What we eat can have a major impact on the environment. We forget about the water, chemicals and other resources that go into producing everyday items such as chocolate bars, hamburgers and packets of chips. And we don’t realise the fuel that is burnt to get things to you……
1.Reduce animal products. Meat and dairy products use lots of resources. If you cut out just one meat meal a week, you will reduce water consumption by 10,000 litres p.a. and reduce greenhouse gases by 300kg p.a. In particular reduce the amount of beef you eat. Our meat consumption should be like this…. 1. Chicken; 2. pork; 3. lamb and last 4. beef.
2. Choose unprocessed food. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables rather than canned, dried or frozen.
3. Eat what you buy don’t waste it. 40% of rubish sent to landfill is foodwaste. This culd be turned into compost and returned to your garden. For every one tonne of food you stop from going to landfill, you save nearly a tonne of greenhouse emissions.
4. Choose organic where possible. Organic farming uses no harmful pesticides of fertilisers, which is healthier for the land and us. It is better for the planet.
5. Bring the paddock closer to your plate. Buying locally produced food reduces energy and pollution costs from transport and refrigeration.Make sure the product is labelled Product of Australia; eat what is in seson and shop at farmers markets.
Can someone tell me where our closest farmers market is? I have been to the Newcastle one, but is there one closer please?
Hi Carol, thanks for you enquiry. I know that there is a veg and fruit stall at Toronto Markets and at the Weekend Bazaar. I think there could be a farmers market starting at Edgeworth but I’ll get back to you on that. 🙂