Interview #5: Lizzy O’ Connell
I’m delighted this month to be talking with gardener and cook Lizzy O’ Connell.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into growing and cooking ?
Growing up I was always making things, anything from little towns and people of marla or papier mache masks I just loved crafting and creating. My parents always encouraged this with my Mam teaching me to knit, sew and crochet. The only thing I ever imagined doing after school was going to art college which I did in 1999.
I studied Fine Art at Crawford College of Art. It took a while to realise that Fine Art was not the right fit for me and I needed a change so I went travelling. As a means to making a living while travelling I began cooking and embraced it as a practical creative outlet. I relished sourcing and using local produce to create tables of colourful, satisfying meals. Since returning to Ireland in 2013 I have gone on to study nutrition and organic horticulture which have both just enhanced my appreciation for fresh, local food and inspired me to be more creative with it.
How has this last year impacted your creativity/outlook? Have you gained any insights or created any new work?
My cooking work ground to a halt in march 2020. Luckily I was able to get work at The Urban Co-op and continue to work in a food business. However being out of the kitchen was and still is a strange feeling, I somewhat lost my kitchen mojo not having groups to entertain. Sharing meals truly is the reward of this kind of work.
During the lockdowns I found my creative space moving to the garden. I had been growing small amounts of food for a while but last year I increased that space and took over as much lawn as I could to start growing flowers. It is such a thrill to see something through the seasons.
What awakens life in you and where do you draw inspiration from?
I tend to draw inspiration for my cooking from what is available at the time. I enjoy a bit of a “ Ready, Steady, Cook” attitude. I like to see what the local farmers have available and develop a menu around that. I also have a bit of a cookbook addiction, absorbing all I can from a broad spectrum of chefs.
What does growing and cooking teach you about yourself? and the world?
Growing and cooking with the seasons has really taught me to appreciate what I have and what is available to me. I have no interest in working with strawberries in January in Ireland cause that is not what Mother nature intends, come June I truly appreciate those juicy berries. Working with the seasons commands patience and resilience.
Do you have any daily rituals or routines to get your creativity flowing?
My daily rituals to help creativity would be time in the garden, simple things like pulling weeds, watering and planning ahead. These all ground me and keep me hopeful. When it is not a garden day yoga is the most grounding and peaceful practice available to me.
How do you take care of yourself when you are feeling a bit blah, blocked or uninspired?
My absolute solution to the blahs is a good laugh with friends, I find it the best way to get out of my head and freshen perspective. Failing that a blustery walk by the ocean helps me focus and realise what I really need to do.
What do you enjoy most about food? Do you have any favourite ingredients or recipes?
I love the nourishing comfort of food and the particular memories some ingredients can evoke. I think we all have something that brings us back to a lovely time or person in our lives, maybe the scent of cloves in our nana’s apple tart or the rich scent of herbs in a family Sunday roast. Preparing food is as much if not more about the people we share it with than the meal itself.
Can you share with us any books, podcasts or music that are currently inspiring you?
I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts, I find them a great companion in the garden and kitchen. Currently I am enjoying Off Menu Podcast where comedians discuss a guests dream menu. It has given me a long list of restaurants I need to visit.
In the gardening category I listen to Let’s Grow, Girls and Sarah Raven - both very informative about growing a cut flower garden. And ritualistically to Gardeners’ Corner, there is so much to learn every week.
Do you have any future creative project plans/dreams?
It is still a bit weird to think about future plans, the pandemic restrictions have made everything so uncertain. Right now I am planning menus for a yoga retreat and autumn supper club and hoping they can go ahead. It is exciting to be planning such things again. In the long term I dream of cooking for retreats through the winter and growing cut flowers in spring/summer.
You can follow Lizzy on instagram here and if you are living in Limerick, I would highly recommend signing up for her flower subscription for stunning seasonal bouquets.
August 2021