The undisputed health benefits for my family? The elegant descriptions and photographs in cookbooks I had leafed through over the years, or perhaps the opportunity for me to turn my home grown produce into something that lasted well beyond the season? Or maybe it was just inspired by the undeniable deliciousness of the end product. Probably a combination of all the things, mixing and melding and b
ubbling away together – not unlike the contents of the many jars you will usually find on my kitchen bench. Working at my bench, the repetitive but therapeutic chop of the knife as it slices through cabbage, cauliflower, carrot and chilli providing the only soundtrack I need, I’m in a calm and meditative state. The kids are in bed, my jars are freshly sterilised, my river rocks are sitting patiently, ready to weigh down the vegetables beneath the brine. In my dehydrator I have some cinnamon apple ‘scoby chews’ releasing their moisture (‘scoby chew’ I ask myself? Where’s that descriptive eloquence when I need it!) but anyway, my little fermented chews will be probiotic powerhouses come morning. When day breaks, I make my girls a kefir smoothie, dollop some lemon-dill kraut beside their eggs, and send them off to school with a kombucha gummy in their lunch box, knowing I’m giving them a pretty good start to the day. As for myself, a large spoonful of fermented chilli relish is the perfect accompaniment to my own plate of eggs, which adorn some toasted sourdough (not mine – I failed miserably at that) slathered with cultured butter. My belly is full of the good stuff and I feel happy. I guess that’s why I do it. This is my first foray into sharing my products with the wider community - please get in touch if you'd like to buy some or learn more!