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Wholesome Life
sourcing ethical, artisan and bio products |
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Oil driven costs are reduced - support local farmers
Within the Vermont USA, consumers are seeing the benefits of how locally and organic (or biodynamic) produced food is keeping costs low at times when prices for petrol are increasing daily.
For people who care and love their local communities, environment and working landscapes purchasing locally produced food is helping to sustain them and their community. Whether the produce is from Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations, farmers markets or from the farmers directly, consumers are saving.
In addition, the farmers markets and the CSA are also providing sustainable plant and animal breeding courses, nutritional courses, farming and food product as well as livestock nutrition.
This is indeed similar to Transition Town concept of looking at local communities and how they can become sustainable. Here in the UK there is land available for farming, people who are waiting on Council Garden Plots - why not combine this together and form more CSA here in the UK.
Whether we are in Vermont USA or Berkshire, UK the same principles can be implemented. The ongoing increases in the price of oil - have led to dramatic price hikes for petroleum based fertilisers, chemicals and fuels which are required for conventional and also large scale food production. Processing costs, distribution and freight costs have also risen. This has seen rises in some food items by 50% - 100% within a matter of months.
Oil driven cost increases can be greatly reduced or eliminated, when consumers buy organic food directly from the farmers who produce it. This also enables the farmers to provide competitive priced food which is comparable to conventionally produced foods. And, of course, there is indeed no comparison in terms of freshness, taste, quality and traceability.
When people are given the opportunity to knowing their food, it leads to a greater commitment to locally produced food, which enables continued expansion of CSA farms and farmers. In addition, it allows greater support for organic methods of food production - which do not require the need for synthetic fertilisers, antibiotics, GM grains and pesticides.
For further information regarding CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) - Community Supported Agriculture
Would you like to be part of a local CSA in Maidenhead? Please contact Transition Town Maidenhead or email ngaire.
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