failure is part of our day
Posted on October 21st, 2012
Some days things just happen right. Other days it’s a fail.
Failing at cooking is all part of my process, and yesterday I had a good reminder that I’m still very much a student of life with plenty to learn. I had a moment cooking a BBQ for friends where I buggered up the spit roast rabbit. You’d think now after cooking the same meal many times I’d get it right. A simple bacon-wrapped-whole-shot-wild-rabbit, slow roasting over hot coal, seems very primeval and basic, but it’s easy to bugger up. I was distracted cooking a few other meals (see below) and so that spit roast dish missed my watchful eye. Maybe it was the lime cordial, mint and lemon vodka drink that had something to do with my shortcomings. Maybe it was the chit chat with this lady or this bloke that distracted me.
Apart from the cooking failure of the spit roast, the cooking fest ended with some nice smoked trout pizza, almond and rabbit burgers and some smashing beetroot and walnut salad. The failures often sit comfortably next to the successes. Having my friends eat all the successful food made me a happy bloke. Even though I dwelled a little on my failure, I was stoked that they loved the other food that I’d made. I was happy with that outcome. I guess that’s what I should focus on.
My failure though, it weighed heavy, it made me think a little about my awkward feeling of speaking with the legendary Joel Salatin this week in front of hundreds of people for the Dumbo Feather magazine event. I mean, I’m just a guy who’s trying to live sustainably by working for my food, and this guy is an expert in the field (literally and figuratively speaking). I guess it’s all about confidence, and I’m not a bloke full of it. And over the last few months of publicity I’ve had my fair share of anti-Rohans which I guess is all part and parcel of putting yourself out there, but sometimes it gets to you. I’ll just stay true to what I believe in. Stand firm.
When I watered the vegetable garden today I washed all that rubbish aside, and I focused on the reality that I’m doing what I believe to be right. I’m not a man totally self-sufficient. I am however a man working for my food, in every literal way I can. And I’m bloody comfortable with that. Are you?
I feel your pain. I spent most of Saturday planning and trying a new jam recipe (strawberry and rosewater) and I left it on the stove for 2 mins too long and it BURNT! Whole lot in the bin. Such a waste of time/energy/money/anticipation.
And I teach jam making which made me feel like a bit of a fraud
Happens to the most of us….what a bugger for you!! Well I guess we won’t make the same mistakes twice….I hope!
Failure just makes you humble. The rest of your meal sounds very delicious!
Yep! The therapeutic benefits of watering your garden are much underrated…
Wow, I’m a big fan of Joel Salatin. I’ve only recently discovered this blog and really enjoy it.
I grow a lot of my own vegetables, buy my meat from local sustainable farmers, etc… but would like to take it a lot further in the future.
Thanks for sharing.
Dan Garner
http:ZenPresence.com
There will always be people who want to cut others down to make them feel better about themselves. They can have their negativity. You get to go home to a beautiful home with beautiful people in it, growing and eating wholesome food (learning from failure!) and feeling satisfied with the choices you’ve made in life. And inspiring a whole lot of people along the way. So big up to you. (I realise I’m not saying anything different than what you’ve said but just wanted to reinforce it!)
Cheers Joanna!
Rohan,
Fear not and don’t question what you know to be truth after all your blog and book has made it into a small town here in Texas so you must be doing something right. So you keep on speaking your truth and the rest will work its way out. If your not continually screwing up then your just not pushing hard enough.
Keep truckin- Tohner
Keep Truckin’
Love it!!! Can’t believe my book made it to Texas!
To Toronto, Canada as well! Just got WLL the other day in the mail.
Keep truckin’ indeed Rohan, you’re doing great things brother.
Funny you should mention Joels name, we just dropped our pal Jodi off at the airport he’s been in woodend at taranaki farm on a four day course with him !! its a small world, and never mind about the rabbit, you know what they say, we learn from our mistakes x
Yeah I wish I had’ve gone to that. But I was BBQ’ing for a shoot….:-(
Well I guess I’ll hang out with him tomorrow night on stage!! eeekkk!
