Capturing the essence of sunshine and peak summer for the winter months when it’s needed.
Just enjoyed capturing the oil maceration as I left the blooms out to wilt slightly, to decrease a portion of the moisture before adding extra virgin olive oil to cover.
I’ll wrap this glass jar in a brown paper bag then leave in the warm sunshine to infuse into the oil over the next week or two. These yellow flowers exude a surprising deep red oil, I liken to ‘dragon’s blood’ I’ll share a photo of the finished product in a later post.
I also made an alcoholic tincture by covering the fresh blooms in vodka to sit for a month, which I will shake regularly until ready to strain off to use in the winter months, to help combat seasonal affective disorder and the winter blues.
Photos show a St John’s Wort tincture and a St John’s Wort infused oil to use medicinally.
**Please note that this herb should not be taken alongside pharmaceuticals without professional guidance.
St John’s Wort tincture will let this sit for about 4 weeks shaking regularly.
Some people think that my name is May, those who have never met me may know me on Facebook as May Fly but really this name only came about as it was the name of my very creative love-child- a shop in Temple Bar, Dublin.
I made quirky, eccentric jewellery, steampunk jewellery, silver and gemstone jewellery, cufflinks and upcycled art and collaborated with other artists and craftworkers.
Even more fun, I travelled around the world for supplies, stones, and creative pieces from other designers. I regularly went to Indonesia and Thailand and I look back at these days with a nostalgia and a longing that plays out in many dreams at night, to return.
As I am going through a lot of old files and photos I thought I would share some bits of what May Fly once was- as it all feels very far away now and a life that once was. My new life journey and path is immensely fulfilling, however- a part of me is constantly feeling the itch to return to making- and to find myself a workshop studio. I still have a whole library bus workshop in Wicklow filled with supplies and materials and treasures to return to create such things from time to time. It won’t be anytime too soon yet, but who knows, one day maybe!
owltapus brooch with a pearl accentred coral silver necklaceMayFly Shopm Temple Bar, DublinUpcycle IBM cuff by myself and James CarrollMayFly shop at the RDSsteampunk jewelleryMayFly Steampunk jewllery Upcycle IBM cuff by myself and James CarrollMayFly shop Temple Bar DublinEmily Coen, too coolCourtney TylerLuka at workMayFly shop Temple BarGoorin Bros capsah, Conor!
Photograph by Courtney Tyler, Inkcaps mushrooms, Kent, UK
A wonderful learning resource! I set up this group in September 2019 and there are now well over 10k members. Its been incredible to see Ireland’s interest in fungi explode!
Feel free to join the group here, a great place to ask for assistance in identifying a mushroom, to see what’s in season, to share recipes and information and connect with other mycophiles!
Join us in this medicinal mushroom full day workshop for a fascinating exploration into the diverse and mysterious world of fungi! Together we will explore the many ways that you can incorporate mushrooms into your life as various medicinal preparations and as delicious food.
We will:
-Study and learn about 10 species of medicinal mushrooms, half of which grow wild in abundance around us in Ireland/ UK. Some samples will be on hand to see/ touch/ smell and taste.
-We will learn about their health benefits and immuno-modulating properties, including links and references to scientific studies.
–Learn how to identify them, their habitat, their physical properties. We will learn about how to safely dry or preserve mushrooms to keep their properties intact, or indeed how to enhance or harness their properties, such as providing us with a bio-available form of Vitamin D and other minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
–Medicinal Mushroom preparation– We will discuss and demo how to make an aqueous extract, alcohol extract, alcohol-free glycerin extract and the benefits of these vs how and when to combine these for a dual or full-spectrum mushroom extract. We will discuss when there may be contraindications for use.
-Learn how and why mushrooms offer powerful nutrition and learn some delicious recipes and easy ways to bring mushrooms into your diet and wellness routine. Special preparation consideration for enhancing nutritive value and to safely use and consume wild fungi. We will discuss some different cooking methods and a variety of food preparations including: drinks, desserts, mushroom jerky, gomasio/ food condiments, pickles, mushroom fermentation, etc.
–How and where to source medicinal mushrooms: which mushrooms are possible to forage from the wild and which fungi are easier to cultivate and some resources about how to do this. We will share some reputable sources and how to choose good quality mushroom products. We will learn about how to distinguish from a fruiting body and mycelium and their respective medicinal properties.
You will be provided with a recommended reading list and extensive notes and you will go home with a medicinal mushroom preparation made together on the day.
Medicinal mushrooms drinks, tasters and a healthy lunch will be provided on the day.
There will be some dried mushrooms and dual-extract tinctures available on the day to purchase, should you like to.
Where: Co Wicklow- the location will be disclosed closer to the date. You may need a car to travel, but we can arrange collection from a nearby train or bus if needed.
When: 2 dates are available: (this workshop will run throughout the year on various dates)
Saturday 7th May Time: 1030-1600
-OR-
Sunday 8 May Time: 0930-1500
*PLEASE NOTE SUNDAY STARTS EARLIER***
How Much:
€155 Early Bird/ €175 Full Price
Early bird tickets are available until the 25th March and are full price of €175 after that date.
