9. Food + Farming
Our choices over where
we buy food and what we eat is creating extra traffic and aeroplane journeys –
known as ‘food miles’. Our actions are causing climate change, so eating food
grown locally makes sense.
Manufacturing fertilizers uses fossil fuels – 17% of
all fuel used in the US is for making fertilizers, so organically grown food
has less impact on the climate.
Food impacts on the environment at every stage of its
life cycle – so think about how and where it’s grown, how you source it, how it
got to you and how you dispose of it. The ultimate answer if you want food that
is healthy, from a known source and has no food miles, is to grow your own in
your garden or local allotment!
1. Look for the country of origin sticker on
fruit and buy British.
2. Learn to read labels on food and become
aware of the different ingredients.
Don't buy cheap
chicken meat from supermarkets - the RSPCA is nowcampaigning about the
cruelty involved in producing it.
Local food
Shropshire is a farming county. Most of us enjoy living here because of the
unique landscape this gives us. To cut down on food miles and support your
local economies try and buy your food locally.
Avoid the supermarkets, which exacerbate climate change by
transporting food from around the world and creating tonnes of unnecessary
packaging. Adapt your diet to suit the seasons – strawberries don’t grow in British
winters, and taste better in summer anyway!
Root vegetables accumulate more pesticides
than other veg., so buy organic ones. TOP TIP
Farming
Most people would expect that we grow food to provide us with
energy. However, it is a long time since farming in the developed world has produced
more energy than it uses. When you add in the manufacture and transport of fertilizers,
the ever increasing use of machinery, and the eventual transport of food to
retailers, the energy value of the food grown is a small proportion. That’s one
of the reasons FoE supports organic farming and local food.
Growing organically uses different methods to provide fertility,
such as composting and green manures - traditional organic farms use more labour
than conventional ones, with less reliance on fossil fuels.
Buying local food not only cuts down ‘food miles’, it also helps
support a vibrant rural community. There are a number of ways you can take part
– most wholefood shops source local fresh produce, box schemes deliver mostly
local vegetables and fruit as far as possible (we don’t grow oranges here –
yet!)
Look out for CSA schemes (Community Supported Agriculture) in
which you help with the labour and running costs of growing, and receive your
returns in produce.
Using intensive farming methods has other disadvantages – nitrogen
fertilizers dissolve and run off into rivers and lakes, changing these eco-systems,
causing harm to fish and other creatures. In the worst cases, it can lead to eutrification
and the formation of ‘algal blooms’ which are both unsightly and damaging to wildlife.
Use of such fertilizers instead of more traditional composts and animal manures
also affects the structure of the soil, leaving it less able to absorb water,
and lowers the micronutrients.
Studies suggest that food has a lower nutritional value than in
the past.
Demeter is
another logo to look out for – it is the symbol for biodynamic production –
organic and beyond.
Look out for the Soil Association logo
which shows that food is certified to strict organic standards.
Fairtrade
Fair-trade products tend to ensure producers meet good environmental
practices. The Shropshire Fairtrade Guide is in the Fairtrade Shop in St John’s
Hill (see below). W: www.shropshirefairtrade.org.uk
Oswestry, Ludlow
and Bridgnorth are Fairtrade status towns.
Eating
out Locally– Cafes & Restaurants
Berrys Coffee House
17 High St., Church Stretton.
T:
01694 724452
Organic, fairly traded, uses local producers
& suppliers.
The Fruit Bowl
4a Belmont, Shrewsbury (opp. Shropshire Buddies) LGBT drop in, friendly & welcoming.
1st Sat each month 12-4pm.
Goodlife Wholefood Restaurant
Barracks Passage, Shrewsbury
SY1
T:
01743 350455
Healthy, nutritious environmentally friendly
food.
The Three Fishes Inn
Fish Street, Shrewsbury,
SY11UR
T:
01743 344793
Shropshire’s first smoke free pub, sometimes has organic
beer.
The Castle Kitchen
The Square, Montgomery
T:
01686 668795
Reopened. A cafe, delicatessen and resturant,
selling where possible organic & locally grown and produced food.
Sustainability specialist Ruth Hepworth
T:
07870 332650 E: ruthhep@gmail.com
Sustainable food, workshops, presentations, education,
etc.
Shopping
– local foods
Appleyards
High Street, Shrewsbury
T:
01743 240180
A deli which gives out plastic bags,
but also sell 4 or 5 types of reusable bags, including 'Turtle' string bags,
and simple ones made out of recycled cement bags! Stock a range of vegan cakes,
local and organic foods
Deli on the Square
Fish Street, Shrewsbury
T:
01743 356349.
