THREE locals feature in a cook book being promoted in conjunction with Earth Hour this weekend.
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In an Australian publishing first, Planet to Plate incorporates first-hand stories from Australian farmers highlighting the impact global warming is having on their farms and the nation’s availability of fresh, homegrown food.
The book is a collection of 52 recipes from Australia’s biggest culinary names using seasonally fresh produce.
Moree cook, Toby Osmond’s recipe for lemon myrtle semifreddo with candied rose petals also explains the effects of global warming on raspberries.
Also featured on the page is Annie Hickson whose photograph was published in the book.
Annie, a former journalist, now blogs about her love for food and photography called The Dailys.
From a farming perspective, Penny Blatchford features alongside other growers discussing food versus fuel.
“We’re known as having clean and green food. Having fossil fuels across our food-producing land compromises the integrity of that image,” Penny is quoted in the book.
Penny said the stories in the book put farmers (eg wheat) alongside a relative recipe, such as bread, and explained how climate change was affecting their farming practices, and what they were doing to overcome the issues.
“I met Anna Rose (Earth Hour national manager) at a conference and she asked me if I wanted to be involved,” Penny said.
“I said if I was going to be involved I’d like Moree to be involved too.
“Any opportunity we get to promote Moree in a positive light is great,” she said.
“I knew Toby had been involved in Earth Hour in Sydney and I thought of Annie with the pecan farm and her photography.
“I was just so excited to be involved and it all came together really easily,” Penny said.
During his restauranteur days with his brother, Will and Toby’s participated in the first ever Earth Hour event, Australia being the first country to kick-off the now world-wide campaign.
“We had a gorgeous lights out dinner at Manly,” Toby said.
“In those days I was more involved on the floor but since becoming a cook, moving back to the country and running (Cafe Gali) I have become really passionate about food and local produce,” he said.
“It’s a beautiful book and every big name in the food industry is in it.
“To have your name alongside the whose who is hugely flattering. And these are current people. It’s definitely a pinch me moment. I’m thrilled.”
Earth Hour launched in Sydney in 2007 with 2.2 million people and 2100 businesses participating in the ‘lights off’ event.
Just one year later, Earth Hour became a global phenomenon.
On Saturday, thousands of food-related events and Earth Hour dinners will be taking place around the country.
Events will range from twilight picnics, to food fairs and night time farmers’ markets to paddock pop-up restaurants.
But if you aren’t able to attend, or host, a special event of your own there is a simple way to participate.
Take a break from the election coverage and switch off the power at home at 8.30pm.
If you would like to find out more about Earth Hour 2015 or Planet to Plate you can visit https://earthhour.org.au where you can also purchase the cook book.
Locally it will be stocked at Wise Words in Moree.