Quality of food

[fiona marshall]

Well, it's a new year, and things are looking up!

I've finally managed to get a job with no travelling, so I will able to cook at home every night. Plus the job sounds fantastic, my employers have a gym in the basement.. lots of lifestyle pluses!

Although I would dearly love to turn my city back garden into a little haven of organic veggie growing, the soil is about 90 per cent clay, and I have typical Scots weather.. I think that project is on hold until I can afford all new topsoil and a glasshouse!

My question for today concerns food quality. I am lucky to have some super organic shops not too far away, and can arrange home deliveries as well for most of my non-perishable. But when it comes to fruit and veg, there are very few items I can buy which have been grown locally. (At this time of year, it's carrots and more carrots! I will go orange soon at this rate, although I can now make more than 12 varieties of carrot soup.)

So, rather than buy the non-organic goods (most of which are still grown in mainland Europe - Italy, France) I've been getting organic goods imported from the USA. Where possible I'm sticking to things that *could* be grown in the UK climate, but some of them are a bit out of season.

For example, I wouldn't usually eat apples at this time of year, but from the range of temperate climate fruits, that and pears is about all I can get - both from the US. (I still need to feed my sweet tooth a little to keep me off candy!)

Similarly, I love all kinds of root vegetables. I can get unorganic local turnips, or imported organic swedes. So I'm going for import and organic. I guess sometimes you have to go with the practical over the ideal.

I still feel ridiculously healthy!

Just wondered if anyone else had views or opinions on this topic.

Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy 2003.

Fiona

[Bruce Paine]

Fiona,

My guess is that you are looking for organic produce and not just the longer shelf life items selling in the Clearspring site.

You and everyone could probably benefit from learning how to better search the Internet.

If you don't have a Apple Macintosh computer ( http://www.apple.com/macosx/jaguar/sherlock.html ) ( http://www.karelia.com/watson/ ), then you best learn to use Yahoo ( http://search.yahoo.com/search/options?p= ) Google ( http://www.google.com/ )

Apparently their are no Scots selling produce directly online at this time but here are so sites that may give you clues to who in either Scotland or the U.K. you can buy produce from:

( http://www.tapin.co.uk/glasgow.htm )
( http://www.sopa.org.uk/producers.php)
( http://www.sopa.org.uk/links.php )
( http://www.biosphere-organics.supanet.com/ ) ( http://www.soilassociation.org )
( http://www.sustainweb.org/index.asp )
( http://www.fooduk.com/list.asp?cat=31&start=1 )
( http://www.vegbox.com/index.shtml ) ( http://www.scotveg.com/ )( http://www.ivu.org/sesv/ ) ( http://www.rhizomatics.demon.co.uk/gvn/ )
( http://www.ecovillagefindhorn.com/tr...arthshare.html )
( http://www.macrobiotic.co.uk/counselors.htm )
( http://www.ashburtoncentre.co.uk/ )
( http://www.montsebradford.com/ )
( http://www.shiatsu.org/ )
( http://www.cantost.com/shop_info/artisan.html )
( http://www.theorganiccentre.ie/ )
( http://www.hdra.org.uk/ )
( http://www.hdra.org.uk/lgl.htm#scotland )
( http://www.osg-co-op.co.uk/ )
( http://www.wye.ac.uk/FoodLink/index.html )

Fiona, I feel that you need to network with as many people involved in growing and/or distributing locally, in Scotland, and in the U.K. as you can.

Go to local farmers markets, get involved in vegbox schemes (called CSA(s) or Community Supported Agriculture, here in the States), visit vegetarian and gourmet restaurants and talk to the chefs there (as you may know I wash windows for a living and at least half of my customers are restaurants and a number of them are gourmet and some of them buy organic vegetables from farmers), find other organic gardeners and either buy from them or barter, contact organic farmers and buy from them or organize (or join) a food conspiracy, food buying club, or food co-op.

You don't have to build a glassed-in hothouses but you can do a trick that the Nearings ( http://www.goodlife.org/ ) did to extend their Northern Maine growing season which is to build a stone wall that is sunk at least several feet down around their garden and then the frost takes a month or two longer to get into the garden (collect a couple of truckloads of stones and create a wallbuilding event with your friends and neighbors to put it up in a day or so).

