EP47: Foraging, Sustainability and Culinary Exploration with Matthew Pennington

EP47: Foraging, Sustainability and Culinary Exploration with Matthew Pennington

Author: Robin Harford September 8, 2023 Duration: 38:34

In this episode of Eatweeds, host Robin Harford interviews Matthew Pennington, co-owner of The Ethicurean restaurant. 

Matthew discusses the restaurant's philosophy of using 80-90% of its ingredients from its own Victorian walled garden and orchard, as well as from local suppliers. He also talks about the importance of foraging for wild food, and how it can help to connect us to the natural world.


Other topics covered in the episode include:

  • The challenges of running a sustainable restaurant
  • The importance of using seasonal ingredients
  • The art of fermentation
  • The future of food

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in food, sustainability, and the natural world.


Connect With The Ethicurean

Back Matter

Follow me (Robin Harford), for the latest updates and insights around foraging and wild food on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

And if you're ready to discover the secrets of Britain and Ireland's wild plants, get my bestselling foraging book. In it I teach you how to safely thrive from nature's larder.


There's a quiet revolution happening just outside our doors, in the hedgerows, parks, and forgotten corners of the landscape. Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants is your guide to that green world, hosted by forager and ethnobotanist Robin Harford. This isn't just a list of what's edible; it's a deep, sensory dive into our relationship with the flora around us. Each episode feels like a walk with a knowledgeable friend, one who points out not just the names of plants, but their stories, their historical uses, and their place in both ancient traditions and modern kitchens. You'll hear conversations that weave together practical foraging tips with cultural anthropology, exploring how plants have sustained human life for millennia as food, medicine, and material. Robin brings on experts and practitioners who share their hands-on experiences, from turning acorns into flour to understanding the medicinal compounds in a common weed. The podcast moves seamlessly from the science of plant identification to the folklore buried in their old names, creating a rich tapestry that connects listeners directly to their environment. It’s for anyone who has ever looked at a plant and wondered, "What's your story?" This series provides those answers, fostering a deeper appreciation for the wild, often overlooked bounty that grows all around us, making every walk an opportunity for discovery and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 58

Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants
Podcast Episodes
EP07: Miles Irving on Foraging & Sustainability [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:23
Miles Irving from Forager Ltd, talks about commercial foraging and sustainability, and why the old conservation paradigm is now obsolete.
EP06: How To Make Nettle Leaf Protein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Michael Cole the creator of Leafu a commercially available leaf protein product, discusses why it is so beneficial to humans and the planet.
EP05: Remembering Frank Cook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:57
On the anniversary of Frank Cook's passing, friends remember him and how his work continues through the organisation Plants & Healers International. Includes interviews with Sandor Katz, Mary Morgaine & Marc Williams.
EP04: Plant Observation & Goethean Science [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:27
An interview with Craig Holdrege from the Nature Institute on "Plant Observation & Goethean Science". How to truly know a plant beyond the traditional classification & pattern methods of plant identification.
EP03: Revisioning Herbal Medicine For The People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:50
An interview with Simon Mills, herbal practitioner and author of Principles & Practice of Phytotherapy, The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. In this interview Simon's talks about : Why pl…
EP01: Wild Dolmades, Is Comfrey Safe To Eat, Self Care Using Plants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
In this episode wild food chef Paul Wedgwood from Edinburgh talks about using Jack-by-the-Hedge (Alliaria petiolata) leaves as a dolmades wrap. Research herbalist Monica Wilde takes us through the latest research on whet…