PHOTOS OF THE MONTH | AUGUST

Volunteering with Feedback Organisation | Gleaning Network

On the 21st of June, I volunteered with a small team for a Gleaning event near Ormskirk in Lancashire. Before this day, I had no knowledge of Gleaning work or about the Feedback Organization. The Gleaning Network brings volunteers and farmers together to distribute products to charities and to those in need.

It also raises awareness of the scale of food waste in farms that derives from supermarkets policies and consumers’ misconceptions. As I learned from the local farmer the reason for this huge loss can be down to different reasons such as products that are already produced by the farmers getting cancelled  by the supermarkets. Also they are only able to sell a factor of what they produce due to high standards dictated by supermarkets; where a small deformation can result in supermarket rejecting them. They have created a vision of perfection where they must be clones of each other. The result of this is farmers being left with products that are no longer wanted and without volunteers, they would have to pay for harvesting.

On the day, we were able to harvest a field of Kale and lettuce and not only that but we managed to fill two vans! Today I was informed the first batch was taken to Preston and the second delivery was to Manchester for those suffering from food poverty. To hear that our work meant there will be people who will have access to healthy food is great and to think all these crops could've been wasted is shocking!

Before I share photos from the day I just want to say if you are reading this then please research more about the project and even volunteer if you can. Not only does these events help the community but it also brings people closer.

Of course, I had to test out the products to truly express why we should be more open minded when it comes to selecting produce. I made kale chips which goes perfectly with siracha sauce and also rice wraps with soy sauce.

I was told there would be a gleaning event very soon in Lancashire so please keep an eye out for that and I will be linking websites below so please check it out. Also thank you to the lovely Emma Bartlet who is the North West Gleaning Coordinator for helping us with transportation and being so helpful on the day. I will be volunteering in the future so keep an eye on my social media for upcoming events . :)

Website - http://feedbackglobal.org

Twitter - +Feedback 

Facebook - +Feedback 

Instagram - feedbackorg

Travel Diary | Srilanka - Jaffna

This post is a year overdue but I guess better late than never! So last summer after the first year of University I wanted to take a long holiday and explore Srilanka for 3 months, and that is exactly what I did. Srilanka will always have a special place in my heart and I am so glad I could show a glimpse of what I love. As my family is from Jaffna this is where I spent most of my days. 

I spent most of my days being overwhelmed with the beauty of Nallur Temple, this is the most sacred place in all of Jaffna and it definitely needs to be on the must see list ( i suggest you make one). The festivals do begin in the month of August and carry on till the start of September. Festival season brings people from all over the world together from different religions and backgrounds. As for me i preferred the 6am poojas and riding a bike to the temple with the full moon guiding me is a memory that I will always cherish. 

Sri Nagapooshani Amman Kovil - Based in Nainadevu

Beautiful temple with a history that will leave you astonished! It is hard for you to be at the location and not feel a sense of magic inside you. The only way to get there is by a boat but it's a relatively short ride and at a very affordable price. 

Nayanmarkaddu Pechchi Amman Temple based in Jaffna

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I spent my childhood in this temple and I was so happy to be there from the start to the end of the festivals. I remember it as a place where all the relatives came together and worshiped the Amman and would also use it as a bonding event. Have to say this time I did not recognize most of the faces staring at me but this is probably the result of the ever changing time. As we tend to visit once every 5 years each year it is a different experience and while I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not I have no power to change it. But in all honesty, I would love to experience the community spirit and love that I once did in my childhood.