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Harvest
Feast 2009 will emphasise all that is great about regional
food specialities, heritage, eco-tourism and the environment. This
year's Harvest Feast runs from 11th-13th September in and around
Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim.
The
festival is organised by the Greenbox
, Leitrim
Organic Farmers ' Co-op ', the
Food Hub and the National
Organic Training Skillnets – all key organisations in
food and tourism in the north west.Supported by Failte
Ireland and Bord
Bia, the Harvest Feast features an impressive array of over
30 talks, walks and demonstrations.
According
to John Brennan of the Leitrim Organic Farmers' Co-op and Chair
of the Festival Committee: “This year there is a real focus
on the best of seasonal, local produce, on getting back to basics
with gardening and cooking, and on innovative ecotourism activities.”
A
coup for the festival is the debut appearance of Neven
McGuire, who's Saturday cookery demonstration is bound
to book out early.
Now
in its third year, there is a real cost saving focus at this year's
Harvest Feast. Not only are many events free, there are also two
free talks and demonstrations on reducing your food bills by 30%
without compromising on quality. Sian Breslin of the Donegal Manor
Cookery School will reveal how to better plan your meals, how to
develop recipe lists while keeping your focus on good healthy and
nutritious food.
Festival
favourites returning include: the excellent 40 stall regional food
market (View
Stallholder list) , Tommy Early's organic farm biodiversity
walks and children's cookery classes. These events will be joined
this year by something to suit any and many tastes and preferences.
You could try: an eco walk and windmill tour; a blackberry jam competition;
micro brew beer and fruit wine tasting. Or find out more about allotments
and community gardening; or hear about Surf Seeds, Tim Rooney's
Dragon's Den product.So put aside the second weekend in September
as that's when the Harvest Feast is set to delight and delectify
the food lover's palate.
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