Members magazine Living Earth Summer 2020

Summer 2020

Living Earth

What changes are you making this month?

GIVE IT A GROW! Tips for growing from seed

WORKING WITH NATURE Is organic finally going mainstream?

g Earth

Welcome to the Summer edition of Livin

g every opportunity ing out to be. Whilst we are takin What a whirlwind year this is turn crisis we’re facing, we this from rges eme re futu ing farm to ensure that a better food and so many people With se. cour new a on to set the UK ling our have the biggest opportunity now enab is ort supp better’, your committed urging governments to ‘build back e about our calls mor n lear can You ed. need ’s ge that expertise to drive the policy chan needs to be - at the top dly farming where it urgently to put organic and nature frien pages 26-27. of the government’s agenda on the choices we’re making this happen. Not only with We each have our part to play in we can have ence influ the and lives our we live making as individuals but the way make small, to inue cont le . We want to help peop amongst our own communities been a better time to r neve has e Ther et. plan the and positive changes for their health nt. be part of the organic moveme s with our annual grow the organic market continue Our work to raise awareness and who has already yone ever to you k erway. A huge than for 30 ways Organic September campaign und 6-8 e pag see what you’ve been up to. See been participating - it’s great to th. you can get involved this mon year but even if you nity to try growing our own this Many of us have had an opportu s for you to try trick and tips est, we’ve got some missed out on this summers harv ings on page 12 and cutt from grow to is it easy how something new. We explore just already have growing on page 24. take seeds from vegetables you matter to you. We ing in touch with the things that We want to make sure we are keep t to hear. So if you’ve wan you t wha ies we are sharing are want to make sure that the stor h was included in whic and return our member survey, not yet had a chance to complete this. do to tes minu five please do take our spring members magazine, can complete the survey online: If you can’t find your copy, you rvey soilassociation.org/membersu issue and thank you for your We hope you enjoy reading this paigning and influencing cam our e mak to ort continued supp all of this without you. do dn’t work possible. We simply coul

Gemma Heaysman-Burns Editor

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Edited by Gemma Heaysman-Burns

Contact us on: memb@soilassociation.org 0300 330 0022

Issue

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What’s inside this issue P4 Latest Impacts & Campaign Successes What’s been achieved thanks to you P6 Organic September 30 small changes to make this month

P21 Meet the producer BOOM award winner Shillingford Organic veg box scheme tells us how they got started

P10 Sign the climate change declaration Add your voice for climate action

P24 Ben’s Growing Corner Head of Horticulture, Ben Raskin on tips for saving and planting seeds

P12 Grow Your Own Learn how to grow herbs from cuttings

P26 Our Emergency Appeal New legislation in Westminster

P17 Is organic finally going mainstream?

Yeo Valley’s Tim Mead shares his view on the direction for organic

P28 Blackberry and Apple Sourdough Loaf recipe From Vanessa Kimbell

P20 NEW Book Club Recommendations for some great reads

P31 Trustee Appointments Meet our newest board member

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THANK YOU Your donations and actions have achieved all this...

YOU'RE

KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE ON HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES Part 1 of the National Food Strategy was published in early summer, with a focus on food insecurity and lessons from Covid-19, and there was much to welcome. Part 1 endorsed the Soil Association’s recommendation that Free School Meals should be extended to more children living in poverty. Our Food for Life programme has been showcasing excellence in school food for over a decade, and throughout lockdown we saw both the scale of food insecurity and the importance of healthy and sustainable school meals. The recommendation, if implemented by government, would make a great difference to many children’s lives.

Part 1 also echoed our concerns that the wrong trade deal could undermine the UK’s environmental and animal welfare standards. We were pleased to see the report recommend greater transparency and democratic oversight of any future trade deal. We need to be raising the bar towards an organic and a nature-friendly farming future, not creating a new ‘race to the bottom’ in food production.

The final report will be published in early 2021. With your support, we will be pitching our priorities into the National Food Strategy team, while lobbying government to see the recommendations implemented.

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YOU'RE

RAISING AWARENESS OF NITROGEN THANKS TO YOU, and with extra financial support from the Ashden Trust, we’ve launched a report exploring the risks that a disrupted nitrogen cycle poses to our future. It tackles some big unanswered questions and presents solutions that could fix the nitrogen problem. The report highlights the under-recognised contribution of nitrous oxide pollution to climate change as well as the better known risks of nitrate and ammonia pollution to health and sensitive habitats, exacerbated by the use of synthetic fertilisers banned in organic farming.