I sent a e-mail to Kathy Russell who has been macrobiotic for several years in Scotland and invited her to post here or contact you.

( http://www.foodloversbritain.com/org...tion-1180.html )
( http://www.ivu.org/congress/2002/why.html )
( http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/c...pe=eat&vid=165 )
( http://www.foodfirst.co.uk/org07614.htm )
( http://fr.travel.yahoo.com/t/wc/unit...abelscafe.html )
( http://www.grabameal.co.uk/avre130qz.htm )
( http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk/saladtable.html )
( http://theoracle.co.uk/lo/restaurant...estName=Kalpna )
( http://www.ednet.co.uk/~susies/ )
(http://www.aboutfood.co.uk/articles/...n-0013063.html )
( http://theoracle.co.uk/lo/restaurant...estName=Legume )
( http://travel.yahoo.com/p/travelguide/96068 )
( http://www.bestglasgowrestaurants.co...ts/?grassroots )
( http://www.grassrootsorganic.com/ )
( http://www.happycow.net/europe/scotland/inverness/ )
( http://somewherenear.com/staticindex58.htm )
( http://somewherenear.com/static58IV.htm )
( http://somewherenear.com/idx.cgi?pla...12&east=148419)
)
( http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/vegetarian.htm )
( http://www.scoot.co.uk/banns/ )

Check out the starting The Online International Macrobiotic Directory ( http://www.macrobioticdirectory.com/ )

Also, get the latest copy of the International Macrobiotic Directory 1050 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94608. (510) 601-1763, e-mail: Robert Mattson intermac@eathlink.com , Useful names, addresses, and telephone numbers of macrobiotic people, mb restaurants, and mb food suppliers (including food stores) from around the world. The 2002 edition sold for $10.00, was 40 pages with tens of thousands of listings worldwide.

Is this enough to get you started, Fiona?

Where in Scotland are you?

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[fiona marshall]

Bruce,

thank you again for the time you have put into your response.

I guess I was looking more for opinions on the local vs organic question, than actual resources, and to see if anyone else has to make that choice, and how they get on with it?

It's been 2 years now and I've scoped things out in my area relatively well, I think. I don't think it is the internet searching particularly (Can I tell you I am an e-tutor for part of the time, and searching is one of my subjects? Not that we cannot always learn more.) although it never hurts to have some extra bookmarks on your list; and, as with when I was seeking cooking implements, a personal recommendation is always useful.

I am aware of some organic shops in my area (Glasgow) but they tend to have a very limited range of fresh produce; maybe because it is always the weekend and late on when I get my shopping done. Also box schemes are available, but my place of work is not suitable for having deliveries there. So I do rely on supermarkets. It's not my ideal, but at some point, practicality has to kick in over idealism, and for me, having fresh food is the priority.

I know of a couple of farms that I can visit for produce, but they are a long-ish drive away (an hour and a half if the traffic is right) - so not very expedient or environmentally friendly for a visit every week! They supply my local shops.. but my timing is always out for freshness! I think they must deliver on a Monday.. and I shop on the weekend.

I would still be interested in any replies to the q, local vs organic.

Many thanks,

Fiona

[Nancy]

Dear Fiona,

At the inception of a New Year you sound like many of us, -- in process. It seems you have recently made exciting and rewarding changes; a new job, no travel -- that allows you to cook at home, and an onsite gym!

Just as myself, your would-be garden plot will need some help and refurbishing. Eventually, joyful, practicing, macrobiotic persons will find it difficult to resist the urge to establish their own organic garden with choice vegetables and food growing experiments -- if need be, tailor-made Biospheres...!

Regarding your dilemma about food quality, it sounds as though you are doing the best you practically can. The resources Bruce listed and his suggestions are impressive and will certainly provide enough for anyone to do with time on their hands! It is important for dedicated macrobiotic persons to support organic farmers -- supply meets the demand. Very few people are aware of the drastic difference nutritionally of regular store produce versus organic. Fiona, it seems you are choosing organic produce whenever possible.

As an aside, I would love to see some of your carrot soup recipes. Carrots do seem to be a staple food for macros...

