Comments on: Leila’s Shop Report 5

By: Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Clive Hicks-Jenkins — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:08:28 +0000

This should serve as the template for anyone thinking of starting up a box-scheme. Leila’s ravishing offerings shame the box-scheme I once signed up to online that proved to be so disappointing the first week that I de-registered immediately. Our local box-scheme in the Ystwyth Valley on the West Wales coast, went belly-upward a few weeks ago due to the woman who organised it feeling that she couldn’t keep up a regular and diverse supply from her own-grown. (We certainly ate an awful lot of carrots from her latter boxes!) I’m looking for an alternative right now, though I fear that I shall not find anything that will come even close to Leila’s works of art!

By: Ros

Ros — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:22:20 +0000

Each one so beautiful, so carefully arranged and with such vibrant colours – you are doing the right thing in keeping a photographic record. Am envious – sigh! Could you drop hints to Norman about helping set up something equally beautiful in Ladbroke Grove??

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:28:28 +0000

Gosh this has made me very hungry. The fruit and veg aisles at Morrisons just don’t look this good. Unfortunately with adolescent boys in the house I fear we’d need more than one box! The courgette cake cooking right now probably won’t survive the evening.

Melvyn, funnily enough there is a current surge of interest in what is happening to the Meals on Wheels service in this country. Eight years ago the service delivered 34 million meals a year but now they only deliver a third of this number. There is a call out at the moment for people to volunteer to get involved in providing the service. Sounds like what is needed is lots more people like your obviously much missed mum.

Best wishes,

Joan

By: Mary Walton

Mary Walton — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:24:22 +0000

i can taste the freshness from here

By: Melvyn H. Brooks

Melvyn H. Brooks — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:51:51 +0000

I live in Israel and eagerly read Spitalfields Life.

My mum used to be a meals-on-wheels lady for Hackney Borough Council. She and her driver, Kevin, delivered around De Beauvoir Town in the late 1960s. For many pensioners the meals were their only contact with the outside world. Mum spent most of her salary on tooth paste and soap for her ‘old people’. I wonder if this service still exists?

Mum died very suddenly in 1969. I have a number of condolence letters from people she used to deliver the meals to.
To this day, they are a great comfort.

By: Marina

Marina — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:24:11 +0000

Just magnificent! What bounty! What art!

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:21:11 +0000

I love the surprises each week in a good veggie box: it makes cooking the daily round an exciting challenge, and it’s wonderful to have such fresh produce. Good luck, Leila and Norman!

By: jeannette

jeannette — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:17:45 +0000

vegetable envoy! thank you for the beautiful pictures of the boxes. you’ve inspired me to sign up for one here in dusty albuquerque.
i’m inspired to cook veg — just lent my new (second hand) copy of the wonderful chef, deborah madison’s, veg cooking for everyone to a friend who must diet until her baby is born.

http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Cooking-Everyone-Deborah-Madison/dp/0767900146

highly recommended.