Sunday, June 28, 2015
Friday, June 19, 2015
How we choose what to grow & Soya - grown on the land 'slash and burned' by clearance of the rainforest
Regarding what we plant. We aim to produce enough 'staples' to supply what people need but on a seasonal basis, that is we do not buy-in but sell what we grow as we grow it. The staples are based on what grows well on our field and what people 'need' according to common preference to eat a balanced diet of fresh vegetables (according to the season). We are also growing a few more things that people may 'like'.
Now this gets complex as clearly modern distribution and marketing makes people want things that may not normally be grown even on a seasonal basis, hence the use of 'protected' growing like tunnels and huge glasshouses full of strawberries and tomatoes and other 'delicate' frost prone veg and fruit that would normally take longer to ripen or have a much shortened season when grown without protection or heat. This is nothing new and centuries of growers have used greenhouses to do this and produce 'exotic' produce not normally grown in this location and climate.
What is new is the demand and availability of such produce all the year round sometimes at great additional cost and impact on our environment through the use of carbon fuels to heat, package and transport such produce in order to fullfill the demand created. This is why local, seasonal food is better for the consumer as it balances nutritional needs over the 'embedded' energy cost often hidden from the consumer through discount deals and pricing policies of the retailers.
Food is best eaten fresh and if needed to be stored is best frozen as it preserves much of the 'fresh' nutritional content. However freezing normally requires carbon fuels so traditional methods such as bottling, pickling, drying and 'earth' storage may be preferred to reduce the energy cost and make some futher tasty variety from the basic veg. We can give you many examples on this should you need.
Part of our work is developmental and research based. Take the growing of Soya beans for example. Soya is a high protein, high quality crop normally now grown on the land 'slash and burned' by clearance of the rainforest and other threatened habitats untouched by modern farming to date. The demand for soya is constantly increasing due to use as a high quality substitute for meat products or, bizarrely, as a high quality protein feed for animals.
This months Permaculture News stated that Soya cannot be grown successfully in the UK. This sort of bold statement is classic for people who have lost touch of the meaning of Permaculture, that is in the trial and experimentation, adaptation and pushing the boundaries of what 'Permanent Agriculture' may mean. They normally charge a load of your good money for such advice!
For the last two years I have grown soya successfully on the field with high yields and though largely underused as people are unfamiliar with it as a bean (though almost everyone has eaten it as a protein food or drink) it is an important crop for us as not only does it boost the quality of our produce with a highly nutritious and long lasting food but it also educates our supporters on the impact we may have at the field on reducing highly environment damaging and carbon fuelled imported crops, so making us more resilient to the impact of climate change.
We have several kilo of our soya available to anyone who wishes to try. Suggestions below and I can supply some great recipes. We may have Edamame beans available later in the summer. Next year, all being well, we shall try chick peas too.
All of this work, the seasonality, the fresh produce, the wellbeing through activity and community enterprise is part of our charities educational purpose. That is that we wish to help people understand diet and nutrition and how the food gets to your table - with involvement if people wish along the way. If you can help us with this please get in touch or donate below.
Our Charities Aid Foundation platform campaigns............. Gift Aid available, standing order available.
CgrowEducation
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/donatesteps.aspx?beneficiarycampaignid=3335
Communigrow aims to provide new facilities for education and experience of food and farming. We need to raise funds for our education resources on site to provide a broad range of experience that our 5 acre field permits. Includes growing, an all weather classroom and fittings with interactive interpretation for all ages and abilities. Our developments include a 'Field Kitchen', a catering provide on-site demonstration. With 12 students currently benefiting we may help over 60 with more funds.
We are pleased to start a local Low Carbon for the awareness of climate change and how we may prepare for its influence on our lives.
Like this exciting project at https://www.facebook.com/bradbournelowcarbon
Now this gets complex as clearly modern distribution and marketing makes people want things that may not normally be grown even on a seasonal basis, hence the use of 'protected' growing like tunnels and huge glasshouses full of strawberries and tomatoes and other 'delicate' frost prone veg and fruit that would normally take longer to ripen or have a much shortened season when grown without protection or heat. This is nothing new and centuries of growers have used greenhouses to do this and produce 'exotic' produce not normally grown in this location and climate.
What is new is the demand and availability of such produce all the year round sometimes at great additional cost and impact on our environment through the use of carbon fuels to heat, package and transport such produce in order to fullfill the demand created. This is why local, seasonal food is better for the consumer as it balances nutritional needs over the 'embedded' energy cost often hidden from the consumer through discount deals and pricing policies of the retailers.
