Fridge Foraging

What were meals like growing up? We lived on a family farm called Omarunui Station in Hawke's Bay. It was an idyllic childhood upbringing although - thinking back - we never ate the likes of pasta or much canned food, as they were not readily available. My mum was so productive with growing vegetables, preserving, bottling and living off farm produce. It was just how life on a farm was in the seventies - she even made most of our clothes. Nothing was ever wasted.

Did you need those same skills once you grew up? After meeting my husband, I moved from a period of city life in London and Christchurch to the fairly remote Mt Gerald Station in the Mackenzie Country. It's down a long and shingly road that can get rather snow-affected in winter and is a far cry from the rolling country of Hawke's Bay. Living remotely on a busy station with many mouths to feed while raising three young children, deciding to buy and revamp a cafe, plus numerous other projects, required planning and organisation, a great support system and a good sense of humour. Looking back, I do wonder how I did it, although I was younger and had more energy!

How do you plan a grocery shop? Not only is the station four hours away from a major supermarket, but also from a hospital, dentist and doctor. "Town days" are well planned, with long lists written down and chilly bins in the boot to keep food cool. When did you first become aware of food waste in your own life? To be honest, I was not aware of food waste till more recently. When I was a uni student, living and travelling all over the world on a budget, I followed my mother's natural "waste not want not" attitude. Living on a station, you make do with everything you have and, as in hospitality, food waste affects your bottom line. We'd moved to Christchurch part time for the kids' schooling, so this is when I noticed how much food people were putting into their green waste bins. I was beyond shocked!

Any composting tips? Composting depends on your living situation, whether you're in an apartment or if you have a garden, so research what is the best method for your space and go from there. I would say everyone can start with the likes of banana peels: either dig them into your garden - roses love them - or pop them in a jar of water, leave for twenty-four hours then water your house plants, they will love you for it!

Do you meal prep, or are you more spontaneous with breakfast, lunch and dinner? I do love to weekly meal prep. That way you create less waste and keep your budget down. But sometimes you are caught off guard and making something out of nothing is fun.

What is the most amazing leftovers transformation you've ever pulled off? I really love a veggie drawer clear out, slicing and dicing what you find in there, tossing it with olive oil and salt and pepper, and popping it into a hot oven. Nobody really knows it was a drawer full of sad-looking veggies!