ecological sustainability

Our relationship with the natural world has always been important to me.

The way human beings eat and produce food has a huge impact on fragile natural resources, CO2 emissions, biodiversity and the global climate. We are now facing a crisis and we have to live differently.

In 2019, I decided that my business had to reflect the way I try to live at home; to use organic, fairly traded, ethical and sustainable products, minimise plastic packaging, avoid unsustainable palm oil, draw on locally produced foods and attempt to grow my own vegetables and herbs. We eat much less meat nowadays and are often, unintentionally Vegan! I can help you see this not as a new challenge but an easier, simpler way to live and eat while treading a little more lightly.

I have also worked hard with Sustainable St Albans, Earthworks, St Albans Tree Action Group, Grow Community Sopwell, St Albans Action for Homeless (and those in need), St Albans Community Pantry (SACP) in rescuing supermarket food from landfill and passing on to those with limited access to fresh produce, Wilderhood Watch, WW Gardening Champions, Butterfly World 2.0 and the BlueHeart Campaign to try to make a small difference for the better, every day. I also joined the Green Party and stood for County Councillor in the 2021 and 2022 local elections for St Albans North. As well as these, I am also involved in the Campaign by Locals Against Sewell Housing (CLASH) who are trying to save Greenbelt land in North St Albans from development.

My latest project (2023) is taking over a piece of local council land which they have agreed to me forming a community wildlife garden for the benefit of local residents in New Greens and to increase local biodiversity. Perennial food growing will also be a major feature, for sharing around the community. Find us on Facebook and join our group, New Greens Wild Garden.

My Radio Dacorum Interview with Lesley Tate on Food and Sustainability

Listen here for a wander around the key influences in my life and my approach to food and cooking.

Sustainable St Albans 2022

The Great Cobbled Veggie Cook Off took place here in my home kitchen on separate days during SustFest22. Those booked on brought along any vegetable, fruit or other plant-based ingredient (fresh or store cupboard) they could find and learnt how to chop, cook, tweak, create delicious food from something that might otherwise get thrown away for no good reason. The food we made was shared out for each to take home a portion and hopefully are now inspired to think outside of the box when next faced with a wrinkly pepper or forgotten tin of beans.

Sustainable St Albans 2021

Due to the pandemic, my contribution to SustFest21 was this Al Fresco Kitchen Garden Cooking video below…

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/358243998/

St Albans Feastival 2023

Come and see me on the Cookery Theatre at 2.30pm Sunday 24th Sept. 2023 where I’ll be showing you how to minimise or eradicate salad waste! A staggering 40% of all food produced globally is wasted each year! This accounts for about 10% of global emissions, driving the climate crisis. This is unforgivable in my eyes and must be tackled head on. So stop buying bagged salads - these are wasted more than other types of salad - and come see me in action!