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Category Archives: Food

Discussion Group: The Impact of Eating

03 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by Julian Ashworth in Discussion, Food, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

The New Mills Transition Reading Group meets monthly in someone’s home to discuss a book or, occasionally, to watch a film/video or host a speaker. At the September meeting we discussed George Monbiot’s article in the Guardian on 9th August, ‘Here’s the true cost of eating meat. It’s worse than you think’ together with the piece on Silvopasture in ‘Drawdown’ edited by Paul Hawken and other online articles which deal with related subjects.
The George Monbiot article is here:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/08/ipcc-land-climate-report-carbon-cost-meat-dairy
Links to other articles that contributed to our discussion were:
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6392/987
https://greenallianceblog.org.uk/2019/08/20/whats-the-beef-with-beef/
https://www.greenbiz.com/article/6-reasons-why-practice-silvopasture-will-help-save-modern-farming
Monbiot argues in favour of stopping eating meat because of its carbon footprint and to completely cease meat and dairy production in order to increase the rewilding of the countryside. Some thought that these were not the only possibilities and this generated a discussion about land use.
One of the background pieces for Monbiot’s article talks about a variation between best and worst producers of meat by a factor of 50 in terms of environmental impact so it was argued that if the worst producers could be targeted then this would have a far bigger impact than trying to stop production altogether. In addition, mixed farming can use animal manure for fertiliser, reducing dependency on chemicals and associated repercussions like runoff and water pollution.
The discussion included the issue of protein and where that comes from in a plant based diet. Also, referring back to an earlier book (The way we eat now by Bee Wilson) there is the issue of the economics of the food industry and the issues around providing cheap and nutritious food.
The general opinion was that there needs to be a significant reduction in meat consumption and a cultural shift to see a plant based diet as healthier and cheaper. Some of this is already taking place. In addition, it’s not just about personal choice, changes are needed at a government level including the revision of agricultural subsidies to assist the transition and the need for major changes in the food industry. One article mentions the need for a ‘just transition’ for farmers so they are paid properly for the food that they produce.
We discussed food security and the comment in Monbiot’s article about the 55% of UK cropping land being used for livestock feed. Monbiot heavily criticises extensive as against intensive farming of meat but (as discussed with Isabella Tree’s book Wilding) extensive farming can encourage increased biodiversity. Also, the carbon footprint of meat production may conflict with the issue of animal welfare. There are both ethical and environmental grounds for changing to a plant based diet but some may be more amenable to a process of reduction rather than sudden elimination.
Our next meeting is Monday October 21st at 8pm and the book is The Wall by John Lanchester
You don’t have to read the books to come along – someone will give a synopsis and all input to the discussion is welcome. Email transition.newmills@gmail.org for details of venue.

Many thanks to Sue Cooper for the post.

Reading Group: ‘The Running Hare’

23 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by Julian Ashworth in Biodiversity, Discussion, Food, Rewilding, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Blog post by Sue Cooper, Transition New Mills Reading Group

The New Mills Transition Discussion Group meets monthly in someone’s home to discuss a book or, occasionally, to watch a film/video or host a speaker.

Our book this month was The Running Hare (The secret life of farmland) by John Lewis-Stempel published by Penguin Books. In some ways this followed a theme set last time in our discussions of Wilding by Isabella Tree, looking at what happens when land is managed or farmed differently to the modern methods of intensive agriculture – in this case a field in Herefordshire which the author takes on for a year to grow a crop of wheat, using traditional farming methods, and a wide border of wildflowers.

The results are fascinating and heartening, showing the power of nature to recover from the mono-cultures of agribusiness which create quite ‘dead’ environments, as well as a celebration and appreciation of the skills and cultural history of traditional agricultural workers.

This book was a ‘lighter’ read than our usual fare; as well as being an observant ecologist cataloguing and describing the emerging and changing flora and fauna he includes anecdotes of rural life, poetry, songs, discourses on agricultural history, language and literature, a rich weave of fascinating facts and engaging descriptions. Some of us found his style of writing attractive, enjoying the richness and depth, others were less enthusiastic, but all agreed that is was an interesting read and a welcome reminder of the rhythm of the seasons and a celebration of our connection to the natural world.

