Christine var både svært musikalsk, hadde kunnskap om botanikk, astrologi og kokekunst. Ho var oppteken av den lækjande krafta til urter, og sjuke folke kom ofte til henne for å få hjelp. Christine skreiv ned ei stor mengde oppskrifter.

Oldebarnet Edvard Munch var også oppteken av mat, spesielt grønsaker, og hadde rikeleg av det både i Åsgårdsstrand og på Ekely, som opprinneleg var eit gartneri. Edvard skifta kostvaner då han vart eldre og vart overtydd vegetarianar. På Ekely heldt han høner og nokre kalvar, men det fyrst og fremst for hygga, ikkje for å få mat til hushaldninga. 70 år gamal skriv han til si syster Inger:

«Kjød er gift og skaffer gigt. Ligeså spiretuosa og øl. Jeg er som et nyt menneske siden jeg har blit vegetarianer».

Munch likte best enkel husmannskost og refererte til restaurantmat som «..den fæle fantefine Restaurant-kosten der blot forderver Maven».

Kjelder: Nome, Mysteriet Munch, 2020. www.ullinsvin.no

VEGETABLES – A MOTIF AS WELL AS NOURISHMENT

Christine Storm Munch (1746-1825), Edvard Munch’s great-grandmother in Vågå, lived most of her life at Ullinsvin. She was the daughter of pastor Johan Storm, and later married Peter Munch – also a pastor.

Christine had great musical talent as well as vast knowledge of botany, astrology and cooking. She was interested in the healing power of herbs, and people often came to her for help with their ailments. Christine kept an extensive archive of recipes.

Her great-grandson, Edvard Munch, was also interested in food, and in particular vegetables – something of which he had plenty of in Åsgårdsstrand as well as at Ekely, the latter being a former plant nursery. As Edvard advanced in years, he changed his eating habits and became a vegetarian. He kept chickens and some cattle at Ekely, but these were first and foremost considered pets and not a means to feed the household. At age 70, he writes to his sister Inger: “Meat is poison and gives you gout. Just like liquor and beer. Since becoming a vegetarian, I am like a new human being.”

Munch preferred basic, hearty farm food, and referred to restaurant food as «..the horrible pretentious restaurant fare that ruins the stomach».

Sources: Nome, Mysteriet Munch, 2020. www.ullinsvin.no