Tramp Kitchen (Aylak Mutfak)

Context

Actors of Urban Change (ACT) connects and supports actors of urban change to improve the quality of life in their cities. ACT is an international network of best practice that promotes sustainable urban development in Europe and the creation of a culture of co-creation. It does this by encouraging cooperation between actors from the voluntary, public and private sectors. In eight years, the programme has attracted over 120 participants from 37 cities across Europe, including Turkey, Georgia and Russia. In Turkey, for example, ACT has set up a project called Tramp Kitchen (Aylak Mutfak) in İzmir.

The project

Tramp Kitchen (Aylak Mutfak) is an NGO based on the conviction that sustainable and equitable distribution of food, from seed to table, is possible through collective action, and that advocacy and awareness-raising activities must be carried out by bringing together local stakeholders.

Tramp Kitchen wants to create a set of documents to raise awareness about healthy, sustainable food.

• The "Aylak Dictionary", which aims to create a common language through a collective process.
• The "Aylak Map", where they analyse the common foods of Izmir and the carbon footprint associated with them.
• The "Food Detective", where they investigate the production and consumption processes of food grown in and around Izmir, with consumers and producers from all backgrounds.

These three documents have been produced through meetings and discussions with local residents and those involved in healthy and sustainable food in Izmir. These documents will serve as a basis for the advocacy work that Tramp Kitchen intends to undertake to support the transition of Izmir's food system towards a more sustainable one.

Results

Tramp Kitchen has produced the Aylak Dictionary, a collection of definitions and terms related to food in Turkey and more specifically in Izmir. This dictionary has been designed as a real tool to achieve a common understanding and a common language for collective action. It also marks Tramp Kitchen's approach to certain key concepts related to food and ecology.

Tramp kitchen recently posted a video on youtube presenting their project and objectives (2021): Aylak Mutfak Teaser Videosu

This initiative sheet was written by Yohan Taris, LF intern in February 2023.

Last modification : 21 Dec 2023.