What on earth are food miles?

They are the distance that your food travels from the grower to your plate, including travel to and from processor and retailer.

Why should I want to reduce them?

Because transporting your food long distances involves lorries and aeroplanes. And lorries and aeroplanes use lots of fuel and emit tons of CO2 emissions, contributing to global warming. But that’s just the starting point. Other reasons why we should be reducing food miles wherever possible include wanting to eat fresher food, in season; supporting local and regional producers and the economy; and preventing 3rd world countries from cutting down forests and losing their own food, because big companies see food as a commodity, rather as a way to feed the people of that country.

How to reduce food miles:

1. When shopping in supermarkets, check the labels. Buy food that comes from the UK. Failing that, look at the options and buy the product that comes from the nearest source, i.e. choose French rather than South African apricots. Carry a small world map in your handbag or pocket for these occasions.

2. Eat what’s in season. It won’t have travelled as far as out-of-season fruit and vegetables. To find out what’s in season, have a look at the Eat The Seasons website.

3. Visit your local Farmers’ Market. Most towns have one, and they are a great source of truly local produce, not to mention a fun outing. Click here to find your local Farmers’ Market.

4. Find your local farm shops, producers and pick-your-own farms at Big Barn.

5. Get a veg box delivered to your door. Big Barn can help you find your local supplier.

6. Grow your own. Get an allotment, or start a veggie patch in your back garden. If you have leftover seeds, swap them at Seedy People.

7. Support your local greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger, and ask them to stock more local produce.

8. Visit your local Country Market (used to be WI Market) for really local produce.

9. Some rare breeds farm parks and city farms offer their local, non-intensively reared meat for sale. If you have one near you, ask them.

10. Walk or take the bus to your local shops. This way you won’t add to the food miles already accrued.

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Nikki and I have been testing a number of natural moisturisers over the past few months. Here’s our pick of the bunch.

Dr Hauschka Quince Day Cream: I used this moisturiser during the winter months and found it really good at protecting against the elements. – Available online from Dr Hauschka at £16 for 30mls. They also sell a trial size tube for £3.

Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream: I loved this one so much I’ve just gone out and bought two more tubes of it. It’s a repairing day cream, and leaves my face feeling moisturised (but not greasy) all day long. Perfect for thirty-something skin. – Also available online from Dr Hauschka at £16 for 30mls. Trial size tube £3.

Aimara Organic Rosehip Oil: Probably the best night “cream” I’ve ever come across. Been using this one for about 6 months now, and it’s really plumped up the skin around my eyes, making the fine lines disappear. The bottle lasts for ages. – Available online from Mariposa Alternative Bodycare at £8.45 for 25mls and £13.49 for 50mls. (Apparently it is also good for fading scars, so I’m going to be trying it on my daughter’s chicken-pox scars.)

Weleda Iris Day Cream: I liked this moisturiser. It’s light and non-greasy. Probably better for a teenager or twenty-something. – Available online from ThereMustBeABetterWay at £6.40 for 30mls.

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF15: Nikki and I both used this while on holiday earlier this year. It offered good sun protection, and was light and non-greasy, great for wearing during hot weather. Since coming home I’ve gone back to Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream, but Nikki is still using this and loving it. – Available online from Think Natural at £6.69 for 100mls. This is a bargain price, we’ve seen it for up to £11 in other shops.

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This one goes out to all the moms and dads. What are we leaving behind for our children’s children?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjdVOfnYkyA]

Via: Celsias blog

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