Hello everyone!
I found this awesome Foodie Penpals idea over at The Lean Green Bean, and I think it’d be great to bring it to the UK – or possibly even Europe, if the interest was there. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, and to know if you’d be interested. Here’s the rough outline of how it works in the US and Canada right now – and work it does! Lindsay has been running the program for six months, and she’s gaining participants all the time.
- All interested parties – bloggers and blog readers alike – sign up by email
- Participants are matched and a spreadsheet is drawn up to show you who your penpal for the month is. I love spreadsheets, this appeals to me a lot
- Penpals get in touch with one another via their blogs or email, to check postal addresses and any food allergies, intolerances or dislikes
- Penpals send thoughtful, food related parcels. They can include home baked treats, shop bought treats (especially local or unusual things), cake cases or decorations – use your imagination. The parcel must include something hand written – a note explaining the box’s contents, a recipe card, whatever you like. The price limit for the boxes is $15 (I’d say £10 or less would be good for our version)
- Penpals open boxes and rejoice!
- At the end of the month, everyone blogs about their box, or writes a guest blog post if they are usually a blog reader and not writer. Everyone reads one another’s posts and rejoices some more
More info is available at The Lean Green Bean. Would really love your comments below, and would also really appreciate you spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter or your own blogs (or to people you meet in real life) so that we can really see if there’s enough friendly bloggers to get this show on the road! If you could link back here so that we can have everyone’s thoughts all in one place, I’d be delighted.
Bloggers and blog readers, unite under the promise of parcels in the mail!
March 1st, 2012 at 12:45 PM
I really like this idea! It’s not something I’d want to commit to every month though as often have so much going on outside of the blogging world so can you sign up on a month by month basis?
The food blogging community is so amazing everyone is so friendly and helpful
x
March 1st, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Yeah it could definitely be a case of opting in every month that you want to, rather than an assumed ongoing thing. I really want to get more involved in the blogging community, and I think this would be a beautiful way to do it! Once again, I say… spread the word and let’s make it happen!
March 1st, 2012 at 1:33 PM
I think this is an awesome idea! I would be well-excited to be involved. I am also and expert on the postal service, so would be glad to lend a hand!
March 1st, 2012 at 10:27 PM
Yes you are definitely the postal expert! It’s a great idea, get spreading the word and let’s make it happen.
March 1st, 2012 at 1:35 PM
What a fun idea.
March 1st, 2012 at 10:28 PM
It sure is – the same goes to you, spread the word and let’s make it happen! Non-UK and Europe bloggers can help out by tweeting or linking to the page here. Think of it as earning Karma points? Also you can sign up with The Lean Green Bean to take part in the US programme
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:53 AM
I haven’t heard of that before. It sounds like a great idea.
March 2nd, 2012 at 9:14 PM
I definitely agree, the thought of all those lovely parcels going around the country makes me glad
March 2nd, 2012 at 5:01 AM
[...] So, if you’re reading over in the UK, or you know any bloggers over there- spread the word! Click here to read Carol Anne’s post about it and if you are a UK or European blogger, let her know if [...]
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:27 AM
I certainly got excited when I received my cake cases in the post the other day so I think this sounds like a great idea!
March 2nd, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Parcels are one of life’s great joys, as far as I’m concerned. I’ll put you on my list! In a good way, of course.
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:53 AM
I live in the Netherlands and would LOVE to participate if you open it up to other European countries! Let me know!
March 2nd, 2012 at 9:20 PM
Thanks Jessi – I’ll definitely keep everyone updated
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:30 PM
Saw someone tweet your post and thought it was a brilliant idea – have been desperate to sign up for the Larder Box where you get sent local foods every month but it’s about £20 which is too expensive for me, so I love the idea of sending people local treats or things you’ve made. Count me in!
March 2nd, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Definitely, I really liked the fact that there’s a price limit rather than a suggested price, so you can suit your own budget. I’m so glad to see that other people think it’s a great idea too!
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Count me in. This is a lovely idea!
March 2nd, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Brilliant! It’s such a sweet idea and it’s going really well in the US and Canada, why should we miss out?
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Sounds amazing! xxx
March 2nd, 2012 at 2:01 PM
I think so, too! Who doesn’t love parcels?
March 2nd, 2012 at 4:20 PM
Fabulous idea! Inspired! I’m in….thank you
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Can’t take any credit for the idea, it’s all Lindsay’s. Once I saw it, I thought ‘we simply MUST have this across the water!’.
March 2nd, 2012 at 4:27 PM
This sounds like a brilliant plan.. would love to be involved, how nice to get a foodie treat in the mail once a month!
Consider the word spread!
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:42 PM
Nice one Fee – parcels are one of my favourite things, both sending and receiving
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:35 PM
I’ve seen some of the posts from the US/Canadian participants and it looks so much fun, I’m definitely keen to get involved!
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:39 PM
This is going well, I think we might really be on to something here
Keep spreading the word!
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:19 PM
Ooooh I’d love to take part! I was starting to get jealous of all of the US pen pals and was thinking us UK people definitely need to be involved already!
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:41 PM
You are so right! I’ll put you on The List (I think it needs capital letters).
March 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM
I’m a food blogger from Boston, MA and just found out about The Lean Green Bean’s foodie penpals and totally want to join in.
I’ve been looking for Glasgow food bloggers (found a few so far) and would love to chat more about the city, its restaurants, and more. So, email if you can!
In September my boyfriend and I are moving to Glasgow for 2 years and I fully intend to continue the blog from there. So, when I saw this idea of extending into the UK I was very excited! Also, imagine my surprise when I saw where you were located?!
In short, once I’m there this Fall I’d love to take part in the UK version!
March 4th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Awesome! What a great coincidence
I’ll be in touch, we can talk Glasgow.
March 4th, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Awesome! Look forward to hearing you! Love the blog- that asparagus/mushroom “risotto” w/ barley looks so good.
March 4th, 2012 at 9:06 PM
OOh this sounds just up my street, please count me in! Looking forward to it already!
March 4th, 2012 at 9:12 PM
Great! I’ll add you to the list for this month, taking late submissions since it’s the first one
Where in the North West are you?
March 4th, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Sorry, I didn’t notice I was late (story of my life!) I’m in St Helens nr Liverpool. Thanks x
March 25th, 2012 at 9:24 PM
[...] interns leaving party, I arrived back home to find my Foodie Penpal parcel, kindly hosted by Carol Anne as the US bloggers had set-up a foodie penpal but obviously us in the UK couldn’t take part! [...]