How can you grow roots if you never eat from the soil?
Allow your senses to be primed through a gentle morning mindful walk with hiking and wellbeing guide Kylie Rae, then awaken them with a 16-course tasting feast created with native and seasonal flowers, fruits, leaves, and seeds on the Art of Foraging workshop. Mamakan, a botanical artist of nordic heritage, invites you to ponder about roots and ancestry by exploring the edible botanical history of Aotearoa. Learn how to ID native edible plants from their look, touch, taste, and smell.
Duration: 7 hours
Group size: 8 - 20 people
From $575pp (plus GST) For a group of 20.
Native forest infused icecream
Programme overview
10am: Arrive at Velskov, welcome, refreshments and hear about the history and restoration of the land.
Mindful hike, 1.5 hours: Focus on being mindful in nature to promote problem solving and creative thinking. Kylie will give your team all the tools they need to engage all their senses, and tap into the unconscious wilderness of our brain. This is a powerful way to destress, reconnect and promote divergent thinking.
12pm, 1 hour: Buffet lunch: GastroGeography Forest of Native Plants
Sample seasonal menu:
Kawakawa wagyu beef meatballs
Green Hangehange Salad
Organic Egg Quince with native Wood Ear mushrooms
Harakeke seed buns and vegan Horopito butter
Pickled and spicy Manono ferns
A platter with Manuka honey, Danish cheeses, and NZ wild venison
Seasonal fruits
Kawakawa coconut truffles
*We can cater to most special dietary requirements, please enquire on booking.
1 - 1.30pm: Walk back to Open Studio
1.30 - 3pm: Art of Foraging with native non-alcoholic cocktails: Part art installation, part cooking lesson, part nature walk, this workshop explores new dimensions of wisdom, wonder, and wellbeing in harmony with the natural seasons.
3 - 3.30pm: Light refreshments in the bush
3.30 - 4.30pm: Art of Foraging part 2
4.30 - 5pm: Walk back to Open Studio, ice cream and round off the day
What's included?
- Warm New Zealand Bubbas with Kahikatea jam, Manuka + Kanuka Kombucha on arrival
- 1.5 hour guided mindful hike
- Buffet lunch experience: GastroGeography (see menu above)
- Three-hour foraging workshop with expert and renown botanical artist - Mamakan
- All tastings and infusions during the workshop, printed materials, and a yummy goody bag for you to take home.
- Light afternoon tea in the bush
- Native-ingredient infused ice-cream tasting
- Mindful hiking quick tools pdf emailed to your team after the day
- Conservation contribution to Velskov Native Forest from your company.
*All prices New Zealand dollars and GST exclusive.
More optional inclusions
- Do you have your own external facilitator? Why not suggest a session with them at our bush boardroom following a 'walking primer' - a little more exciting than a four-walled room and whiteboard!
Your Facilitators
Kylie Rae
Nature & Nosh owner Kylie Rae's love for the outdoors was cemented early in life, being brought up rurally in a tramping-loving family. After a couple of years spent hiking around the world, Kylie and her husband moved back to Aotearoa and set up Nature & Nosh Tours - a tribute to the two things they love most, hiking and food!
Not content to sit a desk day after day, Kylie forged her own path, creating meaningful experiences in the space where nature, science and wellbeing meet. With over a decade of experience in business management, conference and event organising, Kylie is focussed on designing and running corporate experiences for your company like no other; with wellbeing and nature at the core.
Mamakan
Mamakan is a botanical artist working with art, cuisine and nature. She is originally from Aarhus, Denmark of nordic Vølve-Viking decent and has deep Scandinavian roots.
Today, Mamakan is based in Parau, a forested area directly backing the Waitākere ranges where she creates contemporary fine art photography and multi-sensory art/food installations and exhibitions. Mamakan's art practice could best be described as 'GastroGeography' - the taste of a place. Her sensory artworks and collaborative projects amplify nature and aim to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
Say hello
kylie@bushboardroom.co.nz
Phone: +64 204 130 5060
