I'm creating this GoFundMe for my cookbook, The Picnic Project, to cover the costs of hiring a photographer, food stylist, prop stylist, and renting a studio to photograph the recipes for my cookbook, which is scheduled to be published in May 2027. I launched The Picnic Project and started hosting weekly picnics in 2024 for a few reasons: I love picnics, I wanted to spend more time cultivating new and old friendships IRL, build a feeling of community, relax more, and touch grass. This project is important to me because it represents my mission to encourage people to have more picnics, gather, build community and have conversations. I’ve observed that when we gather on the ground, on a picnic blanket and break bread together, something happens that does not necessarily happen at a dinner party or restaurant—people go a little deeper in their conversations, vulnerability is present, there is an air of play or creativity, people recline and rest, time stretches out because no one is rushing you out to seat the next table. I started the Picnic Project because I wanted to make new friends, feed old and new friends, create community and ask people how they’re really doing—especially in these acutely wild times.

In order to make my cookbook, The Picnic Project as compelling and beautiful as possible, I need to have beautiful images captured by a talented photographer and an excellent team that includes a food stylist and prop stylist. Perhaps you’re asking—doesn’t the advance cover that? In theory it does, however I also had to use the advance to develop recipes (i.e. buy food to create recipes), test recipes, hire a recipe tester, and I had to pay taxes on the advance. As a result, there is very little left to cover the photoshoot and I’m in the humbling position of asking for help. Any contribution you're able to make, big or small will help bring this project to life. Your support means the world to me and I am grateful for your help.