More questions than answers
Living and working on our family farm, it’s easy to become complacent with our own knowledge of exactly where our food comes from.
Mostly through the summer our fruit and vegetable consumption is wholly grown on the farm, year round our meat consumption is from our own livestock with lamb mutton and pork all being from our own animals.
I get that some people struggle with eating their own animals, but to us I would rather be responsible for the welfare of our animals to the point of slaughter, knowing that they have had the best from life with the care we have been able to give them.
Farming
There is a growing argument that farmers are responsible for a big proportion of climate change. Here in the UK we take pride in and care for our green and pleasant land.
Without livestock pasture would quickly run to weeds without returning nitrates from manure we would be more reliant on chemical additions for crop growth so our future has to be about balance.
Some people are choosing to lessen their meat consumption, which I get, our diet should be balanced, some choose a vegetarian diet, that’s their choice and others chose a vegan diet, the same applies but all depend on worldwide farmers.
Medically we need a variety of vitamins and nutrition from our food. Surgery recovery times and success rates are dependant on our physical fitness Pre op, in the same way as being over weight prior to surgery can delay recovery so can the lack of vitamins in our diet significantly incumbent our bodies ability to repair.
Milk
Milk comes from cows, sadly not everyone knows this: Cow’s milk is naturally an excellent source of calcium. It has vitamin D and it has potassium and it’s a complete protein source as well. With other forms of dairy – cheese, yogurt and other sources – you are getting some, but not all, of the nutrients from milk.
Milk alternative:
Soy bean In many tropical countries, extensive natural areas are destroyed to allow for the cultivation of soybeans. The majority of the increase in soy production in the last decade has been in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, where production has contributed to deforestation in important biodiversity hotspots. Add to this the widely unregulated chemicals and the shipping costs to the environment, it’s green credentials fall far from the ideals of a vegans mission.
https://www.worldwildlife.org › soy
Food Waste
Food waste is by far our worst enemy, in the west easy access to food, cooking more than is required and over purchasing leads to millions of tones perfectly good food going to landfill.
Key actions to cut your food carbon footprint:
Buy local
Buy in season
Buy british
Buy only what you need
Be creative with leftovers
Make enough to freeze a second meal 2nd time curry always has a richer flavour.
Grow your own, even the smallest of gardens with a little careful planning can provide for your family.
For more information on our family farm stay options visit us: Oaksbarnfarm.co.uk
