Food
The largest contribution to our carbon emissions is from the food we eat. Pesticides, fertilisers, irrigation, transport, packaging. In 2000, 80% of the food consumed in london came from outside the UK and air freighting has more than trebled in the past 20 years.
Is eating more fruit and vegatables and less meat is not only more healthy and environmentally better?
How can we buy more organic? How can we buying more locally produced food?
How about growing your own?
How can we reduce the amount of energy Merton consumes through Food?
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sustainablemerton said,
July 30, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Herewith a quick note of the very successful meeting held on the 10th July. Most of the time was taken up by everyone telling the group a little about their involvement in a variety of things and their aspirations for the group. Details are as follows:
· Naomi Al-Seffar
Attended the original meeting for a new group to be set up in London. Particularly interested in growing food in a confined area. Would like to be involved and then perhaps initiate something in Northwest London based on the experience with this group.
· Tim Gundry-White
Set up Spa Hill Organic Gardening Group (SHOGG) which was looking at getting started on organic growing and getting a standard agreed with Soil Association for the allotment site as a whole that could perhaps be an intermediate or “in conversion” type equivalent. The group still runs and has funding to run training courses and also does outreach work into schools. Contact: http://www.spahill.org and the London allotment website
· Auriel Glanville
FOE co-ordinator in Wimbledon. Currently involved in setting up Farmers’ Market in Raynes Park with Dave Bescovani. Runs a co-operative allotment – concerned about regulation of allotments and interested in approaching Merton for keyholder concept. Would also be interested in conducting an allotment audit.
· Erica Bower
Ecologist freelance writer and photographer on environmental educational materials, just published in a bestseller called Slice of Organic Life which has reached the top 10 in the gardening section of Waterstone’s! Based in Richmond, interested in general education of public and is an allotment-holder.
· John Barker
Organic gardener for last 18yrs runs allotment and looking into introducing bee-keeping on the allotment. Also involved in Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and wants to work with organic breweries on the dual issue of waste/compost.
· Tom Walsh
Co-organiser of Sustainable Merton info@sustainablemerton.org.uk with Mike Dees (below) which has an umbrella role for drawing together groups which want to promote the message of sustainability. Currently has funding from the Community Champions Fund http://www.dfes.gov.uk/communitychampions and is currently sorting out housing of the group in the grounds of Mordern Hall Park, a National Trust property. Interested in the education of adults and children, has been eco-schools officer and is particularly interested in taking forward projects in schools on growing, waste and connection with the Earth and where food comes from.
· Seb Mayfield
Set up Food Up Front following his experience of growing food successfully on a third floor flat’s limited balcony and the idea taking off! Now supplies about 30 people with advice, container statrer packs across Wandsworth and Lambeth and has even appeared recently on BBC2’s programme covering the Hampton Court Flower Show. Funding for his project came from Unltd http://www.foodupfront.org
· Corinne Gautier-Capes
Keen on allotment growing and producing local food. Also has connections with sustainable merton (above).
· Mike Dees
Co-organiser with Tom Walsh of sustainable merton (see above). Interested in growing food locally and explained about the food event which is planned for September/ October which this group could carry forward. Interested in getting food projects off the ground that will help Merton to source its food more locally, this could include community supported agriculture, community allotments, local box schemes, community composting, Seb’s project and many others. Has a contact at the Croydon Food Forum which is another thing we could set up in Merton. Also Sustainable Merton is holding a food event to encourage people to get involved in setting up projects
· Tom Palmer
Member of Enhance for London. Primarily interested in food recycling and food waste.
· Belinda Thomas
Became co-ordinator of this group after person intiating it moved! Member of Merton Parents for better food in schools http://www.mertonparents.co.uk and recently involved with sustainable merton. Interested in all aspects mentioned in the letter which was sent out but most importantly involving schools in food growing and producing, waste and recycling and food education. Also keen to build up network and look at food co-operatives where we could purchase as a group in bulk and reduce the cost.
*
The meeting decided that it would be a good idea to focus, as a first project, on getting something together for the Sustainable Merton food project event. It is hoped this could take place in September or October and that harvest festival time might be an appropriate time for this.
One of the group who was unable to attend the meeting, Martin Lam, is a chef at Ransome’s Dock and has kindly offered to host something for the group there. Belinda agreed to get in touch with him to see whether we could perhaps take up this offer to have this as the venue for our next meeting which could be used to plan the above event.
Finally there is a meeting of local group co-ordinators during the Soil Association festival in Bristol on the 1st September. Belinda has said that she will go but the SA are offering reasonable travel and overnight expenses plus entry to the festival for two people per group. If anyone is interested in attending this please let Belinda know asap.
email info@sustainablemerton.org.uk for more info