30 Day Local Food Challenge

Join the #30daylocalfoodchallenge this September to eat fresh local food, reduce air miles and support local growers. If the food is organic/chemical free you also are doing your part to protect soil, biodiversity, water and health.

Lots of things about our food system bother me and an ever growing community of conscious consumers. Why are we importing so much of our food? Why are we so disconnected from the food growing in the fields? Why does our labelling system make it so difficult to understand where the food is actually from? Why are only 1% of our farms in Ireland growing vegetables, the lowest in Europe? Why are less than 2% of our farms organic when we know that chemicals are poisoning our water sources and making people and ecosystems sick? Why do we throw 30% of food in the bin uneaten? Why are we supporting food systems that burn rainforests and trees when we know the planet is in crisis? Why are we not resisting capitalist systems that insist that food is only about profit.

Especially in the context of climate change, why don’t we grow and eat more local Irish food which would reduce imports and carbon? Yes it’s not easy to eat local Irish food all year round and we know that that. There are hungry months in late Spring when the food is just not ready after late frosts.

So six years ago we decided to do a trial month: A 30 day local food challenge. September seemed a really good option as the garden is truly abundant with tomatoes, kale, spinach, herbs, peas, beans, onions, garlic, beets, carrots, parsnips and the list goes on. It is a luscious month in the gardening calendar. To eat Irish still means doing without what Barbara Kingsolver called ‘botanically outrageous’ foods, but it is somehow easier this month with all the food on offer in the garden and hedgerows. We also wanted to link with local growers and engage the community to think about what we are eating and how we can be more sustainable in our food consumption.

Dr Vandana Shiva and Lisa Fingleton at the Climate Change and Consciousness Conference, Findhorn, Scotland

COMMUNITY

Now the 30 Day Local Food Challenge takes place every September. Initially we did only 100% food grown on the island of Ireland but this too challenging for many people and families in particular.

Now we are going to make an effort to eat one full Irish meal a day. This community page has been created on Facebook to share ideas, menus and the experience of eating food only from the island of Ireland. Join the 30 Day Local Food Challenge (Facebook Group)

Please do share your experience and thanks for taking up the challenge to protect our planet one dish at a time.

CAN YOU EAT NOTHING BUT IRISH FOOD FOR A MONTH?

Read about how I challenged farmers as well as the general public to only eat produce grown on this island for the whole month – Read Here

THE LOCAL FOOD PROJECT (BOOK)

The Local Food Project is a book which encourages people to eat and grow food in order to reduce carbon and restore biodiversity. Incorporating drawings, photography and text, the book is the culmination of many years of work. The book is creatively presented in journal style and is filled with ideas and actions for people who think global and want to act local.

The Local Food Project is available in the following art gallery/bookshops: VISUAL Carlow, Glucksman Cork, Crawford Art Gallery Cork.

It is also available to purchase HERE (includes worldwide shipping)

President Michael D. Higgins and Lisa Fingleton at the Borris Festival of Witing and Ideas 2021.

MEDIA LINKS

The Local Food Project Front Cover Detail, Lisa Fingleton