Counting On … – Page 56

Counting on …. Day 1.166

6th September 2023

I read recently that a tree provides the equivalent cooling of two air conditioning units. That must depend on the size of the tree and of the AC unit but it is an interesting thought. How much cheaper it must be to plant a tree than buy and run an AC unit. But of course a tree needs time to grow. Should we not be planting as many trees as we can now to provide cooling for the years to come when summer temperatures may be routinely hotter?

Last year at the Lambeth Conference, the delegates agreed to set up a global Communion Forest. Provinces, dioceses and churches were encouraged to plant trees to celebrate events such as baptisms, weddings and confirmations, by planting trees. It is a good idea and even where we don’t have the space ourselves to plant these trees, we can sponsor the planting of trees in woodland areas such as those cared for by the Woodlands Trust.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/dedications/

Counting on … day 1.165

5th September 2023

Trees and forested areas are, we know, good for the environment. They cool the air, store carbon, absorb water before later releasing it. They support a diversity of plant and animal life. They protect and enrich soils. And they improve our physical health and mental well being.

Sadly tree overage in the UK is only 13% – compared with 38% across Europe and 31% world wide.

Planting and looking after new trees and maintaining and protecting existing trees is surely common sense! And where trees are cultivated for use, including felling, that needs to be carried out in a way that protects and nurtures the ecosystem just as one should with a herd or flock of animals.

https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/forestry-statistics-2018/international-forestry-3/forest-cover-international-comparisons/

Counting on … day 1.164

4th September 2023

1st September to 3rd October is creationtide – time to celebrate the awe and wonder of creation and to renew our commitment to care for all of creation. This year’s particular theme is justice. Determining what is fair and right can be a tricky balancing act between competing needs of plants and creatures and humans. Sustainable ecosystems perhaps best demonstrate what is possible – where species support each other, where what is input is generous, and where what is extracted is not detrimental to the whole.

Counting on … day 1.163

1st September

Another source of plant based protein is nuts. These can be enjoyed, plain or roasted, chopped or ground into flour. They can be used in these different forms when baking and cooking. For example ground nuts can be added to vegetables to make a pasta sauce or to a creamy soup, as well as enriching cakes and biscuits. Ground nuts can be used to coat vegetables for roasting. Whole nuts can be added to casseroles, stir fry’s, cakes and deserts. Chopped nuts can be used in vegetable pies, nut roasts, stuffings, risottos, as well as cakes and deserts.

For more tips on swopping to a plant based diet – https://greentau.org/2021/10/12/eco-tips-11/

Counting on … day 1.162

31st August 2023

Seeds are also a good source of protein as well as various minerals and vitamins. Try chia seeds, linseed or – the wild version – camelina seeds, pumpkin, sunflower, poppy, sesame and hemp seeds. You can add seeds to muesli or porridge, salads and mix them into bread dough.

You can use chia or linseeds as an egg replacement mixing one table spoon of seeds with 2 tablespoons of warm water, leaving it for a short time while the seeds thicken and produce a jelly-like texture.

You can use pumpkin or sunflowers seeds instead of pine nuts to make pesto.

You can also add seeds to hummus either blitzing them with the chickpeas or adding them whole for a different texture.

Counting on …day 1.161

30th August 2023

Peas and beans can also be used ground up as flour. (Again you can buy different flours from Hodmedod’s).

Pea and bean flour can be used to replace some of the wheat flour in things such as bread, cakes, pastry and pasta, adding more protein to these foods. Pea and bean flour can be used to replace egg in foods such as frittata, pancakes and Yorkshire puddings. (Experiment with vegan recipes for these).

Pea and bean flour can be used to thicken liquids and to make sauces. Mix with a little water as if it were corn flour and add in/into the hot liquid. (You can make these sauces in a microwave to to save energy).

Counting on …day 1.160

29th August 2023

Seven different times of pea and bean –

Top row: marrow fat peas, split wrinkled peas (these are the peas that didn’t quite make it to the freezing plant in time)

Bottom row: flamingo peas, chick peas, split yellow peas, split fava beans, red carlin peas.