Because of your regular gifts, we’re also raising awareness of how people can help mitigate the effects of nitrogen pollution through their own household choices, in particular avoiding industrially farmed meat that has a huge “nitrogen footprint”. Find out more at soilassociation.org/nitrogen

YOU

MADE HISTORY PUTTING CLIMATE FIRST In June, together with others in The Climate Coalition, we made history with the first-ever virtual lobby of Parliament #TheTimeIsNow. Thanks to all of you who joined in and asked over 200 MPs to champion a green and fair recovery that works for all.

See page 10 for an opportunity to get involved in the next step of the Climate Coalition’s campaign for climate action in the build up to the postponed global climate change conference rescheduled to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.

YOU’RE

SUPPORTING NATURE -FRIENDLY FARMING SYSTEMS Thank you to all of you who have generously donated to our urgent appeal. Before Covid-19, ever increasing numbers of people were starting to recognise the huge role that food, farming and the way we manage land must play in stabilising the climate, reversing the loss of wildlife and soils, and keeping us healthy. Now is the time that it is all to play for. There is a clear understanding that we have this decade, at most, to make the right decisions for the health of our planet and for our own health. The next ten years are critical, but we need action now. We must regenerate our soils and adapt our farmlands so that they once again become a home for nature.

But there is still so much more to do! See page 27 for more on this.

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Living Earth: Living Well

It’s There’s never been a better time to be a part of the organic movement than during Organic September. Many of you have been following our annual campaign for a while now but we’ve put together a list of small actions you can take, one for each day of the month. You can share these ideas with your friends and family and together our small changes will all add up to make a world of difference!

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Encourage others to be a part of the organic community

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Opt for organic

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Share the love for organic

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Our collective choices all add up - more demand for organic food and drink means more organic farms, meaning more wildlife and healthier soils.

Already a self-confessed organic expert?

Help us spread the word about food as it should be this September by talking to friends and family about organic, sharing our posts on social media, and using the #OrganicSeptember hashtag!

Or... get to know what organic really means Did you know organic food must be certified by law? Soil Association Certification certify over 70% of organic products in the UK.

For more on how you can go organic visit: soilassociation.org/os30

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Take part in Organic September Saturday We're celebrating the role that independent shops play as a hub for the organic movement; show them some love by popping into your nearest independent retailer.

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Learn more about the beneFits of organic Find joy in nature

Living Earth: living well

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Sign up for a veg box

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Make a switch to organic beauty

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Volunteer on an organic farm

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Make a switch to organic eggs

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Start thinking of yourself differently!

We are all food citizens, with the power to change the food systems we are a part of.

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Grow your own

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Home deliveries

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Organic on a budget

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Support your local independent shops

Support Organic chefs Support chefs working hard to put organic on the menu by eating with one of our Organic Served Here award holders

It’s never been easier to be a part of the organic movement from the comfort of your own home – dozens of amazing organic producers are now offering online deliveries: soilassociation.org/buy

Read more about the many ways to get hold of organic on a tighter budget: soilassociation.org/budget

Put some organic myths to bed We’ve debunked some common myths about organic food and farming so you come armed with the facts at your next dinner-table debate: soilassociation.org/mythbusters

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Living Earth: Living Well

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Eat with the Seasons

Open Farm Sunday 20 ‘Online’ The annual movement to get the public onto the UK’s farms might look a little different this year, but we’re excited for a virtual look behind the scenes on some organic farms this year: https://farmsunday.org

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This Recycling Week opt for loose fruit and veg or reduce, re-use and recycle packaging from your favourite organic brands

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Talk to your friends and family about them becoming a Soil Association member

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Campaign for Organic

For more on how you can go organic visit: soilassociation.org/os30 Do let us know if you try something new or different this month – we’d love to hear from you. memb@soilassociation.org

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24 Bake some organic bread 25

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Celebrate FSC Friday Look out for the FSC logo on paper and wood products this FSC Friday it's the hallmark of responsible forest management.

Switch to an organic cuppa Join in with our climate declaration.

See page 10 for how to get involved.

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Start eating less and better meat Turn your garden organic

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Crack open a bottle of organic wine!