I’m having an interesting reaction to this post… I think your approach is fantastic, and love reading your updates and adventuring-working-for-food experiences. Displaying something you feel you’ve failed at is also something I admire, and can see that realism / evidence (validity?) of insecurity, though we are generally way harder on ourselves than others are and you obviously still had an awesome bbq, scrummy food, great time with friends.
Someone passionate and committed to self-sustainability (partial or otherwise) is a fantastic choice to interview the more experienced expert, I think. A great balance, an inquiring mind. I don’t understand haters, as listening / reading is another choice we make. I feel a little conflict in that I do find some expressions here to be a bit combative, defensive maybe, though I can see that is in an inspiring / move to action kind of way.
But I agree at the same time, and if you are comfortable with where you’re at for whatever reason, that’s your own issue. In that way, I’m comfortable with selective support of my local free-range specialty butcher and game meat producers, and the native food industry in general. But I’m in no way part of a self-sufficient ideal, with chooks and vegies a constant good intention, as I enjoy picking home-grown herbs and feel the weight of a myriad of responsibilities.
I enjoy your blog, thank you.
Thanks Danielle for dropping by and sharing your thoughts!
“No man can purchase his virtue too dear, for it is the only thing whose value must ever increase with the price it has cost us. Our integrity is never worth so much as when we have parted with our all to keep it.” -Ovid
I, for one, am delighted that you do as you do; and thankful that you share your sensible method with the world.
Cheers Chris!
Comfortable indeed!
Failure. Hmm. We need it. If everything worked right the first time how would we learn and evolve into better people. A problem that may develop in time in wider society is the result of kids that have grown up with no concept of failure being sheltered from it by their parents, or perhaps even worse being told that failure is a bad thing . Celebrate the failure, laugh at it but most importantly learn from it.
By the way I am really interested in the arguments raised by the anti-rohans. Apart from animal welfare people concerned about rabbits, what other criticisms are you seeing. I love an informed debate and am genuinely interested what the others are objecting to.
Some I’ve deleted, because my response is full of anger.
Here’s a funny set of comments from the Design Sponge recipe. Comments are pretty out there.
http://www.designsponge.com/2012/10/in-the-kitchen-with-rohan-andersons-jamon-rabbit-roast-with-boozy-asparagus.html
Wow, just checked out those comments and I am shocked! I live in the U.S. and totally understand the difference between a domesticated pet rabbit and a wild one (or those bred for food). A lot of restaurants have rabbit on the menu, too. As a recipe developer and food photographer, I sometimes cringe when my recipe is published by a big site like that, knowing that there will be nasty comments. It’s really tough. I’m a big fan of what you do!
When what I do on a daily basis goes so against the flow of what my friends and neighbours consider ‘normal’ (and I don’t/can’t hunt!), I find your regular posts arriving in my inbox a much-welcome relief and endless source of inspiration; from your delicious photos to your no-nonsense, practical attitude. Knockers love to whinge long and loud, while the rest of us (your fans) are quietly reflecting and getting in with it, so I thought I’d better put my voice out there for the first time as a deep admirer. I love what you do, and I love even more, your ‘stuff you mate’ attitude
Keep on keeping on.
THanks Julie! The encouragement is welcome! Have a ripper day!
G’day Rohan. Your blog was recommended to me by a mate of mine, and I’ve since passed it on to a few friends and family who I thought would like it. The concepts you write about certainly strike a chord with me, and I enjoy hearing that others have the same outlook.
I recently heard an interview of you by a guy on ABC. I was really surprised how dismissive and cynical the interviewer was. I thought you argued your position with a great combination of rationality, as well as passion. You didn’t get ruffled, and you made your case. I think your ideas immediately put some people on the defensive because they don’t want to feel guilty about eating mass produced food, and they are hesitant to even entertain the idea of changing their lifestyles.
Keep up the good work I say!
Thanks Alex, I think I know the one you’re talking about. Yeah he wasn’t really getting on board, but I guess thats the norm so you’re correct in saying people get defensive because of the food they eat. Thanks for dropping by.
I mostly have failures in the kitchen, though I keep trying & am getting better (sort of). The thought of having people over sends me into a panic though.
Just be yourself at the talk – that’s the person that people have come to listen to…a regular Joe like them doing something different.
