Sárospataki KéptárWhat have you heard about the Incredible Edible Tokaj Wine Region project? Where is the first project? Would you like to be part? To actually plant the Sárospatak Gallery Sensory Herb Garden (Sárospataki Képtár) with us? Our first Incredible Edible creation. Or would you prefer to paint signs on ceramic flower pots looking for a new purpose to show people (what) they can taste and share the herbs in our new sensory garden? Then, feel free to look and to feel, to smell and to taste. To listen. What do you hear? The birds? The church bells? The bees singing in the magnolia flowers?
To celebrate the first project and spring, on Saturday 15 April we plan:-
– planting the herb garden
– sign painting
– folk music
– singing
– juggling and games
– bike chain oiling
– mini market with cheese, wine, dried fruit, jams, juices and cordials, honey, vegetable and fruit cakes savoury and sweet, crafts, soaps…
(Confirmed)
– horses
– mushroom and fungus exhibition, guidebook and fairy tale books on sale by mycological society Zempléni Gombász Egyesület
– Máltai Szeretetszolgálat (The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta)
– choir
(To be confirmed)
What would you like to do/see/create? Please let us know.
Houseleek is commonly used by parents in Hungary to ease ear problems. My grandmother in Devon always had candied violets in the kitchen cupboard and violet soap on the bath.
The plants we plan? Well, the laurels stay for structure (berries not for humans! for birds, especially robins), along with the thriving carpet of daisies. And hopefully we’ll find some nettles (for the ladybirds and more). They’ll be joined by fragrant violets, mints and lemon balm in the shade, oregano and tarragon, rosemary and sage in the light, with bright orange calendula next to edge-loving houseleek and thymes (lemon, variegated, wild and more) above the long seat – herb bed behind you. Of course with a couple of tomatoes just because they are so delicious! A place to sit and reflect, to lose yourself in the perfect spiral of the succculent houseleek leaves or in the scent of violets, to enjoy the blossoming magnolia trees, to wonder at the sculptures of Saint Elizabeth leaving and the boy and the horse, the splendid architecture and trees in the Castle District.
Dandelions gold in Sárospatak Castle District thanks to Kőszeginé Tóth Judit
Where exactly is this sensory paradise for people and insects? Here at the Gallery in the artistic and spiritual heart of Sárospatak, in a stunning triangle with the Basilica Minor and Saint Elizabeth House which houses a library, exhibitions and ecclesiastical collections, set in wonderful herb and rose gardens.
Plants planted by people for everyone to share! The herbs, these new Castle District residents, are generously given by friends from their gardens and the Saint Elizabeth House herb garden opposite. Plus a couple of fruit and vegetable guests later when it’s warmer – cherry tomatoes, peas/beans and sunny healing calendula. These gifts are in the spirit of the Gallery whose main collections themselves are primarily gifts. We’d be grateful if you contribute too. In spirit at least.
János Domján – woodcut. © Sárospataki Képtár
So, yes, really, leaves, flowers and fruits from all these plants are free for anyone and everyone to share with care. Not the four evergreen laurel bushes. They are poisonous to humans but loved by ants and hoverflies for their nectar and by birds for the berries. We invite people to take carefully, to think about the plant and the people who come after them, to savour the moment.
What can you do?
– Come to the event on Saturday 15 April! Have you got any ideas?
– If you’re pruning any sort of delicious resistant fruit bush, please put the cuttings into the soil (with (willow) rooting hormone, honey to keep the cut clean and cinnamon to promote rooting), so we’ll / you’ll have lots of strong local fruit bushes to plant out in autumn. In all those places you’ve dreamt up and prepared! Yes, it really is that simple.
– Find a place and your people to plant and sign.
– Think of a good Hungarian name and get in touch ;)
Where would you like to plant? Join the growing Incredible Edible community. It started in 2007 in Todmorden, NW England with the motto “Creating a kind, confident and connected community” and has grown to be over 700 groups in the world. More than 300 in France alone. We’re just starting in the Tokaj Wine Region. Let’s grow together!