Celebrate and reflect on your successes from the month

Living Earth: living well

small swap, Big Difference #OrganicSeptember

Choosing Organic means: Supporting wildlife Helping to combat climate change The highest standard of animal welfare Reduced exposure to pesticides Enjoying food as it should be

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Living Earth: Green Minds

Sign the climate change declaration This September, we are coming together with our partners at The Climate Coalition to sign our declaration to the Prime Minster for a healthier, greener, fairer future.

The time is now to make sure that the UK puts a green recovery at the heart of our plans to leave the European Union, at the heart of our trade deals and at the heart of our economic recovery from the health crisis. See the letter we wrote opposite.

As we set our path for the next 10 years to achieve a sustainable climate, the recovery of nature and a healthy population, we must take action now to lay the foundations for change.

Join us and make your declaration for the future of food and farming that you want to see to support climate change. Along with you, our members, we want to highlight the vital need to tackle climate change and make sure that nature-friendly food and farming is at the heart of the response to climate change.

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Get involved!

Join us and other members and make your own declaration.

Please visit: soilassociation.org/declaration and use your voice to say #TheTimeIsNow for a green and fair recovery.

Living Earth: Green Minds

Dear Prime Minister, The time is now to lead the UK towards a healthier, greener, fairer future.

Ahead of hosting the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow in 2021, we can build back better together if we: • Unleash a clean energy revolution that boosts jobs across the UK, making our transport, power and housing fit for the future • Protect, restore and expand our green and wild spaces; allowing nature to thrive, taking carbon from the air and boosting the nation’s health • Leave no one behind by increasing support to those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change at home and abroad The UK must lead the world by ensuring our recovery gets us on track to net-zero emissions and limits the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees C. Our best chance of building a resilient economy goes hand in hand with tackling climate change.

We are ready to play our part, and we call on you to join us.

On behalf of everyone at Soil Association

Add your name to this letter at soilassociation.org/declaration

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Living Earth: Living Well

Grow your own!

Even if you missed out on this summer’s harvest, it’s never too late to start sowing your own seeds, and as September is also ‘Have a Go month’, why not try something new?

Growing your own herbs at home is an easy place to start at any time of year, and you won’t need much more than a windowsill to get going. Herbs are amazing plants for adding flavour to any dish plus, you’ll get an endless supply by growing your own.

The Soil Association and Pukka Herbs have teamed up to help you make small, positive changes for you and the planet.

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Living Living Earth: Earth: livingPOLICY well

Technique:

Growing herbs from cuttings Our Head of Horticulture and resident author of Ben’s growing corner (a regular feature in this members’ magazine) demonstrates this method by taking cuttings of rosemary.

All you will need to get started is…

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A fully-grown herb plant

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Pair of scissors

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A glass of water

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A pot with compost in

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Take your fully-grown plant and select a green stem. To take a cutting, simply snip just below a leaf node (where the leaves come out of the stem). A piece 3 or 4 inches long should do.

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Remove the bottom leaves and put your cutting into a glass of water.

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Leave it on a sunny windowsill. Change the water every few days to encourage growth. It may take a few weeks, but you should start to see some roots forming on the bottom of the cutting.

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Once you have some roots, it’s ready to plant. Fill your pot loosely with compost, poke your finger into it to make a hole then, holding the cutting gently at the top, pop the cutting in and carefully firm the compost down.

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Water the cutting in – and watch it grow!

If you want to try some different herbs, this method will also work for some other woody herbs like basil or sage.

Growing your own herbs is a great way of connecting with nature, and studies suggest growing could even improve your mental health. We hope this helps you make small, positive changes that boost your wellbeing and help you feel closer to our natural world.

Watch our videos

Don’t miss

You can watch this video at soilassociation.org/herbs

Ben’s growing corner on page 24.

You can find tips on sowing seeds and how you can even save seeds from flowers or fruit and veg ready to plant out next year.

You can also see our other videos demonstrating how to make a turmeric skincare face mask: soilassociation.org/skincare and zero waste oat milk and pancakes: soilassociation.org/zerowaste – made in partnership with Pukka Herbs.

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JOB VACANCY

Craftspeople wanted

to help save the planet, one old house at a time.

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Every day our skilled craftspeople help owners of historic, listed and period properties make their homes warmer and greener. In the last 10 years we’ve insulated 650 homes, saving 13,000 tonnes CO2 and helped our customers save up to 50% on their heating bills. And there’s lots more to do.

