Fresh Beans

I opened a new bag of coffee beans this morning and poured them into the bean jar, each one glistening behind the glass in the weak February light. We really love coffee in our house, so we pay more for our coffee beans because they are organic, fairtrade and shade grown; this means they don’t destroy the rainforest in order to farm the coffea plant, and more wild birds and animals can continue living in the canopy. It’s a luxury to buy them (especially in this economic climate) but each time I open a new bag, I breathe in the aroma and imagine the journey our beans have taken to reach us.

This journey is the subject of Louise Gray’s new book Avocado Anxiety, which was published today and features my hand-drawn chapter illustrations. In her new book, Louise explores the complexities of the fruit and vegetable trade from farm to fork, and how our everyday choices create positive and negative ripples around the world. It’s a fantastic, meticulously researched book that I definitely recommend, particularly as we celebrate Pancake Day next week, one of the loveliest food-themed days of the year - a 24 hour lemon and sugar bonanza (don’t talk to me about savoury pancakes, what a waste of precious stodge).

It’s also the perfect read as we approach spring and enjoy the eruption of new plants from the earth, the lengthening daylight hours and warmer winds. Speaking of which - I saw my first butterfly of the year yesterday! A brimstone skipping through the ivy on my sister’s garage wall, highlighter-yellow in the sun. The world is looking brighter already.