Little Wenlock C Red
Little Wenlock Carbon Reduction Action Group Newsletter
(Aiming to reduce our carbon emissions)
Newsletter 11
What has FOOD to do with ENERGY?
Answer: food miles, fertilisers & pesticides using oil; food waste and livestock creating methane; bio fuels competing for land with food crops; & food prices that are oil dependent.
Marilyn and Patrick tell us they have been looking for food with their carbon footprint in mind! Their aim is to buy local, seasonal produce with as little packaging and waste as possible. Here is where they have got to with their search. Please let us know your own solutions, by posting a message via ‘contact us’ on this site.
Patrick’s Home Grown fruit and vegetables beat everything of course! Local, seasonal, fresh and absolutely no packaging or chemical fertilisers, just home made compost and horse muck! Exercise and fresh air for ageing joints and circulation come as an extra freebie! And the greenhouse doubles as a cosy winter café/ bar and bird watching hide.
Food for Thought, a warehouse on the Heath Hill industrial estate, Dawley is quite a find.
Open Mon-Thurs only, and specialising in organic food, including high quality, sustainably produced frozen fish and meat, and lots of eco brands. The stock is not primarily local and the prices reflect the specialist nature of the shop, but it’s a real plus to have this specialist supplier so near.
A telephone order will produce home deliveries in cardboard boxes. www.ecoal.co.uk
Wellington and Much Wenlock Markets offer good local, fresh produce at fair prices and the experience of shopping in the markets is fun. The lack of a shopping trolley concentrates the mind wonderfully on selecting only what is absolutely necessary as well, though this may mean more shopping trips with a gas guzzling vehicle.
Fish that don't fly! The Fish Man with a difference is another great find. Call Garry on 07908 499660 for dry frozen fish brought ashore in Devon, travels by road to his Ironbridge-based home delivery service. So no air miles here, but a good range and a ‘just caught’ taste!
Supermarkets are near, cheap and convenient, but they are responsible for most of the food miles. If you work hard at it, amongst the enormous choice, it is possible to buy clearly marked local food such as Shropshire Potatoes! Some fruit and vegetables are also unpackaged, so less waste is created for landfill. The stores now have a points system to encourage customers to bring their own bags as well (best stored in the car!). Ordering online must save the gas guzzling too.
Slow Cookers are supposed to use less energy, does anyone have any experience they could share?
Recycling: Drinks cartons / Tetra Paks can now be taken to new black banks at Sainsburys, Morrisons and Halesfield & Ketley Council sites.
Watch out for a plastic bottle bank arriving in Little Wenlock soon; start saving them now.
Next C Red meeting: Mondy 21st July, 8pm in the pub, come and join us
