Issue Eleven June 2018
TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And
A DROP IN THE OCEAN Artists And Activists Against The Problem Of Plastic ...
Talking FastChallenge The Status Quo Three Women, One Boat & The Atlantic... Fashion Under Wraps The Friendly Route To Food Preservation
Beauty And The Beach
Chemical Free NMM June 2018 1 Cosmetics
Never Miss A Thing... For all the best in: · ethical fashion · natural skincare and beauty · health and wellbeing · parenting and motherhood · healthy living and good eating · ecology and conservation · conscious lifestyle choices
all back issues available at Issuu Natural Mumma
Issue Five December 2017
Taking Care Of Yourself, Your Tribe And Our World
DRESS TO
IMPRESS Chic & Sustainable Partywear
Winter Holidays Unwrapped Exploring Ethical Tourism & Travel
Not Just A Pretty Face Season’s Best Eco Makeup
The Mane Event
Toxin Free Hairstyling
NMM December 2017
Issue Eight March 2018
Issue Seven February 2018
TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And
TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And
SPRING!
PASSION!
Getting Ready For The New Season
Gifts Of Love, Made With Feeling
Under Cover Expert Luxurious Lingerie Laid Bare
Ethically Engaged The True Cost Of Gold
Sowing Organic NMM February 2018
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Digging Deep For Pesticide Free Produce
Flower Of The Frock NMM March 2018 Floral Fashion For Spring
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www.naturalmumma.com
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June 2018 NMM
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Welcome To Natural Mumma Magazine Contents 4
W
ith the shocking revelation by
2050
that the
amount of plastic in the ocean will
outweigh the number of fish, it was important to us to talk about what we are doing to our seas. As saddening as it has been to delve into the reality of what is happening, it has also been heartwarming and inspiring to realise how many people are campaigning to make changes. From Rachel Thomson’s stunning and evocative cyanographs to Chloë Haywood’s beautiful hats, from Ocean Sole’s ingenious repurposing of flip-flops to Ruby Moon’s revolutionary swimwear - This issue is packed full of stories from inspirational people who are determined to make a difference. Our interview with Kath Austin, founder of BeeBee Wraps, told us much more than how to avoid single use plastics in food preservation and Caroline Wilson from Status Row’s insight into why they are crossing the Atlantic had us completely in awe. We made sushi, we discovered some incredible natural cosmetics for
Hats Off To Haywood High fashion headwear from sustainable materials
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Out Of The Blue Amazing art focusing on plastic waste in the oceans
10
Life’s A Beach Our pick of beach bag beauty essentials
12
Heart & Sole Finding a positive use for unwanted footwear
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Reach For The Moon Sustainable swimwear from Ruby Moon
18
Under Wraps The story behind BeeBee Wraps, eco food wrappers
22
Natural Mumma Makes... Vegan Sushi
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Challenge The Status Quo Three woman, a rowing boat and the Atlantic Ocean...
our beach bag beauty essentials review and I fell in love with the Unkha Bow
Contact: holly@naturalmumma.com
Front Cut Out Dress from Mayamiko. This
Photo by Gerard Hughes
issue is dedicated to the majesty of the
Holly wears makeup - Dusty Girls Fresh Faced Kit by MooGoo and hair by Anita Grant. Dress by Mayamiko.
oceans and to all those who are making efforts to protect them.
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HATS OFF TO
HAYWOOD Award winning designer Chloë Haywood creates beautiful and engaging headwear, each piece made by hand in the UK from sustainable materials.
T
he Chloë Haywood London collection ‘Liquid’ was inspired by the beauty of the ocean and growing concerns about the overuse of single use plastics. We spoke to Chloë about the current state of the oceans. “The inspiration for Liquid came from reading a few articles here and there, and from seeing some shocking images of wildlife killed unnecessarily as a result of careless littering. But the real seriousness of the scale of the pollution was cemented by the fact that our waters in the UK needed cleaning up. I’d been invited to help clean up The Thames with a fellow sustainable British designer who was (at the time) attempting to use the waste and turn it into a fiber that could be used in their designs. I think this was the moment when I began to realise the scale of the problem of waste in our own waterways, here in the UK. So I wanted to design a collection that celebrated the beauty of water in all of its different forms. The year after Liquid came out, Attenborough shocked the nation too...
