Is it underway already? Found this on the Transition Culture blog. Its a BBC Radio 4 Food Programme. A really inspiring enterprise. Wouldn't it be nice to have a similar such operation in Dorset. Go have a listen. Just click on the link.

Ian

Those of you with a keen eye on the local media will have seen the press release for Transition Town Weymouth and Portland's Local Food event in last week's Echo Country supplement. In my role as TTD's new (and apparently, self appointed) media tart, Hedgewizard has persuaded me to use this opportunity to launch my latest media venture: blogging.

The Local Food event was held in the Ocean Room at Weymouth's Pavilion on Saturday 24. The organiser Jon Orrell had invited along speakers from a range of local food projects with the aim of inspiring Weymouth and Portland residents to develop food growing projects. Against the backdrop of the recent closure of European air space, bringing the topic of our reliance on air freighted food to the fore, it was fascinating to hear about the breadth of food growing projects in such a small geographical area. John spoke about the Chickerell Allotment Project, where food is being produced along organic and permaculture principles. We heard about the Incline Orchard and Community Garden from Margaret, where 9 plot holders are doing battle against one of the steepest sites I have ever seen. The project which left the greatest impression on me was the Shaftesbury Home Grown scheme, where 5 acres in central Shaftesbury are being cultivated with the aim of selling produce within the town. Diane, the project's secretary, shared the ups and downs of getting the project established and had some sobering warnings about the pitfalls of applying for funding . And then of course, there was yours truly talking about the Gardenshare scheme in Dorchester. It was so energising to see how four very different projects are all working with common goals in mind.

Thanks should go to Jon and the TT Weymouth and Portland crowd for a great event that allowed us to exchange ideas, provide inspiration and offer practical help to one another. The day finished with a session for local residents to discuss how they would like to move forward; I feel optimistic that the event will provide an excellent springboard for the start of new food growing projects in Weymouth and Portland.

Meat Processing Open Day

Saturday, May 1, 2010 from high noon til the cinders die

Fivepenny Farm, Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset DT66DF

An event celebrating animals and the wonderful connections we have with them on the farm as well as a celebration of the products we make from their meat

Events of the day include:
A farm walk to see the new lambs, chicks, pigs, cows, geese
Chick Incubation
Butchery demonstrations of veal and pork
Sausage-making
Charcuterie and smoking demonstrations
A cook- out using our own meat products (vegetarian option)
-also-

A presentation about sustainable livestock systems by Simon Fairlie- author of the new book “Meat- The Benign Extravagance”.

Email jyoti@tlio.org.uk for directions or more information.

This event is one in a series of four open days sponsored by the Local Food Fund related to the processing activites held at our co-operative barn. We will be holding further events related to cheesemaking and herbal medicine. Visit our website: wwwpeasantevolution.co.uk

Our resident TTD media tart, Liz Beardsall (her words, not mine!) will be trundling over the Ridgeway on Saturday to take part in an event aimed at getting people thinking about alternatives to the growing waiting list for allotments. Good luck our Liz!

Read all about it here

Chances are you're enjoying a fine and unusually quiet morning today. The reason for this is the closure of our airspace to civilian air traffic, leaving the sky empty for the first time since KLM commenced operations in 1920. Thanks to an Icelandic volcano, we have our first glimpse of a world without air travel.


Under the flightpath at Heathrow, householders are finding out what it's like to be able to leave windows open; in Manchester, one anxious lady complained to local radio that she's had to leave her radio on loud because the quiet is scaring her; and in many supermarkets the shelves are already emptying of perishable items as supplies of airfreighted food dry up. Since 95% of us shop at supermarkets*, it's the last one that should really scare you. If you're one of the people who scoffed at Lord Cameron's 'nine meals from anarchy' observation in 2007, it may be time to think again.

Predictions about how long the ash cloud will last vary, and media coverage still seems to be concentrating on the poor souls whose holidays are being disrupted, but it's worthwhile reflecting that the last eruption at Eyjafjallajokull lasted for two years (1821-1823). What would it mean for Europe if chunks of airspace had to be closed every time the wind blew from the north for a few days?

To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, going green is a journey, not a destination. If your own journey has not yet included growing some of your own food, or at least starting to eat locally and seasonally, then this might be a good time to consider it.


*Source: UK Food Standards Agency, 2001

Ever considered reducing the amount of meat you eat, either for your own health or that of the planets? The figures are quite remarkable. From memory a chicken consumes 6 times more energy than it produces. For pork its more like 10 times and for beef its nearly 20 times. * If we all gave up meat there wouldn't be a world food shortage.
But then I'm not suggesting we give it up all together - I like a bit of animal protein occasionally as much as the next carnivore. Why not just cut down a little. Sally C has suggested we check out the Part-time Carnivore campaign website. It gives you all the facts you need and it gets you to pledge one of several options for reducing your meat intake. Go have a look and sign up.

*Approximate figures. I'm sure someone will correct me.