Uses local suppliers, some organic, sell their
own canvas shopping bag.
Five Acres
Ford, SY5 9LL
T:
01743 850832
Sells organic apples, plums, damsons. Soft
fruit in season.
Healing Touch Ltd.
Unit 25, The Marches, Darwin Centre,
Shrewsbury SY1 1BW
T:
01743 241994
Health foods, salad bar, vegetarian and vegan sandwiches,
frozen food.
Hafren Organics
5 Greyfriars Bridge, Longden Coleham
Shrewsbury SY3 7DS
T:
01743 261414 E: doctorfi38@hotmail.com
All kinds of organic supplies. Weekly veg box,
will deliver anything from shop.
Update - March 2008 - Closing soon, but to be replaced by another whole food shop.
Hi Peak Organic Food
4 Bowbrook Grange, Shrewsbury
SY3 8XT
T:
01743 231211
Organic eggs.
Shrewsbury Fairtrade Shop
8 St. Johns Hill,
SY1 1JD
T:
07703 155763
Sells ethical produce from developing countries,
run by volunteers.
Shrewsbury Indoor Market
T:
281120 (SABC)
Support this market. Sells some local produce,
some organic (opens Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat)
Shrewsbury Food and Drink Fair
T:
01746 785185
1st Friday of the month in The Square.
R F & M D Vaughan
Benthall Farm, Alberbury
Road, Ford,
Shrewsbury, SY5 9NA
T:
01743 850343
Naturally grown potatoes (without chemicals) and
free range eggs. Call in.
Wild Thyme Wholefoods
Castle Gates, Shrewsbury,
SY1 2AQ
T:
01743 364559
An Aladdin’s cave of organic foods,notice
board and educational window displays. They will refill your bottles with cider
vinegar and soy sauce and Ecover.
Co-op
The Co-operative is now
putting fairtrade cotton `bags for life' into its food stores - should be in
all co-operative group stored by the end of summer (priced at 99p)
Organic
Home Delivery
Box Schemes
Box Fresh Organics
T:
01952 770006 E: Box.fresh@virgin.net
W: www.boxfreshorganics.co.uk
Fruit, veg, cheese, meat, honey, apple juice
etc.
Fish in a Box
Hawthorne House, Church Lane,
Moreton,
Nr Newport TF10 9DQ
T:
01952 691453 E: info@fishinabox.co.uk
W:
www.fishinabox.co.uk
Fish packed using compostable pads and film.
Working on biodegradable box – currently recycle
polystyrene boxes.
Food for Thought
Unit 3, Heath Hill Industrial
Estate, TF4 2RH
T:
01952 630145
W:
www.liveorganic.com
W: www.ecoal.co.uk
On-line organic and Fair Trade food.
Graig Farm Organics
Dolau, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. LDl 5TL
T:
01597 851655
W:
www.graigfarm.co.uk
Extensive range of organic foods available by
mail order.
Hafren Organics (see above.)
Local Feast
T:
01691 690636
W:
www.localfeast.co.uk
Mail order delivery of locally produced food
in the Oswestry area. Deliver to Shropshire
for £3.50.
Includes organic and free range. Collaborative
marketing group of about 25 local producers.
Myriad Organics By Order
22 Corve Street,
Ludlow, SY8 1DA
T: 01588 874888 (box scheme)
T: 01584 872665 (Myriad Wholefood Shop)
W: www.organicbyorder.co.uk
The first to establish itself in Shropshire,
now in a shop. Now sell wholefoods in the box scheme, but want new customers to
defect from the big 5 supermarkets, other customers should remain faithful to
their local wholefood shops.
Producers
Bings Heath Smokery
T: 01939 250141
W: www.bingsheathsmokery.co.uk
Smoked wild salmon and sea trout, free range chicken
breast. Mail order or deliver.
Bonbonniers
T: 07962 815508
Handmade organic chocolate truffles. Currently on sale at Shrewsbury’s Farmers
Market. (1st Friday, The Square)
Broomhill Farm
Broomhill
Farm, Nescliffe
T: 01743 891279
Free-range geese, no routine use of antibiotics.
Churncote Farm Shop
Welshpool Rd,
Bicton Heath
T: 01743 850273
Fresh fruit and free-range eggs, cakes, pickles, preserves
and fresh flowers. Home produced lamb and pork, local beef.