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More recently I’ve been horrified to discover the next worry after single use plastic and microbeads... sunscreen. Oxybenzone and Octinoxate (which show up in almost all major sunscreens) have now been shown via extensive research to be harmful to the marine ecosystem. They contribute to the coral bleaching that has more or less destroyed the Great Barrier Reef. We live on land surrounded by the sea and I think we sometimes forget how much wildlife lives under our waters. Without their cycle of life, our food chain on land is also threatened. About 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and 29 per cent is land, the oceans hold about 95.5 per cent of all the Earths water. If we don’t protect the world’s waters, we are risking our destiny. It’s quite a gloomy thought but with enough people becoming aware of how they use or even dispose of their waste - whether it be plastic or even water itself - it will make a difference. Live for today, but spare a thought for the future.” www.chloehaywoodlondon.com
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Natural Mumma Loves... SLATE + SALT SLATE + SALT is an online, Fair Trade marketplace providing sustainable income to talented artisans in developing countries. Their curated collection of jewellery, bags, scarves and home goods are handmade using traditional techniques yet have a modern aesthetic. They work closely with small social enterprises to facilitate dignified working opportunities in areas of extreme poverty. Each piece tells the story behind these unique places and artisans. https://slateandsalt.com
Ethical Stories Ethical Me
Ethical Stories Ethical Me is a British ethical fashion store for the conscious consumer who believes in style with a story. Their collection includes a variety of brands, such as Sami, a vegan and eco-luxe handbag brand. The bags are handwoven from upcycled textile offcuts from fashion houses around the Philippines, resulting in fewer landfills. Their artisans receive fair wages, a safe working environment and access to workshops to aid their independence in both their careers and personal lives. https://ethicalstoriesethicalme.com
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Dhruveesha Boutique Dhruveesha Boutique promote handmade products made by artisans in Indian cottage industries, helping them to find their identity. This kaftan is handmade using the art of woodblock printing and natural, vegetable dyes. It is so comfortable and lightweight that it can be used as a nightgown as well as a striking piece of beachwear or a light summer dress. https:// dhruveeshaboutique. com.au
Gillian June Gillian June is a London based womenswear brand seeking to make great tailoring more accessible, sustainable and less stuffy. Its latest drop of summer style includes Irish linen tailored dresses, modern short suits and light summer blazers in a mix of organic materials such as GOTS cotton and Tencel. Gillian June can be found at the Summer Suitcase pop up at 31 Lambs Conduit Street, London. 18-25th June. www.gillianjune.com
WhollyGrail
Whollygrail are making waves to improve our health and our environment. Their personal care, home and lifestyle products are designed for performance while treading lightly on the planet. Pictured is their signature Herringbone Beach Towel. Each of their towels is GOTS certified organic and Fair Trade. They are yarn dyed with non azo dyes, woven and hand finished - resulting in the perfect conscious style. whollygrail.com
Peep Eyewear
Stand out from the crowd this summer in authentic vintage eyewear that doesn’t harm the planet. Peep’s pieces from the past are fully refurbished with 100 per cent UV protected modern lenses and for every pair sold, they plant a tree. Bespoke your specs or sunnies with customised lenses from optical prescriptions to coloured tints, ready to hit the beach. www.peepeyewear.co.uk
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OUT OF THE
BLUE Fascinated by mimesis in nature, a London-based artist has produced a fascinating series of works which she hopes will cause viewers to act against the problem of waste plastic in the oceans.
