The Huntly Hairst is an annual festival celebrating the food and local traditions of Aberdeenshire. It takes the form of an extended Farmers' Market, occupying the town square and central streets, with over 50 stalls showcasing the best local produce, cookery demonstrations and competitions, including The World Stovies Championship, Huntly's Room to Run race and even more events throughout the week. Check out the Hairst website for a full programme of what was on in 2022!
We had a packed programme of events celebrating Huntly's local produce and makers, exploring the amazing ingredients that grow right on our doorsteps, and learning about our local and global relationship with the rest of the world. Our events took place in Square Deal and on The Stall, was set up just outside Square Deal in front of the old Huntly Hotel.
Our programme:
The Stall
9am – 4pm, Wild inks, seasonings and creams, with Kawther Luay and Eleanor Brown
The Gathering Table project artist Kawther Luay was joined by Eleanor Brown, aka The Fermented Forager, for a day of wild and foraged ingredients put to use in seasonings and salts, inks, and creams and salves! Everyone could have a go at making their own Hogweed Salt or Beeswax Cream, or take some time to decorate a postcard with ink made from foraged plants.
1pm, Plant identification talk, with Eleanor Brown
At 1pm, Eleanor Brown invited people to join her in the Square deal garden to talk about plant identification, especially for members of the carrot family. This family of plants is a challenging one to learn, but an important one to find out about when venturing into foraging; some plants are super tasty, whilst others can be poisonous!
Square Deal
9am – 4pm, The World is Ours, in Spite of All Reading Room
The World is Ours, In Spite of All is a project with artist and educator Hussein Mitha made in collaboration with young people. Exploring how climate justice can repair our world in a time of climate emergency, the project aimed to cultivate an ethos of inspiration, cooperation, connection and solidarity to rise to challenges. During the Hairst, we had a Reading Room of texts that inspired and informed Hussein and the Huntly Youth Climate Warriors – the youth group formed as part of the project.
2 – 3.30pm, Journey to Your Inner Hero: a story writing workshop, with Joana Avi-Lorie
Writer, artist, researcher and Scottish Communities Climate Action Network story weaver Joana Avi-Lorie led a hands-on fun story-writing workshop focused on climate resilience and justice at 2pm.
9am – 4pm, The Barter Shop
Forming part of The Gathering Table, the Barter Shop is an experiment in non-monetary exchange, gifting and sharing, and was open at the Hairst market all day in Square Deal. How does it work? Bring along a drawing, a joke, your presence, your story, a bundle of herbs, a box of fresh eggs, or any surplus produce this abundant summer has provided, and exchange it with whatever takes your fancy!
9am – 4pm, Square Deal garden quiet space
The Square Deal garden was open as a quiet space all day. If anyone needed to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the Hairst, or just want a quiet space to had their cup of tea, the garden at back of Square Deal invited everyone to take a look at the meadow we've started with the help of our gardener Lindy Young, or relax on the seating recently made and installed by Ythan View Workshop.
Also part of the Hairst week:
Food Chain: Venison or Mushroom Stroganoff with Rosie Leagas
Monday 29th August, 6-8pm, Square Deal
Book your space by emailing jess@deveron-projects.com
Wild Remedies Workshop, with Kawther Luay and Alison Massie
Wednesday 31st August, 6-9pm, Square Deal
Book your free space via eventbrite here
Friday 2nd September, 1-2pm, Square Deal
Come along at 1pm, no need to book
Saturday 3rd September, 7.30-10pm, The Gordon Arms
Book your ticket via eventbrite here
Travel
If you are travelling to Huntly for these events and would like more information about transport or accommodation please contact the team: info@deveron-projects.com / 01466 794 494