We value craftsmanship, attention to detail and dedication to a job well done, and we’re looking for people to join us in a range of roles across the South West and South of England including Trainee Carpenter, Senior Carpenter and Project Manager.

Salaries are from £20,000-£32,000 including 5 weeks holiday and a company pension.

We provide high-quality training in our specialist systems.

If this sounds like you then contact us to find out more:

 simone@mitchellanddickinson.co.uk  01237 429826 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARD WINNER 2018

Tel: 01269 598 491 E-mail: info@abacaorganic.co.uk www.abacaorganic.co.uk

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ethiqana.com 20% off with code EARTH20 Minimum spend £5, valid until 30th November

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Living Earth: on the ground

Choose from more than 75 organic supplements, nutritional oils, tinctures, balms and topical oils formulated by our expert qualified nutritionists.

Complete organic nutrition – Ethically sourced ingredients – Earth-friendly practices

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Available from your Local Health Food Store |

@ViridianNutrition |

@ViridianNutrition

Is organic finally going mainstream?

credit:Yeo Valley

Living Earth: on the ground Living Earth: Green Minds

Organic farmers have long known that nature has the answer but are we about to witness the biggest mainstream shift to organic in our lifetime?

This Organic September, Tim Mead from Yeo Valley explains why the brand is launching their rallying cry to consumers, ‘Put Nature First’ and championing the benefits of regenerative organic farming as the solution to help slow down climate change.

Tim says: “Some of the worlds biggest brands whether it’s Patagonia, General Mills or Danone, are all starting to shout about the overwhelming benefits of regenerative organic farming. Is the current publicity a sign that the double potential of producing healthy food, increased diversity and bio abundance (by not using chemical fertilisers and sprays) and the potential to sequester large amounts of carbon into the soil an opportunity that is going to propel organic into the mainstream?” It’s a thought that’s

dominated Tim’s mind as he’s watched, read and listened to the videos, articles and papers from some of the world’s biggest brands attempting to find the balance between food production, the environment, their communities and profit.

For him, leading Britain’s largest organic brand and supporting British organic farmers for over 25 years, regenerative organic farming is hugely exciting, “in a way this is returning organic to its grass roots and the fundamental choice of soil not oil, as a basis of producing food” he says.

Degraded soils have become a major contributing factor to climate change and now we’re seeing some of the world’s leading consumer brands including Yeo Valley shine a spotlight on this important topic.

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credit:Yeo Valley

Living Earth: Green Minds

Working with Nature At Yeo Valley, in Somerset, the cornerstone of their whole operation is the soil. With 2,000 acres of land, over 400 British Friesian cows and 800 sheep they firmly believe that if they get the soil right everything else will follow; “like all things in nature, healthy soil is about balance and we spend a lot of time ensuring our soils have the right balance of nutrients, air and water, just like any living thing,” says Tim. “Nature is a great teacher. We plant up to 10 different species of grass, clover and herbs in the grazing lays, this helps boost the soil fertility and makes the soil structure more resilient to extreme weather conditions like drought or floods. We keep our fields covered with crops throughout the year to ensure all these elements aren’t then lost. Farming a mix of cows, sheep and crops is essential on our farm as the manure from the animals is what gives the soil such life and is the catalyst for its health. It also helps make organic soils more effective at storing carbon in the long-term,” Tim says.

It’s not only about carbon sequestration it’s also about organic farming as a holistic system that works with, rather than against the natural system. In a bid to champion organic dairy farming and encourage more people to buy British organic products the dairy label is promoting ‘Put Nature First,’ across all key touchpoints and the brands channels; from packaging to on-pack promotions; in-store activation to TV, digital, social and the popular Yeo Valley loyalty scheme, Yeokens.

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The importance of putting nature first will come to life in a new interactive QR code (currently on Yeo Valley Organic milk range), which takes you to a new powerful short film about working with nature not against it.

We have an opportunity to increase the awareness of the benefits of organic and the importance of supporting British organic food production; from fewer food miles and a lower carbon footprint to supporting the local economy with thousands of jobs.

All Yeo Valley products will feature the word ‘Organic’ in the iconic heart logo. Supported by a black board which signposts snappy consumer messages about how the brand itself puts nature first and how consumers can too. These messages will include the importance of soil health, reducing food miles and supporting biodiversity and wildlife - which 25% of Yeo Valley’s land is dedicated to.

