Good Day Deli
Clare Condon

Hometree’s purpose is land regeneration, how does this align with your company/organisation?
Good Day Deli is a Sustainable Foods Deli serving a mix of healthy, local, seasonal, organic and fair trade foods with a commitment to sustainability throughout our food chain. Hometree’s idea that we can create forests through commerce is totally aligned with our idea of protecting the natural environment with good food choices and conscious consumerism. We share a core aim of protecting the natural environment and a love of trees.

What is inspiring you to work with a regeneration process like Hometree?
Our aim is to encourage people to be more conscious consumers, to think about where products come from and about the natural resources required to produce food, clothes, packaging etc., things that we as consumers are creating demand for. Our decision to work with Hometree over Christmas of 2018 was to encourage people to give back to nature by planting a native tree, over a period typical of hyper-consumerism. With “Brunch at GDD and Gift a Native Tree”, a native tree was planted when customers had brunch with us. Not everyone has the land, time or resources to take on a large regeneration process such as Hometree, but people can contribute in small ways and businesses can encourage behavioural change and wider engagement by supporting such initiatives. The world needs more trees and projects like Hometree promote awareness.

Some of the trees you are planting you will not see mature, together we are working towards more abundant and biodiverse future, in three or four sentences please describe what you would like to invite into the future?
In the Cook Islands, the core value of Mana Tiaki is guardianship of heritage and the environment for future generations. Mana Tiaki is a beautiful value to live by and is at the core of Good Day Deli. It is our responsibility to bequeath the beautiful land and sea that we love to the billions of others that will follow us. We’d like to see more sustainable production practices, more “conscious consumerism” and more respect for the natural world. Particularly with food, we’d love to see people feeling good about supporting sustainable food chains and becoming more aware of food choices that are better for their health and wellbeing, the environment and animal welfare.

List two ways you support this invitation at present?
We use Good Day Deli as a platform to promote sustainable food, elevate local producers and educate our guests through customer service, social media and events. We believe that our daily food choices are a tangible, positive way that we as individuals can take responsibility for the planet, and drive demand for a sustainable future for all. We aim to make the idea that, our food choices and the future of the environment are directly connected, accessible, understandable and enjoyable so that our customers can firmly believe in the benefits and change accordingly.

List two ways you would like to support this invitation in the future?
Collaborate to educate and encourage people to make small changes to our actions and purchasing decisions that collectively make a big difference in addressing global environmental challenges.

Do you have a memory that to share about a tree/forests/nature?
My Grandfather loved trees and promoted the planting of trees throughout Cork City. There is a tree planted in CIT to celebrate his life. Our family’s love and value of nature have been inherited from him.

Have there been any key moments that you can share about how you or your organisation decided to support a more abundant and healthier world?
It is a constant feeling of responsibility. The incredible opportunity to work within the gardens and with the people of Nano Nagle Place made the mission possible.

We’d love to hear and share any key lessons that life has taught you, in as little or man words as you like.
“Do well by doing good.”