Eat Local - a challenge

[HomeWork]

We have set ourselves a challenge to eat only the veg we can grow ourselves or source from growers within 10 miles of our house. We are going to do this for 1 year starting from August 1st.

Its part of our local campaign to encourage more people to grow their own food and make more use of local food producers. We can't afford solar panels, a wind turbine, a bio-diesel plant to fuel our cars or a new central heating boiler, but this is something we can afford to do and make a dent in our carbon footprint.

We are also going to try and source as much of the rest of our food as possible within the 10-mile limit.

As we did not want to be eating cabbage soup for 6 months in the winter/spring this has really motivated us to search for local food producers and we have already 'discovered' some really great sources for pork, lamb and beef (not to mention local breweries) that we had never taken the time to find before.

There's more about the challenge and our local group here: Vegetable Plants Online, Grow Your Own

Anyone else like to have a go too?

[marmite]

Theres nothing wrong with cabbage soup for 6 months it is just you will not have many close friends.. From Marmite

[Thomas W]

Originally Posted by HomeWork

We have set ourselves a challenge to eat only the veg we can grow ourselves or source from growers within 10 miles of our house ...

Nice project Could you post a list of what is available to you?

[Canucksintheuk]

Sounds like a great project. We do have a local farm shop who grows his own meat and we do walk up there on the weekend and purchase our meat from him - it tastes so good. He has recently put in a vege stand though - I was quite disappointed to find that majority of the produce is from Spain etc., just like at the grocery store - so am not purchasing that. They have a great little bakery section instore as well, which of course the kids love!

[Lady of Shallots]

Fantastic idea! These websites seems pretty good:

Local Food Shop

BigBarn - The Virtual Farmer's Market -

Although I can't seem to find any meat closer than 26 miles to me!

We currently visit a local farm shop as often as we can afford and also get a fortnightly organic veg box, at least until I'm doing a bit better in the garden! If anyone lives in the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire area this organic farm deliver not just veg, but salads, fruit, beef, lamb and eggs. The prices are very good too considering everything is organic!

Woodlands Farm...Organic Produce Delivered Direct To Your Door