10/09/2022
If you speak to anyone who has known me especially pre my growing journey, they'd laugh if you told them I was now farming courgettes.
I avidly disliked courgettes. Didn't like the taste, didn't like the texture.
But I've since learnt from my growing mentors that the secret is to pick them small.
When picked small they taste nutty and have a texture that is crunchy, creamy, and firm. Genuinely didn't know courgettes even had flavour or a texture that wasn't just slime.
I follow the plant's lead to know when to pick by watching the growth of its flower. This means they are often picked 10cm or under, while those you normally find in the shop can be 20cm or more.
It may just be a 10cm difference but when it comes to courgettes, a plant that seems to grow by the hour, it's a big difference.
A lot of labour is invested in picking them this small. Checking once a day, sometimes twice, to catch them at just the right moment.
They are known to be extremely sneaky plants, hiding their precious fruits amongst the large spikey leaves. My bent back and scratched (and itchy!) arms don't thank me for this.
But everytime I pick a courgette I'm reminded of how much delicious veg there is to share, if only we could find a way to ensure everyone has access to it. The economics of veg is a difficult one to navigate, a whole separate rant needed.
For this season, I've been fortunate to share my variety of baby courgettes via who champion growers and put flavour first.
Alongside all the local support I receive, I have been grateful to have Natoora's support this season, including through their Farm Fund set up specifically to help young new entrant farmers start in this difficult industry.
There are so many ways to contribute to changing the food system. We don't just need growers, we need greengrocers, chefs, restaurateurs, educators, activists, experts in logistics, marketing, tech, social media, sales, project management, etc., a whole range of skills working together towards enabling better access to produce.
Grateful to be part of this community.