"I have an insatiable curiosity about where food comes from” admits food writer Rosemary Moon. Simply eating good food is no longer enough - anyone who truly cares wants to know how their food was produced and the social and environmental stories behind it. “Eco-gastronomy - that’s what it is all about these days. Link that into the burgeoning local food economies all around the country, and you will quickly understand why food writers have so much work to do right now, getting people to think before they buy”. Living in the country definitely makes it easier to be in tune with the changing seasons and local produce, and increasing numbers of farmers and growers take the countryside into towns and cities through Farmers Markets. However, for those who simply need to do their shopping in one big hit, buying from responsible supermarkets such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose also demonstrates really strong support for the British farming community. “Good food should be easily available to everyone and, hopefully, if we can get back to basics, quality can become the number one priority over price."

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Well, that was my mission statement when I started Moonbites in 2007. And it’s still true today. In 2007 I thought it was all an impossible dream but today I am so happy that organisations like Transition Chichester are really keen on local food too. I’ve met some great people through Transition and it is a friendly way of connecting with people who share visions similar to my own. What’s it all about? Well, it’s about celebrating what we have locally; people, skills, resources, produce, so that if we live more locally we’ll be a more resilient community against stresses and strains caused by things outside our control, like climate change and peak oil.

In action, giving a demonstration in aid of the local hospice

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I have always loved demonstrating my recipes and now do so regularly at West Dean, both at Gardens Events including the world famous Chilli Fiesta, and through the food courses that I run at the College. The food and gardening courses are closely linked. Annie Guilfoyle, and I share an allotment, well out of the public view in the Sculpture Courtyard. We use The Plot to feed ourselves and as a resource for our cooking and growing courses. We’ve welcomed the great and the good to our little patch, including Joy Larkcom, Rosie Yeomans, Cleve West and Mark Diacono.

With Cleve West and his partner, and Mark Diacono at The Plot


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Mary Berry has been to West Dean too - you really do need to check out our courses! Cooking with friends is always lots of fun and we have some great guests who come to share their passions, skills and knowledge. We concentrate on the many things that make West Dean special: the farms and the estate; the glasshouse collections of tomatoes, chillies and aubergines, as well as the fruit collections and really everything in the magnificent kitchen garden. Take a look at the food course programme to pick the course that you would like to join me on. And well done to Mary and all the Bake Off Team for winning their BAFTA!

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My other ‘growing passion’ is the village Community Garden. It’s a great place for growing food and friendships and, now that we are into our third year, we are making real progress with our fruit and veg. We keep chickens and are looking forward to our sixth lot of pigs early in 2013. Our melons are looking really good this year!

Our first piglets arriving at the Community Garden

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I love the beach, going out to lunch, gardening and reading books. When there’s time!