Sustainable living expert Marjory Wildcraft ponders, "Are people in Austin so hungry they are eating bugs?"
AUSTIN, Texas, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — "Well, it does help if you come to the party having skipped lunch," says Marjory Wildcraft, the host and creator of the 6th Annual Bug Eating Festival which will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Zilker Park in Austin, TX starting about 7:00 p.m. "Hunger can give you an edge accepting new food."
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130606/PH27192-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130606/PH27192-b )
It's a zany experience, party and potluck where people come together to learn about, and experience, eating insects. Alan Davisson is the co-host for the evening. In between grilling up and passing around plates of freshly cooked bugs, Alan offers the lore of edibility, preparing, cooking, and eating insects.
"The kids are usually crowded in the closest," says Wildcraft. "They just jump right in there and try everything. Not surprisingly, the homeschooling community has been regulars at the event since its inception."
It's also a BYOB&B event – Bring your own bugs and bottle.
"Palatability does improve if you've had a beer or two. Others need more encouragement. I don't think my husband will touch a bug until after about a six-pack," says Wildcraft.
Why on earth would anyone create an event like this? Is it taking the local slogan "Keep Austin Weird" too far?
Marjory Wildcraft regularly appears on radio and television teaching people how to become more food self-reliant and was recently featured as a sustainable living expert by National Geographic. She is a leader in the preparedness movement and has been called the "Martha Stewart of self-reliance." Wildcraft is best known for her video series "Grow Your Own Groceries." Wildcraft shows people how to turn their backyards into a food producing paradise.
She apparently isn't limited to just gardens, small livestock, and backyard food production.
"I knew that insects are eaten all over the world and are rich in minerals. I just never could get myself to eat them," she said.
She was inspired by Davisson who is an insect edibility experimenter. Then she struck on an idea of throwing a big party and making it fun. It worked, but Wildcraft still had trouble with the yuck factor when she was alone.
"Every year I ask myself, am I ready to eat bugs all on my own without Alan and a big party?" So far the answer has been no. And apparently it is taking a while, as this is the sixth year for the festival.
To get more information about the festival go to:
http://www.growyourowngroceries.org/6th-annual-bug-eating-festival-in-austin-tx-2/
This is definitely an event for those interested in:
– Deep nutrition
– Insects as human food
– Wild edibles
– Survival and preparedness
– Free food you don't know about
– Garden pest control
– How to handle the locusts during Apocalypse
"What the heck," says Wildcraft with an exaggerated southern drawl. "Here in Texas we got grasshoppers the size of little chickens, and I figured insects have probably got to be the easiest source of food you'll find in your backyard."