It is an open criticism of modern agricultural methods; he writes of the ‘chemical brothers’ in the next field whose use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers together with modern farm machinery delivers high yields but a mono-cultural environment, ‘every time one buys the lie of cheap food a flower or a bird dies’. His field produces an abundance and variety of wild flowers, attracts all kinds of wild life including the hares of the title and also produces a decent crop of wheat but at the cost of some heavy physical work. No easy answers. We had a lively discussion on the book which moved on to include a debate on the Common Agricultural Policy, farming subsidies and Brexit, and the worrying issue of modern disengagement from the natural world.

Our next meeting, on Monday February 18th, will look at the 12 principles of permaculture, through song! Contact us at transition.newmills@gmail.com for details.

Transition New Mills December Newsletter

08 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by Julian Ashworth in Discussion, Energy, Events, Food, News

≈ 1 Comment

Season’s Greetings to all Transition New Mills supporters! There have been strong signs of hope in what has often been a difficult year. Frequently these have come as a result of ordinary people doing wonderful things for their own communities. New Mills is fortunate to have a good number of active citizens, contributing in their own ways, without whom all our lives would be much poorer – so thanks to you all! Transition is all about local action, and there are some opportunities below. Please contact us on transition.newmills@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved!
Incredible Edible update

Some progress has been made on the projects mentioned in October’s newsletter, and we hope to be able to bring you some positive results on all three in the New Year:

  • New Mills Primary School are working on a funding package for improvements to their edible garden capabilities, including the installation of a greenhouse ,
  • a proposal has been tabled for the creation of a series of planters around the town with edible plants
  • funding has been committed by New Mills Community Orchard for the creation of a Forest Garden trial; a planting session will be arranged for spring 2017.

These are great practical projects; if you want to get involved, email us at transition.newmills@gmail.com
Egg Map

In addition, we are working on a town egg map. This will map the locations where you can buy locally produced eggs, normally using an honesty box. In future, this concept can easily be extended to cover many other locally produced items, ending up with a local directory, maybe something like Falmouth’s. If you know of any locations, or you want to sell eggs or other sustainable local produce yourself, let us know and we can put it on the map.

Discussion Group Next Meeting

The group is tackling the Universal Basic Income as its next topic; an attempt to get away from linking income with work or benefits. Here’s a short introductory video explaining the concept.
Sue will also give a report on her recent visit to Marrakech during COP22. The meeting is on Monday 12th December at 8pm; all are welcome. Please contact us on transition.newmills@gmail.com for details if you want to go.
New Transition movement website

The Transition Network now have a brand  new website! It’s not just a re-design; they have started afresh, making it more readable and accessible, and are introducing new features and lots more specific content.  Check it out with this link to our launch blog from Rob Hopkins, where he explains some of the key elements of the new site, and helps you find the things of greatest importance to you.
The Gift of Death

Before you buy any further Christmas presents; just bear in mind the consequences!  I’ve recycled one of my favourite George Monbiot articles from a few years back on what does and doesn’t make a good Xmas gift.
How to Save Energy and Be Warmer

Dreading the next fuel bill? A few years ago I participated a Global Action plan project on everyday household sustainable living, and created a series of handy ‘top tips’ guides, with a range of solutions to suit different interests, abilities and pockets. Rather than waste them, we’ll be offering them up in the newsletter at intervals, and putting them on our website. Check out this month’s, topically on energy use, and make it your New Year Resolution to try some out.

Local Giving

Any donations through our Local Giving site will be matched using lottery cash. This offer lasts until April 2017, and could give us up to £500 of free cash! Needless to say, we are very keen to reach this target, and being an environmentally based group there is flexibility over the projects for which we can use the money. Please help us reach this total in a very efficient way by donating as much as you feel comfortable at Transition New Mills | Localgiving

Forthcoming events

Discussion Group Monday 12th December, 8pm On the Universal Basic Income. Email transition.newmills@gmail.com for details
Solstice Stroll, Wednesday 21st December, 6-9pm Come and celebrate the Winter Solstice, with a gentle stroll visiting some of New Mills’ pubs, from the Masons Arms, through the town centre, to the Rock Tavern. May involve litter picking on the way!

