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Climate friendly recipes being sought for cookbook created in Powell River

Organization set to produce community compilation that includes food articles
Paul Galinski
Paul Galinski
2623_powell_river_elena_martin.jpeg (1)
RECIPE REQUEST: Elena Martin has been helping organize a plant-based cookbook that encourages people to eat well for their health and the health of the planet.

Contributors have a little bit of time left if they want to submit recipes for a community cookbook called Powell River Cooks – Climate Friendly.

The cookbook is being compiled and published by Climate Action Powell River (CAPR), according to organization member Elena Martin. Deadline for submissions is March 31.

“We would like to print the cookbook in April because of Earth Month,” said Martin. “Every time you are eating you are deciding if you’re increasing or decreasing the carbon in our air. It’s the best weapon we have to increase our health and to decrease greenhouse gases.”

She said she came up with the idea because there are community cookbooks in Germany, where she grew up, and they are very popular. Given her passion for climate change-related activities, she thought a cookbook with plant-based recipes would be ideal for CAPR. She is an advocate of consuming plants and reducing or eliminating meat consumption.

Martin said recipes have been collected since the beginning of the year but the main thrust came in February and March when the organizers fully activated social media. She said a number of recipes have already been received. This includes a number of international plant-based recipes from places such as Syria and Asia.

“We are not only looking for our own creations but we’re asking that people who use recipes from other sources add the link so we are not infringing on any copyright,” said Martin. “Just copy and paste the link in your submission and we will add that into the cookbook so people know where the original source is from.”

Martin said the cookbook will be printed and also be available in an electronic PDF version. The cookbook will not only have recipes but will also have some educational articles.

“They will be easy, understandable food articles,” said Martin. “It will outline how the food is connected to the climate crisis. There will be articles about pesticide use and biodiversity loss. Land use is a big part of the climate crisis. We will also talk about food in the forest. It will be in easy language. It won’t be like a scientific paper. We want to make it educational, but fun and inspirational.”

Martin said it is time to say goodbye to the western diet. She added that changing eating habits can be difficult but it is important, and the cookbook will be a fun way of trying new recipes.

Martin, who has a PhD in microbiology, calls herself a climate nutritionist. She said she is reading scientific articles and is trying to break the scientific language into everyday language to make it more accessible.

If people have recipes they want to contribute, they can email them to [email protected]. Organizers of the cookbook also have a recipe form people can request by email. She said she would like local government leaders to contribute favourite recipes to show they are eating plant-based foods, and the local culinary arts students will also be contributing.

For distribution of the cookbook, Martin said CAPR has an email list and there are a number of organizations and climate action groups they are in contact with.

“I’m really looking forward to the cookbook,” said Martin. “It’s a nice community climate action initiative. Maybe one day we can cook our favourite recipes from the cookbook and meet in the park for a big potluck.”