You’re too hard on yourself , one part of an amazing meal didn’t go quite as you expected. So……take it as a learning experience and move on. I totally agree with the value of veggie patch time,better than any other therapy. I think tat your approach is just so inspirational. Reward yourself fr all that you do and don’t look back too often.
Personally, I think your convo with Joel will be fascinating Ro. Would love to be there to see what gets discussed. Should be a cracker.
The reality, I reckon, is that we’re all making it up as we go, it’s just that some people make it up in a more polished fashion than others. I get introduced as a gardening expert when I speak at events, but I hate the term. It’s definitely not how I see myself. I’m still learning just like everyone else and I bugger stuff up all the time. My own garden looks like crap at the moment – I haven’t even planted my tommies yet this season but I’ve spent the last two weeks doing interveiws on…tommies. It’s easy to feel like a fraud, but then I fall back on the fact that I’ve got a lifetime’s worth of experiece with tomatoes stored away in my brain.
You’re on the right track, mate. I’m meeting WLL fans nearly every week at the moment, and I can guarantee that your words are cutting through because people know you’re out there living the reality.
Give me hard-won experience over expertise any day of the week!
Without mistakes I doubt cheese would have been created. Mistakes are the lifeblood of an interesting worthwhile life…I reckon it is not the mistake that is the problem but how we allow ourselves to feel about mistakes. More powertel you bud
Failure is something I’m learning to come to terms with myself mostly through crafting and also gardening. I’ve been learning to learn from my mistakes and failures and they help me grow even though it’s hard sometimes to deal with, I think in part cos people and this world are so focused on success, the failures and mistakes don’t often make it into that picture. With food, it kind of really sucks, for me at least cos I not only feel like I’ve failed but that I’ve wasted food. Uhh I hope that didn’t bring up any hard feelings, you do seem pretty comfortable for yourself and as usual your blog post is inspiring.
G’day Rohan,
Not too supportive of the ‘fail’ notion. From what you say, you’re having a go and learning much along the way. Not only that but you’re sharing and opening yourself up to being inclusive and that reflects well on your general attitude.
Along any path we make choices based upon information to hand at the time. Sure the choice may not turn out to be the best choice, however at the time it is the right choice. Hindsight is valuable but only to educate and learn from.
Thanks for sharing your journey with others and enjoy the great area in which you live.
Thanks AJ, hindsight is a wonderful thing indeed!!
Hey, I wouldn’t agonize to much. I am always burning the chutneys I make. They always seem to taste good though.
This meal looks amazing not to mention that beautiful table, lighting and atmosphere! Yesterday I mixed up a brine for ox/cow tongue, baked an apple cake and made a batch of yoghurt. Feeling rather smug with my Sunday afternoon productivity I completely ruined the yoghurt I have made many times.
As Cate said…a waste of time/energy/money & anticipation. But, a lesson is always learnt I guess. Love your work!
Cheers Jane! A good result from the weekends effort….I made a roast rabbit and bacon pasta meal from the ‘fail’ leftovers!!! Kids about to eat it now! I guess out of success sometimes comes a success…..xo
One of the best foodie blogs around rohan keep it up.
Dude, it IS part and parcel of putting yourself out there, but you’re right, it does get to you. We’re only human. When it does, just remember us pro-Ros – we outnumber the anti ones anyday xx
It sounds like the ‘anti-Rohans’ must be hard – I’ve read some of the ‘what are you so negative about’ comments and I’m amazed that people put the time in. The way I see it you’re incredibly passionate and positive about growing and hunting and foraging and taking it slow, appreciating these simple things that are there for all of us to enjoy if we take the time that we say we don’t have. Perhaps that’s threatening to some folks, I don’t know – I’d rather be inspired.
And I am, every time I get out into my food forest in progress.
In 5 years, the rabbit fail won’t be remembered. It sucks, but that day, the rabbit wasn’t supposed to feed your belly, it was supposed to feed your soul. Taking the positives from the situation is surely satisfying to the soul? If it was me, I would have happily eaten the bacon off it still! Or drank some more!
The issue the nay-sayers have with you, says more about them, than anything you are doing right or wrong. Keep up the good work, be true to yourself, embrace the failures & lessons, and enjoy the opportunities you are now getting to have because of putting yourself out there!
