by Angelina Kumar

This day and meal has given me a refreshing glimpse into potential prospects for the future. Especially, when we work together to make space and place for regenerative ways of being where non-human life is fostered daily.

When stepping into the Basecamp building today, I was drawn into the space by the patterning paws of Horus, a friendly furry face that will welcome you, along with Esmee Kulik, the caretaker of the free shop. The sun is streaming through the large windows, and I’m drawn to the sound of birds tweeting… but wait the sounds are coming from inside the building and from the direction of a group of people sitting in a semi-circle on the learning object, “What are your flowers assembling in resistance?” by Iliada Charalambous. This sharply dressed mix of college youth and professors, from the Utrecht University conducting a symposium, “Nothing in Words Can be Complete” Multilingual, Multispecies Poetics, encircle a woman, Zoe Skoulding, whom the twittering bird sounds exuded from. I’m, at this moment, aware that I’m witnessing the tail end of what must have been quite an enthralling symposium. It made me wonder what other lingual sounds and knowledge were shared during this day. The audience erupts into clapping to which Horus quickly patters over into the centre space to receive pats and strokes, as he perceives this applause is especially for him.

Oddly, this encounter reminds me of the butterfly that was trapped during the winter in this very building. It looked like it was almost dead, and when its wings barely fluttered open, I quickly set it down next to a mandarin so that it could get some sugar to regain its energy. Setting it outside in the freezing winter didn’t seem right… So, this became its final humble abode. Over the next few weeks, it crawled on the hands and clothes of the various people from the team. Spreading a touch of magic during a difficult time. When it took its final flight, a special spot in the kitchen window was set up for it with a sign that said, “She is Guarding the Future of this Kitchen”.

As the evening progressed, new faces started to show up and the two different groups of people began to mingle around the long table, adorned with freshly picked flowers from the surrounding area, set in the middle of the ground floor. The evening event ensues with a scrumptious meal made by Grace Lostia from Basic Activist Kitchen made with rescued vegetables from the volunteers of the Young Future Food Movement (YFFM). Amidst slurps of soup and bites of sweet potato, rice, and other tasty delights, discussions along the lines of bringing together our personal and collective passions and voices to transform society began to take place as a prelude to the presentation yet to be given by the enthusiastic team from the YFFM, Christina van Beek, Lena Rad, Joshua Jacobs. I catch a glimpse of Esther Dascha Westra, one of the Basecamp organisers, her shoulders relax as there is clearly now more than enough food for everyone that is present. A concern she shared earlier, due to the unexpected expectations that arose to the overlapping of programs for the day. It’s concerns like these that are part of the experimental try out of the Basecamp. Other concerns, such as, who will help with the clean up after the meal, were also handled with much care by the current group of volunteers and visitors. (BTW if you’re excited to be part of these wonderful happenings at the Basecamp as a volunteer you can email Esther at esther@bakonline.org.)

It was pointed out that valued based actions, such as sharing this meal together, has strength and power to pave the way for collective systemic change. Through this action we are reconnecting to our roots and remembering that we too are nature. And while nourishing our bodies an infectious desire to participate in the other ongoing actions that the YFFM are doing, starts to stir up. Actions such as reducing food waste and connecting to local farmers to make affordable healthy food for students at the Utrecht University, making worm hotels, creating something with the overflowing amount of wool which is regularly burned in the nearby area and much more. The rest of the evening was filled with stimulating and empowering discussions around collective action and co-organization to transform the daily experiences of students at the Utrecht University to have the option to reduce food waste by eating healthy in a cyclical and accessible manner for everyone. For more about the YFFM and how you can get involved click here.

This day and meal has given me a refreshing glimpse into potential prospects for the future. Especially, when we work together to make space and place for regenerative ways of being where non-human life is fostered daily.

Signing off with tweeting’s, barks and fluttering of wings,

Angelina