Food for Thought and Thoughts on Food
I guess I was destined to be obsessed with food. I grew up in rural North Carolina surrounded by farms. Corn fields around the corner, chicken coops up the road, dairy cows grazing near the house, and grape vines in the backyard. This has always been my life. My very first job was picking blueberries in the summer for a whopping $4 a crate. LOL
When I left the country, I never envisioned a life working with farmers and food producers. It’s actually a career path that I sort of naturally fell into. After I finished my graduate studies in Sustainable Development with a focus on Gender, I was eager to start my career. It just so happens that women are the primary food producers in the world and so if you are working with women in the developing world, chances are high you’ll be working with farmers.
My background made the work a perfect fit for me. As time went on, it became my passion and the work has given me a tremendous appreciation for all things food.Now, I don’t only work with farmers but food producers along the entire value chain. From farm to store to table, women in every aspect of food cross my path and I absolutely love this space.
Foodie Life
Of course, I’m a foodie and there are few things I enjoy more than a well-prepared meal. Exploring the best restaurants and finding the best Chef creations are a highlight of my life.
Food is a huge part of our cultural expressions. It’s also a part of the language of love and friendship. It’s how we often show appreciation and how we celebrate special moments. Let’s face it, food is fun.
Home Cook
I won’t claim to be the best cook out there but I certainly have mastered a few tricks. I very much love cooking, especially baking, and making unique things. I believe in slow foods and using all-natural, preferably organic and locally-sourced, ingredients. On this blog I like to experiment with making new recipes, From jams to cookies, ice cream to burgers, nothing is off the menu.
Sustainability
Reducing waste on the farm, in the kitchen, and on the table is important to me. Here I demonstrate ways to preserve, package, and upcycle, In this small way, I’m trying to do my part to help our planet survive and nourish the next generation, and empower you to do the same.
Food Retail
As a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Consultant, I have a great appreciation for food-based businesses that get it right. I always aim to shop small, shop local, and be a conscientious consumer. I love showcasing women and people of color who are advancing diversity in this space, especially those that are showcasing their culture and those that are being creative in their endeavors.
Food, Nutrition, and Culture
Last year, I graduated with a Masters in Public Health with a focus of nutrition and global food systems. What I’m fascinated by is learning about our relationship to food. Why we eat what we eat and how that came to be. We like to think that all our cultural expressions come from a positive place but that’s not always true. We come to be who we are as communities from both positive and negative experiences. Food and its relationship to our cultures is a reflection of that. This is a topic I’ll be exploring a lot in 2023 on this site. I hope you enjoy it.