Bookings for all of my events will close 2 weeks before the event takes place. In this case, the event will close to all new bookings on 22 April 2022. We will be in touch with you before the event takes place to share the location with those that have booked their place.
************************************************************ FAQ’s /Terms and Conditions:
************************************************************ All ticket sales are final, we do not offer refunds or rescheduling.
This is in order to care for our energy in organising and running events as well as due to the fact that otherwise this place could have been offered to someone else. ******************************************************************* **COVID precautions in relation to ticket sales: all ticket sales are final according to the policy above. However if you are exposed to Covid or in quarantine, you may choose to gift your ticket to someone else in your place. ******************************************************************* If we have to change the date of an event due to severe weather warnings or government guidelines, or for any other reason- we will issue you with a voucher which can be used on a future workshop.
Birch Polypore PlasterMichael, Mushroom ForageCourtneyFly Agaric Mushroom EventAmanita spore printJoe Keane and JossWaxcap EyesMichael WhiteMushroom Coffee OfferingTurkey Tail, medicinal mushroomGolden ChanterellesMichael and Courtney December 2021Food condiment with mushroom powderJelly EarsSpore PrintMedicinal external remedy- Fly AgaricMushroom Coffee
A foray coming up in the Wicklow mountains with, interestingly, an emphasis on Amanita muscaria.“So you think you’re changed, do you?” said the Caterpillar.“I’m afraid I am, sir,” said Alice; “I can’t remember things as I used—and I don’t keep the same size for ten minutes together!”
Where: Co Wicklow, Ireland
When: Thursday 29 September 2022 10am until 9pm (11 hour day)
There is a fantastic array of wild food and fungi in Co Wicklow. We will enjoy a long ramble in a beautiful woodland in the Wicklow Mountains interspersed with wild local seasonal food to drink and eat and a forage for wild mushrooms including Fly Agaric.
We will learn about the allure of the iconic Fly Agaric mushroom and how to safely use it as medicine and as food. There will be demonstrations including lacto-fermentation of mushrooms. We will also learn about any other wild fungi that we come across.
We will provide lunch and an elaborate three course wild food dinner with some exciting ingredients for the meal, as of course Fergus is incredible talented and experienced as a wild food experimentalist. He has over 30 years experience as a wild food forager, so your more advanced questions can be answered too.
We will be starting and ending the day in a location later to be announced to ticket holders but we may be car-pooling or driving to a nearby local woodland for some of the day. You must dress appropriately for a day spent outdoors, hiking boots and rain gear could be helpful. Sorry for this event no young children or dogs. You must be physically fit for a day spent wandering the wilderness with hills and uneven ground. Please bring snacks and or food to share if you would like. And a foraging basket or knife (if you have one).
How Much: €220 Early Bird/ €245 Full Price/ Elaborate Wild Food Lunch and 3 course dinner are included.
Bookings for all of our events will close 6 weeks before the event takes place. In this case, the event will close to all new bookings on the 18 August 2022. We will be in touch with you before the event takes place to share further relevant details with those that have booked their place.
Here is a link to a podcast with Robin Harford after our last event:
“Wow, wow, wow!!! Hips & Haws Wildcraft events are a special opportunity to connect with beautiful people in an amazing space. I was fortunate enough to have the privilege to attend a Fly Agaric event hosted by Courtney and Fergus the Forager. From the moment I arrived I felt an instant inspiration and warm welcome. We foraged in the near by woods in fun filled explorations, while learning and connecting with the many species of fungi available. The preparation and dishes we were treated to after our journey in the woods was a unique blend of heart warming tastes and enjoyable community spirit set outdoors. For a revitalising experience amongst a vibrant loving group a Hips and Haws event is the place to be.”-Riain O’Táth
“I was lucky enough to join Hips and Haws Wildcrafts on the amanita forage day yesterday. It exceeded all expectations I ever had. Right from the beginning the communication before the event was so helpful and made the whole day run smoothly as it ran like clockwork. I arrived and was warmly greeted and welcomed to the space along with the group. We spent the day covering so much foraging information but it felt so relaxed fun and full of adventure. I’ve attended a good few similar themed foraging events in Ireland at this point and this was possibly my favourite due to the amount of work and effort Courtney and Fergus put into the packed schedule. It was more than just an ID and forage day… it was so much more! We not only learned about identification/ foraging but then info how to cook/preserve in many different kinds of ways like: lacto-fermentation, sweet dishes, ice cream, rice balls, savoury dishes, dumplings, pasta sauce, soup and more. After learning all that we had a big feast in all the mushroom themed foods.I cannot wait for the next course it was truly out of this world! Thank you for the most incredible day.” -Ashleigh Connors
************************************************************ FAQ’s /Terms and Conditions:
************************************************************ All ticket sales are final, we do not offer refunds or rescheduling.
This is in order to care for our energy in organising and running events as well as due to the fact that otherwise this place could have been offered to someone else. ******************************************************************* **COVID precautions in relation to ticket sales: all ticket sales are final according to the policy above. However if you are exposed to Covid or in quarantine, you may choose to gift your ticket to someone else in your place. ******************************************************************* If we have to change the date of an event due to severe weather warnings or government guidelines, or for any other reason- we will issue you with a voucher which can be used on a future workshop.
