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Al Ainsworth - Wild Foods & Traditional Skills

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Al Ainsworth - Wild Foods & Traditional Skills

My name is Al Ainsworth I am wild foods and traditional crafts educator in the Hunter region of NSW.

26/05/2026

A bit of a micro-adventure exploring St Peter’s Seminary near Cardross today.

This weird 1970s building closed in 1980 and has been abandoned ever since. With nature slowly taking it over and occasional visits from graffiti artists, it’s a really interesting place to wander around.

Definitely one of those locations where you want to stay switched on. The structure itself still appears relatively solid overall, consisting mostly of concrete and brick. However, it’s hard to imagine it ever being fully renovated or turned into something else due to the remote location and sheer scale of the place.

18/05/2026

Been learning a bit of nature photography lately and getting to grips with an old Canon DSLR setup. It’s an 18-megapixel camera. Using a 70–300mm lens most of the time, mainly interested in wildlife, birds and deer. Still figuring a lot of it out as I go, tweaking things. Spent some time tracking deer yesterday around the woods as well. Could see a few of their lay-up points amongst the bluebells and some grazing sign, though not much s**t. Followed a few smaller trails through the trees and grass, but they kind of just led nowhere eventually. Interesting how much crossover there is between tracking and nature photography really. Probably part of the reason I’m interested in the subject.

15/05/2026

Been trying to find a fox den around the woods near where I’m staying in Glasgow. Plenty of deer sign about, tracks and s**t in the wet ground and little runs through the long grass, but not much obvious fox activity yet. Sometimes you smell the fox den before you see it.I was also having a play with this old DSLR and a 300mm lens. Been toying with doing a bit of wildlife photography, which naturally links into tracking and animal observation

08/01/2026

Twilight, having a wee dram. Picked up this old Australian Army sporran — tried it on for size, and found myself pausing for a moment of reflection on recent events, both in my life and in the wider world. I’m always reminded of the words of John Donne:..

“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

05/01/2026

Put this bum bag together for local customers, built from thick kangaroo hide with every seam stitched by hand and a wide veg-tan leather strap running across the front. It wears comfortably across the chest, over the shoulder, or low on the hips. One side carries a simple stash pocket, with a zip compartment on the opposite face. Finished with solid brass hardware..

bushcraft

21/12/2025

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been conducting a series of one-on-one tutorials with a young, homeschooled student, and these photos capture some of that journey. We’ve been learning through hands-on experiences — including knife making, green woodworking, leathercraft, wild food foraging, and plant identification — all at a calm and relaxed pace. This kind of hands-on, real-world learning is one of the great strengths of homeschooling. Watching a young person slow down, focus, ask questions, and take pride in what they’ve made has been rewarding.

If you’re part of the homeschool community and value practical skills, nature-based learning, and thoughtful mentorship, this is the kind of learning I love to support and hear about you..

04/12/2025

Just reopening my Etsy shop after having it in holiday mode for the last 10 weeks or so.
The total chaos that came with the Trump tariffs made it almost impossible to post anything to the USA for a while — a series of badly planned new regulations and laws meant small business owners like me couldn’t ship to the States in any kind of affordable way. But the dust has finally settled, and I’ve managed to find a few loopholes to get parcels through to the USA again. Bending a couple of rules here and there — but that’s what you’ve got to do to keep a little craft shop alive.

For anyone new here, my shop specialises in bush-style leatherwork, including belts, knife sheaths, swag rigs, and outdoor gear, all crafted from local materials like emu leather and kangaroo. I do custom orders as well as off-the-peg designs, most of it made to order and hand-sewn. With over 1,000 Etsy sales of handcrafted items..

23/11/2025

Spoon-Making Workshop – Newcastle
Sunday, 30th November

Come spend a few hours in the bush learning how to carve a spoon from green wood using traditional hand tools—no power tools, just an axe, knife, and your own two hands.

Whether you’re new to carving or just keen to slow down and make something with a bit of soul, this workshop is about practical skills, good company, and getting back to the basics.

You’ll learn how to:
Choose and prepare a piece of wild wood.
Use tools like the carving hatchet, sloyd knife, and hook knife safely and effectively.

We’ll also discuss ethical wood harvesting and working with what the land has to offer. All tools and materials are provided, and there’s always a brew on and time for a yarn.

Cost: $75
Spots: Limited to 5 people
Location: Exact spot shared after booking (near Whitebridge, Newcastle)

Please send me a messasecureo book your place.

10/11/2025

Wild Tea Foraging Workshop – Newcastle

I’m running a wild tea-making workshop in Newcastle on Saturday, the 16th of November Shoot me a message to book your spot..

📍 Start Point: Kotara
📅 Date: Sunday 16th November
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM
⏳ Duration: 3–4 hours

This hands-on session is perfect for anyone curious about the plants growing around us—edible weeds, native bush foods, and common trees you can brew into tea.

We’ll explore a wide range of plants that can be brewed into nourishing, medicinal, or calming teas. You’ll learn how to identify each plant, understand its nutritional and health benefits, and discover how they’ve been used traditionally.

Booking:..
Shoot me a message to reserve your spot—limited spaces available.

Expect to taste and brew over twenty different wild teas made from locally sourced ingredients. You’ll walk away with the knowledge to identify and use wild plants in your everyday life—whether for health, nutrition, or simply enjoying the benefits of nature..

Contribution $65

What to bring:
- Hat and weather-appropriate clothing
- Water bottle
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Notebook or phone for photos and notes

-making

27/10/2025

Foraging & Wild Foods Walk – Newcastle 🌿

Join me for another Wild Foods Walk on Sunday 2nd of November We’ll meet at Fernleigh Café, Adamstown at 11:15 AM.

This is a fantastic time of year to explore the local area and discover the amazing wild plants growing around us.

During this walk, you’ll get a crash course in foraging, learning about local wild “weeds” and bush tucker plants. I’ll also bring food and drink samples to demonstrate how these plants can be used in everyday cooking.

A bit about me: I have a background as a chef and later trained in horticulture, and I love combining both skills in these walks—looking at plants from both a botanical and culinary perspective.

Details:

Cost: Voluntary donation $55. Free for those on Centrelink, single mothers, and refugees

Duration: 2–3 hours

Meeting Point: Fernleigh Café, 89 Fletcher St, Adamstown NSW 2289

Suggested Gear: Smartphone, hat, water bottle, rain jacket, sensible footwear

If you’re interested, send me a message to reserve your spot.

Address

Newcastle, NSW
2289

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