Blog
In my garden of Eden
Vegetable patches can be surprisingly social places. Ours is especially so as it is in our front garden. These days I spend time in the mornings and evenings pottering about. It is fun to inspect all the changes taking place. While I am out there, I get to wave to neighbours driving by. It is common for our immediate neighbours to stroll over for a chat. More →
Painting the White House green
Obama the Organic Commander in Chief? It’s an interesting proposition, although it’s hard to know where he sits in the great food debate. The only comment I’ve seen attributed to him in this interminable election – what is it with American polls? – was one bemoaning the cost of arugula in organic leader WholeFoods. Whether that means he shops there, or he just thinks organics are over-priced is not clear. More →
The celebrity seal of approval
So Liz Hurley is getting ready to bring out a range of organic food. It’s easy to sneer isn’t it? What’s a model-turned-actor who looks as if food is an afterthought at best doing asking us to eat better and with more concern for the environment? A woman best known for wearing a dress barely held together with safety pins and sticking by Hugh Grant after his infamous fandango with a prostitute. Someone who has made a fortune as the face of a cosmetics conglomerate. Who is she kidding? More →
Great food in tough times
With the global financial crisis uppermost in everyone’s minds, belts are tightening. But that doesn’t mean you have to resort to nasty food. In fact, food that is better for you is often cheaper, contrary to popular belief. Don’t believe us? Here are some helpful ways to stay within the budget More →
Food fight: Turning the tables
My daughter is going through a very unsatisfying phase that I’m sure is familiar to most mothers (and some fathers). You know, the one where you cook something nutritious and – you think – delicious from scratch and she turns her nose up at it within seconds. Yes, it’s part and parcel of being one and asserting independence. But it’s More →
Hospital food making us sick
No one goes to hospital for the food. While the doctors and nurses work their magic, we submit to daily showings of “Guess What’s Coming For Dinner”. We may complain about the lack of taste as we try to figure out exactly what’s on the end of our forks, but by and large we accept the below par diet as a given. More →
Healthy school lunch hits home
My brother puts an apple in his kids’ lunches in case an adult ever checks. He told me he renews the apple every 10,000km. School lunches can be a bit hit and miss in our house, too. I have good days and bad days. I’d clearly hit a good patch this week. More →
Ask more questions
There was a fuss at the markets the other day. It started when my friend Jen asked a stallholder where the oranges came from. The woman exploded with exasperation. “Everybody wants to know something Where’s this from? Where’s that from? People think I’ve got nothing to do but answer questions all day.” More →
I forgot how to feed myself
It is a humbling day when you realise you can’t feed yourself. No, I haven’t had a stroke or any health crisis. I am staring at a vegetable garden and I don’t recognise the plants. This happened to me earlier this year when an organic vegetable patch was installed – yes, installed in my garden. Not recognising the plants was just the first shock. Harvest time was the second More →