R
achel Thomson is a London based artist who uses drawing and photography to explore female identity and the environment. She has a BA Hons in Fine Art specialising in Photography and Print Media from the London Institute Central St Martins College of Art and Design. Her series of photograms, Invasive Medusae, capture plastic bags in a contemporary document of our marine environment. This collection has been published and exhibited internationally and is currently part of ‘The Universal Sea’, an international EU funded art and innovation project aiming at strengthening creative civil participation against plastic waste in the oceans. “I often use discarded rubbish and low tech methods of reproduction to create art, as a response to mass production
and a wasteful culture. The unfortunate ubiquity of discarded plastic bags made them an obvious subject matter for me. I am fascinated with mimesis in nature- how one species takes on the shape of another to trick its predator or its victim and ultimately to survive. Millions of metric tons of plastic are deposited in the world’s oceans every year. Plastic bags mimic medusa forms and fool sea turtles, fish and whales and other sea creatures into ingesting them, which leads to the animals death. I hope my images have that mimetic double-take effect on viewers to draw attention to this dangerous new invasive species we have created. Through exhibiting and working with environmental organisations I aim to strengthen creative civil participation against plastic waste in the oceans.” www.rachelthomsonstudio.co.uk
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Life’s A Beach
Our pick of the best beach bag beauty essentials
Cotton & Olive Twist Cotton Hammam Towel in Aqua Lightweight, highly absorbent and fast drying – this towel is ideal for the beach. The pretty design and soft cotton fabric also make it the perfect beach accessory. Use it as a scarf or sarong or to protect delicate skin from sun damage. This lovely towel also benefits from being pleasingly compact.
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Anita Grant Monoi de Tahiti, Neroli Rose Dry Oil Spray, Aloe Vera Gel and Define & Curl Gel For someone with naturally wavy hair, these products from Anita Grant are an absolute godsend. Applying the Curl Gel to wet hair leaves you with shiny, soft waves, while the Monoi de Tahiti adds definition and a healthy shine. The Dry Oil Spray leaves skin beautifully soft and nurtured and the multipurpose Aloe Vera Gel protects cuts, seals in moisture and can help style hair too.
Beeutiful Grapefruit Hydrating Mist and Lip Balms
With a light, summery fragrance this mist is also refreshing, revitalising and protecting. It will keep you cool and composed during the hottest days and the balmiest evenings. The lip balms are deeply nourishing, with the Mango edition offering the perfect summer scent.
MooGoo Cover-Up Buttercup SPF15 Natural Moisturiser
No UV filters or chemicals, suitable for the whole family and with the ability to block 94 per cent of UVB. Neom This deeply moisturising sunscreen absorbs quickly leavesPoint your Mist, Hand Balmand & Pulse skin protected and moisturised. The mood lifting mist with With physical UV smells barriers to mandarin and mint divine, prevent signs of ageing, this is the handthe balm offers an uplifting a greatand addition to your beach bag. scent rich moisturisation and
Fitzjohn Skincare Golden Body Oil
This beautiful body oil not only nourishes your skin but it also leaves it with a silky sheen and a delicate fragrance making it ideal for the summer. This plant based oil absorbs quickly and is packed full of natural ingredients such as organic sea buckthorn extract and fragrant frangipani.
the pulse point energises. A truly holistic approach to beauty.
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HEART SOLE
&
Ocean Sole takes the world’s most ubiquitous form of footwear and turns them into works of art, and in the process, prevents them finding their way into the oceans.
