Happy Friday! I'm so glad you're here.
I don't know about you but I'm in this place right now where I keep thinking, "is this really happening?" as I watch the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. Honestly, I feel strange continuing with my message without acknowledging the events taking place in the world.
I mean the violence that erupted in Ukraine after the Russian invasion two weeks ago has left me, as many of you, horrified. The destruction, the loss of life, the greed. It feels inconceivable, and yet here we are. I find myself tied to the news again, and just overall feeling shocked and despair.
Today I wanted to share a few things – a small way to help, an inspiring read, a new venture, and a way to grow. These are each inspiring in their own way right now for me, and I’m sharing in case they make a difference for you too.
Donate: First, there are many organizations that are doing amazing work right now in response to this specific crisis. This one, World Central Kitchen, I have supported in the past, as they do incredible humanitarian work anywhere in the world affected by climate or political catastrophe. It was started by Spanish chef Jose Andres. They have been feeding people at various points in the country but largely in Lviv and at the border of Ukraine and Poland where many have fled. Their email to me this week also explained how they are working with local restaurants in Ukraine and surrounding countries to continue to feed people in country and the refugees.
Read: Just this week I heard about the online publication, Reasons to be Cheerful, started by artist and musician David Byrne (hello other Talking Heads fans) in response to reading the news and always seeing negativity. To change the negative narrative that is so prevalent in the news he founded Reasons to be Cheerful, which, according to their website, "aims to inspire us all to be curious about how the world can be better, and to ask ourselves how we can be part of that change...through stories of hope, rooted in evidence."
Visit: If you happen to be local to the Bay Area (or are visiting sometime soon) check out my friend's new Mediterranean salad restaurant, My Tarocco in Berkeley, CA. A local restaurateur, Sequoia Del Hoyo, opened the doors this week to her new place that boasts beautiful salads, drinks, and vibes. Sequoia was my boss a few years ago when I was still working in restaurants, and she is a bad-ass woman getting things done. I can't wait to go support her latest venture.
Grow: We’ve been growing our very own mushrooms over here from a kit we were gifted over the holidays from, Smallhold. See the picture above of one of our harvests. I swear (like most home grown food) these mushrooms are delicious! And mushrooms in general are packed with nutrients, and nourishing properties. Super easy to care for, and so fun to harvest with scissors. I can't say enough good things about these mini mushroom farms.
In love and peace,
Alison