I wrote a book!
And I wanted to have shared this news here before I did on social media - but Squarespace was not on my side and kept hiccuping and being uncooperative. So maybe you’ve already heard about it. But if not…! 👀
Some of you knew this little big something has been happening behind the scenes, as I gave some hints here and there… Some more obvious than others 🙃 And now, I’m finally so excited (and nervous!) to announce that my book “officially” exists and is available for preorder!
This book really is the result of many mornings spent in the garden with herbalism books, long afternoon foraging adventures, sleepless nights writing in the company of an owl, and the occasional fox, calling from the woods we call home - all brought to life by Ana Zilhãos’s magical photography. I really couldn’t have thought of anyone better to bring this project to life. I had been an admirer (from a distance!) of Ana’s work, and was absolutely over the moon when she said a resounding yes! to this project. Little did I know we would become friends, share the same favorite foods and a sense of humor that borders the ridiculous.
Alright, but back to the book! I know you want to know more and I’m excitedly going off track here. The Wild Craft is structured by season and seeks to follow the flow of the year. In each season, you will find projects to spark your creativity in the kitchen, in your crafting nook and in your growing area, whether that is a garden, a shared plot or a small balcony. There are recipes to keep you excited about what is springing from the ground throughout the year and crafting projects to practice your skills on, inspired by my community and the older adults around me. Different gardening ideas will invite a sense of reciprocity with nature into your life. Detailed botanical illustrations flourish through the pages as you open each new season.
You’ll find projects from botanical cookies, acorn coffee and wild greens sauce, to making your own calendula salve and building a bird house… Among so many other things!
In a nutshell, my hope is that this book will be your seasonal companion, inspiring and encouraging you to create your own practices of celebrating your bioregion.
I’ve been shyly showing the author copy I got in the mail to my neighbors, and one of them said “Cat! This is you as a book! It’s you!”. And this warmed my heart so much. Because I guess it is, really. Those things I make every day, the topics I’m passionate about - if the me of this moment were book, this is a very close shot of what that might be.
So there you go, my friends. I present to you The Wild Craft! And I thank Hardie Grant Books endlessly, for inviting me for this project and making this happen… What an adventure it’s been! And now it’s here!