More than a name - Jake shines a light on 'something that has given my life more meaning than almost anything that I do' - and Jake goes shopping

The last 24 hours have been hours to savour indeed and it hasn't ended yet. We've had truly extraordinary and beautiful photographs of Jake Gyllenhaal walking in Beverly Hills, looking for all the world like he was intentionally walking towards that camera. Then, photos from last month of Ramona playing on the swings of Central Park with Uncle Jake and, finally, another set of photographs of Ramona having lunch with Uncle and Mum at Ammo in Los Angeles, just yesterday. And now we have a video from Jake's visit last month to a school in LA for Global Green Initiative. There is a short version and a long version, but why bother with the short when you can have a full ten minutes of Jake talking about what is clearly one of the passions he has in his life?



As someone whose best friend is a chef, and a chef who has been spreading the word about farming, harvesting, and the preparation and cooking of local produce, it's no surprise to hear Jake say that 'Some of my closest friends are farmers and it's something that has given my life more meaning than almost anything that I do.' That's some statement but in keeping with the comments that Jake has made over the years about his love for cooking, for growing food on Martha's Vineyard and for using local, fresh ingredients. This is that area of his life which has almost been presented as 'The Alternative' to how Jake's life has progressed in reality, in front of the camera. So, if any actor is suited to give his name to this cause, to turn cities green, then it's Jake.


'When you see something like a vacant alleyway that could be nothing and could just serve as a depressing view out of your classroom in the middle of a boring class, you can see that it can be transformed into something like this, that gives kids hope, that teaches kids about the science of growth and just about their environment and what they can do to change it. It's really inspiring and it's inexpensive and gives back so much more than we can put into it. So it's really an incredible thing to see.'


'They talk about how they walk around and how they don't see any green in the environment in which they live and this is one of the only places they can come where there's green and there's trees and there's life. And for most of the country, I think they are surrounded by a lot of green, but in a massive city like Los Angeles, it's surprising how little green there is.'


Global Green USA President Matt Peterson: 'Having Jake out here means a lot to us because he helps shine a light on not just the challenges that we face as society - everybody is aware now of climate change - but to really connect the dots between how something like this is - this school garden - helps improve the lives of kids. And him being here today, to give his time and learn from the kids and shine the light on what they're doing is so important.'


Jake: 'I wouldn't be involved in something I didn't feel like I could... I had actual experience in. I know all these plants, I've grown them myself. I feel like I know how much they can give to other people's and I know - I see how much he [Matt] has given to these kids, and so, it's not just someone coming in to lend their name - it's someone who cares very deeply about this and I really do...'


'I want the Inuit kids to see that things are possible, that people are doing things to help them as it's hard to grow things in the Arctic Circle! But to know that there are other children somewhere else helping them, helping the life that they love so much survive, somewhere they're all connected.'


'I think that making a garden like this, thought it has its own administrative challenges, ultimately, it's incredibly easy and really inspiring and with one seed many seeds can grow. You go to www.globalgreen.org, you can find out more about how to green your school and your life.'


Such a pleasure to hear Jake's voice at length, and Jake introducing himself on the Green Bus, and saying such delights as 'Those are tasty' - they are indeed.


Jake out shopping in Beverly Hills, 26 March

Many thanks to IHJ for new pictures of Jake shopping today in Beverly Hills wearing a favourite shirt.




Includes pictures from IHJ.