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Better Nursery Food Now

Anna Guyer | 23.02.10

With more and more mums working, 600,000 children are enrolled at nursery in the UK. There are also shocking stats, recently launched, that one in four children in the UK are obese by the time they go to school. So we are calling on government to put in place clear nutritional standards guaranteeing better food in our nurseries now.

The campaign has gathered momentum. The campaign's Facebook page has grown to nearly 600 fans and 1,500 people are following the Nursery Food Twitter page. More than 5,000 people have signed a petition online to demand better nursery food for our children.

It may surprise you to know that research conducted by the Soil Association, and funded by Organix, found this shocking state of affairs in nurseries:

• NO clear nutritional standards
• NO compulsory training for nursery staff serving food
• NO agency to monitor the quality of food provided
• NO government department giving a lead or promoting good practice.

In fact, foods banned or restricted in primary and secondary schools, like crisps, sweets and chocolate, are regularly served in nurseries.

We have run a survey on Mumsnet to get the views of this election’s most influential voters: mums. If the government needs to be made to listen, surely 1000 opinionated women can help make that happen. On March 31st, we are taking to government our petition, complaints, case studies gathered via Facebook and a new report on nursery food.

Surely the long-term health of the next generation should not be left to chance.

For resources, more about the campaign and to sign our petition, please visit www.nurseryfood.org.

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ECO HERO: Patrick Holden, Soil Association

Anna Shepard | 25.02.10

Eco Heroes are people and organizations that inspire us.

We think they deserve some recognition for leading, teaching or encouraging us in the quest to do our bit to help save the planet and are excited to have this blog as a platform to shine the spotlight on those we admire.

Here, writer Anna Shepard talks to Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association whom, we think, is a renaissance man amongst ecologists. He works the system to push for healthier food, and works the land with his own bare hands. We like that in a man.

How would you describe yourself?
Farmer, campaigner and citizen of planet earth.

What is your mission?
To prepare the planet’s food systems for future generations. I want to harness the power of public opinion to drive fundamental change. The ultimate aim is to give power back to individual citizens, so that they can nourish themselves, their own health, that of their children and their community.

What do you care passionately about?
Rebuilding our food and farming systems from the ground up. Our current intensive food system is completely unsustainable. I also believe that the ecological crisis has a cultural and spiritual counterpart. It’s not just about material change; we must put the culture and meaning back into our food. We could convert the whole world to organic farming, but if we didn’t put the meaning back into food, it would be an empty victory.

What challenges do we face?
The scale of restructuring food systems is one of them. It’s going to be similar to a war effort - but we haven’t got a war and most people aren’t even aware there’s a problem. For consumers, the challenge will be to stop being disconnected from our food. We have to combat massive public ignorance about the central importance of food to our lives. A generation of children are growing up thinking that food comes from the supermarket. Meanwhile, the organic movement must fight the vested interests of multinational chemical and food companies and address the charges of elitism demonstrating that everyone has the right to a healthy and nutritious diet.

Why is organic so important?
It’s a system of food production that is good for you and also good the planet. The organic system is the best holistic approach for sustainable farming. Over the past decades, we’ve made the mistake of placing power of food production in fewer and fewer hands. Something urgently needs to be done - what is at stake is our health and the health of future generations.

Can organic be for everyone?
Yes, everybody has a right to sustainably produced nutritious food - not just the privileged few. There shouldn’t be anything elitist about it.

Is the Government doing enough?
How can they unless they are experiencing big public pressure for change? At the moment they’re not. It’s like the credit crunch. No one saw it coming until it was too late. With the food crunch, it’s more serious because it’s physical – it’s about our health and our bodies, as well as the environment.

What green principles do you live by?
I’m part of a binge generation – having lived during a short chapter of human history when we haven’t worried enough about our environmental legacy. My lifestyle is unsustainable – it’s probably a sign that I’m a deeply flawed person. I fly too much and my carbon footprint’s big, but I don’t think these changes should be driven by guilt. It’s not useful to feel guilty about the past. We need to be more positive and prepare for the future. My family and I try to eat sustainably produced, local, seasonal, organic food. Do we ever fail? Of course, but that’s our direction of travel. I’m not just doing it because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it enhances our quality of life.

What philosophy would you like to pass on to your children?
That we should all commit to doing what we can, in the short time that we’ve got left, to hand on the planet in a condition which enables future generation to feed themselves sustainably.

How long have we got to hold back climate change?
Ten to fifteen years. This is what Professor John Beddington, chief scientific advisor to the UK government says, not just me.

Who is your eco hero?
I have two. Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, a man who didn’t let his public profile get in the way of his cause. Also, Prince Charles, the undisputed leader of the global movement for sustainable agriculture. Thank God for the Prince of Wales, that’s what I say. He’s an amazing man.

