Sacred Earth, Sacred Table : A Kitchen Companion

My name is Sophia Young and I am a cook, writer and facilitator, and single mama to two beautiful children. We live in a wonderful, community-driven town in the foothills of Dartmoor and I have been cooking up scrumptious plates of goodness for a number of local organisations and groups over the last six years. The seeds of Sacred Earth, Sacred Table : A Kitchen Companion were planted with frequent requests for recipes and questions about taste and flavours whilst I managed the kitchen for a well-renowned retreat centre here in Devon. I am a self-taught, intuitive cook and, at the time, rarely used recipes so it was a challenge. However, I really enjoy helping everybody feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen, so started to produce blog posts and people loved the recipes I shared. 

Thereafter I received many requests to write a book, yet with an abundance of cookery books available, I wanted to produce something different. As well as caring deeply about what we eat, I also am passionate about both how we eat and how we cook. I wanted to this exploration to be at the heart of Sacred Earth, Sacred Table, and my intention throughout it is to cultivate both meaningful value and deep appreciation towards the nourishment we put on our plates and the sustenance that makes the very bones of us. I believe this is a simple yet transformative approach towards eating, and a vital one as we navigate climate crisis, and the prospective diminishing landscape of choice and availability in the years to come. 

With four chapters based upon the yearly cycles, Sacred Earth, Sacred Table contains delicious, seasonal plant-based recipes in each, alongside essays that explore our connection to that which we eat and the breadth of how this manifests; from last year’s compost mulching in the soil during winter months and what springs forth from it, to historical celebrations our ancestors held in reverence to the food they grew, the first tastes we experience whilst in utero in our mother’s bellies, and the culinary legacies we inherit from our families. Alongside these, there are note-taking pages in each chapter, to jot down thoughts and ideas of ingredients to add whilst cooking, with the hope to engage and inspire creativity and new recipe-making during the process. 

I carry a huge hunger to create change in our approach and attitude towards how we eat, and a massive appetite to shift the culture of taking what we eat for granted. My hope is that Sacred Earth, Sacred Table, not only encourages confidence, enjoyment and pleasure for everyone in the kitchen, but offers too, pause for thought and reflection whilst cooking and eating together. Purposefully moving away from tantalising, seductive images of food, it is simple yet elegant in design, with beautiful illustrations from Bristol-based print-maker, Rosanna Morris, and intends to provide opportunity to feast lest with eyes, but more with our minds, hearts and imagination.

I began writing in Spring 2022 and producing the book has a labour of love, dreams and learning. My dear friend and colleague, Fiona Barnes, passed away in the first few weeks into writing and it is dedicated to her memory and teachings. From those first few months of putting pen to paper, it has taken almost three years to get to this point and I’m absolutely over the moon that it is now ready to publish. I have made final decisions on paper, a dummy copy in hand and received over 130 pre-orders already, all of which is extraordinarily exciting. And...... it will make a perfect gift for Christmas! The print-run scheduled for November 2024 so it will be ready in time to wrap up for loved ones. Or use to feast with during the festive season!

Firstly however, in order to publish, I need to raise £8,000 to cover print costs, design-work and illustrations. Which is why I've chosen Crowdfunder's platform, to reach out and connect with it's amazing community, share my progress so far and raise the funds required for the final stage. AND I would dearly love you to join me and support Sacred Earth, Sacred Table's journey. Can you help and bring my book to fruition with me?

Thank you for taking the time to read my story so far. I truly hope Sacred Earth, Sacred Table brings joy, inspiration and a deepening appreciation of that which we eat to everyone it reaches.

With love & gratitude from Dartmoor!

Sacred Earth, Sacred Table : A Kitchen Companion

Written by Sophia Young with illustrations by Rosanna Morris, Bristol-based print-maker, & design by Sara Chapman, lecturer of Lettering, Design and Typography at the University of Ready and founder of The Letter g.