Stephanie McDonald, a parishioner in Nun’s Cross Church, Killiskey Parish shared their latest Ecotips which are published in their monthly church announcements sheet.
Eco Tips – Food
There is so much conflicting advice about the food we should eat and where we should buy it. One thing is certain, both have changed dramatically in the last 75 years. The first supermarket reportedly appeared in America in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? ”Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.” (Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World). While we clearly cannot all revert to that situation, owing to the massive increase in the world’s population, we can all try to buy more local food – this both supports local farmers / market gardeners and also reduces “food miles” (the distance food has to travel and the fuel used in transport). We can eat food that is in season, as our forebears did, rather than wanting strawberries, for example, all year round. Organically grown food clearly has less environmental impact so is a good option if affordability and availability allow. Try growing some fruit or vegetables yourselves, even a jar of bean sprouts! Ethically produced food is another issue altogether …