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Permalink Reply by Diane Stafford on April 18, 2008 at 2:47pm

There are some lovely organic food farm shops nearby Karen which may be another alternative to the supermarkets.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Maskall on April 18, 2008 at 3:14pm

Have you seen Abel & Cole?

I'm not really sure whether the prices my be slightly out of my league at the moment but it would be a fantastic time saver as well being all things good and organic. And I reckon if I set my mind to it and made a strict budget and developed clever menu skills with some good home cooking (gosh I'm hungry now) the price would be more appreciated with less waste.

Yeah less waste is the biggy eh? I've been guilty of far too much of it and if you consider the latest issues re rising food costs etc, I don't think it would be a bad thing sometimes as the cheaper things are the more disposable they are? it's like this mass consumerism and cheap and shoddy products that very soon end up in landfill isn't it?
Oh I'm waffling a bit here aren't I?

So where are my local organic shops around here?
K

As we will be moving house in the next few weeks (all going through fingers crossed) we would be able to have home deliveries which is very very very very appealing to me. Deliveries are dreadful to this apt block so it will be great to get outa here!

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Permalink Reply by Karen Maskall on April 30, 2008 at 10:08am

Hey ho did somebody move the goal posts?

I've just come across this item http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1400794.ece
which now makes me realise that I have to work even harder to make sure that the organic chickens I buy are free range too!
It would be good to find that very reliable and conscientious local farm or as I say home delivery that makes sure these poor hens are reared and treated properly.
If anyone has some links or ideas then it would be great to hear from you.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Barnard on May 16, 2008 at 4:38pm

I try to use my local market more, and local shops run by local people.

In my opinion sometimes it's better to keep it local than to buy hydroponically grown tomatoes out of season and flow in from who knows where......

Just to put the cat among the pigeons so to speak....

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Permalink Reply by Karen Maskall on May 31, 2008 at 4:13pm

It wasn't so long ago that I thouroughly enjoyed the experience of shopping local and that certain feel good factor that you are helping to sustain a very much loved and very popular small local community.

But just recently I sort of stopped in my tracks and began thinking about the vegetables that I had just bought from the quaint and very busy little veggie and fruit shop..... these veg and fruit had indded either been imported from other countries ( I don't have a problem with that as it keeps those countries economies viable) or from what may or may not be local farms and possibly farms that spray crops with chemicals.

Yes it takes some real working out doesn't it?

Ideally we need a local shop that sells fair trade and organic. Isn't that the end of the story?

Needless to say I've found an organic fair shop with all sorts of fair trade and organic food stuff so that's the only local shop for me from now on!

Ps the same went with the lovely lovely butcher that was selling me meat where possibly the animals weren't treated well and more than likey don't eat organic food themselves. It (chemical poisoning) passes right down the food chain doesn't it?

Any more cats for the pigeons?

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Permalink Reply by Abdul of Sueka on May 17, 2008 at 3:36pm

My family and I moved into a new neighbourhood.

Every friday, the bin man comes around with his truck to collect the rubbish. When I come out to deposit our only one half black bin back, I don't know whether to feel proud of throwing little away or ashamed of shopping for less. For in the entire neighbourhood of over 30 new family homes, my family is the only one that send out one black sack. The next least is three and the biggest I've counted from a house 200 metres away is 9 large black bags! I do a daily Nordic walking as part of my routine physical exercise to keep healthy and use the opportunity to observe.

What does this say about shopping habits?

Abdul of Sueka

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Permalink Reply by Karen Maskall on May 29, 2008 at 10:10pm

Well done to you and your family!

Gosh you don't half set a good example on here Abdul.
I know the councils in many towns are giving financial penalties for excess rubbish which many say only increase fly tipping. hmmm I'm not going into that debate but on the whole I know that there are millions of good and caring people who are making an effort like yours.
It is challenging when the retailers add lots and lots of excess packaging tho isn't it?

There are more answers than questions tho... I always believe in that!

So what we want to hear is tips from solution orientated folks on here! Like yourself! You obviously have no waste food as you just buy the correct and budgeted amount. No excess waste in the fridge to throw away out of date stuff eh? That's cool!

and the darn darn plastic packaging and bags! Right, so we are all going to do the reusable shopping bags and we are all going to shop organic hopefully and we are all going to reduce our overall consumption. That's how our bin bags will be as small as yours eh?

Thats a fantastic start for everyone!

I'll pose a question........ is it possible to have no bin bag at all? hmmm that's throwing the discussion wide open isn't it?

Over to you!
Karen

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Permalink Reply by Karen Maskall on December 15, 2008 at 4:57pm

I've been toying with the conflicting ideas surrounding fairtrade and organic produce.............not disimilar to toying with the conflicting ideas of supporting my local shops/local farms, and buying organic elsewhere ie travelling further afield or buying on the web.
I managed to find this great article which could start some interesting discussion in this thread and i have no doubt that we will begin to see several sides to the same coins.

