Just filled with gratitude this evening, reflecting on the Good Thing which is the Olio app. It’s a UK organisation, started up by two women who were upset that so much unsold food was being thrown away.
The premise of the app is
simple. Volunteers collect unsold food from shops and supermarkets at
prearranged pick-up times, then distribute the bulk of it to friends and
neighbours by listing it on the app.
It’s quite a commitment.
Not only does the volunteer have to collect the food, but then they have to
take photos, respond to requests for it and bag it up ready for collection.
Plus, they have to send directions.
My nearest volunteer is
Rosy, a sweet young girl who lives half a kilometre away. We live in a rural
area, and there aren’t too many of us using the app, so she is always so
grateful when I request and collect anything. I don’t always request – am quite
happy when others snap it all up before I get to it, as long as it’s not
wasted.
That, after all, is the
main point: that perfectly good food is used and not thrown out with the
rubbish.
But it’s been fun, too.
I’ve tried foods and vegetables I wouldn’t normally buy. I’ve learned to cook
beetroot, which I like but Richard doesn’t, so I don’t think to buy it just for
myself when I do a grocery shop. Last week it was mascarpone – I’ve never used
it before, but am now a convert to its magnificence in desserts, soups and
stews. Recently, Rosy had 35 nets of fresh lemons – I took a few, and have been
able to contribute a large lemon drizzle traybake towards refreshments at a
recent funeral; made French lemon tart for dessert when friends came round to
dinner (accompanied by whipped mascarpone and cream, and vanilla ice cream, all
made from Olio contributions); and, of course, lemon curd, my sinful secret.
Our next planned dinner is lemon chicken.
We’ve had carrots of all
kinds – large carrots, organic carrots, baby topped carrots, Chantenay carrots.
Bananas. Satsumas and clementines – favourites at Christmas, especially for
gluten-free clementine cake or, again, slow-cooker clementine chicken. There’s
rarely a good balance of a mixture of foods which would constitute a meal.
Sometimes- too much salad. Or lettuces and cabbages.
At Christmas, Rosy had 67
– yes, sixty-seven – Co-op trifles to try to get rid of. (I don’t think she
quite managed it: I shudder to think of the work she had to dispose of them
all, presumably emptying each one into the food waste bin, washing the plastic
bowl each came in and then putting said bowl into the plastic recycling. I
presume she did. Might ask her sometime.) Once, she has had dozens of litres
of milk. There’s only so much you can
fit in the freezer…
Best of all, recently,
Rosy has had bunches of flowers which I’ve been able to gift on quickly to
deserving friends and acquaintances who needed a bit of a ‘lift’. It’s been
such a joy, and I really am truly grateful.
Not all the food is
claimed, especially when there is a large bread delivery. There have been bags
of loose bakery items recently, as our local co-op has had an upgrade and
offers a variety of fresh pastries. Sometimes there are a couple of crates of
loaves, or loose bananas. or bags and bags of potatoes. When there are deli
items, Rosy puts them in an insulated box with a couple of ice packs to keep
them cool. There might be sandwiches…or sandwich fillers. Occasionally, the
treasure of a pot of hummous. Bags of mixed, washed salad – which rarely
survive more than a day in the fridge. They’re not meant to, of course.
Everything has reached its sell by date, if not the ‘best before’ – both of
which confuse me, but I’ve never had food which has actually gone off. The
smell test usually works well.
In the summer, there were
packs and packs of mini French yogurts. Rosy will often ask me if I want more
than one item, when there are a lot spare – I said yes to the yogurts, not
realising that meant I had committed to accept 3 packs of 8, rather than just
3. I discovered that frozen yogurt not only keeps well, but makes a delicious
alternative to ice cream.
Any food which is not
claimed by Olio-ers, Rosy puts out in boxes on the hedge at the front of her
garden, for passers-by to help themselves. Walkers are delighted and intrigued,
appreciative of the initiative and kindness of a neighbour just wanting to help
others. Rosy is amazing – sometimes she will collect almost every day, but
usually at least once or twice a week, despite working very long days, on
shift.
So, I’m grateful.
Grateful for the occasional free treat. Grateful that I don’t have to shop, but
can invent a meal from the ingredients I’ve acquired, along with pantry
staples. Grateful for the fun of trying new things. Grateful for the sense of
community this initiative engenders. And grateful that the food is being used,
rather than being wasted.
Reader. Become an
Olio-er.
