Comment

RECENT issues of "Smallholder" have highlighted the Peak Oil movement and for several months now we have been looking at the science behind climate change and the implications for food production.

It, therefore came as no great surprise to me when, amidst the general panic about rising food and fuel prices, alternative views began to whiz into my in box and some smallholders expressed them personally to me.

It's an interesting debate but when Rob Hopkins of the Transition Towns Network said in "The Observer" newspaper, "My take is that high oil prices are a really good thing, and the higher they go the better in some ways, if we can respond creatively to it. At the end of the day, it's the only thing that really focuses the mind. We are already starting to see an upsurge in the number of people getting back to growing food again, making clothes again" he wasn't alone in his view.

A small, but significant number of people were standing up and saying that the hike in prices was the only thing that would make people begin to re-evaluate their consumer based lifestyle and by cutting down on energy costs, they would also be cutting down on carbon emissions. I don't think that this argument divides as simply as politicians like to think it does, between the more cash strapped members of society and the more affluent middle class or between urban dwellers with access to good public transport and country people who may have to travel miles to work. It's more a matter of how people see energy and food - as something that should be cheap and on-demand or as a compromise between human needs and the earth's dwindling resources. Which side of the debate are you on or are you somewhere in the middle? I'd love to know what you think about the fuel and food prices.

My own view tends towards the thoughts that neither will be coming down anytime soon and in the case of food certainly, never and that rather than waste hours debating the whys and wherefores, I need to get on and make the necessary changes in my life to accommodate these extra costs without compromising in particular, my animal welfare.

My personal biggest challenge looms ahead with the approaching winter and that will certainly be home heating. For years I have been closing my eyes to the waste energy generated in heating a large, drafty farmhouse but now I think every drop of oil will count. We'll also be looking at woodburners over the summer. I'm already of the "put another jumper on but don't turn the heat up" school of thought anyway! As it is only August, there is time to think about how to react to heating costs and the rising price of animal feed. As far is feed is concerned, the importance of feeding a balanced ration especially to productive livestock such as egg laying hens and milk producing goats, is paramount and I won't be skimping on that but I will be ensuring that Mr Roland Rat does not have a share and that I feed the correct amount.

Following on from this re-think, comes the discovery of the local produce market. I have lived here years and to my absolute shame, never visited one. Completely by accident I stumbled upon a weekday afternoon sale of fenland produce in Wisbech and I was transfixed. Not only a place to take surplus produce but certainly a place to buy and then share with friends. An excellent way to cut down costs. Do other small towns still have such markets or are we unique in Fenland? And yet another effect of the desire to "grow your own" has been the number of inquiries that "Smallholder" has received for small implements to fit behind ATVs and small tractors, plus implements for ponies and donkeys. It's the small ones that people can't find, shire horse size, yes but donkey or 12.2hh pony, no. If you have any idea who is producing these or if you have made up your own, please do send us details so we can pass them on.

Good too to hear Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall talking about how you can get your local council to provide allotments, something we covered in our summer special issue. Don't forget, you read it first in "Smallholder"! If you want any more details do contact us.

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login