"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are."

-Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, French Politician and Gastronome

Welcome to the burgeoning website for the Open Hearth Kitchen, a seedling project in North Oakland, California. Although we are nomadic at the moment, we are endeavoring to create one and then a network of community hearths through which we can reaffirm our connection to the natural world and to each other; hearths will do this  by providing education about and sharing in the cultivation, preparation, and consumption of food. 

The Hindu scripture tells us that “Food is life,” and life is undoubtedly diverse, interactive, and interconnected. Yet diversity, interactivity, and interconnectedness are all missing from our current food system, particularly amongst vulnerable populations. 

Historically, humans have shared in the cultivation, preparation, and consumption of food. It was through processes and experiences around the hearth where individuals came to understand where food came from and how to grow it; where children witnessed and interacted with real life role models; where elders shared their wisdom and passed on skills; and where social cohesion amongst communities took place. The hearth was essential in creating a sense of self and purpose, and, thus, in forming identity – both for the individual and the community as a whole. 

We must reincorporate these processes back into our contemporary lives., and our community hearth project is setting out to do just that. Each hearth will be a space for individuals and communities to create, build, and maintain a sense of identity by means of increasing their collective food self-reliance through active cooperation (planting vegetable gardens, preparing meals, and sharing food traditions).

Share our journey with us as we draw our diverse community together into our garden, our kitchens and around our dinner table.

Please keep visiting our site, as we'll be updating it with upcoming events and classes. If you are interested in getting involved with the project, please email oaklandhearth@gmail.com.

Peace and Warmth,

the kitchen staff.