Results tagged “organic” from Transition Newent

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

Organic crops are the best

For some years the Food Standards Authority has appeared to undervalue the organic food movement so I was not entirely surprised by its irritating claim that organic food had no nutritional benefits over conventionally produced food. Contrary to their report, previous organic food studies have found evidence of increased levels of proteins, beta-carotenes, trace elements, beneficial omega oils and vitamins. Among other omissions, the FSA report also failed to include the results of a major European Union-funded study which ended in April this year and concluded that:  'Levels of a range of nutritionally desirable compounds were shown to be higher in organic crops [and] ‘Levels of nutritionally undesirable compounds were shown to be lower in organic crops'. Those of you interested in a detailed critique of the FSA report should go to www.soilassociation.org .  I’ve been growing food by organic principles for some 40 years and my friends and family don’t need to check the report to know that my fresh, seasonal, produce is the best there is.

Following close on the heels of the FSA report, the government issued a Food Security assessment in early August stressing that climate change and diminishing water and energy supplies – the issues Transition concerns itself with – require a transformation in the way we feed ourselves.  Crude oil prices are on the rise again. We are being asked to reduce our energy requirements by 80% by 2050 and the food industry must do likewise with its oil-based footprint. Organic farming can provide real environmentally sustainable solutions.  Everyone should have access to organic food and it shouldn’t be seen just as a middle-class lifestyle choice.

For the first time, this year’s Newent in Bloom garden competition has included an Environmental Stewardship category sponsored and judged by Transition Newent. The winners included the Glebe Infants School, two private gardens and Picklenash Juniors. Well done, all of you.

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

Problems lurk beyond hedge

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area blessed with a rich biodiversity.  In springtime we thrill to the amazing spectacle of new life: swallows return to their old sites, primroses and bluebells decorate our woods and glades, trees renew their leaves, butterflies and bees forage for nectar. Or is it still quite like that?  Biodiversity is essential for the health of all life on this planet yet intensive agriculture often seems at war with nature. If the hedgerows and roadsides are alive with wild flowers and birdsong, on the other side of the hedge we too often see a sterile landscape of uniform monoculture.  

Current research suggests that the most productive food growing systems acre-for-acre are those based on permaculture and organic gardening principles. Coincidentally these are also best for conserving biodiversity. As peak oil and climate change reduce the option of mechanised chemical farming, and society increasingly values and puts an economic price on landscape and wildlife, our future food supplies will surely come from labour intensive ‘gardens’, not lifeless rolling prairies.

I detect some anger about firewood supplies in the Forest. Word reaches me that prices have increased substantially and the Forestry Commission’s policy of auctioning standing timber to the highest bidder will squeeze out small firewood providers and private individuals. The timber may end up anywhere in the world, neither a sustainable nor rational policy for encouraging local energy supplies. Shouldn’t The Forestry Commission allocate some of its timber to local needs? Is the alternative co-operative, green-field, coppice planting?  Will this be in competition with food production?

Seed saving saves money and saves those precious varieties adapted to local conditions. You can find out all about it if you get down to the Lower George Café, Newnham on Tuesday June 2 at 8:00pm for Transition Forest of Dean’s seed-saving meeting.