We’re about to see Yeo Valley Organic start to get louder about the benefits of British organic farming and how regenerative organic farming is itself a solution which is better for the planet.

Moreover, for Tim a counter argument to the domination of debate about plant-based living as the answer to climate change.

He says: “To the delight of many livestock farmers the essential incorporation of cattle and sheep in regenerative organic farming systems put a stop to the notion that we will all have to consume a 100% plant-based diet to save the planet. It’s inevitable that we will consume less meat and dairy per head in the future but if what we consume is from regenerative organic farming systems and not intensive oil based farming then we can do so in the knowledge that we are helping to mitigate climate change.”

Living Earth: Green Minds

This has the potential to empower hundreds of thousands of farmers across the world who’ve been a conduit for the oil-based chemical and fertiliser industry for a generation, to take back control and work with their land and soil to be part of the solution. As the saying goes the future is now.

What’s the future?

Tell retailers you want more organic Join us in shouting about the benefits of organic, spread the word by letting your favourite shops and supermarkets know you want to see more organic products on their shelves.

credit:Yeo Valley

So, has the time come that the case for regenerative organic farming is being seen by the world as the answer to slow down climate change? And to right the many wrongs of the past in farming and food production? Tim certainly thinks so; “I don’t think any Organic September has been as promising as this one for organic farming. In the throes of a global pandemic, people are looking for more answers about our environment. We’re asking for a green recovery and some of the worlds biggest companies are taking on the climate challenge and placing regenerative organic farming front and centre as the solution."

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Living Earth: Living Well

Book Worms Book Club

At Soil HQ, we love a good read and we’ve been running a monthly book club on our social media channels for a year now. So we thought we’d let you know a few of our recent favourites you might like to read this autumn.

How to grow your dinner without leaving the house

By Claire Ratinon Growing your own food doesn't always mean acres of land or an allotment plot - our windowsills and some plant pots will suffice. From mushrooms to salad crops, Claire's guide covers all the essentials of growing a range of edible plants in pots and containers, without even leaving the house!

Eating for pleasure, people & planet

By Tom Hunt Chef Tom Hunt’s latest book champions sustainable eating and reducing food waste, without compromising on taste or nutrition.

Tom's manifesto, 'Root to Fruit' demonstrates how we can all become part of the solution, supporting a delicious, biodiverse and regenerative food system, giving us the skills and knowledge to shop, eat and cook sustainably, whilst eating healthier, better-tasting food for no extra cost.

Get in touch with your recommendations Do share any books you’ve read that have changed the way you think about your food and where it comes from. memb@soilassociation.org

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@soilassociation

Living Earth: On the Ground

Meet Martyn Bragg Shillingford Organics Martyn Bragg started 20 years ago with a small farm in Devon. Since then, Shillingford Organics has become a BOOM Award winner for the amazing quality of their veg boxes.

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Living Earth: on the ground

Q Tell us about you – who are you, what’s your mission and how did you get started?

I was a conventional arable and sheep farmer, by 1997 I realised that the only way for an arable business to survive was to get larger, take on more land and become more intensive.

I was in my late thirties and the thought of going in that direction filled me with dread.

My brother was organic and I was engaged with environmental issues. I realised that as our farm has high grade land and is close to Exeter, the most environmentally beneficial thing I could do was to become organic and to grow organic vegetables, to supply locally.

In 2001, I went into partnership with Tim and Jan Deane, with their organic box scheme.

Tim taught me many of the skills I have now.

By 2005, I was employing 4 members of staff, I now employ 10 full and part time staff who bring with them many areas of expertise and passion to do a great job.

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Shillingford Organics is all about growing seasonal, organic vegetables, salad, herbs and fruit, giving local people a great opportunity to buy healthy, freshly harvested organic produce, which is free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. We have organic hens on the farm, which produce wonderful, tasty, organic eggs.

Our use of green manures and well-made compost coverings ensure we optimise soil biology. We are passionate about wildlife and adopt many methods, which encourage a natural balance in nature.

We sell direct to customers at our farmers’ market stalls, through our veg box scheme and have an online farm shop. In addition, we have sourced a range of products to sell that are produced locally or ethically by people with similar values to our own. We keep margins minimal ensuring our prices are competitive and affordable but at the same time ensuring the business is sustainable.

