Naked Chef Wants Us to Wear His Woolies

Well known in the UK for his campaign against junk food in British schools, chef and media personality, Jamie Oliver keeps exercising his strong social heart. Oliver, otherwise known as "The Naked Chef," is also the founder of a charity venture called the 15 Foundation.

It started in 2002 when Oliver poured his life-savings into the opening of 15 restaurants around London. Each year he chooses 15 disadvantaged young adults, often with a history of drug abuse or with a criminal record, to be trained in the restaurants. They've been so successful that Oliver has opened more in Amsterdam, Cornwall and Melbourne. To help out, all of the profits from Oliver's bestselling cookbook, Cook with Jamie are also donated to the 15 Foundation.

As the venture grows, it becomes even more intriguing. For these restaurants, Oliver breeds his own sheep for the meat and not wanting to be wasteful, he's using the wool now to sell knitting kits. They can be bought on his Web site alongside other items like oils and vinegars, a "grow your own herb" kit, or wine with Oliver's own label. The knitting kits come with three balls of lambswool, a pair of wooden needles made from sustainable wood called Subabul and patterns for scarves, a beanie and an egg cosy.

Seems the naked chef would like us to keep our "bits" warm this winter.

Photo courtesy really short via flickr.