M
ost people think of flip-flops as laidback beachwear. Cute, casual and colourful. In fact, flip-flops for over 3 billion people are the only pair of “shoes” they own. These flipflops get worn for years and then ultimately after many repairs are discarded into dumpsites. These, in turn, eventually seep into the earth’s waterways before entering our oceans. The mass of discarded flip-flops pile up and block waterways, land for growing food, and fresh water supplies. They ultimately destroy marine life. Ocean Sole is a social enterprise company who are devoted to raising awareness and limiting the effects caused by this environmentally damaging footwear. In Kenya alone, a single factory not only relies on cheap labour but it also burns copious
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amounts of non-renewable resources in order to make over 100,000 flip-flops each day. This one company alone produces 3.65 millions flip-flops annually. The passionate people at Ocean Sole are committed to transforming the over 74 tons of discarded and lost flip-flops that find their way into the ocean each year. Their mission is to transform the shoes into art, which not only repurposes them but also draws global attention to the problem. You can support Ocean Sole by selling their art, buying it, donating it or just simply spreading the word. Contact: www.oceansole.co.ke Email: solemates@oceansole.co.ke Phone: +254 727 531 301 20 per cent off all orders with product code NMOSL2018
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Natural Mumma Loves... Willis Designs
The ethos behind Willis Designs is to repurpose items and extend the life of previously discarded materials. Each item is designed and handmade in Britain. Rick Sanders started making bags four years ago as an exercise in design and re-use. He quickly found that a jacket makes an ideal conversion project and his ethos is to buy from charity shops, supporting their causes while giving an old jacket a new lease of life. It makes a perfect, unique, oneoff piece https://www.etsy.com/uk/ shop/WillisDesignsShop
Small Stuff
Small Stuff is an eco conscious children’s lifestyle store. They stock independent brands such as British made Too Many PJs whose play mat is particularly special as it’s hand made using GOTS organic cotton and non-toxic screen print dyes and stuffed with lining made from recycled bottles. www.smallstuff.co.uk
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Next Month In
Natural Mumma
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE... TRULY CRUELTY FREE Honour Your Flow
Organic cotton menstrual pads in colours and sizes to suit all needs. Ethically made in the UK. Honour Your Flow also sell breast pads, postpartum pads and Starter Packs in different sizes, including packs for teens. Better for you, better for the Planet. Soft, organic luxury, total comfort. http://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/ om/
Harmless Beauty
ETHICAL TRAVEL Low Impact Tourism
STATEMENT MAKEUP Unleash The Beast
Nurture Collective Nurture Collective is an exciting new concept that celebrates and brings together ethically made children’s clothing brands. Founder, Miriam Pierre was inspired to start the company when struggling to make conscious choices as a new mother. After two years of searching high and low for quality clothing which was kind to the planet as well as her daughter - Nurture Collective was born. The website which brings together ethically made childrenswear brands is due to launch on the 25th June. Please use code NATMUMA10 to grab your 10 per cent off your first order. www.nurturecollective.co.uk om/
NATURAL MUMMA MAGAZINE ISSUE 12 AVAILABLE FROM 6 JULY 2018 Natural Mumma Magazine June 2018
NMM Team Editor: Holly Daffurn
holly@naturalmumma.com
Creative: Gerard Hughes mail@gerardhughes.co.uk
Cover Image by Gerard Hughes www.naturalmumma.com Natural Mumma Magazine
is produced by T5 Publications. Contents may not be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all information contained in this magazine is accurate but the publishers can accept no responsibiilty for effects arising therefrom. All rights reserved.
Š T5 Publications 2018 NMM June 2018
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REACH FOR THE
MOON Our versatile lives call for flexibility and openmindedness. Ruby Moon has created an activewear range that meets our changing demands while helping to protect the planet and support women in need
T
he Ruby Moon ethos is called #100%NetProfit. They start with materials to #SaveOurOceans then use the profit for business loans to empower women entrepreneurs around the world. Their Gym To Swim® collection is in keeping with the principles of slow fashion; it can be worn both for exercise and swimwear. After oil, the textile industry is the most damaging to our planet. At Ruby Moon, they opt for clean, local and transparent manufacturing to limit the environmental and social cost of production. Working alongside Healthyseas.org, Ruby Moon reclaims fishing nets and plastic
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ocean waste and transforms them into garments that are versatile and durable, adding vastly to their sustainability. This means that the company’s carbon footprint is an incredible 42 per cent less than other similar brands. At Ruby Moon they fully embrace the principles of slow fashion with their inspired mix and match Gym To Swim® collection. By focusing on the look, fabric, construction and fit they bring you exceptional quality fitness wear. They use Xtra Life Lycra® and chlorine resistant, durable high quality fabric which means that each garment is built to last. It makes sense to have a few high quality items that can
be used for all of your activewear needs from swimming to yoga to running to aerobics. Every penny of profit made goes on to support women across 13 different countries as a micro-loan to launch their own business. This money is an absolute lifeline to them as it gives them the freedom to generate an income for themselves and their family. It supports them in finding a path out of poverty. All of the garments are named in tribute to the inspiring women who they are proud to support. https://rubymoon.org.uk
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UNDER WRAPS As increasingly more people are starting to realise the impact of single use plastics and look for viable alternatives, we spoke to Kath Austin founder of BeeBee Wraps about how rethinking how we preserve food can have an impact on other areas of our lives.
