I came across this article today and it reminded that I was intending to start a discussion along these lines.
When you do your shopping, what's your priority? Organic, therefore supposedly healthier and tastier for you, or locally grown? If I have a choice between organically grown carrots from Israel or "standard" carrots from Kent (therefore only down the road by comparison) which should I get? Personally I go for the locally grown. The ideal solution is buy everything from local organic farms, but that isn't always feasible (it involves a lot more planning and really following the seasons, which isn't easy with a household of people who only like specific veg) so I try to compromise... plus growing things locally.
I do however, refuse point blank, to have things like carrots, apples, onions and potatoes that have not been grown in the UK or a country v. close by because they are all grown here in the UK and they store well so can be made available all year round - there is no reason at all to be flying them in from the US or New Zealand (it's amazing how many apples over here have come from New Zealand - the other day I even came across Coxes that had come from NZ.... why?????).
This article also raises another good point - should you really better for eating that organic ready meal, with products from all over the world. It would have less negative impact on the world (and probably taste better) if you made it yourself with local products.
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There are a lot of things where if we could be "like in the old days" we'd be much better off - greener farming methods and products in shops, more local businesses being supported by teh community, people walking / taking the bus or train rather than the car. Yes, there are plusses such as a lot of technology, health, heating and home comforts we have now, but if we were to live in a way that constantly remembered and consdiered that everything will come to an end one day - if not in our life time, then that of future generations of our families - then we'd live a much healthier life style.
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The thing is, everyone is so busy filling their lives with things--working, daycare, school activities, play dates, rushing to and fro. There's barely time to relax and smell the roses, let alone prepare foods that are wholesome or do any gardening. Technology has made out lives more complicated--but I couldn't live without the internet!
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