About
We have invested 5 years in the research and writing of this book. We grew all the herbs and most of the vegetables in the photographs, dried the herbs and flowers, and made all the bath salts, fairie-water sun teas, herbal smudges, and more. We cooked all the recipes countless times, tortured our families with the failures, and took pictures of the real food and magic that we created in their gardens and kitchens. This book is a labour of love.
Our research took us to such esteemed halls of learning as the Lambeth Palace Library in London as well as Trinity College, Dublin, and the Folklore Department at the University College of Dublin. While there, we studied women’s lore, folk traditions, ancient cultures, and myths and poetry, exploring how it all relates to topics of the palate and the many genres of food history. We hope you enjoy the efforts of our hard work.