Ripples on a pond

The thing that has fascinated and excited me most about our change of lifestyle, is the knock on effect it has had into all aspects of our life, here. I had for a long time been interested in the VegBox scheme, so with our food bills being a cut by a third, due to Jacqui and I no longer eating meat, we signed up. What we got was a revelation! The fruit and veg were so much fresher than we had before and therefore lasted for much longer. That started Jacqueline wondering what it would be like, if we grew our own. So, a couple of small plastic greenhouses were purchased, a corner of the garden was cleared and dug and off we went. Because of my disability, I can do very little to help, but Ray and Jacqueline have worked very hard to get it off the ground and we are starting to see the results. I can't wait to harvest and cook it, in time so I will be doing my bit, as well.

Jacqui has suffered very badly from hayfever, over the years and it was, to be honest, the one downside that we found by moving here. We are in a deep valley here, surrounded by the Berkshire Downs, a lot of which are owned by the Jockey Club, but also many of the fields are sown with oilseed rape. This meant that as soon a spring started to spring, and the rape came into flower, then poor Jacqui would start to sneeze and be really unwell. But this year, it is all different, touch wood. Because she is outside almost all the time she is at home and it is still light and not pouring with rain, she seems to have built up a resistance to it and so far, is doing really well. Ray too, suffered really badly from prickly heat, as well and as soon as he was exposed to any sun, he would break out with the most horrendous itchy hives on the exposed skin. That has gone, as well. It would seem that a combination of eating more healthily and the gradual and regular exposure to the sun that working in the garden has given him, has built up an immunity for him, which I am delighted about, because it was very hard to see him suffer like he did.

And as for me? Well, I am starting to question everything we buy! Is there a cheaper, more healthy alternative? Do we really need it? Can we find a way to be more responsible as environmentalists, with the stuff that we do need? Jacqueline is very good at this and will bring me up short, at times, where excessive packaging, for instance, is involved. As much as is practical, we buy organic, now and I have been amazed at how it is often it will be only a few pence dearer, or in some cases, cheaper than non organic produce and products. We also look for Fairtrade products, as well. I have, at long last overcome the temptation to approach total strangers in the Supermarket and go "Look!" as we get to the checkout, because our trolley has no more junk in it! And again, because our food bills are less, when we do buy meat or fish for Ray, we can get much better quality for him and that is good, because we try to source meat and fish that has been raised responsibly and not factory farmed. Eating with a clear conscience is a really good experience, I can assure you. And although we are eating cheaper, we are most certainly eating better and healthier, as a result of which, we are all seeing the benefits. More energy, clearer skin, slimmer waists and shinier hair, all round in the Monument household!

A week off.

I’ve had a wonderful 10 days off work. Went to Norfolk to visit my Nan and Aunt. It was great to see them and potter around in Nan’s garden sorting it out for her. Got home on Friday and made a visit to one of our local garden centres. I completely fell in love with an elderflower bush called Black Lace.

I love plants and flowers that are either blue or black. There is some thing about the colour that makes them so striking. Add them with some white or yellow plants and you have an amazing display. This is exactly what I did. The Black lace will have its own display of medicinal herbs in the fullness of time. But The Japanese Maple (a tree I have wanted for a long time) already has it’s own display of compliment flowers. This is a bit of a side step for me. My little garden experience has always been solely with edible plants. But as I said the Maple and been something I have admired for a long time and the chance to own one for myself was too good to pass up. I must admit that I had a wonderful time wondering around the garden centre picking plants I thought might look good together. The finished result came together quiet well I think and I already find my tiny spot a very relaxing place to be. I love being out there, listening to the birds and next doors chickens, just gazing at the little display. It takes all my cares away. It’s just me and nature and for that short time I remember why I go to work, and work so hard. All so that I can enjoy moments like that.

Also on our trip out, we topped up on other herbs that we have not yet grown ourselves. I think we are pretty much covered for the culinary varieties. Including a wonderfully tasting chocolate mint, which according to my sister tastes like an after eight mint! I can’t say I am a great fan of mint but this variety really is gorgeous.

But the biggest news and something I have craved for ever since reading of existence, is the purchase of my very own wormeary. They were being sold off for only £40 a snip from their normal price. The worms themselves have been sent off for and their new home is set up awaiting their arrival. Lots of free plant feed and lovely compost, all from our kitchen scraps what more could any gardener ask for?!!

Making your vote count.

This morning we got a flyer through the letter box for the BMP. I was so angry I ripped it up and shredded it. I hate injustice of any kind. But to judge someone just because of the colour of their skin just makes my blood boil. In my opinion people like the BMP are scum. And I personally do not want to live in a country run by bigots like them. I know that our pollutions haven’t exactly been earning our trust lately. But I believe that actually it’s a wake up call for all of us. I know I have been guilty of taking our democracy for granted. I can’t say I have taken much notice of what happens in politics. Up until recently I didn’t even know the name of my local MP. It can seem so confusing and disheartening at times. After all aren’t all politicians just the same? What is the difference between the Tories and New Labour? You certainly can’t trust any thing they say, it’s all just spin.