W
hen you started making BeeBee Wraps 5 years ago, it was purely to reduce the plastic consumption you used as a family. What other steps did you take at the time to limit your single use plastic usage? When the kids were born we just wanted to give them the best of everything, like every parent. Food was a massive part of that and we felt really strongly about giving them the freshest food from the best sources. This really helped to cut down plastic too. We also decided to use reusable nappies, we tried to buy sustainably made toys with less packaging and homemade items too and we starting getting a veggie box. Saying all of that I do have to paint the right picture, we weren’t and are still not perfect, far from it. Awareness and effort is where we are and we have so much more to learn.
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I love that in the early days you were creating a product that worked for you, without considering if it was marketable or if there was a need. It means BeeBee Wraps come from a place of real love and the quality is exceptional. I often describe BeeBee Wraps as an accidental business. It did come from a place of love, it came from my pottering in the kitchen and my slow and steady experimenting for something better. Friends and family loved BeeBee Wraps and persuaded me to put them out there to test the market. I listed on Etsy and they flew out! Then we launched our own website and never looked back. What has been the most rewarding moment with BeeBee so far? The most rewarding part of BeeBee Wraps so far has been
two-fold. The day the sales soared because The Guardian had published an article including BeeBee Wraps as a great way to cut plastic was just an awesome day. The second reason is the steady stream of feedback from customers. The ways BeeBee Wraps has enabled people to go plastic free has been inspiring! Can you tell us a little about the history of wrapping food in cloth and beeswax? The history of wrapping food in wax cotton or paper goes back a long way. I often have this explained to me when I meet an older person at one of our stalls. I started this to bring back old techniques which worked perfectly well but were discarded in favour of cheaper solutions. Cheese and bread were most commonly kept in waxed cotton and in places you can still find this.
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BeeBee Wraps However, these days you do have to check it’s a compostable wax. Petroleum based waxed paper and cotton is not biodegradable and has nowhere near the amazing properties of beeswax. Are there other traditional arts that we could revisit that would help us to slow down while having a positive impact on the environment? Learn to grow food, learn to cook from scratch and learn to connect with the outside world. Taking an interest in our food and where it comes from we would improve our diets, our health and fitness, the seasonality of food, even the environmental impact of the food industry and the treatment of animals. Learning to cook again, from scratch, and understanding flavours and how they work together would help form a better relationship with food. And passing this down the line to our kids is crucial. Getting back a connection to nature has massive benefits to health, Japanese doctors recommend forest baths for holistic wellness, that’s not a tub in the treetops but just a walk in the woods. If we’re connected to devices we’re possibly less connected to the natural world and if we don’t value the natural world, we won’t defend it from destruction. Even the most eco conscious people are so used to using cling film and sandwich bags. What can you tell us about the effects of
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single use plastics on the oceans that would make people think enough to stop using these products? Everyone has seen the devastating effect of plastic in the oceans from Blue Planet. Think on this...every piece of plastic ever made is still somewhere on the planet. Not just in the oceans but in landfill too. Wildlife is the immediate victim of plastic pollution with seabirds feeding it to their young, whales starving to death with a belly full of carrier bags and natural habitats being completely destroyed through the pollution having to end up somewhere. However, we don’t fully know the effects it will have on us, it’s pretty terrifying how we might be ingesting microplastics
without our knowledge. And we can’t fully know the effects of this for some time yet. BeeBee Wraps are evidently much better for the environment than single use food wrap products, but are they as effective? The environmental benefits of BeeBee Wraps are pretty selfexplanatory, however, I talk more about their amazing ability to keep food fresher for longer. Plastic suffocates food, BeeBee Wraps allow food to breathe. As food grows older it emits water vapour which condenses onto plastic packaging allowing bacteria to grow, this spoils food. BeeBee Wraps allow the water vapour to pass through the fabric meaning food stays fresher. Salad in a
plastic bag has a pungent smell of rot after only two days but wrapped in a BeeBee Wrap it’s still fresh after a week! So we are not only helping to reduce plastic pollution but we also help reduce food waste, a massive issue in a country where 40 per cent of fresh supermarket food is wasted! Do you have any tips for people looking to reduce their usage of single use plastics? There are so many things you can do. The important thing to do is remember to choose one thing, make it a habit, enjoy the change, then choose something else. We will not be happy people if we make our lives miserable and then ultimately return to using plastic. Buy loose veg, get a veg box,
carry a reusable water bottle, refuse straws, get glass bottles of milk, carry a reusable bag and a reusable straw, knife, fork and spoon, plan your packed lunch the day before, bake your own bread or buy unpackaged, use a bar of soap, use refill stations for detergents, give up gum, buy from a bulk food co-op (or start one!), use matches not lighters, google the answers where you don’t know what to do and, of course, use BeeBee Wraps to buy your food without packaging, store at home, take out for packed lunches and eat snacks on the go.
