I volunteer at the local Community Fridge on Wednesdays. We collect surplus food from supermarkets, supplement it with vegetable & dry goods deliveries and anybody can come and get a bag of food to last a couple of days or so. It’s a great place to get ideas for what to do with a kohlrabi... In September when I started we had various squash available but not many people were taking the more unusual ones so in the end I thought I’d take a Red Kuri, cook it and then be able to make recommendations. Well I can tell you it is delicious roasted in its skin and then eaten like that or made into soup. I forgot to take photos today as I have been promoted to supervisor and was concentrating but I was excited to find a seed delivery on my return home.
I have been devastated this evening to hear via FB that one of my good 365 friends from my earlier years, Lisa Pouncy, has died from breast cancer. She had a particularly nasty tumour which never behaved well and the Covid situation made things more difficult. We never met but she was good fun on the site and a much loved wife, mother and, recently, grandmother. Taken far too soon.
Weather: steady rain
Covid: deaths up, cases down, cases & anxiety in our community
Good thing: community spirit in our local population- people who don’t have a lot but know and look out for each other even if it occasionally leads to a loose definition of support bubble.
I recognise Lisa’s name, so sad to heat of her untimely death...life is precious indeed!
Well done on your promotion & good works! You & @peggysirk will be able to swop experiences....such worthwhile enterprises. Educating others on the goodness in more unusual foods. Love your seed packets!
Love the look of these seeds, they look much more special that the usual Thompson & Morgan. Impressed with your promotion and the cause. Really keen to do some volunteering but think I need to stay locally for now.
I haven't seen this style of Sarah Ravens packet before is it new? I really like it. Mind you I have only ever bought her flower seeds before, not veg.
That's so sad to hear about your 365 friend. There's just no good news these days. Great work with your charities. I volunteered with a similar group called Loving Spoonful - we would pick up surplus foods from grocery stores or left over soups, and trays of food from restaurants and Queen's University and then deliver it to homeless shelters, transition houses and youth shelters.
I love this image of the very artistic seed packets. It makes me think of brighter days when we'll get some seeds planted and be on the look out for new life in the garden. Brighter days ahead! So sorry to hear about Lisa - I, like many others, remember her name and her photography. How very sad.
I am so sorry indeed to hear of Lisa's passing. I remember the name from my own early years, such a tragedy.
I've never heard of Red Kuri squash. If I like squash it would sound intriguing!
Such heartbreaking news news about Lisa Pouncy. I remember her name, photos, and comments from my first time around with 365. Life is fragile and fleeting. It's a reminder to cherish the days.
The remainder of your post is delightful. Congratulations on your new supervisory role at the Community Fridge. Did your Food Safety certification help seal that deal? :) Such good work you and the group are doing. Food is a basic necessity, and a struggle for too many. I love the joint cooperation between grocers, restaurants, and farmers with organizations dedicated to filling a need rather than a landfill. Well done!
@peggysirk it was a requirement! They didn’t realise they were promoting a catastrophiser though.. I’m over-selling myself- the incredible main organiser is still getting over Covid (not caught at the CF) and a whole team had to isolate before Christmas so there’s been a decision to create two teams to avoid jeopardising the whole operation. Other people who can’t physically attend are doing all the food collection/delivery co-ordination, organising support for the self-isolating and co-ordinating volunteers so I have only to take care of smooth running on the day. Heaven knows how she managed that & food co-ordination before and 3 times a week in lockdown 1! The supermarket staff are cheered not to be filling bins quite so quickly...
Your packets are very enticing...the promise of better days to come. One of our local stores has just gotten their seed shipment...I am tempted, but with inches of snow still on the ground for the foreseeable future, it is even still to early to start them indoors.
Good work on the community fridge - don't think I'd have braved a kohlrabi either. I shall have to google it.
Well done on your promotion & good works! You & @peggysirk will be able to swop experiences....such worthwhile enterprises. Educating others on the goodness in more unusual foods. Love your seed packets!
Love the look of these seeds, they look much more special that the usual Thompson & Morgan. Impressed with your promotion and the cause. Really keen to do some volunteering but think I need to stay locally for now.
Are you going to plant all those seeds? Wow! And I like the idea of the Community Fridge.
I've never heard of Red Kuri squash. If I like squash it would sound intriguing!
The remainder of your post is delightful. Congratulations on your new supervisory role at the Community Fridge. Did your Food Safety certification help seal that deal? :) Such good work you and the group are doing. Food is a basic necessity, and a struggle for too many. I love the joint cooperation between grocers, restaurants, and farmers with organizations dedicated to filling a need rather than a landfill. Well done!
So sad to hear about Lisa, taken way too young