Like a flourishing vanilla vine, LittlePod’s team is growing, with two new faces joining us here in East Devon this month. Having recruited Richard to help organise operations in production, Janet has been joined by Laura, our new Office Manager, who has added an Antipodean flavour to life at LittlePod since her arrival. It’s our pleasure to introduce our latest LittlePodder, and to bid Laura a warm welcome.

Laura, welcome to LittlePod! First things first – and we hope you don’t mind us mentioning it – but you don’t sound particularly Devonian.

That’s because I’m not! I’m from Australia – the land of golden soil.

So Farringdon couldn’t be much further from home then?

No, but I’ve been over here for quite some time now. In fact, I’m preparing to celebrate my four-year anniversary in the UK in April, having spent a couple of years in London after first making the move from Melbourne, my second home (pictured).

That’s a well-trodden path, but how did you end up on our doorstep in Devon?

Before deciding that Devon would be my home, I spent some time living in Wales and then in Somerset. I think I was slowly gravitating to somewhere that reminded me of home. I grew up on the North-West coast of Tasmania, so for me home is all about beautiful countryside and coastlines. That’s what I love most about Devon.

That and LittlePod, of course.

Yes! I stumbled across LittlePod not too long after I moved to the Exeter area. I’d seen the products in one or two farm shops that I frequented but it wasn’t until I met Janet that I realised the full extent of LittlePod’s Campaign for Real Vanilla, or understood how much synthetic vanilla is used and how important it is for us to support the farmers growing real vanilla in the Equatorial regions.   

Spoken like a true LittlePodder! So what is it about this place that most appeals?

The thing that intrigues me the most is LittlePod’s uniqueness, and I don’t think that I grasped this fully until I met Janet and the team.

What in particular do you think is so special about LittlePod?

You just wouldn’t believe that a business like LittlePod could be found in a small village like Farringdon, not just creating products that such a lot of people love, but also doing it in a way that benefits vanilla farmers and their families so far away, and the precious ecosystems that surround them.

It’s a good point. How much did you know about vanilla – what it is and where it comes from – before you joined us this month?

Very little, if I’m honest. Being someone who grew up on a small farm and has a good understanding and knowledge of where real food comes from, it shocked me that I hadn’t stopped to think about what I was really buying when it came to vanilla.

You’re far from alone in this regard, to be fair.

Yes, but I’ve always been such a big supporter of buying local and seasonal products where I can. If anything, joining LittlePod and gaining this knowledge has encouraged me to be even more aware of the products I buy, and to always consider whether or not I’m supporting sustainable practices in the shopping choices I make.

You’re really speaking our language now.

It’s just so important and I definitely share LittlePod’s passion for real ingredients and sustainability. It’s like a circle: in buying and using real vanilla we’re supporting the farmers, and if we support the farmers they’ll continue to grow the vanilla orchid, promoting a polyculture and preserving biodiversity, which is essential for our ecosystems to thrive. Using real vanilla creates a positive domino effect, and here at LittlePod, we’re playing such an important part in that.

You haven’t been here long, but it’s obvious you’ve fitted in straight away. Tell us about a typical day at LittlePod.

There’s no such thing as a typical day at LittlePod, but I mean that in the best way. There’s always something new and exciting in the pipeline and I love that.

There’s quite often cake too.

There is, and like Janet, I love to bake! I love how food brings people together and I’ve seen that here at LittlePod already. The last thing I baked was a Victoria Sponge (pictured), filled with vanilla cream (made using LittlePod’s vanilla paste, of course).

Of course! So when are you going to treat us to some Australian bakes?

I do have a few Aussie favourites that I’ll be sharing soon. You should expect a pavlova to make an appearance at some point and I’m also interested in adding a LittlePod twist to some of the classics like Lamingtons and Fairy Bread.

We reckon those would prove popular both here in East Devon and Down Under!

Yes indeed and I’ve begun to spread the word about LittlePod’s Campaign for Real Vanilla back home in Australia already. I’ve got plenty of friends and family members who are all keen to get their hands on some LittlePod vanilla paste.

We’re sure we can do something about that! Now, you’re doing a grand job in helping spread the word, but what do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I like to be active, whether that’s spending time at gym, going out on a hike or taking up a new sport (currently boxing). If I’m not baking and the sun is shining, you can usually find me at the beach.

That’s the Aussie in you! Before we finish and get back to work, if you had to describe LittlePod in just three words, what would they be?

Wholesome, positive and vibrant.

We like that a lot! Finally, do you have a closing message for anyone else who is keen to follow your lead and join LittlePod’s Campaign for Real Vanilla?

What are you waiting for guys? Throw out the artificial vanilla essence, join our campaign and be sure to keep it REAL in the kitchen!

Our thoughts exactly!

Giving thanks to Laura for her contribution to our Campaign for Real Vanilla so far! Such a valuable addition to the LittlePod team, we look forward to continuing to work together and spreading the word about REAL vanilla, both at home and abroad.