Kinfolk

The first post in 2013 is a review I've written about Kinfolk. A beautiful magazine from Portland USA. Food, friends and living, in a wonderful mix.  On sale at Athenaeum, of course!

Hope for Growth

...on my balcony. Broad beans, herbs, flowers. Also chirimoya seeds that I brought from Chile. I love taking care of them. Not much space, would love more. So I love the recent initiatives for green dating sites. People with a garden but no time offer their space to people with green fingers without a garden. Or exchange seeds or plants. Such a wonderful idea! More and more people start growing their own vegetables, and not just for economic reasons. Also because gardening is great to do, healthy and peaceful. And sustainable as well; how local can you get your veggies!

Fair Trade

Good to read that fair trade is increasing. Half of the Dutch population does buy fair trade products occasionally and sales have risen with 14% in fair food. Also design is an upcoming segment in fair trade. Products made with a small footprint; recycled, organic or re-used and good circumstances for workers. The shop I blogged before, Fair+Fair is doing well. A very contemporary look and feel in the shop, appealing products that matter in a wide variety. Also Waar is a good example; they sell lifestyle - and household items as well as food. You have to innovate, also in this market segment; it's getting bigger but if shops don't modernise their identity and their collection they miss the development.
The mission should be that in the years to come fair trade will become the norm, and all other production methods will reduce almost to zero due to higher prices. Prices of those products should become much higher because of higher taxes ( for non-worker-friendly production, foot print, water print etc).
Sustainability and fair trade should become more and more connected. In the long term that's better for us as well as the planet and therefore is cheaper.
As many world-wide conferences about the future of our planet are due to start this spring; it's also becoming more and more clear that the real development has to come from the bottom: consumers. We have the power in our wallets. Even if they're not always filled to the brim, we still can make choices.

Lost Vegetables

One of the keynote speakers at this weekend's Food Film Festival is Noesjka Klomberg. Today I read an interview with her in Trouw. She took the initiative Voedseljutter for field combing. That is picking up veggies that are left on the field. Like leek, potatoes, chicory or carrots. Because they are too small, too close to the ditch or too ugly. Another great way of avoiding food wastage. People become a member, farmers open their fields to the members and both are benefitting. Farmers get a fee and members pay a contribution. They receive a gunny sack to collect their veggies. Walking around on an empty field is a wonderful experience, and collecting your own vegetables is even better! On the website you can see which farmers have joined. Most of them are in the South. Hopefully more will follow soon. I'll follow it for farmers around Amsterdam. For a better world and more fun!

Food Film Festival

Yesterday, during a lovely organic homemade Sunday lunch with friends ( lentil soup, Irish soda bread, eggs with mushroom oil, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes) we decided to go to Food Film Festival. Tickets are almost sold out, but we've got them!

Food Film Festival 2012 from Food Film Festival on Vimeo.