Published on 12, July, 2020
So I have heard the reports that meat is high on the carbon footprint scale, although I believe chicken isn't sooo bad.
But I also received an email from an online 'heritage butcher' that I've used before. The owner is starting a campaign called 'Save our Season', to try and lobby for a seasonality tax. The idea being, we pay x for British Asparagus, and y (which is nigh on the same) for imported asparagus, when British isn't in season. I say asparagus... I do use lidls as well as waitrose...
But this got me thinking... his aim was it would promote reduced food miles, seasonal eating and quality/welfare. He also suggested that the commonly published footprints for various meats aren't what they appear... as they take into account the average food miles as well as cow farts...?
I'm not anticipating getting any livestock, but I am wondering how much of our veg I can grow myself?
Has anyone got some suggestions for useful things to grow? (That are legal!) I'm going to have another go at Trinidad Perfume Chilli's, and I've got a good stock of Red Bull sweet pepper seeds from the last couple of years. But trying to think of some more things to grow, in particular (but not limited to) those that tend to be imported (?)
I'm also tempted to have another go at growing mushrooms, but probably from a proper kit rather than grain spawn like I did last year...
I grow my own mushrooms. Its almost like a science in itself. Its a great hobby. I grow veg in the spring, really enjoyed growing sweetcorn this past year and carrots, potatos. You can never go wrong with tomatos
You grow your own mushrooms!? OK now you and Chris are my current heroes. Please tell me more.
I buy oyster mushrooms from shops. Clone them.....and then grow them from bags. Basically, this is taking a sterile sample from the stem....i put this on agar "a sterile growing medium" and the mycelium grows out....you can add a wedge of this to grain to make mushroom "spawn" like chris said.
I get some chopped straw and put it in a mushroom bag and pressure cook it. Then add your spawn or you can just add an agar wedge.
Or you can just buy a kit to start with. A few people i know sell quality gourmet mushroom kits if you are interested? I can post some links?
Mum pointed out some mushrooms growing out of a retaining wall on our patio this afternoon. Pics below. Was a shock... a. I hadn't noticed them. B. We've never had before... quick ID and I've discovered they are Jelly Ear's. Edible, but pretty bland to western tastes. More popular in China.