Fordhall Farm
Tern Hill Road,
Market Drayton,
Shropshire,
TF9 3PS
T: 01630 638696
W: www.fordhallfarm.com
Community owned farm, shop sells beef, lamb and pork, dry
cured bacon, pork sausages, free range organic eggs, fresh locally grown vegetables,
Shropshire honey, jams, organic ice cream and
organic speciality cheeses.
Get Real (Organic Foods Ltd.)
Shotton
Farm, Harmer Hill, Shr’sbury, SY4 3DN
W: www.get-real.co.uk
Home Farm
Condover,
Shrewsbury.
T: 01743 872864
Free range turkeys, no routine use of antibiotics
Hopesay
Glebe
Farm, Craven Arms, SY7 8HD
E: phil.more@hopesay.freeserve.co.uk
Sell organic fruit and veg, eggs and honey in Shrewsbury
Market on Fridays and Saturdays.
Thank Goodness
2 Granville Avenue,
Newport,
Shrops,
TF10 7DX
T: 01952 813767 E: nutroast@beeb.net
Locally made nut roasts.
Organic Smokehouse
Clunbury
Hall, Clunbury, Craven Arms SY7 0HG
T: 01588 660 206
W: www.organicsmokehouse.com
Organic butter, salmon and cheese artfully smoked.
Martin Peck
The
Barn, Hirnant, Oswestry, SY10 0HS
T: 01691 870322
Award-winning organic meat raised on certified Soil
Association farm.
Pimhill Organic Farm
Lea
Hall, Harmer Hill, SY4 3DY
T: 01939 290342
Long-standing organic farm near Shrewsbury, specialise in organic flour and oats.
(Stocked at Christopher’s Fine Foods and Wild Thyme.)
Wroxeter Roman Vineyard
Wroxeter,
SY4 6PQ
T: 01743 761888
W: www.wroxetervineyard.co.uk
Historic vineyard produces organic wine.
Organisations
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG)
Walford
College,
Baschurch.
T: 01939 262150
W: www.fwag.org.uk
Promotes the integration of conservation &
agriculture.
GM food campaign visit:
W: www.gmfreeshropshire.org.uk
Organic Farmers and Growers
Elim
Centre, Lancaster Rd,
Shr’sbury, SY1 3LE
T: 01743 440512, 0845 3305155
W: www.organicfarmers.org.uk
Carries out the inspection and licensing of organic farming
and food producers across the UK.
The Slow Food Movement
T: 01584 875548 E: john@foodfestival.co.uk
W: www.slowfoodludlow.org.uk
Celebrate quality and flavour in food.
Wholesome Food Association
Ball
Cottage, East Ball Hill, Hartland,
Devon EX39 6BU
T: 01237 441118
W: www.wholesomefood.org.uk
Self-certified chemical free food organisation.
Allotments
Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council
T: 01743 281039
Various sites throughout Shrewsbury’s urban area.
Further
Afield
Biodynamic Agricultural Association
Painswick
Inn, Stroud, Glos.,
T: 01453 759501 E: Boffice@biodynamic.org.uk
Certifies to Demeter Standards.
Foundation for Local Food Initiatives
PO Box 1234,
Bristol, BS99 2PG
T: 0845 4589525 (For info on community food)
W: www.localfood.org.uk
Greenpeace UK
Canonbury
Villas, London, N1 2PN
T: 02078 658100
W: www.greenpeace.org.uk
Peaceful direct action to campaign against GM food.
Local Food
W: localproduce.org.uk
Web listing of producers, farm shops, markets & local
food stockists in N. Shrops & S. Cheshire.
Soil Association
40-56 Victoria Street,
Bristol, BS1 6BY
T: 0117 314 5000
W: www.soilassociation.org.uk
Sustain
94 White Lion St,
London, N1 9PF
W: www.sustainweb.org
Alliance for better food and farming.
The Vegetarian Society
Parkdale,
Dunham Rd.,
Altrincham,
Cheshire,
WA14 4QG
T: 0160 925 2000
W: www.vegsoc.org
The Vegan Society
Donald
Watson House, 7 Battle Rd.,
St.Leonards-on-Sea,
E.Sussex TN37 7AA
T: 01424 427393
W: www.vegansociety.com
Viva
12,Queen Square,Brighton BN13FD
T: 01273 777688
W: www.viva.org.uk
Campaigning charity pro vegetarianism and veganism, and
anti-fur use.
See
www.theShoppersBible.com for
local shops.