Living Earth: on the ground

Q Why is organic so important to you and why did you want to be certified by Soil Association Certification?

We share the same values as the Organic movement. We are farmers/growers and we care about Ecology and the Environment and producing authentic food at an affordable price. We wanted to be part of a ‘Movement for Change’.

TO YOUR SUPPORT

Q What is your biggest achievement to date as TO YOUR SUPPORT a business?

Growing the business steadily over the years, keeping a committed customer-base and building a reputation for quality, good service and authenticity at a sustainable price.

Q What are you working on at TO YOUR SUPPORT the moment and what are your ambitions for the future?

At the moment we are planning more ‘regenerative’ practices and techniques e.g. increase our areas of wild flowers and beetle banks; increasing biodiversity on the farm.

TO YOUR SUPPORT

My ambition for the future is to be part of a network of producers and outlets for agroecology producing food in South and East Devon, so it is easy to sell and distribute our

produce locally and also we can access a more diverse range of produce than we can offer through our online shop. Thus people can access a good range of quality produce at an affordable price.

Q What do you think are the biggest issues facing our food systems?

The current economic paradigm where globalisation of food in combination with cheap oil and resources lead to exploitation of people, the planet’s resources and ecology.

The model does not pay the true cost.

Q What’s next for you and your business?

To continue growing at a steady, sustainable rate, keeping the business profitable so workers can earn a respectable income from a good day’s work.

Q If you could only switch to one organic item what would it be and why?

Beetroot as it is easy to grow, nutritious and can be supplied fresh from the soil for 11 months of the year. Furthermore, it is more productive on a small scale, than a large scale.

TO YOUR SUPPORT TO YOUR SUPPORT

TO YOUR SUPPORT

Every time you buy organic you are supporting pioneers like Martin, and making a difference to the world we live in. This year, more than ever we have relied on our farmers, growers and local food suppliers to continue producing and distributing food for us all.

The Soil Association is making it easier for you to source from your local producers and box schemes; go to soilassociation.org/buy to find what’s in your area.

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Living Earth: Living Well

Ben's growing corner:

Give it a grow!

This year with so many people trying gardening for the first time, we heard of people struggling to get hold of seed at the peak of the sowing season. If you want to become more self-reliant for seed, or just fancy giving it a go, why not try saving your own seed.

You can save seed from pretty much any vegetable, but some are easier than others so if you’re just starting out here are some guidelines.

Legal Warning To avoid breaking the law make sure that the seed you want to save from is not protected by Plant Breeders Rights or Patents.

The first thing to make sure is that the variety you are growing is open pollinated, this means that the plants you grow from your saved seed will be the same variety as their parents. F1 hybrids can be very vigorous and productive but they will not “come true” if you save seed.

If you want an easy crop to grow, it is best to start with a crop that pollinates itself.

Beans, peas, tomatoes and peppers are all self-pollinating.

Brassicas are much more difficult as they are very promiscuous. Most of the brassicas we grow cross readily with each other and even with wild plants to which they are still very closely related. To keep brassicas true requires some form of isolation, most growers use netting to ensure that pollen from another variety does not get in.

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Choosing the best The key to good seed saving is knowing what you are looking for in the variety and then identifying the best plants to save from. A good labelling and recording system is also vital. It can be difficult to resist temptation and not eat the best fruit or vegetables but if you are to improve your genetic stock this is crucial.

For instance if you were saving broad beans: do you want a tall plant or a short one, are you looking for resistance to a particular pest or disease, do you want small or large seeds, green or white? You will need to look at the plants throughout the growing season and decide in good time which plants are the best and labelling them (with something that won’t wash or blow off in the remainder of the season) so that you don’t harvest those beans by mistake.

Living Earth: living well

Do I have enough plants?

For really successful seed saving you need a good number of plants to save from. For some crops – eg carrots where you might want 30 or 40 plants to give a good genetic base – this is usually not a problem. But for crops where you might only grow a couple of plants, for instance with tomatoes, this can be an issue. One way around this is to club together with friends and neighbours and pool your saved seed to share and grow in more than one garden. This brings a social and learning aspect to the whole project that makes it even more enjoyable.