Food is best eaten fresh and if needed to be stored is best frozen as it preserves much of the 'fresh' nutritional content. However freezing normally requires carbon fuels so traditional methods such as bottling, pickling, drying and 'earth' storage may be preferred to reduce the energy cost and make some futher tasty variety from the basic veg. We can give you many examples on this should you need.
Part of our work is developmental and research based. Take the growing of Soya beans for example. Soya is a high protein, high quality crop normally now grown on the land 'slash and burned' by clearance of the rainforest and other threatened habitats untouched by modern farming to date. The demand for soya is constantly increasing due to use as a high quality substitute for meat products or, bizarrely, as a high quality protein feed for animals.
This months Permaculture News stated that Soya cannot be grown successfully in the UK. This sort of bold statement is classic for people who have lost touch of the meaning of Permaculture, that is in the trial and experimentation, adaptation and pushing the boundaries of what 'Permanent Agriculture' may mean. They normally charge a load of your good money for such advice!
For the last two years I have grown soya successfully on the field with high yields and though largely underused as people are unfamiliar with it as a bean (though almost everyone has eaten it as a protein food or drink) it is an important crop for us as not only does it boost the quality of our produce with a highly nutritious and long lasting food but it also educates our supporters on the impact we may have at the field on reducing highly environment damaging and carbon fuelled imported crops, so making us more resilient to the impact of climate change.
We have several kilo of our soya available to anyone who wishes to try. Suggestions below and I can supply some great recipes. We may have Edamame beans available later in the summer. Next year, all being well, we shall try chick peas too.
All of this work, the seasonality, the fresh produce, the wellbeing through activity and community enterprise is part of our charities educational purpose. That is that we wish to help people understand diet and nutrition and how the food gets to your table - with involvement if people wish along the way. If you can help us with this please get in touch or donate below.
Uses include edamame - green beans steamed and coated in soya sauce,
Fresh beans for soups and stews and they taste fab and dried for the same as they store for many months and even years in the right conditions as they dry rock hard.
Tofu is a great use, having made this myself I can say it never quite tastes the same as what you can buy but it is fun to make
Communigrow’s charity local veg, plants and more - Fresh, local, social
EVERY SATURDAY .... 10am at the Brassey Centre Bazaar, Station Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7QR
and then... from 12noon until 2pm with our ‘Barrow-on-the-Green’.
Ditton village green, Outside St Peter's church, New Road, Ditton ME20 6AE
We’ve been growing local veg with schools and groups in Ditton since 2011 on land we lease from East Malling Research .
Local food grown by local charity providing learning and work experience for sixth form students from Five Acre Wood.
This year we provide all our sessions FREE OF CHARGE as a charity and these will soon include craft, wildlife and conservation, social enterprise and more.
Also Every Saturday from 12noon until 2pm with our ‘Barrow-on-the-Green’.
Ditton village green, Outside St Peter's church, New Road, Ditton ME20 6AE
Ditton Parish Council have allowed us the option of running our charity barrow to the green each week
Also…. Suggested donation £10, our Charity box of seasonal veg delivered locally
Local food grown by local charity providing learning and work experience for sixth form students – Veg box of seasonal produce for a suggested donation of £10 delivered to your door*
Thank you
Registered Charity Number 1159534 COMMUNIGROW
Brassey Bazaar
We have a Brassey Bazaar 10am - 12 noon at the Brassey Centre which is open to the public. It is run by volunteers and is an essential link with the community. Call in for a bargain and/or tea or coffee and homemade cakes. We are always pleased to welcome new visitors.
Now you may help us via
CgrowEducation
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/donatesteps.aspx?beneficiarycampaignid=3335
Communigrow aims to provide new facilities for education and experience of food and farming. We need to raise funds for our education resources on site to provide a broad range of experience that our 5 acre field permits. Includes growing, an all weather classroom and fittings with interactive interpretation for all ages and abilities. Our developments include a 'Field Kitchen', a catering provide on-site demonstration. With 12 students currently benefiting we may help over 60 with more funds.
We are pleased to start a local Low Carbon for the awareness of climate change and how we may prepare for its influence on our lives.
Like this exciting project at https://www.facebook.com/bradbournelowcarbon
Thursday, June 11, 2015
never underestimate the power of people in just one, two hour work session....
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