Kindred Gifts' Blog

Q & A time with.... Ruth Friedlander from Martha Goes Green, a beautiful vegetarian cookbook which will have your taste buds dancing!

The Martha Goes Green Cookbook, $29.95, is a beautifully designed and illustrated book that makes a fabulous and affordable Mother's Day gift, birthday gift or housewarming gift. Presented in a cute, organic cotton drawstring bag and containing more than 50 delicious vegetarian recipes, Martha Goes Green makes a fantastic Australian, eco friendly gift or just a simply fantastic addition to your own kitchen.

Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based inks and independently published in Australia, you can be sure that this cookbook will make any friend or family member feel very special.

We had a chat with Ruth from Martha Goes Green recently to find the inside story behind the making of this gorgeous cookbook.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the business/company (including when you started), and what was your inspiration for starting?  

A. Martha Goes Green started off as a project between myself and then housemate Rosie Percival to document our recipe collection. We roped in a few friends to help with photography and illustration and after printing a few cookbooks for friends and family we decided to invest in a larger print run and try to sell a few at markets and in local craft and book stores. It kind of snowballed from there and we are now almost sold out of our 4th print run!

Q. What has been your greatest or proudest achievement so far?  

A. Each new achievement becomes our greatest! Selling out of our first print run was pretty awesome, as was getting our first reviews/interviews printed in local media. We have also started writing food and cooking articles for a few magazines and blogs so becoming published columnists would be up there also.

Q. What has been your most difficult challenge, and how did you overcome it?  

A. Self-publishing is a pretty big challenge in itself. Finding the funds to start was quite tough but we just took the plunge and invested some savings, which we were eventually able to recoup through sales. Also the shear amount of work when you are not only writing the recipes and creating the publication but being your own accountant, publicist and distributor while holding down full-time work can be tough. Luckily Rosie’s work has been good with her switching to part-time hours and I work from home as a freelancer so there are less late nights and long long days now.

Q. What makes you smile, laugh, feel good? What brings you happiness?

A.  Great food, great friends and feeling like however small, you are making some sort of a contribution to a kinder, more compassionate world.

Q. Which 5 words best describe you?

A.  Passionate, Loving, Determined, Inquisitive and Thoughtful.

Q. If you had to describe your business/organisation as a ‘person’, in 5 words they would be:

A. Crafty, Cute, Compassionate, Colourful and Considerate.

Q. Is there a charity/cause close to you, and if so why?

A. I personally support Amnesty International, Oxfam, the Fred Hollows foundation and Peta. I find the individuals who make up these organisations and their dedication to each different cause incredibly inspiring.

Q. Do you have any new projects/products coming up soon?

A. We really want to start on another book this year but are struggling to come up with the time! Fingers crossed we’ll have one out by Christmas.

Q. Your mother/father always told you:

A.  My Mum always said to me that life is filled with ups and downs, and to remember the ups will always come after the downs. That advice has helped me through slumps time after time.

Q. Biggest inspiration: 

A. I’m really lucky to be surrounded by inspirational people everyday. My Mum, Dad, Step-mum and sisters who work tirelessly in health, education and the public sector. My partner Mike who teaches me patience and diplomacy at times when I lack it. My supremely talented and creative friends who put everything into their work and art. And the co-creators of Martha Goes Green, Rosie and our photographer Jess, who each inspire me in their own individual ways.

Q. Greatest lesson learnt?

A. That if you put your all into something positive you will eventually be rewarded for it.

Q. The three things you can’t leave home without are:

A. Aside from the clothes on my back I can’t really think of anything. I am forever forgetting my phone, keys and wallet and while it can be annoying it doesn’t phase me too much. I have a very laissez-faire attitude towards material possessions.

Q. Growing up you wanted to be:

A. About a million different things, I could never make my mind up and still can’t!

Q. Favourite place/way to relax:

A. With a glass of wine and lovingly prepared meal, surrounded by friends and family in a beautiful setting.

Like to check out some fantastic sample recipes from the Martha Goes Green cookbook? Just head to our Resources page (and scroll down a little) for a 'taste' of some of the awesome recipes you'll find in the book.

Want to buy the book or find out more information? Click here.