How does this Work?

I schedule meals on this website according to groceries I have available and what I feel like making. I try and let people know on Discord and Facebook. I make really good food, almost everything from breads and sauces to salad dressings and cheeses are made from scratch using the best ingredients. This is food I’m making for me, my family, and my community, and I don’t cut corners.

You tell me how much of it you want using the provided form, and whether you can pick it up or need it delivered. Orders close 36 hours in advance, but I appreciate if people order by Friday.

How much is it? It’s up to you what you can afford towards groceries this week. If you can’t afford to pitch in this week, please just let me know - I still want to feed you. 5-15 bucks a portion is what I say when forced to provide a range.

How to Pay:

No money this week: Click “Book Class.” Done.

EFT or Paypal: Click “Book Class” then send whatever amount you like to noblewhimsical@gmail.com

Credit Card: Click “Proceed to Payment” and enter your info. It will charge you a flat $10 but you can choose to add a tip. I haven’t yet figured out a way to let people completely choose what they want to pay with this method, but paypal works for credit card payments too.

On meal days (usually Tuesdays), there are three ways to get your food:

Pickup at my home on Overdale between Noon and 10pm

Pickup at my work (Furby and Broadway) in the afternoon - MUST email me to arrange a time and be understanding that I am at work and might not be able to drop everything.

Delivery by my amazing volunteer driver. This is contingent on their availability but is typically between 5 and 9 pm. If possible, please meet your driver at the front doors of your building or leave instructions about where to drop the food. They are willing to bring food to the apartment doors of folks with mobility challenges, please note this in your delivery instructions.

If you need to make alternate arrangements, please reach out.

Should I return my containers?

I would super appreciate it if you would! If you can wash them and return them (other than flimsy dip containers) it helps us save money and plastic and we really love it. I’ll also take back my purple bags and any smallish reusable bags. Your delivery driver will be happy to grab them or you can return them when you pick up food.

What are the portion sizes?

I try and give a reasonable meal size portion of each dinner. Sometimes I misjudge and don’t make as much as I’d like. I typically package things in ~500ml containers for one portion. Accompanying sides may be smaller.

Did I send enough money?

If you sent any, thank you! I try and stick to meals that cost in the range of the suggested 5-15 bucks per meal but sometimes I don’t succeed. Veggies and mushrooms are outrageous these days along with everything else but I still believe everyone deserves to eat good food made of delicious fresh ingredients. Whatever you can afford to send is much appreciated, and if you can’t afford to send anything you deserve good food too. I have a very hard time responding to questions about money but I am so thankful for everyone who contributes.

Can you accommodate [allergy]?

If you have a serious allergy, this probably is not the right service for you. I offer a vegan option every week and try to make gluten friendly options available, but my kitchen is omnivorous and full of dairy and often coated in a fine layer of wheat flour. I do my best to keep things sanitized and abide by the best practices I’ve learned in professional kitchens, but I can’t make any promises. Please tell me your allergies every time, I don’t wanna hurt you

Can you leave [thing] out of my meal?

I’m often willing to exclude or minimize certain ingredients, if you let me know your personal tastes. I’m a picky person and used to catering to that. For instance, if you hate peas or mushrooms you can tell me you hate them on your order form and I’ll try to leave them out of yours! Please tell me every time, my brain cannot hold those details and I actively appreciate it, it does not annoy me for you to tell me what ingredients you hate.

I’m new here, am I invited to participate?

Almost certainly! If you know about this page and I haven’t explicitly told you I do not want to feed you, you’re welcome to sign up.

If you’re the kind of person who considers voting for Conservatives or thinks Trump has some good ideas, I invite you to self-select out of this community. I also reserve the ultimate right to cancel any order that I just don’t feel like fulfilling for whatever reason, and I will refund any money for outstanding orders if that should happen. The first time you order, please put the words MUTUAL AID somewhere in your form so I know you read this far :)

Can I tell other people?

Sure, as long as they’re the kind of people you’re reasonably sure will participate in the spirit of mutual aid.

How can I help?

-Sign up to wash dishes or chop veggies on Mondays or Tuesday mornings

-Offer to help deliver a few meals (especially if you live west of me!)

-Donate excess garden produce

-Donate grocery gift cards

-Tell me about really good food deals you see

-GIVE FEEDBACK

-GIVE CRITICISM (I want it, I crave it)

-Buy 500ml and 1L deli containers or the 850 ml white rectangular meal prep containers and leave them on my doorstep

-Go to the shop portion of my page and sign up for a subscription to support WFD with free meals, or set up a recurring grocery donation e-transfer

-I made an amazon wishlist but feel free to search for these things locally or second hand or donate stuff you have that you don’t use anymore. Big stockpots, cast iron cookware, etc always welcome! https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1PB0URHDM20KW?ref_=wl_share

Who are you?

I’m Ashlyn, she/they, been cooking for fun all my life and very occasionally for profit. My biggest cooking influences are my mom, Samin Nosrat, J Kenji Lopez-Alt, and Chrissy Teigen. In my real life I’m a glass artist trying to make a living making beautiful memorials as well as historical recreations of ancient beads for my fellow history nerds.

I love feeding people, and it frustrates me that we don’t live in a society where I can easily use my skills and talents and desires to essentially be a community batch cooker. I want to fill all your freezers with low effort food that still tastes great and was made with love and really nice ingredients! I want to make your lives easier while you enrich mine by telling me things you enjoyed and how I can make it even better. I’d love to be fairly compensated for my time while doing so, but that’s not the world we live in. (ETA: I seem to have landed my dream job doing exactly this?? Stay tuned but I’m doing my best to keep this going too.)

PLEASE let me know if you have any particular complaints or suggestions. I will be proud of you for reaching out, I want you to love this food and for this to be as beneficial to everyone involved as possible.