Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - The North Manchester Public Library (NMPL) announced a month‑long series of Ancestral Knowledge Workshops this July, presented in partnership with Nourish Indiana and sponsored by the Community Foundation of Wabash County’s Good Deeds Grant.
These sessions invite participants to explore traditional foodways, cultural practices and time‑honored techniques that have nourished communities for generations, according to a news release from NMPL.
Nourish Indiana is a local organization dedicated to preserving food and medicinal lifeways and building community through sustainable practices. NMPL is proud to partner with them to bring these learning opportunities to the community, the release states.
“The Ancestral Knowledge series is an incredible opportunity to learn practical skills that can be used for years to come,” said Sarah Morbitzer, NMPL department manager. “The team at Nourish Indiana has dedicated countless hours to exploring fermentation, traditional cuisine and local plants. I’m so excited for people in our area to have access to this learning at no cost.”
Each workshop is fully hands‑on, giving participants the chance to prepare the dishes themselves, try new techniques and taste what they’ve made. All workshops are free of charge thanks to the Community Foundation of Wabash County’s Good Deeds Grant. Sessions are open to ages 16 and older, and registration is required. To sign up, visit www.northmanchesterpubliclibrary.org or call 260‑982‑4773.
July Workshop Schedule
• Ancestral Knowledge: Chiles en Escabeche, Friday, July 10, 5 to 6 p.m.
Discover the rich history of chiles en escabeche, a dish whose roots stretch from Persia to Spain to Latin America. Participants will sauté hot peppers with herbs and vegetables before submerging them in a homemade vinegar brine. The workshop includes an introduction to brewing vinegar at home, a tasting with homemade bread and goat cheese, and a four ounce jar of chiles en escabeche to take home.
• Ancestral Knowledge: Nettles, Friday, July 17, 5 to 6 p.m.
Explore the surprising versatility of stinging and wood nettles, plants long valued for their nutritional, medicinal, and practical uses. Participants will prepare a tea and an infusion, learn to make cordage from nettle fiber, and sample a nettle quiche made with local eggs.
• Ancestral Knowledge: Kimchi, Friday, July 24, 5 to 6 p.m.
Learn the fundamentals of lacto‑fermentation and the cultural history of kimchi, one of the world’s most iconic fermented foods. Nourish Indiana will demonstrate the basics of fermentation vessels and techniques before guiding participants through making Kimchi Salvadoreño. Attendees will enjoy a tasting and take home a four ounce jar of kimchi with an air‑lock fermentation lid.
• Ancestral Knowledge: Pupusas, Friday, July 31, 3 to 6 p.m.
Experience the national dish of El Salvador in this extended workshop. Participants will prepare fillings, masa, curtido and salsa before learning the traditional technique for shaping and cooking pupusas. Everyone will enjoy a full plate of pupusas and leave with detailed recipes and instructions.
For more information on these, or other NMPL programs, visit www.northmanchesterpubliclibrary.org