All these are UK grown and come from the retailer Hodmedod. They will provide the basis for a number of meals. For example –

Mushy peas and fried sweet potatoe
Risi bisi*
Ratatouille and wild rice
Hummus and toast
Dhal and rice
Vegetable lasagna
Tagine with millet

NB I weigh a daily portion of beans into a glass jar, add water and leave to soak. Then I place all the jars in a large pan, half fill with water and bring to the boil. Letting it simmer for 30 minutes before turning of the heat. This gives me 7 jars of ready cooked beans.

*https://greentau.org/2022/06/29/counting-on-day-228/

Counting on … day 1.159

28th August 2023

What often worries people when swopping to a plant-based diet is getting enough protein. We have been brought up understanding that we need protein and that meat, fish and dairy are all good sources of protein. The recommended daily protein consumption is 55.5 grams per person for adult men and 45 grams per person for adult women which ideally would be spread throughout the day. 100g of chicken or beef equates to about 30g of protein, 100g salmon about 25g, 1/2 litre of milk about 15g and 50g of cheese about 12g. As in addition a couple of slices of bread can contain 6g of protein, 100g of rice 10g it is not surprising that many people consume more than the recommended amount. https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthy-sustainable-diets/protein/?level=Consumer

As well as bread and rice, protein can be found in beans, pulses and tofu – about 8g per 100g (cooked weight); nuts and seeds about 5g per 25g (a tablespoon of peanut butter is about 4g); in green vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli about 3g per 100g. Combining beans/ pulses/ peanut butter with grains such as rice/bread/pasta provides an optimal mix of amino acids present in protein. This makes simple dishes such as beans on toast, a peanut butter sandwich, hummus and pitta bread, rice and dhal an excellent source of nutrition.

Counting on … day 1.158

25th August 2023

A flat white coffee contains about 140ml of milk (about quarter of a pint) but the barista is likely to heat more milk than is necessary to create a perfect cup and the excess will be discarded. So one way of reducing your dairy consumption might be to swop to a non dairy milk for your coffee – eg an oat flat white (or latte or cappuccino). You may be surprised how palatable you find this – many people find the slight sweetness of oat milk enhances the coffee.

You can swop dairy milk for oat milk in baking, when making custard and white sauces, and in porridge.

As with milk so it is equally easy to replace dairy butter with a plant-based butter – these have a similar texture and taste to dairy butter. You can swop dairy for plant-based butter on bread, in baking and pastry making, for white sauces and risottos, in baked potatoes etc.

If we all went vegan what would happen to all the cows? https://greentau.org/2022/09/23/the-green-tau-issue-53/

Counting on … day 1.157

24th August 2023

If agricultural expansion is to be reversed, it will need the combined efforts and cooperation of governments, farmers, consumers, commodity traders, financiers, retailers, and environmental scientists. One of the most important areas to change will be that of meat production.

‘Of all the world’s land surface, approximately 71% is ‘habitable land’; half of this land is used for agriculture. Currently, pastures used for grazing and land used to grow crops for animal feed account for 77% of agricultural land, thus comprising nearly 30% of the total land surface of the planet…If we combine pastures used for grazing with land used to grow crops for animal feed, livestock accounts for 77% of global farming land. While livestock takes up most of the world’s agricultural land it only produces 18% of the world’s calories and 37% of total protein.’ https://ourworldindata.org/global-land-for-agriculture

Across Europe governments are, to a greater or lesser extent, aiming to reduce meat production on farms and meat consumption amongst populations. The Irish government for example, is looking to reduce its dairy herd by 65000 animals per year over the next three years. The Dutch government is planning to reduce its cattle numbers for 30% by 2030. The Climate Change Committee in the UK has recommended livestock cuts of 20-50% for beef and lamb, whilst at the same time recommending a 20% reduction on meat and dairy in the UK diet.

Reducing cattle numbers will free up more land for plant crops and so feed more people and/ or rewilding which will boost biodiversity.

Over the next few days I will be looking at easy ways of adapting to a more focused plant based diet.

For further info in farming, land use and biodiversity see

Green Tau: issue 21

The Green Tau: issue 20