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Eco Rally - A Green Car Race from London to Brighton

Sally Hill | 05.07.10

The Bridgestone 2010 Eco Rally takes place this Wednesday 7 July. The race will see a selection of ‘alternatively fuelled’ vehicles travel from Brighton seafront to Hyde Park in London.

This is the fourth year of the event, and will showcase a huge range of vehicles, including electric scooters and motorbikes, the famous Tesla Roadster electric sports car, and a 9-seater electric bus.

Drivers include ethical living columnist for the The Guardian and The Observer, Lucy Siegle, F1 racing drivers including Ross Brawn, and TV personalities Kevin McLeod and Vicki Butler Henderson. Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association and Donna Air make up one of the driving teams.

But the car we’re keeping a keen eye on is the ‘Nemesis’ (pictured), developed and driven by Dale Vince of Zero Carbonista and Ecotricity. The Nemesis is a ‘wind car,’ built from an innovative lightweight body and run from a battery which stores power from wind turbines.

Here’s an intro to Dale’s wind car project:

More videos documenting the journey toward making the Nemesis race-ready can be found on Dale’s blog, Zero Carbonista.

Also on the day:

An exhibition at the finish line showcasing the spectrum of green transport innovation, from conception to everyday use.

Imperial Racing Green will announce the winner of the ‘Racing Green Endurance’ competition for students who have built low emissions, hydrogen fuel cell, and battery electric vehicles which have competed in races across the globe.

The UK’s first solar-powered ferry will be taking drivers on a cruise after the race.

The RCA is hosting an exclusive soiree for drivers and partners, which will give a rare insight into the zero waste design process by viewing the RCA’s aerodynamic study for Bentley.

You can follow your favourite team via the Eco Rally site and blog, and stay tuned for Greenhouse’s tweets on the live action of the day.

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green, ecotricity, soil association, wind car, eco rally, dale vince, tesla, green car, lucy siegle

Why (and how) to choose organic

Sally Hill | 31.08.10

You're in the market and two baskets of strawberries are on the shelf. One is organic, the other is not. What makes you choose one over the other?

Today, organic food is more present in the public consciousness than ever before. Most people get the general idea that food free from chemicals and pesticides is a good thing - for humans and the environment - but a lot of people still struggle with going organic.

Why? Aside from the issues of cost and availability, not to mention the rush of life that impacts our diet (ergo the success of fast-food), choosing organic means navigating an overload of facts, health advice and environmental and ethical concerns. That can be a bit daunting.

Read more

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Greenhouse Weekly Roundup

Sally Hill | 10.09.10

We're now half way through the Soil Association's Organic Fortnight - a time of year which marks the challenge to 'Choose Organic Everyday'.

Here is a collection of special Organic Fortnight offers from many of the great organic businesses that are out there, as well as some fun ways the fortnight is being celebrated.

Organix Natural Baby Foods

Organic Fortnight fun on the Organix Facebook page including:

• Organic challenges: blind taste tests of organic vs. non-organic food such as strawberry jam and toast
• Fun organic facts of the day + organic quizzes
• Organic gardening tips, guide + photos

Green Baby UK and Green & Black's

Green Baby are hosting an Organic Fortnight competition to win a Green & Black’s organic chocolate hamper

The Green Familia and Wahanda

The top green shopping blog has teamed up with the largest online community for beauty and wellness to give suggestions and advice for switching to organic cosmetics and skincare, and treating yourself the natural way.

Soil Association

At the headquarters of Organic Fortnight there is a hive of organic activity but we thought the highlight was an organic bake-off among Soil Association team. What a great way to get everyone involved. There were photos posted to the Soil Association's Facebook page and the delicious sounding winner was a caramelised onion foccacia.

Prince Charles and Start UK

During Organic Fortnight Prince Charles and his Start UK initiative have been busy inspiring people to lead more sustainable lifestyle.

• The 'Garden Party to Make a Difference’ is now on. This is a 12-day green garden party where the Prince’s gardens of Clarence House have been opened to the public. It will be attended by Dame Vivienne Westwood among other high profile Britons and is open for public visits until 19 September.
• There will be a parade of eco cars in The Mall in London on Sunday 12 September featuring the fabulous electric Zero Motorcycles
• The garden party features an 'Earth Pavilion' made of mud tiles
• Prince Charles has taken biofuel-powered royal train on a tour of Britain to promote his message

The Guardian

Q&A on the Guardian blog with Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association, who discusses organic food, products and farming.

