Behind a slice of bread placed on our plate or a spoonful of olive oil drizzled over it lies not just flavor, but the depth of the soil, the balance of the sea, and an invisible chain of labor. Brought to life through a partnership between Gümüşlük Music Festival, Impact Circles Foundation–Harman, and Ekomiras–Green Rangers, the “Healing Tables” project focuses on rethinking food not merely as an object of consumption, but as a sustainable part of the ecosystem.
From Ancestral Seeds to Memecik Olives: Bringing Memory to the Plate
Stretching from Karakılçık wheat to cold-pressed Memecik olive oil, and from local legumes to produce harvested in season, this approach recalls the memory of the soil and geography. Questions of not just what we eat, but where that food comes from, whether it was produced without exhausting the soil, and whether its small-scale producer was fairly compensated form the very essence of this table.
Consuming Invasive Species: Seeking the Balance of the Sea at the Table
Multiplying in Aegean and Mediterranean waters due to climate change, invasive species create severe pressure on the local ecosystem and coastal fishers. So, can incorporating these species that strain the ecological balance into gastronomy help heal the sea? While making invasive fish part of the table may not be an ultimate solution on its own, it opens up a meaningful space for reflection—one that protects local fishers, fosters an understanding of biological shifts in the sea, and encourages responsible consumption.
Healing the Soil and the Labor of the Small-Scale Producer
The future of the food system relies on regenerative methods that nourish the soil rather than exploiting its yield. In the face of the climate crisis, enabling small-scale producers to stay on their land is also a prerequisite for accessing healthy food. Asking under what conditions every bite reaching our table was produced, reducing food waste, and fostering a shared sense of responsibility extending from producer to chef, scientist to consumer, rank among the project’s primary goals.
Gastronomy Note from NO-26 Editor
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Program: Healing Tables (İyileştiren Sofralar)
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Stakeholders: Impact Circles Foundation–Harman, Ekomiras–Green Rangers & Gümüşlük Music Festival
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Focus: Heritage produce, soil health, small-scale producer labor, gastronomic transformation of invasive marine species, and food justice.
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Aura: A holistic awareness space questioning the nature, sea, and human labor behind every bite on our plate; bringing together ecological balance and dining culture.
