Olio!

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.

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