Here are eight tips for growing from seed – follow these and your seedlings will get from the pot to the garden happily and healthily

1

Make sure everything is ready – the pot or ground is prepared, and the seedlings have been watered so they’re not too dry. Plants don’t like to have their roots exposed for too long, so the quicker the transfer, the better.

2

Gently does it! The key to handing tiny plants is to be very careful with them.

Ease them out of their pots by loosening the soil with a pencil or twig, hold them by the leaf rather than the stem.

3

Make a hole in the soil that’s big enough to accommodate the root system.

Ease it in and lightly press the earth back around the roots making sure there’s good contact between roots and soil.

4

Check that the stalk is supported. If the seedlings are particularly floppy, plant them slightly deeper so that they don’t fall over.

5

Give them a good soak. This will help the roots to spread out and become established in their new environment, as well as providing them with the water they need to continue growing.

6

Protect them from the wind. Seedlings are susceptible to wind damage as they have soft stems and delicate leaves. Giving them shelter in the early days is important.

7

Make sure they get plenty of light. All plants need some sunshine, although the amount varies. A windowsill, porch or greenhouse is ideal for young plants - if they’re kept too dark, they will grow lanky, pale and floppy.

8

Harden off delicate varieties. Putting new shoots outside in a sunny spot during the day and bringing them in overnight for the first week will ‘harden off’ the seedlings and make them better able to cope with living outdoors when the time comes. Gently stroking the seedlings with your fingers imitates the wind and fools the plant into getting tougher.

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Living Earth: Policy

We are at a fork in the road As we seek to recover from Covid-19, we also need to resolve the climate, nature and health crises. The interim National Food Strategy report published in July acknowledged that the recent crisis has revealed the strengths and weaknesses of our food system.

A truly ‘Green Brexit’ will be one with nature-friendly and organic at its heart, where trade policy ensures high environmental and animal welfare standards, and where food and farming policy enhance public health.

Gareth Morgan, Head of Farming & Land Use Policy

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Living Earth: Policy

The interim report includes some bold recommendations: • Grasping the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to decide what kind of trading nation we want to be. In negotiating our new trade deals, the Government must protect the high environmental and animal welfare standards of which our country is justly proud.

• Making sure a generation of our most disadvantaged children do not get left behind. Dietary health inequalities must be tackled. A Government that is serious about “levelling up” must ensure that all children get the nutrition they need.

There is still so much to be done to get on the right path. While we welcome the ambition of the interim report, we are already looking ahead to what needs to happen next. Among the priorities for the final National Food Strategy are: • Actions to support the UK in a ten-year transition to agroecology, where naturefriendly and organic farming and healthy and sustainable diets are the norm.

• Investment in UK horticultural production, with actions to double (or triple) UK production of veg, fruit, nuts and pulses.

• A commitment to tackling the scourge of ultra-processed foods, with action to significantly shift UK diets towards more fresh and sustainable produce.

Our time to influence the decisions being made is now, and with your support we can bring the full extent of over 70 years of knowledge and experience to the fore.

We recently launched an appeal to ask for your help set the UK on the right path and put organic and nature friendly farming where it urgently needs to be - at the top of the government’s agenda. Thank you so much to all of you who have generously donated so far.

There is still time to support this appeal today with a donation At this time of opportunity, will you help us secure a nature-friendly farming future for the UK? However small or large your donation, your support today will enable critical issues to be brought to the attention of government, putting the right solutions in front of the right people.

You can donate online at soilassociation.org/donate1 or call us on 0300 330 0022

New legislation in Westminster We have been actively working with partner organisations to highlight deficiencies in the Agriculture Bill that is making its way through the House of Lords. In particular we have joined with farming and environment groups to push for measures in the Bill to prevent imports of food produced to low environmental and welfare standards that could undermine farmers working to higher standards in the UK. We gave evidence to the Bill committee underlining the need to include better measures for soil conservation in the legislation, and we will also press this issue when the Environment Bill comes back to the Westminster parliament.

We will keep you updated on the progress of the Bills and what this means for the future of our health, nature and safe climate.

27

Living Earth: Living well

Blackberry and Apple Sourdough Loaf This time of year marks the Real Bread Campaign’s ‘Sourdough September’, so why not try your hand at baking an organic loaf the traditional way? This traditional sourdough boule, filled with organic blackberries and apples is a great starting point. The recipe comes from food writer and sourdough expert Vanessa Kimbell, who runs the Sourdough School from her home in Northampton.