It’s frustrating when good ingredients are ruined, and it’s happened to me many times when cooking for a crowd (I now delegate whenever possible). The rest of your meal looks delicious, and it seems a good time was had by all, which is what really matters.
Writing about your “failures” as you put them has always been part of why I connected with your blog. We’re human. I guess I have the advantage of coming here before you were in the limelight, but still…
And I can say I relate to you as well. Not that by any means I’ve hit the jackpot with publicity enough to have been asked to speak with Joel Salatin (still… whoa!) but that our wedding has been circulating all over the internet, oftentimes without the context of my blog to give viewers an understanding of who I am and what I really come from. Our wedding is beautiful, but I sometimes get this pang of insecurity that there are people out there passing judgement about my character without really digging deep into it. We’ve all been guilty of that at some point, haven’t we? Which is why I try to let that thought go.
As much as I’m sure it hurts to have people be not-so-nice (like that guy in the Joel post) remember that you have SO many more people who follow your story because of who they know you are based on your past. Obviously blogging is funny like that, and there’s no way you’re ever gonna know everything about me, and me you, but it seems to me that you’ve always been very honest on here. Even when you were going through splitting up with your partner you were honest- which inspired me to be honest about Jamie going through a lot of emotional turmoil from his infection. While I don’t comment here often, I always keep up with your gardeny-goodness. Making blog-friends is neat like that.
…and yum. It’s breakfast but I want some beetroot and walnut salad. If I could afford to buy anything besides hay right now I’d buy your book.
I’ve been sharing your blog with anyone who will read it lately. I’m so appreciating your fresh, wild, beautiful life. I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, USA, and as I put my garden to sleep for the winter I’m loving seeing yours beginning to green. I moved my family into an 1880s farmhouse last winter, and we grew our first garden. Yesterday, our chickens hatched on May 7 laid their first eggs.
My entire young life was a “farm to table” and “woods to table” experience, and I like your unpretentious approach to your own foodways. I walked into my children’s school recently and a friend says to me, “Oh my, all I want in this world is that roasted radish sandwich.”
Your photos are gorgeous. You will certainly hold your own with Salatin. Just enjoy it.
Hey Rohan!
Greetings from Oslo, Norway!
Hello! I just recently found your blog and I have to say that I became an instant fan! You have the right ideas on living and sustainability. I love your stories and insights, plus the photography is stellar! What kind of camera/settings do you use? Keep it up!
Cheers -
Jeff
In the old world, we take failures as part of life. The real trick, though, is how we react to them. Stand firm!
Rohan any views on the talk wit Joel Salatin??
I have been reading up on the man but I have my doubts on some things he spits out there in a leisurely fashion..
Like to know what your experience with him was..
many cooking failures on my part in{and out} of the kitchen. i guess it’s good for composting. i think failure is part of cooking. sometimes i’ve cooked a recipe 500 times and the 501st time it flops. no rhyme or reason. i usually make a cup of tea and plot my next adventure.
“When I watered the vegetable garden today I washed all that rubbish aside”
This, I love. Such a perfect moment of clarity and presence. Those tiny pleasures are usually just what we need when our minds are going a bit bonkers. I know they always snap me back to what is truly important and help me remind myself to stay the course. After all, it’s MY course (sometimes whether I like it or not).
Also, I bet that rabbit was still fantastic.
I just watched a ted talk about body language and how it can change your mind and confidence…helpful if you have to do any more public speaking…or just day to day living! Thanks for such an honest post! I relate!
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html
We’re 100% pro-Rohan around here! Don’t let the turkeys get you down and best of luck with the talk this week. Just be you and you’ll be great!
Message from across the pond: F*ck the anti-Rohans; Do yo thang, man.
Hi Rohan,
All I wanted to say is that most times I visit blogs I just stick to the pictures and skim through the words…your blog is one of a handful that I actually read. Beside the fact that I am completely on board with the message I just love the way you write. It has a warmth to it.
Excellent piece, as per Rohan. Keep up the good work. Thoroughly enjoyed your smokehouse piece in Smith Journal. I am already in the midst of an email to convince my father to partake on a similar challenge when I return home from exchange. Until then, I’ll keep on reading!