Forgotten Kills - Weaving Straw Decorations with Sonia Caldwell

Afternoon Demonstrations:

Join our main student body in our demonstration kitchen for an afternoon demonstration. You will receive a copy of the recipes and a tasting plate at the end of the class. The demonstration room is equipped with a large overhead mirror and Monitors for closeup work. We release details of recipes to be demonstrated 2 weeks in advance.

Afternoon Cookery Classes begin at 2PM, however please try to be at cookery school for 1:45PM.

Guests will get a copy of all recipes and tastings of all dishes at the end of the demonstration. Please note you will be joining our main student body for this demonstration.

Details of Recipes to be demonstrated are published approximately 2 weeks in Advance.

Come spend the morning at Ballymaloe Organic Farm School learning the art of making woven craft with straw, a heritage art that is being brought back by Sonia Caldwell of Kilcoe Studios in West Cork.

Sonia will first give an overview of the historical use of straw in crafts and will explain the different types of straw that come from different grains, what those varieties of grain are and the best ways of growing them. You will also learn how to prepare straw for use and what type is best for what purpose.

With a focus on Christmas decorations, you will learn to do a straw compass plait and stars- both great additions to your home during the holidays. Participants can choose to make both or focus on one type .

Each participant will also take home a small bundle of oat straw to use at home if they wish .

What You’ll Learn

The different varieties of straw that can be grown and how they go from ground to hand to finished product
How to weave a straw compass plait and straw Star, which you will start and complete to bring home with you
Sonia’s story and how she founded Kilcoe Studios

Course Elements:

Indoor Classroom Learning at our Organic Farm School
Hands-On Knowledge Application
Ability to Work 1:1 with Instructor Due to Small Classroom Setting

Good to Know:

As we’ll spend time walking and learning around the farm please bring suitable clothing and footwear - and allow for changeable weather!
The course is held at Ballymaloe Cookery School & Organic Farm and Gardens in Shanagarry, Co. Cork P25 R274- a biodiverse working organic farm and greenhouses.
Tea, coffee & our Ballymaloe natural sourdough, homemade Jersey butter and seasonal jams will be served from rom 15 minutes ahead of the course on the day, so please come to meet other students and get ready for a busy morning of hands on learning

The prestigious Ballymaloe 12 WeekCertificate Course is run three times a year, with courses beginning in January,April or May, and September.

The course is aimed at anyone with a passionate interest in food. Many of our students use the course as a springboard to become a professional chef; others use it to equip themselves with a marketable skill.

Others still take the course simply to maximize the pleasure they get from cooking at home.

Students develop a deep and detailed understanding of food and how it is produced. The emphasis is on recognising the best ingredients and knowing how to showcase them.

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