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How the Wettest Year in Decades Could Change Your Weekly Shop
It has rained almost every day across the UK this year - let's look at how that will affect our weekly basket.
Sam Ratanji
February 22, 2026
Hi there,
Welcome to The Life Larder! This newsletter serves up a bite-sized menu of stories and ideas about making food that’s not only delicious but also healthy and sustainable.
Each issue is packed with inspiring articles, flavourful ideas, and voices from across the vibrant food world. Think of me as your friendly guide, helping you create meals that nourish your body, delight your taste buds, and care for our planet. Treat this newsletter like a personal larder - always stocked with something you’ll love.
This year has been a perpetual cycle of drying coats and socks on radiators. Perhaps it will also be the year I finally buy some waterproof trousers for cycling too?!
The CONSTANT rain got me thinking about how this will affect our shopping over the next few months (weather and food are so linked, something we don’t often think about in reality unless we’re told in the news) and so below is an article about how this year is affecting growers (featuring the wonderful Jack Feeny from Birch Farm & Tomorrow’s Kitchen) and what this will mean for your pocket.
There’s also a link to a piece I wrote for Roots to Work talking about my journey into the sustainable food sector, for those of you interested!
Before you tuck in…
Here’s some ways you can work with me 👇
🔪 Private Cheffing & Retreats – Bespoke menus that nourish, fuel, and taste incredible. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a wellness retreat, or high-performance nutrition, I bring the flavour and the science.
📢 Speaking & Workshops – From corporate wellness to food sustainability, I deliver engaging, no-fluff talks that connect the dots between soil health, nutrition, and better living.
📦 Brand Consulting – Helping food brands create products that are as good for people as they are for the planet. Strategy, product development, and nutrition-led storytelling.
📝 Writing & Editorial – As a Guild of Food Writers member, I contribute to leading publications on all things food, health, and sustainability.
📩 Interested? Say hello at [email protected]
Bites
Three tasty bites from the corners of the internet this week.
Come to Fortnum & Mason on Wednesday 25th February for a panel talk I’m speaking on: ‘The Powerful Pantry’ exploring how much of our basket is our decision, and how much is influenced by corporations
Chef’s Manifesto is back on June 15th at Omved Gardens - will I see you there?
Women in the Food Industry have a wonderful London event on the 2nd March if you’re free too!
Stories and insights from experts and yours truly
How the Wettest Year in Decades Could Change Your Weekly Shop
Thoughts beyond our umbrellas and into our shopping baskets.
A standard rainy day walk!
It has rained almost every day across the UK. Honestly, I can only remember 1 day this year that hasn’t meant grey skies and muddy shoes. For farmers, it has meant something far more serious: lost soil, lost crops, and mounting financial pressure that will inevitably shape our weekly shop.
A shot from the Tomorrow’s Kitchen workshop at Oxford Real Farming Conference last month.
Roots to Work kindly asked me to talk about how I got into Food Education - I hope it inspires you if you’re looking for a way into the sustainable food world!
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