Max Jones is a traditional food preservationist and the founder of Up There the Last, a project based in West Cork. Max’s work revolves around practices that turn the landscape into food. He believes that within each of us is an inherent superhero ability to know what’s going on in our immediate surroundings and seeks to encourage people to allow that intuition to guide our choices—particularly concerning the food we eat.

It seems like there’s not much Max can’t do: he’s a teacher, a writer, a photographer, a builder, and a craftsman—in addition to being the father of two. When we recently learned he also plays a mean guitar, we almost lost it! On this episode, we speak with Max about the true provenance of food; how a customer complaint about food cost put him on an unexpected trajectory; building the Keep with Sally Barnes; and the impact of excessive food regulations on artisanal practices.

We really get in there with our guest on this week’s show, Cormac McGinley. Cormac runs walking tours along the Cliffs of Moher and all over the Burren in County Clare, one of our favorite places in Ireland. Name an -ology and Cormac probably studied it, and he brings his love of science to his love of Ireland with him on every walk he leads.

On this episode, we speak with Cormac about really getting to know a place deeply; ecological wrong turns and the unnatural Irish landscape; the impact of consumer culture and how to separate needs from wants; and how he is working on building a life so that if tourism vanishes, he can still live in his favorite place. Much like our previous guests, Cormac also imparts some valuable life advice: “Time is all we have, so retain a sense of humor and try not to be a dick.”

Dyed Green is a project of Bog & Thunder, whose mission is to highlight the best of Irish food and culture, through food tours, events, and media. Find out more at www.bogandthunder.com

**We made it to 50!** We’re celebrating the fiftieth episode of Dyed Green with Anne & Orla O’Carroll, the women behind Valentia Island Vermouth, a spirit made with twenty botanicals on a small island off the coast of Kerry. Anne & Orla originally met at art school in Bristol before moving back to Ireland to create the first ever Irish vermouth.

On this week’s episode, we speak with Anne & Orla about the inspiration for their incredible drink; building a vermouth business from the ground up; how they developed their recipe; breaking into the US market; and how they work to attain a work/life balance as a couple in business together. The O’Carrolls even give Max & Kate some marriage advice!

To mark the occasion of our 50th episode, we’re giving away a free bottle of Valentia Island Vermouth. Follow @bogandthunder, tag a friend in the comments, & share this post for a chance to win!

Dyed Green is a project of Bog & Thunder, whose mission is to highlight the best of Irish food and culture, through food tours, events, and media. Find out more at www.bogandthunder.com