of what we do with BeeBee Wraps is a way to get people thinking about their decisions, they are a vehicle for getting people to just think. So I’d love to be really effecting change in behaviours in the long term. For us right now it about getting the word and about our great alternative to cling film and plastic. We are always asked if we do bags as our lovely customers want something to take their BeeBee Wraps home in so keep an eye out for them. They’ll be organic too! https://beebeewraps.com/
What is next for BeeBee Wraps? We have so many plans that I get really over-excited! We’ll work as fast as we can to get there. Much
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Kath Austin, Founder Of BeeBee Wraps
“...the joy of sushi is in combining colours and flavours...”
natural
mumma
makes
You Will Need: For the rice:
500g rice 550ml water For the sushi vinegar: 75ml rice vinegar 60g sugar 20g salt A pack of nori (seaweed) wrap A selection of vegetables for the filling (firm, colourful vegetables that can be cut into strips work best – eg carrots, peppers, asparagus, spring onions). For the shiitake filling: 2 tbsp sesame oil 2 tbsp white sesame seeds A generous handful of shiitake mushrooms 2 teaspoons of chives Soy sauce and wasabi to taste
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natural mumma makes
Vegan Sushi S
ushi is associated with raw fish, but the delicate flavours and charming aesthetic lend themselves beautifully to a vegetarian dish. In fact, crisp, colourful vegetables are ideal for forming sushi and result in a stunning final result. Part of the joy of sushi is in combining colours and flavours, so it is worth experimenting. In addition to slices of raw vegetables, we chose to create a shiitake mushroom filling for our sushi pinwheels. We loved the clean, nutty flavour of this filling so much that we found ourselves making it again the following week and using it to fill pancake rolls, padded out with crisp beansprouts it tasted delicious. All of the ingredients to make sushi (and a variety of other Japanese foods) are available in most supermarkets. Although you can buy ready mixed sushi vinegar, it is so
simple to make from scratch and the flavour is much better. It also cuts out all of the preservatives. Sushi rice does not need to be used immediately, if you plan to use it later in the day you can store it in a bowl under a damp cloth. Keep it at room temperature. It needs to be consumed within 4 hours. Once you have mastered basic maki rolls you can experiment further. We love to use wedges of cucumber to form a point that allows us to create petal shapes, when placed together a collection of these petals mimic the aesthetic of cherry blossom. Sushi is surprisingly filling. Being able to make it in advance means that it is ideal for parties, relaxed dinner parties and picnics. With the addition of fresh vegetables it is the perfect summer food.
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1 2
Cook your rice - you may find it helpful to follow our guide (see panel opposite).
Simply combine the rice vinegar, salt and sugar in a non metallic bowl until both the sugar and salt have dissolved.
3
Transfer the hot rice onto a damp bowl – a large fruit bowl is ideal).
Nam inum alia adicia Am wooden (traditionally ipsapid mi, Tem faccum.
4
Liberally sprinkle the rice with sushi vinegar while fanning it cool with one hand (using a paper fan or folded paper), use a wooden spatula to cut and turn the rice. Take care not too stir the rice or it will turn to mush. By fanning the rice until it is cool you are left with beautifully glossy rice.
