Many of our residents are very aware that the food that we eat has a significant effect on carbon emissions. However, the information available can be quite confusing – and in some cases, counter-intuitive.
We are often encouraged to “Buy Local” in order to minimise the carbon emissions related to the transport of the item. However, be careful to read the label on the food in detail as you may be surprised at how far it has travelled before it reaches your supermarket shelf. For example, there are cases of shellfish product being labelled as “Scottish”. The shellfish were indeed from Scotland but after harvesting they were frozen, shipped to the Far East for processing, and then shipped back to us in UK. The label must show where the product was packed – so always check that this packing is done “locally” as well as the product.
Similarly, we often hear about how bad beef and dairy products are for the environment. Again, it is true that, from a global perspective, beef and dairy products are some of the worst for the environment. However, the UK farming industry is investing heavily in reducing its carbon footprint and our cattle tend to be fed on grass – as opposed to soya or wheat in other countries. This makes UK beef and dairy less polluting than some of the product from further afield. So, again, it pays to read the label and “Buy Local”.
If you want to look at the relative carbon emissions of the protein that you eat, the BBC has produced an interesting calculator. You can find it here : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714
However, even with all the positive work being done, UK beef and dairy is still quite polluting – particularly due to the very damaging digestive gases emitted by cattle. Therefore, if you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your food intake, it makes sense to reduce the use of beef and dairy. Even if you removed it from your diet on one day per week compared to now, then you would be helping to reduce its impact by 14% – or 28% if you removed it on 2 days. If we all did that, the impact across the country would be significant. Whether this is an option for you will depend on whether you make it part of your Personal Plan.
You may have heard of initiatives such as Meat Free Mondays to encourage people to reduce their intake. This cause has been championed by various celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney. Their website has lots of interesting information and links to articles to help you, including recipes!
Grow Your Own
The next step that some want to take is to grow their own fruit and vegetables. If you have the garden space and this is something that you want to consider but don’t know where to start, then there are people in our community that would be happy to help – just contact us via Facebook or email. Alternatively, there is a dedicated “Grow Your Own” advice stall that is open from 10am to 12 noon on a Friday in the Community Gardens, Old Gloucester Road in Ross on Wye. It closed for the summer holidays but will re-open in mid-September.
Zero Waste Stall
Another stall in the Community Gardens in Ross on Wye is “Zero Waste”. This charity collects stock from food retailers that is close to its Best By or Use By date and hands it out free of charge to anyone coming to the stall (although donations are gladly accepted to cover their costs). It opens 7 days a week from 10:30am to 11:30am (or until all food is gone). However, queues start to form from as early as 9:30am so get there early for the best stuff ! Since opening in November 2021, the team has distributed 25 tonnes of food that would otherwise have gone to landfill. If this interests you (either as a potential customer or volunteer) then take a look at their Facebook page.
Eating seasonally
On a positive front, many are looking to return to using fruit and vegetables when they are “in season” in UK so that transport cost is reduced. So what is in season and when?
January
Apples, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Red Cabbage, Salsify, Savoy Cabbage, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Squash, Swedes, Turnips, White Cabbage.
February
Apples, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Celeriac, Chicory, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Salsify, Savoy Cabbage, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Squash, Swedes, White Cabbage.
March
Artichoke, Beetroot, Carrots, Chicory, Leeks, Parsnip, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Watercress.
April
Artichoke, Beetroot, Carrots, Chicory, New Potatoes, Kale, Morel Mushrooms, Parsnips, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rocket, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Watercress.
May
Artichoke, Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Chicory, Chillies, Elderflowers, Lettuce, Marrow, New Potatoes, Peas, Peppers, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rocket, Samphire, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Sweetheart Cabbage, Watercress.
June
Asparagus, Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackcurrants, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Elderflowers, Gooseberries, Lettuce, Marrow, New Potatoes, Peas, Peppers, Radishes, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Samphire, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetheart Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Tayberries, Turnips, Watercress.
July
Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Gooseberries, Greengages, Fennel, French Beans, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Loganberries, New Potatoes, Onions, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Samphire, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetheart Cabbage, Swish Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress.
August
Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies, Courgettes, Cucumber, Damsons, Fennel, French Beans, Garlic, Greengages, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Loganberries, Mangetout, Marrow, Mushrooms, Parsnips, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Plums, Pumpkin, Radishes, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Samphire, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetcorn, Sweetheart Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Watercress, White Cabbage.
September
Aubergine, Beetroot, Blackberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Courgettes, Chicory, Chillies, Cucumber, Damsons, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mangetout, Marrow, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Raspberries, Red Cabbage, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Beans, Samphire, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweetcorn, Sweetheart Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms, White Cabbage.
October
Aubergine, Apples, Beetroot, Blackberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chestnuts, Chicory, Chillies, Courgette, Cucumber, Elderberries, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quince, Radishes, Red Cabbage, Rocket, Runner Beans, Salsify, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Summer Squash, Swede, Sweetcorn, Sweetheart Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms, Winter Squash, White Cabbage.
November
Apples, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chestnuts, Chicory, Cranberries, Elderberries, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quince, Red Cabbage, Salsify, Savoy Cabbage, Swede, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Watercress, Wild Mushrooms, Winter Squash, White Cabbage.
December
Apples, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chestnuts, Chicory, Cranberries, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Pears, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quince, Red Cabbage, Salsify, Savoy Cabbage, Swede, Swiss Chard, Turnips, Watercress, Winter Squash, White Cabbage.