I was raised by a woman who came from a long line of women who showed love through the provision of food, and does the same herself. Fudge slice, flapjack, buns (fairy cakes) in tupperware for us to raid after school. Intuitive, deceptively simple, butter-on-the-side food. I think of myself as something of a feeder, but my efforts pale in comparison to those of Claire Ratinon, a writer and grower and - crucially, feeder - who has become a dear friend over the past few years. Some of you may know that I share my Saturday Guardian magazine column with Claire, and you can read about our friendship here, but when I think of it I think of tight hugs and wintry sunsets over the south coast and brave honesty and being allowed to lie on the sofa, in front of a fire, while someone whips up a martini. She takes over this week’s savourites with the same unabashed truth, appetite and longing that I feel embodies her work. If you’ve not read Unearthed, I recommend you order it.

For some time now, I’ve had trouble experiencing joy. Endless online discourse and opinion pieces made doing, eating and making things for enjoyment alone feel nearly impossible. Every choice I made felt fraught and heavy, and soon enough, I was struggling to participate in anything that I feared would come at a cost to people or planet.

At the start of this year, I came to the realisation that carrying around this way of thinking (while also writing a book, growing food and taking part in too many speaking engagements) had taken a toll on me. I was burnt out. 

So I made the tough yet empowering decision to - for this season at least - dedicate myself to the art of saying no to what is beyond my capacity and yes to seeking out practices of joy, new and old. With the help of loved ones and therapy, I’m finally able to see that it is possible to be a thoughtful and concerned person while also giving yourself permission to seek out that which gladdens your heart. 

And sometimes all it takes for you to realise that you’re in the midst of practicing joy is to pause long enough to notice. I’m deeply grateful for this timely invitation to share what I’ve been savouring lately...