24 August 2013

Grow Local, Buy Local, Eat Local






Sudbury residents are being encouraged to take up the challenge of only eating food produced within 30 miles of the town in September.
The 30-Mile Food Challenge will be launched at Sudbury's farmers market on Friday 30 August, when Transition Sudbury and District will have a stand promoting the initiative from 9.30am outside St Peter's Church. There will be a raffle with prizes donated by local shops and producers including a food hamper from Health Foods for You, Lavenham Brook Sparkling Wine 2010 and vouchers from the Rafi's Spicebox, The Suffolk Venison Larder and Seasonal Suffolk.  



 The group will be handing out free calendars and stickers for children to record what they have eaten during September and there will be a competition to win a £10 voucher for Ice Cream from Hadley's Dairy Products.
 The challenge is part of a Suffolk-wide movement, organised by Transition groups, to encourage people to source their food and drink locally to benefit local farmers and producers and support the associated distribution and retail jobs.  The group will have details of where items can be purchased to make it as easy as possible to take part.
This keeps our money in our local economy, and reduces food miles and carbon emissions. Local food is often fresher and has less packaging.
But don't worry - you can take three non-local items such as tea, bananas and chocolate to keep you going during the local food challenge!
Many Suffolk towns are taking part, including Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Woodbridge, Bungay, Saxmundham and Halesworth, and there is a whole series of events being put on, including tasting weekends, cookery courses, farm visits, pickling and bottling and bread-making workshops, picnics and meals supporting local food.


Sudbury Transition group is organising a 'bring and share' local food lunch on Saturday 21 September. If you would like to come along, please get in touch with Jane Hatton on 01787 468634.

To find out more, please visit http://30milefood.transitionipswich.org.uk/  and click on 'Local Groups' for Sudbury, or for a leaflet detailing events and producers, please contact Jane Hatton on 01787 468634 j.hatton@btinternet.com or visit Sudbury Tourist Information in the town centre.

Ideas for your 30 Mile Food Challenge shopping

 
Meat and Fish

Lavenham Brook Beef and Lamb, Brent Eleigh, CO10 9PB Lamb is seasonally on sale from August and on through the winter. Fresh beef is on sale at the farm from the first Saturday of every month. Frozen beef available at all times.
Seasonal Suffolk Terrines and pates, smokehouse, foraged goods and country meals can be ordered online and also visits local markets and events check the website.
The Suffolk Venison Larder – Range of locally shot venison 01787 375513
Bowyers Beef, Pentlow, CO10 7JN They pride themselves on the high quality of their beef . Being locally reared, it is also fully traceable available online.
Beer, Wine and Cider
Mauldons, Sudbury, CO10 2YA. From their micro brewery in Sudbury, they produce traditional bitters, stouts, and porters.
Available from The Brewer Tap, East Street Sudbury and some retailers.
The Felstar Brewery, Felstead, Essex, CM6 3JT. All ales are brewed on the premises using traditional methods available direct and local retailers.
Growler Brewery, Pentlow, Essex, Co10 7JJ. available in local retailers.
Lavenham Brook Wine, Brent Eleigh, CO10 9PB Wine from the 2009, 2010 and 2012 vintages won gold medals in the UK Vineyard Association ‘Wine of the Year’ awards. Available online.
Mill Green Brewery and Castling Heath Cottage Cidery, Edwardstone, CO10 5PX. Crafters of flavoursome and unique real ales that have distinct character from this eco brewery. available from the Fleece Hotel, Boxford and The White Horse, Edwardstone.
Fruit and Veg

Wash Farm Sible Hedingham,Essex CO93RH. The farm is not a large, intensive operation supplying the supermarkets, but a small family farm selling direct to the public. Sweetcorn and Autumn lamb will be in season for collection from the the farm.

Willow Farm Potash Lane, Polstead Heath, CO6 5DL. Farm gate sales of apples, plums and pears etc also PYO.

Wheldons Fruit Farm Newton Leys,Sudbury, CO10 0QE. store is open 7 days a week, from 10a.m. – 5p.m. We stock a good range of seasonal vegetables and are trying a range of mainly British cheese (including Suffolk Gold). We have discovered an excellent local butcher who is supplying us with locally sourced meat. We use our own fruit to make traditional jams, conserves, chutney, pies and puddings. In addition we stock local products such as honey, apple juice and fruit ice creams.

Spencers Farm Shop Wickham St.Pauls, Essex, CO92PX. Fruit Farm established 35 years ago, with Pick Your Own Fruit and vegetables according to seasonal availability.
Our Coffee Shop is open seven days a week, while in our Farm Shop we have over 900 specialist foods - locally sourced wherever possible.

Eggs and Dairy

Little Greys Farm, Little Cornard, Sudbury, CO10 0PF. All sorts of eggs available from the farm gate goose, duck and chicken for the less adventurous, you can even hear the geese in the background.

Hadleys Dairy Products, Colne Engaine, Essex, CO6 2HU fabulous ice creams and sorbets available from local farm shops.

11 August 2013

Updated foraging map

The map has been updated with lots of new finds. Its at the bottom of the page. Lots of cherries still to pick and the blackberries at the agribulk compound are almost ready.


If you can't see the map click here   http://tinyurl.com/foragingmap