Autumn is the season for apples, but again seem to be a wonderfully all-season fruit. What fruits do grow in winter? --
yet we still eat them, as part of a balanced diet. We also eat umeboshi plums and lotus root. So, -- should ease up on ourselves regarding strictness of practice.

Don't know if you've heard of Martha Stewart in Scotland, Fiona,
but she is America's Household Diva. She seems to be an expert on anything connected with domesticity. She has detailed instructions on how to build a Cold Frame, which is a sunken garden plot with glass lid that lifts at an angle. In this way, the growing season is far extended. One can pick fresh salad from the garden into late November, or later, depending on winter weather.

I also wish everyone the Best for a Happy and Healthy 2003!
The good folks on Cybermacro will see me posting this year, as Roy Collins and Gary Miller have asked me to moderate the Cybermacro Main Forum.

Peace and Blessings,
Nancy

[Bruce Paine]

Fiona and Nancy,

Here's what I found of Martha Stewart's cold frames: Cold Frames

( http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jh...nt&id=tvs3084a ).

Read her section on raised bed gardening which might well apply to that Scottish soil:

Building Raised Beds
( http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jh...age=1&dp=false )

When I visited Scott Nearing in Harborside, Maine back in January of 1974, his neighbor Eliot Colman (a now famous organic gardener/author) stopped by several times and helped us shovel snow off of the Nearings greenhouse that was made of stone walls and a sheet glass roof and wall facing south and contained hardy greens that were almost frozen.

Here is a reference to cold frame gardening and Mr. Coleman while promoting a book of his:

Catching the Retreating Sun for Fresh Greens
( http://www.chelseagreen.com/Coleman/NYTNov01.htm ).

Of course you know about Masanobu Fukuoka. No?

Well, back in 1974-75 when I was living in a macrobiotic study house here in Boston attending lectures given by Michio Kushi, he mentioned natural agriculture (see The Book of Macrobiotics, page 246) and showed us a book written in Japanese (with beautiful photographs) written by Mr. Fukuoka and a few years later his book, "The One-Straw Revolution" was published, promoted in the Eat-West Journal, and was sold (by Rodale Press) out before it was printed!

Here is more information on Masanobu Fukuoka and natural agriculture:

The Natural Way of Farming: Masanobu Fukuoka
( http://www.hollowtop.com/cls_html/thestore/Fukuoka.htm )

The Fukuoka Farming Website
( http://www.FukuokaFarmingOL.net/ )

His method of planting seeds on the ground instead of in the ground is quite revolutionary (encase the seeds in clay so that they won't be eaten by wild creatures and then when it rains, the seeds sprout putting down roots and putting up leaves).

Fiona, perhaps you will now be able to grow more food to sustain you and yours.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[Nancy]

Mornin' Bruce,

I was hoping you'd look up Martha Stewart's Cold Frames. Thanks very much for the links. The late great Bill Neall gave me a copy of Masanobu Fukuoka's, "The One-Straw Revolution" for which I will be forever grateful.

Very interesting anecdote regarding the Nearing's greenhouse.

Again, thanks for all the links and narrative.

You know, you could get a job on the Boston Globe as a researcher. A great job.

Peace and Blessings,
Nancy

[fiona marshall]

Nancy and Bruce

*big grin* I have a feeling I will surrender eventually and start growing produce! A lot of Scotland is at minus 15 to 20 degree C today, so I think it may not be the best day for digging my lawn up though - I'd break a lot of shovels - more a day for making some nice Scotch Broth. I might start small with a few herbs in plant pots in my kitchen and take it from there!

(Nancy, I will post some soup recipes at the weekend probably, in the cooking forum.)

Neither of my parents are macro (although since I have changed my diet I have noticed them eating less meat and more organic food) but maybe this is a project which my father would like to help me with over the summer. I think I would very much enjoy creating something like that with him!

With thanks for your comments, and time.

Fiona

Hi Fiona:

My suggestion would be to eat locally rather than organic if you must choose.
Eating organically is, in my opinion, a less important issue than eating a local plant-based diet. If your diet is plant based, you need not fear pesticides.
Please read "The China Study."

Thanks

Michael Bauce
Berkeley CA 94703