Everyday you make choices that affect your health, your environment and the world in general. This is where you can make a change! Whatever your walk of life, you can improve your health and the health of your community by following some of the advice below.
Growing
Grow your own food, in your window box or garden or, if you have neither, start an allotment!
For some very useful briefings on growing see the following:
- Women’s Environment Network website http://www.wen.org.uk/local_food/resources.htm
- Garden Organic http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/
- To find out about getting an allotment go to the Allotment Regeneration Initiative website http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari
Buying
Buy local to help reduce your food miles and support the local economy
- When eating out choose restaurants that are showing a commitment to sustainability. Search the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s directory to find SRA members near you.
- Find your local farmer's market. A trip to the market can be about more than filling the kitchen cupboards. Talk to the suppliers and find out about the food you're eating. Where does it come from? how is it made? how can you cook it? http://www.lfm.org.uk/
- Have a look in your local corner stores and consider buying from them before driving to the supermarket.
- Eat more fruit and veg by picking something up daily from a fruit and veg stall – look around, they're everywhere!
- Rediscover your local butcher and fishmonger and ask them questions – don't know how to cook that cut of meat? Your butcher can probably give you some suggestions. See http://www.touchlondon.co.uk/ for a list of local Butchers and fishmongers.
- Order milk from your local milkman – many now offer organic products and a range of other goods too. See http://www.findamilkman.co.uk/
- Drink tap water! It’s very high quality, saves on energy and transport, doesn’t generate plastic waste, and is much, much cheaper than bottled water. Download Sustain's “Have you bottled it?” report - http://www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=137) - for more information and ideas.
Buy seasonal
Find out more about seasonal food here
Consider buying from a local box scheme
They'll deliver your weekly order straight to your door!
Eat less meat and dairy produce
See http://www.ciwf.org.uk/eatlessmeat/. If you eat meat and dairy produce, make sure it’s from farms that have high animal welfare standards, such as organic http://www.soilassociation.org/, or Freedom Food http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=FreedomFoodHomepage
Ask where your food has come from when eating out
London’s growing network of more sustainable restaurants provide some of the most exciting food around – give them a try! A list of restaurants claiming to use sustainable ingredients is currently in construction.
If you’re running an event – then use a caterer who cares!
Contact us at londonfoodlink@sustainweb.org or on 020 7837 1228 if you are looking for ideas.
Storage, preparation and cooking
Part of being sustainable is reducing waste (making sure things are properly stored and not thrown away because of use by dates, etc.), and using minimal energy and water e.g. choosing an energy efficient fridge, making full use of your oven when baking, only boiling the water you need, not a full kettle, etc. These steps will often save a lot of money too.
- For reducing energy use http://www.est.org.uk/
- For reducing water use http://www.waterwise.org.uk/
Throwing it away
Packaging
Follow the golden rules - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Don’t use plastic bags – there are plenty of stylish and durable shopping bags on the market now. Find new uses for packaging you just can’t avoid, and recycle the rest. http://www.lcrn.org.uk/
Organic waste
It’s best if you can avoid throwing away food – but for those bits that you just can’t digest – it’s best to compost, either in your own garden or through a local/council kitchen waste scheme. http://www.lcrn.org.uk/
Volunteering or Setting up a project/social enterprise/business
There are many community projects around London – such as from growing projects, food co-ops, cook and eat clubs - that need a range of help.
- Offer your skills and volunteer with a community food project. We can recommend one local to your area.
- Help out at your local City farm or community garden http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/
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