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Create any cooked filling that will need to cool. For our shiitake filling we heated the sesame oil before adding white sesame seeds and lightly frying until golden brown. Then we added finely chopped shiitake and chives. We like to add a thin slither of red chilli along the filling when rolling.
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For pinwheels, place a piece of nori (seaweed wrap) onto your sushi mat and apply a thin layer of rice, right to the edges of the seaweed. Leave a gap of a few centimetres on the end furthest from you. Apply a thin strip of your chosen filling on the edge closest to you. Use the mat to grip the seaweed and roll it away from you. When you reach the edge without rice, gently moisten it and press the seaweed into the roll. Use a very sharp knife to slice the roll into individual pieces (1cm deep).
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For maki rolls follow the same process as pinwheels but only roll the mat one full turn (you may need to trim your nori so that it has less depth). We used red pepper, carrot and spring onion in ours.
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You can make nigiri by dampening your hands in sushi vinegar, taking a tablespoon of the rice and gently squeezing into a long oval shape. We topped ours with a thin slice of mango.
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Sushi squares can be made by buying a sushi press, this is perfect for people who don’t like getting their hands dirty and results in neat shapes every time. We dipped one side of our squares into black sesame seeds for flavour.
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Serve your sushi with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy sauce.
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natural mumma makes
So there you have it, a delicate and delicious dish that is simple to master and allows you plenty of creativity and versatility.
How to cook sushi rice The trick of getting perfect sushi rice lies in ensuring that the starch has been thoroughly washed from the rice first, and that the ratio to rice and water is exact. My Japanese friends taught me that the simplest way to get the right amount of water is to measure out your rice first, then lay a hand on top of it and pour enough water to cover your fingers. Otherwise, adding ten percent more water than rice is a good measure. Wash your rice thoroughly in a large bowl for 5 minutes, refreshing the water several times. Then leave to drain for a good hour before using. Measure out the rice and water, into a heavy bottom pan. Add a tight fitting lid and place over a medium heat. It helps to use a clear lid, as you shouldn’t lift the lid at all during cooking. Wait for 5-7 minutes until it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat and cook for a further 5 minutes. Keep the lid on and leave the rice to stand for 10 minutes. It will soften further as it gently cooks in its own steam. At this stage you can make your sushi vinegar.
Natural Mumma YouTube Channel You can find this recipe and plenty more on the Natural Mumma YouTube channel www.youtube.com/naturalmumma
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CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO What lengths will people go to to help protect the oceans? Three office workers are attempting the world’s toughest row in order to challenge our use of everyday plastics
W
hat started out as a relaxed chat in the pub after an indoor climbing session soon became one of the most important and inspirational aspects of Jess Rego, Susan Ronaldson and Caroline Wilson’s lives. These three passionate friends are committed to crossing the Atlantic, taking part in The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. This is the premier event in ocean rowing where thirty crews from around the world compete to cross 3000 miles of ocean, powered only by their own strength and determination. They are facing this dangerous and challenging journey in order to raise awareness of the state of our seas, support the Marine Conservation Society and to inspire a new generation to push through their limitations. We took time to speak to Caroline to find out more about their incredible voyage.
