuts Disco, Slippery Jack, Destroying Angel, Devil's Fingers, King Alfred's Cakes, The Flirt, Dead Moll's Fingers, Plums and Custard. Storytelling An Introduction to the Art of Storytelling. During this weekend, you will become more aware of your innate storyte...

Learning aims

To be able to appeciate the wealth of wild food abundunce that surrounds us.

A summary

Although the focus of the course will be on exploring the arts of foraging and of storytelling, how they connect, cross-pollinate and enrich one another, there will also be other rabbit holes to peer down. Each weekend will involve some fireside sharing and we will gather and bring necessary tinder, while exploring different fire lighting methods, including the bow drill method of fire by friction. The fire is a source of inspiration and warmth with transformative potential for both our wild food and our emerging stories. Songs and nature games will weave their way into the tapestry of our time together, so come along with an open heart and let us make this a delicious journey through the seasons and a story worth the telling. This course is suitable for both beginner foragers and storytellers as well as those with considerable experience.

Strengths to develop

Foraging really helps us tap into a range of natural or ancestral movements that often go unrealised in day-to-day life. Squatting down or reaching up to observe or gather fungi, ducking under branches, negotiating uneven ground, all offer body strengthening opportunities that arise naturally in the course of foraging.

What's provided

Drinks

Snacks

Meals

Equipment

Safety

Basic DBS

Risk Assessment

Public Liability Insurance

Safeguarding Training

First Aid Training

First Aid Kit

Smoke Detector

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Where
we'll be

The Storytelling Hut, Hartfield Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JX

Pricing information

Ticket: Standard £280Ticket description: If you commit to 4 consecutive weekends you can request a Bespoke Invoice for a year-long programme which is £900 (equivalent to £225 per weekend). This must be booked in a block of 4 weekends. We run this course every year and you may join at any point in the year. A year's invoice can be supplied at any point in the year, on request. WEEKEND STANDARD COURSE FEE is £280 WEEKEND INCOME BASED CONCESSION PRICE £250 Note: Individual days can not be booked, only the 2 day weekend as it is a full programme. This is important as the skills learned build on each other. If finances are preventing you from booking the course but the course speaks to you, please be in touch, as we may be able to make an arrangement Accommodation And Food: Both of these can be booked and paid for separately via the Emerson College link below. Single rooms are available, as well as camping pitches. During the weekend, we will enjoy a wild food-based dinner together around the fire. For lunch please book this when booking accommodation. http://www.emerson.org.uk/calendar
Ticket: Concession £250

Pricing information

Cancellation

My experience is an educational activity and the 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 therefore applies. After the 14 day period my standard policy will apply.

• No refunds are given except in the case of a cancellation by the Mentor.

• If you need to cancel up to three weeks prior to the start of the course, we'll be sad to lose you, but can offer a full refund. There after the full fee is forfeited. If paying up front for the whole year and cancel up to three weeks before the course commences, again, a full refund will be provided. If cancelling less than three weeks before the start, payment will be taken for the first of the four sessions, but the fee for the remaining four will be refunded.

Cancellation

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