The Parties Respond to Our Questions! Q3 – Local Food

29 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Michael Daw in Food, Politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Conservative Party, General election 2015, Green Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrat Party, UKIP

Election signpost

Here’s the third blog in our series of High Peak General Election candidate responses to our questions. The full, unedited responses for this question are available in this document: Candidates Responses-Q3.

What initiatives would you introduce that would support local food producers and farmers to sell their produce in an environment dominated by a small number of large food retailers?

Caitlin Bisknell (Labour)

As Leader of High Peak Borough Council Caitlin has championed schemes such as the Serpentine Farm in Buxton which aims to renovate the former council nursery to grow food and offer training, and Totally Locally Glossop which brings together local independent businesses. Caitlin also tries to use local shops as much as possible for all her shopping.

Caitlin would also work to improve access to public sector supply chains for local food producers and farms by encouraging the division of contracts into smaller lots they are able to bid for, such as through Derbyshire County Council’s Source Derbyshire and Trusted Trader schemes.

Labour would give local communities the tools they need to protect and improve nature and supports changes to the Common Agriculture Policy to do more to protect the environment.

Stephen Worrall (Liberal Democrats)

Farming support from the government should be focussed on ‘sustainable farming’, such as support for local food producers and farmers selling their produce locally. Stephen thinks there is a societal change happening, in which people care more where there food comes from and are willing to pay more for locally-produced and well-produced food. Central government should help accelerate this trend with information campaigns; local government could provide more support for farmers’ markets and similar food events.

UKIP

UKIP’s policies on agriculture and fishing include: leaving the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and instituting a British Single Farm Payment for farms; letting the British parliament vote on GM foods; leaving the Common Fisheries Policy and reinstating British territorial waters; making foreign trawlers apply for fishing permits to fish British waters when fish stocks have returned to sustainable levels; labelling food to include country of origin, method of production, method of slaughter, hormones and genetic additives; and abolition of the export of live animals for slaughter.

Andrew Bingham (Conservative)

Andrew says that there is becoming a more prevalent attitude to food provenance with people looking towards locally produced foods and ‘artisan’ ranges and, when given the chance, preferring to buy locally High Peak produced goods. Farm shops and farmers’ markets allow farmers to sell food and other produce direct to the general public. This benefits both farmer and consumer as it increases profit margins while offering locally produced fresh foods.

All the products on sale at farmers’ markets should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholder. Such markets help cut out the middleman and improve financial returns; help producers receive direct customer feedback; reduce the costs of transport and packaging; have a regular market outlet, which is important for new producers, producers in organic conversion and small scale producers.

Charlotte Farrell (Green)

Charlotte says that the Greens will require local authorities and communities to draw up local food plans to safeguard and encourage local processing, distribution and retailing of produce; encourage non-commercial food production and community involvement in food growing, such as allotments, urban food growing, community orchards, and school gardens. In the long term, we will enable all communities to have access to and control of land that can be used for growing basic needs.

The Greens would also limit the power of supermarkets and global corporations, and use planning regulations to favour local markets. The Greens would also encourage local authorities to favour local suppliers in their procurement of food, such as schools using local produce.

Growing Spaces at New Mills Community Orchard Apple Day

14 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Julian Ashworth in Events, Food

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

community orchard, food

appleday6 poster

New Mills Community Orchard will be holding their 6th annual Apple Day celebration as part of the festival on Sunday 28th September, 2pm-4pm, at the High Lea orchard.

The Community Orchard supports the Growing Spaces project, and it is anticipated that this year’s event will include two things in particular that may interest you:

  • a Produce Swap table: if you’ve a glut of fruit or veg crops at the moment, bring surplus produce along and swap them with other growers
  • Growing advice from local gardeners: if you’ve a question about growing fruit or veg in New Mills, come along and ask the advisors

As well as these, of course its a great family afternoon out, and has the added attraction of the Powderkegs Morris group!

Hope to see you there!

Julian, on behalf of New Mills Community Orchard

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