Category Archives: Local Food

Local Food

Today, over half (51%) of the food consumed in Britain is imported (Defra [2008] Food statistics pocketbook). Even within Britain, the distance travelled by everyday items such as potatoes and bread can be considerable. The concept of ‘food miles’ (the number of miles an item of food has to travel before it reaches your plate) was coined in response to the supermarkets energy-intensive method of food distribution.

Rural communities are well-placed to reduce these carbon emissions by sourcing food locally in farmers’ shops and markets. Urban communities will always have to rely for their nutrition on the rural-urban supply lines, but energy-intensive supply systems can be avoided by building relationships with farmers through farmers’ markets and community-supported agriculture. ETNet’s answer to this is the Highbridge Community Farm.

Interest in home-grown food has increased exponentially in recent years. Despite this, allotments and back gardens are still regularly built over. So protecting and promoting local growing spaces is vital for the long-term fruition of local, low carbon communities.

ETNet Local Food Group Projects

A local food and drink directory of Hampshire has been compiled by Hampshire Fare. More information here

Local Farm Shops

There are various local food/farm shops across Eastleigh Borough:

  • Bay Leaves Larder, Hiltingbury Road, Chandlers Ford
  • Hollygroves Farm Shop, Upper Northam Drive, Hedge End
  • Pickwell Farm Shop, Grange Road, Netley
  • Chalcroft Farm Shop, Burnetts Lane, West End
  • Itchen Fruit Co, Grandessa, Hamble Lane, Bursledon

Farmers Market

Nearest: Winchester Farmers Market
Dates: Second and last Sunday of every month
Time: 9am – 2pm
Location: Middle Brook Street and Middle Brook Street Car Park, Winchester, SO23

Local Produce Box Scheme

Nearest: Sunnyfields Organic, Southampton
Website: http://www.sunnyfields.co.uk/Home-Delivery-and-box-scheme.asp

13.05
2012

Local Farm Shop Cycle Ride

ETNet and Transition Southampton have teamed up with Cyclewise and local resident Martin Davis, to run a community bike ride through Hamble and Netley, showcasing local farm shops. The reason for this is that there is the huge Bursledon Tesco, … Continue reading →

Posted in ETNet, Local Food, Transport | Leave a comment
06.04
2012

Velmore Market Garden – Volunteers needed

The old garage site on Cox Row has now been completely demolished and refurbished into a traditional allotment site ready for the Learn and Grow Project. Solent EBP has secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme in … Continue reading →

Posted in Chandlers Ford, Local Food | Leave a comment
23.03
2012

Sustainable Homes Exhibition

Transition Southampton are organising a repeat of their 2010 Sustainable Homes Exhibition over several weekends this August/September. This will include homes being opened to the public that show practical examples of green living, from solar panels to food growing. See … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, ETNet, Local Food, Sustainable Buildings | Leave a comment
15.03
2012

ETNet Fruit Group

At the ETNet Hub Meeting on the 14th March, it was decided that the ETNet Local Fruit Group would become active. It was noted that ETNet along with the Urbane Forager are currently mapping local fruit trees across the area, … Continue reading →

Posted in Eastleigh, Local Food | Leave a comment
15.02
2012

Places available on disabled gardening project

A community allotment project is hoping to help more disabled people benefit from growing their own fruit and vegetables. Thrive is a small national charity which offers training and practical solutions,  so that anyone with a disability can take part … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Food, West End | 1 Comment
14.02
2012

Saving Seeds

Currently, there are eighty-thousand edible plants used for food. Out of these eighty thousand, only one hundred and fifty are actively being cultivated, and just EIGHT are traded globally. Three hundred thousand vegetable species have become extinct in the last … Continue reading →

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03.02
2012

Guide to buying Hampshire’s own food, drink and craft

Hampshire Fare’s new free 2012 Directory of Local Produce is the definitive guide to where to buy food, drink and craft produced in Hampshire. The directory is designed to make it easy to find local food producers, as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Economy, Local Food | Leave a comment
01.02
2012

Eat Seasonably

Eat Seasonably celebrates eating the right things at the right time: a crisp salad when it’s hot and sunny, a wholesome stew when it’s cold; strawberries in June, Brussels sprouts in December. Eating seasonably is also a great way of … Continue reading →

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07.12
2011

TREEmendous Fruit Tree Project

Transition Southampton are currently running a project to offer fruit trees to people who would like them.  Choose from Apple, pear or plum trees! You will not need to live around Southampton to purchase these. The closing date for orders is 31st … Continue reading →

Posted in ETNet, Highbridge Farm Community Project, Local Food | Leave a comment
16.10
2011

Chutney Recipe

Here at ETNet we kindly appreciate being sent recipes made using local food. We thought it’d be great to share a recipe we have received recently. If you would like to share a recipe that you’ve used with the food … Continue reading →

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