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What do you most love about the ocean? There’s always a strange kind of calmness that you comes over you when you’re near the ocean. I think we’re all drawn to it in one way or another. Learning to scuba dive was like being given the keys to a secret world. The ocean holds so many secrets. I’m both in awe of it, and mindful of its power. You can’t tame it. It’s beautiful, it’s raging, it’s calm, it’s humbling. The race is in December. What are you doing to prepare for it? A lot! The amount of work that goes into getting us to the start line has been a bit of a surprise. On top of the physical training (which is seriously hard work!), we need to raise the funds to take part in the race. On top of this, we’re working hard to raise awareness of plastic pollution,
funds for the Marine Conservation Society and hold down full time jobs! It’s pretty full on. During the challenge, you’ll only be able to sleep for an hour and a half at a time. How do you prepare your body for something like that? This is actually the thing I’m least looking forward to! I’m a big fan of sleeping so the idea of extreme sleep deprivation is less than appealing. That said, the human body, we’re told, is incredibly adaptable to new routines so we shouldn’t worry too much and get all the sleep we can, whilst we can! We’ve been assured that after a couple of weeks we should start to settle into our new, simpler, lives at sea. Row, eat, sleep, repeat! Aside from your water maker, navigation and communication
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technology and rations what else are you taking with you on your voyage? As little as possible! The more we carry on board, the more weight we have to row. Electricity on board will be generated by our solar panels, so things like personal electronic devices will be a luxury when we have enough power, but I’m a big fan of podcasts and audiobooks so plan to have a fully stocked library for those days. I’m actually really looking forward to living a much simpler life out there, free of possessions. It’s such a special opportunity to strip it all back and live a really basic existence for a while. What keeps you strong when times are tough? What will you be thinking about to keep you on track? It will be the thoughts of family, friends, my teammates and messages from our support-oars that will get me through. Their continued support on this journey so far is what picks me up when the pressure gets overwhelming. Knowing that someone believes in you, that you’ve inspired someone,
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that you’ve made a difference is so powerful. We truly believe that we are the lucky three that get to physically cross that finish line in Antigua, but everyone that’s touched our campaign is an incredibly important part of the team and will be there with us, in spirit if not in person. Who inspires you? I’m inspired by my family and friends on a daily basis. Surround yourself with good people and you can’t help but be inspired by them. I don’t think you need to be in the media to be inspirational but there are some incredible female role models out there. Sarah Williams started the Tough Girl Podcast to increase the amount of female role models in the media, and is doing a phenomenal job of it! If you’ve not listened to the podcast yet, I highly recommend you do. I’m inspired by every single one of the women Sarah interviews each week. What scares you most about the current state of our oceans? What can people do to protect our seas?
I’m most afraid of us not acting soon enough. It’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean - but this is something we can prevent if we act now! One thing I hear more often than I’d like, is that the problem lies with product design and not us. I absolutely agree that there’s a huge problem with product design - things we use for a matter of minutes, are made of a material designed to last forever - but we can’t continue to shift the blame without first looking at our own actions and contribution to the problem. Some of the biggest plastic polluters in the ocean are drinks bottles, carrier bags, coffee cups and straws - all things there are reusable alternatives for. What do you do personally to limit your usage of single use plastics? Once you’re aware of the amount of plastic you’re using, you quickly find ways to cut out the biggest culprits in your life. I’ve got a super cute Chilly’s reusable water bottle that I take with me everywhere. I take my KeepCup with me if I’m in need of a caffeine hit, and pop it into my reusable
bag. I make my lunches so I can avoid buying plastic wrapped food, check my tea bags to make sure they don’t contain plastic, have swapped out bathroom products like shampoo, conditioner and soap for solid bar alternatives and always check that the cotton bud stems are made of paper and not plastic. What makes you most nervous about the challenge? Generally, I’m way more excited than nervous, but there’s lots that will be out of our hands once we’re out there. We’ll be totally alone at sea for over 50 days, and should something go wrong, help is days away. Preventing injury is something we’re focused on, as well as becoming familiar will all the equipment on the boat to minimise the chances of anything going wrong. Oh, and sharks. What are you most looking forward to? The food… only joking! A limited menu of dehydrated food will leave much to the imagination and the girls won’t let me take my bodyweight in HobNobs. I’m
looking forward to so much. I can’t wait to see the sky- totally uninterrupted by day, a blanket of stars by night, and to see where we think our limits are, and to push passed them as a team.
Have you got any advice for anyone who is facing a challenge? If you’re thinking of taking on a new challenge, just start. Stop saying “One day I’d like to...” and start saying “I’m going to...”. Three years ago, when myself, Jess and Susan first met on an indoor climbing wall, never did we think that we’d find ourselves where we are today. Believe in yourself and give others the chance to believe in you too. You never know who you might inspire. How can people support Status Row? We have a crowdfunding page on our website for donations to support the project which you can reach here www.statusrow. com/support. We’re also looking for introductions to corporate sponsors who believe that businesses can be used as a force for good. The team are also available for motivational talks at your office. You can reach us at hello@statusrow.com. Follow our journey on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook - @statusrow - and tell a friend about us! NMM April 2018
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