Certified Organic vs. Fair Trade Certified

The title of this article is disturbing. The concepts of Organic and Fair Trade are very important to building (rebuilding) a sustainable society. The good news is that the certifications are not mutually exclusive and actually complement each other nicely.

First, a word about certification. In our current market, third party certification is essential to both organic and fair trade. As the market for both fair trade and organic grows many businesses would rather change the definition than to change their practices. We are seeing this now in the fair trade coffee market place. As time goes on a search for fair trade coffee is more and more likely to turn up non-certified “fair trade” coffee, which is most likely just a marketing rouse to attract ethical customers. In a recent search of ebay for fair trade coffee 90% of the results were not third party certified, and upon further examination most looked very suspect. We have seen this already in the organic market. How many products marketed to organic consumers are actually certified? Companies have greened their names but not their practices. Without non-biased third party certification of organic or fair trade we are left to trust self interested parties who will only profit from that trust. So look at the labels a product caries, look into the requirements of that certification and make an informed decision. Know what labels you trust and know the ones that you feel are deceptions. With fair trade Transfair is currently the only certification agency, so look for the fair trade label.

The concept of growing organic is essential to the preservation of our environment. Herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers seep into the ground polluting our groundwater and it also runs off the fields and into local water resources. When forest are cleared for the planting of fields much of the topsoil is eroded and transported in nearby streams to the nearest lake where it deposits the sediment, filling up the lake. Working with the environment to prevent this erosion, organic coffee farmers preserve the fertility of the land by growing coffee in the shade, where coffee was meant to grow. This shade grown coffee provides the migratory birds with habitat and is thus called bird friendly. The concept of organic goes beyond protecting the environment and extends to protecting the the people who work in the fields. Many of the chemicals used in farming have been shown to cause cancer as well as many other health concerns. These concerns are multiplied when a person is repeatedly exposed to the sprays, like the farmers. How many lifelong farmers labored to provide our society with food and are now suffering from cancer (my grandfather is one of them)? Some studies have shown that organic methods even protect those who eat the fruits(even after they are washed), and also protect locals who drink the water.

Fair trade certified works in the opposite direction. First it ensures that the people are being paid and treated fairly. When it comes to fair trade coffee certification, “fair” has an objective definition through the certification requirements of Transfair. The coffee farmers are paid a fair trade premium (currently $1.26/lb) to ensure that they have money to invest in their community infrastructure. The money supports the families through health care, education, and through providing the needed capital to improve equipment and methods of harvest so that they can compete in the open market. Fair trade goes beyond community and family support and extends to protecting the environment. One of the requirements of fair trade certification it that a premium is paid for organic coffee, currently a full 15 cents more per pound than just regular fair trade. Many fair trade farmers have switched to organic methods and are now actively restoring the rain forest in order to receive this premium. They are not doing so grudgingly either, they understand that the rain forest is their heritage and want it to be restored. They don't want to expose themselves and their families to toxic sprays when they can make a living otherwise. This explains why more than 80% of coffee certified as fair trade is also certified organic.

So why ask the question which is better when you can have both? Well there is plenty of coffee out there labeled as organic but not fair trade. The environment is being destroyed by some farmers out of what is seen as economic necessity. Organic is great, but by itself it is not sustainable, we must ensure that the people who grow it are properly compensated otherwise they are put in an economic position which lends itself to decisions with negative environmental consequences. Families that provide us with quality organic products deserve financial security. Fair trade does not compete with organic but it does make sure it is fiscally sustainable for the producers, thus ensuring future supply in our current economy..

This is why the fair trade model works. First it ensures the financial security of the farmers through fair prices, access to non-predatory loans and capital needed to market and sell their goods. Then it guarantees them a premium for environmentally friendly practices, which many times leads to conversion of conventional fields to organic. This model has been working for coffee and has now expanded to tea, chocolate and even some tropical fruits.

The results of fair trade have been amazing:

* Organic methods are being used and taught

* Community infrastructure is being built/rebuilt

* Clean water

* Erosion control

* Children in school

* Quality products through quality methods

* Adult education

* Secure families

* and sustainability

Next time you buy organic coffee or tea make sure it is also fair trade certified by Transfair. Request that your local grocer carry fair trade fruits when they are available.

Stephen Betzen is a long time fair trade advocate. He runs Faircoffee.com, an online Fair Trade Coffee Shop.

For more information and for future fair trade certified products look at Transfair's website http://www.transfairusa.org/.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Reece on July 1, 2009 at 3:28pm

I'm lucky to have a local farmer provide us with I'd say around 70% of our meat. Doesn't supply poultry. Prices are competative to. Great service straight to the door and you know excatly where meat has come from.

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