The NeighbourFood Podcast

Welcome to the NeighbourFood Podcast, today we have a special replay episode for you as we gear up for Street Feast 2023. We're joined by the incredible Sam Bishop, a true force of nature in the realm of community activation. Sam is a remarkable individual—a community activist, an initiator, and a doer. He's the kind of person who not only has brilliant ideas but also brings them to life with unwavering dedication. Sam’s extensive involvement in various endeavors is a testament to his boundless energy but what truly captivates us about Sam is his talent for inspiring others and getting things done in the most ingenious ways. And one of these large scale achievements is the annual nationwide day of community feasting, which is aptly called Street Feast. Without Sam's persistent efforts and commitment, Street Feast wouldn't be where it is today. It's truly impressive to witness the way he has nourished this event year after year.Street Feast is all about celebrating a lovely lunch with your neighbours. Food is not just a matter of sustenance; it’s about connection and conviviality. Sharing a meal and fostering community bonds are just as vital as the nourishment on our plates.Mark your calendars, Street Feast 2023 will be held on Sunday June 25 this year. But remember, this is an annual event, so if you can't make it this time, keep an eye out for next year's edition or as we discuss in our chat, Street Feast has a way of unexpectedly happening and popping up at any time.We hope you enjoy this chat with Sam Bishop, founder of Street Feast, as he takes us on a journey through the heart and soul of this extraordinary community gathering.Find out more on StreetFeast.ie

Welcome back to another episode of the NeighbourFood Podcast! Today we have a treat in store for all the whiskey aficionados out there. Our guest is Eric Ryan, a true expert in the world of whiskey, a historian with an unrivaled knowledge of Irish whiskey's captivating past. He is going to take us on a deep dive into the treasures of our national spirit.  Today Eric works with as the Powers Distiller, Maturation & Innovation Specialist at Midleton Distillery. He studied an Msc in Brewing and Distiling in Heriot-Watt University and then went head first into Irish whiskey distilling working a distillery operator since 2010 with Midleton and been working in the world famous distillery ever since. He is regular contributor to Irish Whiskey Magazine and was secretary of of Cork Whiskey Society for some time and also curated and ran the Cork Whiskey Walk before taking up his current role as the Powers Distiller.Get ready for a fascinating synopsis of the timeline of Irish whiskey, starting from the 6th century Irish monks who first distilled the "water of life."  We are going to learn how this spirit has evolved over the centuries, from its humble beginnings to the thriving distilling scene we know and love today.We'll also tackle the question of whether whiskey was indeed invented in Ireland or if its origins lie elsewhere. ….and learn about key events and figures that shaped the industry, with captivating anecdotes and stories from the past.But it doesn't stop there! Because Eric also guides us through the evolution of Irish whiskey production techniques, highlighting the innovations and changes that have occurred over time. We'll also explore the impact of prohibition and other historical events on the Irish whiskey industry, understanding how these challenges shaped its trajectory and what it took to overcome them. And of course, this whole time we have some delightful and intriguing fun facts guaranteed to capture your attention and leave you thirsty for more knowledge about this beloved spirit.Lastly, we unravel what truly sets Irish whiskey apart from other renowned whiskies around the world. Is it a matter of historic roots, provenance, and ingredients? Or is it the result of techniques, methods, and good marketing? Eric will provide us with his expert insights on this.So stay tuned, as we embark on this incredible journey into the heart and soul of Irish whiskey, guided by the expertise of Eric Ryan.Find out more about Eric onInstagram @ericwilliamryanTwitter @ericwilliamryanPowers WhiskeyInstagram @Powers_Whiskeywww.powerswhiskey.comIrish Whiskey Magazinewww.irishwhiskeymagazine.comCork Whiskey Societyhttps://corkwhiskeysociety.wildapricot.org/

