Vegetable Lacto-Fermentation 101: How to use salt to unlock flavour, increase nutritional value, and reduce waste in your kitchen

Matthew will join Pickle Fest this year to host a workshop, ‘Vegetable Lacto-Fermentation 101: How to use salt to unlock flavour, increase nutritional value, and reduce waste in your kitchen.’

Together, discover the joys of fermentation in a hands-on workshop where we will explore the fundamental principles of safe, successful lacto-fermentation and learn simple techniques to replicate at home. You will learn how to transform seasonal vegetables and kitchen by-products into flavourful, nutrient-rich ferments that support your gut health and reduce food waste. Matthew will also share recipes, tips, and ideas for incorporating fermented foods into your daily diet.

Participants need to bring 1-2 clean and empty jars no larger than 1 litre in capacity, preferably preserving jars with a clasp lid and rubber seal.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Matthew Francis Parker (@kioskenpaaodden (https://www.instagram.com/kioskenpaaodden/)) is an anarchist preserver and food crafter from the South East of England. He explores how food connects people, place, and collective memory. His practice blends traditional preservation techniques with critical research into ecology, sustainability, and community care. In 2021, he transformed a disused seaside kiosk in rural Denmark into Kiosken på Odden—a living experiment in low‑impact food systems, food craft practices, and creative collaboration. Through shared meals, workshops, and zero‑waste practices, Matthew reimagines nourishment as both a cultural and political act, using food-craft practices to build resilience, preserve heritage, and model new forms of mutual support.

SUGGESTED DONATION

We received generous funding from Sheffield Town Trust, Yorkshire Housing and the J G Graves Foundation this year to help make Pickle Fest possible. This has meant we have been able to compensate our workshop facilitators whilst offering free and affordable workshop places. However, this is a fundraising event for Social Pickle CIC to enable us to continue doing the work we do throughout the year - tackling food waste, acquainting even more people with wonderful microbes, and being able to host more activities for you all to get involved with - so if you are able to, please donate!

£20 would cover the cost of your place on the workshop, and here's a link (https://androandeve.com/news/sliding-scale-tickets-make-events-more-accessible/) to a useful guide from Andro and Eve about what to think about when you’re working out how much you should pay!

ACCESSIBILITY

This year's workshops are in an event room at Portland Works, a few doors down from the main festival (Steamworks). We made this decision because we received feedback in previous years that the workshops were difficult to hear in the main space due to background noise, and this provides a quiet, calm space to learn.

The workshop space is up a steep flight of stairs. If this would prevent you from attending the workshops, please contact poppy@socialpickle.co.uk before Monday 12th October, and we can find an alternative location for this workshop. If you have any other access needs or requirements you would like us to consider that would make it easier for you to enjoy the festival, please get in touch as well.

PICTURE CREDITS: Matthew Parker

Description supplied by the event organiser.