Allow about 3 –4 hours for the dough to be mixed, folded and shaped ready to place in the coldest part of the fridge to prove overnight.

If you're new to bread making, you can, instead of shaping the dough and putting it into a banneton, grease a 2lb bread tin liberally with butter and dust with flour and then allow the dough rise in it overnight in the fridge and then bake as per the recipe instructions below.

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Equipment:

Ingredients:

• A large mixing bowl • A round cane banneton • 2 clean tea towels • A baking stone or a Dutch oven or La Cloche • A large heatproof pan • Sharp knife or ‘lame’ to slash the dough with

• 300g water • 1 00g sourdough leaven ‘starter’ Find out more about this at sourdough.co.uk/a-closelook-at-sourdough/ • 1 00g of stoneground organic wholemeal flour • 400g organic strong white flour • 10g fine sea salt •A n organic apple cored and sliced into thin slices • A large handful of organic blackberries • 25g rice flour mixed with 25g of stone ground white flour (for dusting your banneton) •S emolina to dust the bottom of the baking surface

Living Earth: Living Well

Method (Makes 1 loaf) Mix (Early Evening 6:00pm)

1

In a large bowl whisk your water and starter and mix well. Add all the flour and salt and mix until all the ingredients come together into a large ball.

2

Cover with a clean damp cloth and let the dough rest in a cool environment for 2 hours.

Fold (8:30pm)

3

6

The next morning preheat your oven to 220°C for at least 30 minutes before you are ready to bake. Place your baking stone in the oven and a large pan of boiling water underneath (or use a Dutch oven). The hydration helps form a beautiful crust.

7

Once the oven is up to temperature, carefully remove the baking stone from the oven, taking care not to burn yourself dust with a fine layer of semolina, which stops the bread sticking, then put your dough onto the baking stone and slash the top with your blade.

This decides where the bread will tear as it rises. Bake for 40 minutes.

8

Turn the heat down to 180°C (and remove the lid if you are using a Dutch oven) and bake for another 15–20 minutes. You need to choose just how dark you like your crust but I suggest that you bake until it is a dark brown – it tastes much better.

Lift and fold your dough over, do a quarter turn of your bowl and repeat three more times. Repeat three times at 15 minute intervals with a final 15 minute rest at the end. In the third fold, add the apple slices and the blackberries.

Shape (9:30pm)

4

Bake (between 7:00 and 11:00am)

Shape the dough lightly into a ball, ensuring that the fruit is tucked inside the loaf as much as possible to prevent it catching and burning in the oven. Then place into a round banneton that has been liberally dusted with flour (If you don’t have a banneton then use a clean old tea towel dusted with flour inside a colander – please note that blackberries can stain). Dust the top with flour, then cover with a damp tea-towel.

Storage

9

Prove

5

Leave your dough to one side for an hour then transfer to the fridge (about 10.30 – 11pm), and leave to prove there for 8 – 12 hours.

10

Sourdough is really best left to cool completely before slicing and is even better if left for a day to let the full flavour develop.

Once your sourdough has cooled, store in a linen or cotton bread bag, or wrapped in a clean tea towel.

Note: if you don’t want a crunchy crust on your sourdough bread, simply wrap your bread in a clean tea towel whilst it is still warm.

29

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Living Earth: Trustees

Trustee Appointments

We are delighted to welcome Jez Rose to the Soil Association charity.

Trustees are individuals who volunteer their time and use their skills and experience to guide the work of the charity.

Jez Rose is a broadcaster and award-winning writer having spent 10 years as a behaviour insight advisor, and with specialist interest in the impact nature has on human health, wellbeing and behaviour. Having established the world’s first certified carbon neutral honey farm, he is a vocal proponent of organic methods and living with positive environmental impact in mind. From his small farm in Lincolnshire he is actively reintroducing the native British honeybee, and hosts popular workshops.

Become a Trustee Would you like to be at the heart of the organic movement? To make a huge difference to the natural world and the health of the people around you? We’re looking for skilled and experienced people to join our Board of Trustees and play an important role in delivering our strategy to care for nature, health and a safe climate.

If you would be interested in joining as a trustee, please contact Sandra on sbartolomeu-rook@soilassociation.org or 0117 9874604 and we can provide further information on the role, what we are looking for and how to apply.

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