Garden Organic

Garden Organic is holding a number of events over Organic Fortnight:

• Garden Organic Ryton is running daily organic tastings in their shop between 12pm and 2pm over the whole of organic fortnight. Visitors can sample organic products ranging from delicious breads, to mouth-watering fresh juices.
• On Friday 12th September, 11am to 1pm, Roberto Perez, an internationally renowned urban agriculture activist and star of the film The Power of Community from Cuba, will give a talk at Garden Organic Ryton on his experiences of permaculture. The talk costs £5 and includes access to the gardens. The talk is open to all, but people involved in the UK Transition Towns movement may find it of particular interest.
• On Saturday 20th September, 10am – 5pm, Garden Organic's world renowned Heritage Seed Library will hold its harvest event with talks on preserving our gardening heritage and seed saving. Tours of the seed library will also be held and a chance to see some of the collection's rare and unusual vegetable varieties. Tastings on the day will include Heritage Seed Library produce.

Waitrose and Booths

During Organic Fortnight, Waitrose and Booths are offering a third off Bonterra wines.

Waitrose and Duchy Originals

The new Duchy Originals from Waitrose range, the result of a unique partnership announced last year between Waitrose and Duchy Originals, is re-launched in Waitrose branches this month. Boasting a new look, and over 150 products, there is something to tantalise every taste bud. And to mark the occasion, tonight will see Duchy Originals on-screen debut with the brand’s first television advertisement screened on ITV1 at 7.00pm.

Waitrose is offering 25% off the new Duchy Originals range over Organic Fortnight.

Organic Food Awards

The Organic Food Award winners were announced and include Organix, Black Isle Brewery, Pertwood Organics, Clipper Teas and Vintage Roots organic wine. The awards will be presented by celebrity chef Hugh-Fearnley Whittingstall at the Organic Food Festival.

2010 Bristol Organic Food Festival

This brings us to one of the centre-pieces of Organic Fortnight, the 2010 Bristol Organic Food Festival, taking place this weekend. There are so many exciting things to do including the Kids Taste Experience with this week's Greenhouse Eco Hero Katy Davidson and free screenings of Food Inc. 

Here are the links we loved this week:

Read more

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soil association, hugh fearnley-whittingstall, garden organic, organix, bristol organic food festival, organic fortnight, guardian, peter melchett, waitrose, zero motorcycles

I ♥ THE ORGANIC FOOD FESTIVAL

Anna Guyer | 15.09.10

Not sure why I love the Festival so much every year. But I do – what a wonderful year it was again in 2010. Total sunshine, wonderful smells, tastes and flavours, the most passionate of producers, lots of people to see and hear about where their food comes from, and a real sense of being in all this together. For sharing, encouragement, good conversations, delicious food and an ambience that is almost impossible to beat.

Highlights of my show this year ...

Meeting the lovely Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall who gave his time for free to show his support for organic

Eating a Brown Cow burger on the steps watching the Sheep Show

Sampling the award winning wine from Vintage Roots – Crazy By Nature Red

Finding the gorgeous Spiezia body oil and bath oil – my favourite pampering product

Buying and sampling Green People’s Anti-Ageing Facial Oil – smells heavenly and great for my ageing skin already! 

Eating the award winning Bertinet Bakery bread with friends – it was defo the most delicious bread I have ever had

Organix winning award for Best Baby Food (Organic Banana Porridge – yum!)

So – thanks to all the wonderful producers and the organisers – it was a great Festival again this year.

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organic food festival, organic, soil association, hugh fearnley-whittingstall, organix, green people, bertinet bakery, spiezia, vintage roots ltd

Greenhouse Weekly Roundup

Sally Hill | 07.01.11

'Trendspotting: the next big sustainability issues'
James Goodman and Martin Wright track the trends which will influence the coming year's sustainability debates.
Guardian Sustainable Business

'The Guardian's sustainability naivity'
Chris Milton disagrees and bursts open some interesting arguments based on the Guardian's list.
Sustainability Forum

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Eco Hero: Geetie Singh

Sally Hill | 31.01.11

Geetie Singh was a champion of sustainable and organic food years before others knew it was an issue. After a decade working in the restaurant industry, Geetie opened the Duke of Cambridge in 1998 the first pub to be certified organic. She takes a strong stand on sustainability issues and has led the way in sourcing, provenance and standards. She is now training others to give something back to the community. She is a great host to the Organic Food Awards and is generally a champion of all things organic. She juggles family life and work life, has young children, and is always smiling, approachable and helpful, giving up her time to chat.  The Duke of Cambridge created a successful business model that combined delicious food with high environmental and ethical standards. Today it continues to lead the green restaurant business, proving that you can still turn a profit when you commit to sustainability.

www.dukeorganic.co.uk

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