Food and our connection to it
Sophie Merkens takes us on a journey across Aotearoa, meeting 37 inspiring women who find meaning and connection through food. From mothers, gardeners, hunters, chefs and hobbyists, their conversations dive deep into how food influences their lives. Grow — Wāhine Finding Connection Through Food is a refreshingly honest and insightful book about women, food and connection.
We asked Sophie some questions:
Tell us a little about your book Grow and how this project came about. Grow is a collection of photographs and soulful conversations with 35 food-connected wāhine. It's a book celebrating women, food and connection. The idea for the book had been brewing for a while, as they tend to do but then Covid-19 hit and our world changed forever. I suddenly had no contracting work so I had time to reflect. Lockdown was a catalyst as I looked at what's important to me. I want to help tell and share empowering local stories. The idea bloomed and I realised it needed to be a book, so I got to work.
Who are some of the wāhine who feature in Grow? Every woman in Grow is amazing and inspires me, though some are more well known than others (which was intentional to range from hobbyist to expert). I am so grateful to have met and interviewed Fleur Sullivan, Dr Jessica Hutchings, Angela Clifford, Donna Kerridge, and Kay Baxter, amongst other inspirational wāhine. How did you select the women who are in Grow? That was tough! There are so many amazing women doing incredible things. For Grow I knew I couldn't fit everything or interview everyone but I wanted a range of conversations as well as disciplines, so that helped me choose. For example, there are two professional beekeepers in Grow but the focus of our conversations are completely different. Jessie Baker lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and rescues and rehomes swarms, so our conversation focused on the importance of bees. Whereas, Marara Murray-Haig lives in Mangōnui in Northland and has taken her kids out beekeeping with her since they were 2 weeks old. Our kōrero dived into the importance of whānau and teaching (who she describes as) her ‘free-range kids’ the skills to provide for themselves whilst honouring and respecting the environment. I love that variety.
I wanted Grow to be diverse and so you meet women from all different backgrounds and locations (from cities to countryside to islands). Everybody's got a story, it's about taking the time to honour it.
What inspired you to write this book? During the first nationwide lockdown, while standing in line at the supermarket to buy supplies, I saw how disconnected many of us are from our food, we've become dependent urban hunters and gatherers. I come from a family of gardeners who dabble in foraging and know the positive effects that can have on your mental and physical health. Covid-19 was a wakeup call for me. I wanted to celebrate those connected to their food. I want to use my skills to tell local empowering stories. Food is a huge part of my life and identity, so telling food connected stories brings me so much joy.
You got out on the road to create this book, can you tell us about your journey?
It was such a pleasure to travel for Grow. I am incredibly grateful that I got to traverse Aotearoa. I purchased a self-contained van, named Zephyr Florence, for the trip. I had a mini home on wheels to travel in, which meant I could work on the road whilst having the comforts of a gas stove, subsequent hot coffee, and a double bed. Zephyr took me on some epic travels, down dirt roads and all around this marvellous country. Now all I want to do is explore Aotearoa more.
Do you have a favourite photograph from the book? Why is it your favourite? My favourite photograph in Grow is of Rene´e Taylor playing her pūtātara before we went diving (yes, Grow also features some underwater photography). The pūtātara has deep personal and cultural significance in Rene´e's journey. The photo captures Rene´e in her power. It's a personal moment that I'm so grateful to have witnessed.
It’s the sign of a good yarn if it’s about an activity I know nothing about and have no interest in, but the book holds my attention to the end.
Mountaineering seems a bit pointless — being cold and struggling to breathe at thousands of feet up in wet snow doesn’t appeal. Adventure journalist Cecily Wong loves it, though.
A famous mountaineer, Charles, invites her on a testing climb.
He wants to climb all 8000-metre mountains in a year, and if she does it with him she’ll get an exclusive interview. (Doesn’t sound much of a deal, but whatever tightens your crampons.)
Detail about climbing and all the preparation required doesn’t interfere with the story, which starts with a strange death at the camp.
Cecily has her own demons, including a failing career. The team are not always in sync and there’s tension on the mountain as events unfold.
A good read in front of the fire on a winter’s night. — Linda Thompson
Unicorns – lovely gentle creatures flying around rainbows? Not in Skandar’s world! Here unicorns are deadly, vicious and blood-thirsty.
Skandar is a 13-year-old which is the age to be tested to see if you are a unicorn rider. Teens must bond with a newly hatched egg to become riders and magic users aligned to one of the four elements of fire, water, earth and air. It’s all Skandar has dreamed about.
But then the mysterious Weaver gatecrashes the Chaos Cup and steals the winning unicorn and Skandar is stopped from testing. Skandar makes it to the island of unicorns with the help of a mysterious unicorn rider and his adventure begins.
Basically this is Harry Potter with unicorns. It’s a great read, with a whole fascinating new world readers will enjoy. Great fantasy book. And the adventure will continue with more books to come in the series. — Ann Kilduff