Today we have a shining star joining us to chat on the NeighbourFood podcast. Dr. Tara Shine is an Irish environmental scientist, policy advisor and science communicator. She spent 20 years as an international climate change negotiator and adviser to governments and world leaders on environmental policy. She was Special Adviser to the Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice and The Elders before setting up “Change by Degrees” with co-founder Madeline Murray who partner with businesses and organisations to empower and educate people to deliver sustainable solutions.She is also the author of How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time, a book written to help everyone how to change their daily habits and live more environmentally friendly in home and at work. Her book is all about starting small, making incremental changes in behavior to build momentum and foster discussions around sustainable actions. Tara emphasises the crucial role of personal action in combating climate change and reducing food waste. While systemic changes are necessary, she believes in the power of grassroots change to drive transformative shifts and throughout our chat offers practical guidance for us all to decrease our environmental footprints without overwhelm.We hope you enjoy these valuable insights from Tara , who has dedicated her career to catalyzing change at both the global and individual levels, and discover how we can all contribute to a more sustainable living and future.

Our guest today on the NeighbourFood podcast is Mary Reynolds, one of Ireland's leading advocates for nature. She describes herself as a reformed landscape gardener who won the Chelsea Flower Show in 2002. Mary is also an author and public environmental activist, and in this conversation today, we focus on her present campaign of healing the earth and the natural world.Mary explains the importance of connecting with nature and learning from it, allowing it to teach us valuable life lessons. She talks about building an "ARK" (Act of Restorative Kindness) by donating part of your land or garden, creating sanctuary corridors, and restoring natural ecosystems and habitats.Throughout the conversation, Mary emphasises the crucial role of biodiversity and the need to take personal responsibility for our impact on the environment, encouraging us to listen and work with our natural world, making conscious choices in our daily lives to become true guardians of the earth and all life it carries.To learn more about Mary's work, visit her website at marymary.ie or find her on Instagram @wildmarymary. You can also visit wearetheark.org to learn more about building ARKs and the movement that Mary has started. And don't forget to pick up one of Mary's beautiful books, "The Garden Awakening" (2016), or "We are the Ark" (2022).

Artist Kari Cahill joins us in this edition of the NeighbourFood podcast. Kari is a site-responsive visual artist, natural paint smith, and an all-around great person. During our chat, she shares her unique methods of creating site-specific artwork using nature and how food can be used to make paint. Kari talks about her relationship with art and food and provides insights into her toolbox and current projects. Don’t miss Jack’s challenge to create an artwork inspired by his favourite meal! Not a mean feat. Kari's expertise, experiences and passion are a beautiful insight into her world, methods of working and the intersection of art, nature, and food. We hope you enjoy listening. Links:https://www.karicahill.com/https://www.instagram.com/karicahill.studio/https://www.layoftheland.ie/https://www.instagram.com/layofthelandproject/#NeighbourFoodPodcast #KariCahill #SiteSpecificArtwork #NaturalPaintSmith #ArtAndFood #FoodArt #NatureInspired #PodcastRecommendation #NewEpisodeAlert #ArtistInterview #CreativeProcess #ArtInspiration #ArtChallenge #FoodInspired #PaintMaking #ArtMaterials #ArtInNature #CreativeCommunity

As spring arrives, the blooming flowers bring joy and colour to our surroundings, evoking emotions that words cannot express. Beyond their beauty, flowers have healing properties used in medicine and play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. In this episode of the NeighbourFood Podcast, we have a conversation with Anna Hogan, a flower farmer from Seekings Flower Farm in Ballymacoda, East Cork.  Anna cultivates Irish cut flowers from bulbs or seeds, creating nature-inspired bouquets that include fragrant herbs like fennel, dill, and mint. Anna is also a member of the Flower Farmers of Ireland, a network of sustainable flower growers who redefine the global cut-flower industry by producing locally-grown, seasonal, and scented blooms. During our conversation, we explore the significance of flowers, the state of the Irish flower industry, and the growing sector's impact on education, public awareness, social farming, pollination, and green matters. Additionally, Anna shares tips for hobby gardeners looking to grow their garden of paradise.https://www.fromseekingsflowerfarm.com/https://www.instagram.com/fromseekings/https://flowerfarmersofireland.ie/https://www.instagram.com/flowerfarmersireland/