I love photographing people in their environments doing what they love, whether it’s growing spectacular organic veg, fruits and flowers, producing a beautiful craft from clay, wool, wood and willows, or children at one with their animals. This gorgeous gardener is Sonja O’Brien in the garden at the Boghill centre. Sonja is holding a tremendous variety of squash, which unlike others I’ve worked with that get tougher as they grow, this one has a soft skin and fresh, soft interior. Occasionally, I’ll cook a vegetarian meal there using eggs from the chickens, vegetables from the garden and I’ll pick fresh herbs from the kitchen garden to season it all. Here’s a recipe for Broad Beans that I love. It’s gluten free.
Boil 14 oz.(400g) of shelled broad beans until tender in fresh tomato juice, enough to cover. Take off heat and set aside. Heat 2 Tbl. olive oil, add 2 chopped garlic cloves, 1 ts. cumin seeds, 1 tsp. mustard seeds, 1 diced medium white onion. Saute for 5 minutes or until they begin to brown. Add to beans. Add 1 Tbl. chopped fresh mint, 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika and 3 1/2 oz (100 ml.) of plain yoghurt, sea alt and black pepper to taste. Serve warm. And, it’s just as good cold the next day! Enjoy and do what you love, happiness will follow.