Philippa Cameron - Wife, Mother, Teacher, Cook, Author

Meet Philippa Cameron, a rural social media influencer who has many roles - wife, mother, teacher, station cook and, most recently, author to two successful cookbooks.

Pip is completing a tour for her recently released second cookbook ‘Winter Warmers’ in our Jimny over the month of May. Her book focuses on tales from both family and staff who have long connections to Otematata Station, as well as delicious homemade recipes with lots of tips for no-waste cooking.

We took the opportunity to ask her a few questions about her work, the process of creating new recipes and what she’s been enjoying about the Jimny.

1. Tell us a bit about you and what you do.

I am the station cook at Otematata Station in the high country of the Waitaki Valley. I share my ideas and recipes through my Instagram page with my audience of thirty six thousand people. As well as being the cook, I run a successful business, and am the author of two bestselling books. I have two daughters who adore growing up on the station with their dad and I.

2. What is your favourite thing about what you do?

I like that I have created a positive environment for people who hold similar roles to me. I may not be out shifting sheep, milking cows, pruning vineyards or slaying it in a boardroom, but I have created a place where it is okay to be a mother to young children at home and contribute to the farm from my kitchen. And now as my children have gotten older, I am able to build on that role. But my most favourite thing has been the people and friends I have met! We’ve become a wee family.

3. What is your process for creating recipes?

It's not as romantic as you might think. It’s very much a little bit of ‘what’s in the fridge or freezer?’, plus ‘what’s in the garden?’ with a pinch of ‘what’s in the pantry?’. Then using the knowledge of past cooks, and the influence of friends, new recipes are created or old ones are given a refresh.

4. Who inspires you, and why?

There are well known cooks and chefs such as Nadia Lim and Annabel Langbein who have always inspired me, who also have very close connections to the land. I also trust and take inspiration from the many generations of farm and home cooks who have written their favourite recipes in school and community fund-raising cookbooks - they influence me a lot.

5. What do you do when you just want to relax?

I am an active relaxer so when I sit down in the evenings I like to sew or mend clothing using the Japanese inspired sashiko method (which sounds a bit geeky). Sashiko embroidery uses a decorative running stitch in white cotton to create nature inspired designs (except I use multi-coloured cottons).

6. You’ve had the chance to take our Jimny for a spin, what were your first impressions and what is your favourite thing about it?

Being the mother of young farmers (who are often in tow) I have loved that I can install the girls car seats in the back of the Jimny using the ISOFIX in the rear seats. This way we can go from doing a job on farm, to a quick run to the shop for milk. And because of the Jimny’s 4WD capabilities, we are able to access most parts of the farm, which makes every day jobs like opening gates and shifting break fences much warmer than other farm vehicles. It also means that I can whip the smoko out to the staff in any sort of weather and on any type of farm track.

7. What does the future hold for you?

If you had asked me what the future held for me five years ago - this path was most certainly not the one I expected. So I am happy to see what may occur.

I will continue to advocate for positive farming and rural stories, as well as women in the rural sector. It doesn’t matter what the role entails but if it adds to your business, household or sector's success then I am behind you. You could be like me who makes the scones and creates a welcoming atmosphere for people to stop and enjoy a cuppa (it could be the first conversation they have had for the day). You could be the one providing a supplementary income to your household, or perhaps sitting on the board in your community. It doesn’t matter how it looks - it all matters to someone.

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To check out ‘Winter Warmers’ or to find inspiration for your next meal, you can visit Pip's website - “What’sfor Smoko” , and be sure to follow her Instagram to keep up to date with her tour and the locations - @philippacameron_whatsforsmoko.