Drawing on human harvest rituals to ensure a good harvest for the next year, Austen carried out the Rite of Future Beetles during The Beetles’ Harvest Supper performance on Datscha Radio‘s NightGardening III on 21st October 2019, to ensure an abundant ecosystem for insects next year.

As we face drastically declining insect numbers, Austen baked beetle corn spirits, summoned the season’s remaining beetles with fire and alchemy, and shared the corn spirits with them at midnight. 

Baking for the Rite of Future Beetles:

• Roughly 500g of baking flour
• One large egg
• A teaspoon of baking powder
• Milk

Mix together the flour and baking powder thoroughly. Make a hollow and break in the egg. Add a splash of milk and begin to mix. Gradually add more milk until the mixture is stiff and before it becomes sticky. If you add too much milk, add a little flour to compensate. Spread flour on a baking tray. Take a ping pong ball sized portion of the mixture and form it into a beetle shape, then place it on the baking tray. You can use spaghetti or cloves for the antennae. Repeat until all the mixture is used. Bake in the oven at 150 degrees for 10 minutes.

To summon the beetles you can try throwing copper chloride in the bonfire, but they only come on special harvest days….