Category: Counting On …

Reflections and actions during COP26 and going on

Counting on … day 36

20th December 2021

 ‘“Supermarket chains play the role of gatekeeper, deciding how food is produced, the (low) prices paid to farmers and what fills the shelves,” as authors of the People’s Food Policy put it. Based on convenience and the suggestion of low prices, supermarkets maximise profit margins often at the expense of people and the environment.’ This short quote comes from a review of supermarkets by Ethical Consumer + https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/retailers/shopping-guide/supermarkets

If we cannot count on supermarkets to act sustainably, we should we be using our purchasing power to show what kind of world we want to live in. You might choose to subscribe to the Ethical Consumer magazine to keep up to date with the ethical performance of retailers and their products.  

Counting on … day 35

19th December 2021

Mincemeat griddle scone: quick to make without the need to heat the oven.

230g flour (I used spelt) plus 2 tsp baking powder or use self raising flour.  60g vegan butter

Rub the butter into the flour. Mix to a soft dough using vegan milk. Divide the dough into two and roll/pat out each into a circle a little smaller than your frying pan.

Start warming up your frying pan. 

When hot add a little oil and one round of scone mix. Place mincemeat on top of the dough leaving a 2cm edge. Cover with the second round  of dough and press firmly around the edges.

Bake until cooked on the bottom (8-10 minutes). The turn over to cook the other side.

Counting On …. Day 33

17th December 2021

Fossil fuel energy we know causes air pollution and CO2 pollution whilst other sources of power do not have the same damaging consequences. One such clean energy source is wind – and wind farms are growing around our coasts – but how about that older type of windmill, the one used to mill flour? 

Priors Flour is milled at Fosters Mill in Swaffham Prior. The current mill was built in 1857 but stands on on a site where mills have been in use site since the 12th Century. Fortunately not only are their people still skilled in the craft of milling, there are also people skilled at repairing and building new parts for the mill. The following link shows the work currently being undertaken to keep the mill fully operational.  https://www.priorsflour.co.uk/christmas-opening-smock-mill-update/?mc_cid=5361ffc79c&mc_eid=17002b1305

NB you can buy flour from the mill by mail order, and good flour it is too!

Counting on … day 32

16th December 2021

Tackling the causes of global warming requires all of us to undertake changes in the way we live. In particular we need to make changes in the way we consume and in how much we consume. We are encouraged to be conscientious about how we shop: shopping locally, avoiding excess packaging, buying fairly traded products, supporting businesses that pay the Living Wage etc. In Sheen we have both a refill shop, a Saturday market, and an Amazon supermarket! It is up to us to make the right choices to shape the high street we want – and we have to count on each other doing the right thing too!

Counting on … day 31

14th December 2021

It is a month since the end of COP26  on climate change. It can seem as if it was something that happened in a different time. It can feel as if it was blip that changed nothing.  Various environmental and faith groups have since then held reflections, trying to evaluate what happened. One of these took place at the the a Franciscan friary at Hilfield. Below is a link to a YouTube recording of their gathering. The first part by Andy Lester of A Rocha gives a very concise overview of what the COP objectives were and how they were and were not met. Both A Rocha and Franciscans are identified by their concern for the world and its environment,  and  for justice. Both agree that faith groups have an important role to play in standing up for the well-being of the environment and all our brethren. 

COP 26 Panel Discussion Held at Hilfield

Counting On … day 30

13th December 2021

Shop small, shop locally. Supporting small and local businesses is good for the local community and for the environment. Local book shops, for example, are more likely to treat staff suppliers and customers with respect, to pay their taxes – and their shop window also to certainly brightens up the high street! These are the shops and local businesses we count on to make life good. Much more rewarding than buying books from Amazon. 

Ethical Consumer recommends using local food suppliers in their recent report on eating at Christmas.  

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethical-christmas/eat-ethically-christmas

 Counting On …day 29

12th December 2021

Take a walk somewhere green. It should re-energise you and let you see why it is that we want to protect the natural world. 

Here in Richmond Park, cattle are brought in each year to graze some of the land., a practice that has being going on now for about ten years. As cattle have different grazing patterns from deer, their presence can encourage a greater diversity of wild plants that can thrive on the local acidic soils. 

Counting On … day 28

11th December 2021

As well as fir comes, seed heads and dried leaves, paper makes a good material for Christmas decorations. It is easy to get hold off and easy to recycle and doesn’t damage the environment. The following YouTube episode demonstrates how to make a paper star – do feel free to fast forward past the introduction.