But attitudes like that are when parties like the BMP slip in and politicians start to believe that they can behave however they like. This June vote and make it count. Let your local MP know what you are concerned about. Stand up and be counted. As the advert says ‘if you don’t vote you don’t have a voice’. Who do you want to be representing you in Europe? Who do you want to be voting on your behalf for policies regarding climate change or human rights? If you don’t vote you can’t complain when you don’t like the outcome.

Please do your homework and make your voice heard. Vote on June 4th.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2009/default.htm?language=EN

Changing the habits of a lifetime

I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing quite as boring as a brand new, fully fledged, card carrying, born again vegetarian! I can bore for England at the best of times, but Jacqueline and I were just so blown away by our discoveries, that we wanted everyone who would stand still long enough and listen, to be able to share in our excitement and maybe even try it out for themselves. Of course, vegetarianism isn't for everybody, and we fully appreciate that, but it is not just about vegetarianism alone. That has just become the launch pad for us to look at our whole lifestyle, make some changes and reap the not inconsiderable benefits, whilst at the same time, doing our little bit for the good of the planet. We know that we alone, cannot change the world, but we can all do our own little bit and together, can effect some changes that our planet so desperately needs.

We live in the country, after moving here three years ago from suburbia. Ray had been forced to retire, due to ill health, so we upped sticks and moved, with the intention of living a more relaxed lifestyle. Living here is so tranquil and we have all benefitted from the changes that coming here has brought. We began to realise that, living as we do, surrounded by farmland, it was silly not to make use of that. We found a farm nearby, that sells free range eggs and a few home grown vegetables. The eggs are half the price of those in a supermarket and are as fresh as can be. This is very evident, when you crack one open. The yolks are a deep golden yellow and sit atop a nice solid albumen, which is indicative of their freshness. And they taste delicious!

As I have already said, the only vegetables that I thought I liked, were potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, so what was I supposed to do with all this new stuff that was turning up in the box, week after week, most of which I had never seen, never mind eaten! The supplier that we use, who are Abel and Cole, do have a recipe index on their website and that proved to be very useful. We started to surf the internet and found http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/about-veg-box-recipes.html. This site has proved to be invaluable, because not only does it have loads of recipes, it also has an index, so that we can see what it is that we actually have, if we have never seen it before. And as we started to look at food labels, we discovered so many additives and preservatives, it was frightening. So, back to the trusty internet and also our cookery book library, to see if we could find recipes to make ourselves, which is how Jacqui discovered one for peanut butter and I discovered one for tomato passata. Both so easy, it is mindblowing. I will post them both, sometime very soon, I promise. We have also discovered a recipe, as yet untried for whole grain mustard. I am looking forward to trying that one out, I can tell you!

Mum's view of how it all began

Vegetarian! I was horrified! After all, veggies were a pain - cranks, who just liked to make things difficult for me, when they came to visit! After all, there is only one decent recipe for a veggie, isn't there? And you can't eat Macaroni Cheese for every meal! And I don't even like vegetables, apart from potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower.

But, Jacqui had been so ill and it was good to be able to talk to her about her feelings, because she had been unable to do that for such a long time, it seemed. So, with a heavy heart and a lot of trepidation, I agreed to support her in her decision. It would probably be a flash in the pan, anyway and she'd soon get bored with it all. How wrong can you be?

I am disabled, seriously overweight and cooking for the family had become a real chore. It hurt to stand for too long and Jacqueline worked some highly unsociable hours, at times, so we would often eat late. I think that it is important that we make the effort to sit down, round the table and eat together. That way, we can talk, have a laugh and share our day, but it had become no fun, whatsoever. It seemed as if we were grinding along in a bit of a rut and I was very aware that both Ray and I were putting too much pressure on Jacqueline, because we looked forward to her coming home and expected her to entertain us, almost.

At first, Jacqui started to bring home frozen veggie meals, which I would cook, whilst Ray and I ate our normal meals which, if I am honest, had become routine and boring. She would offer us a little taste and I was pleasantly surprised, because although the taste and texture was different, it was very palatable and not disgusting and tastleless, as I had assumed. Then Jacqui asked if she could cook for us, on her days off and of course, I had no problem agreeing with that! The very first thing she cooked for us was a Peanut and Apple Nut Roast. I absolutely loved it! Both Ray and Jacqui felt that there were too many peanuts and not enough apple, but for my tastes, it was perfect. Vegetarian cookbooks started to appear and suddenly, food became fun! We began to experiment more and the range of food we started to eat increased. And to my complete amazement, the food bills dropped like a stone. And the best thing for me, as a Mum, was to see clean plates after almost every meal, rather than a couple of dispirited mouthfuls being eaten and the rest thrown away.

I had alway been interested in the concept of the veggie box scheme. Good, fresh, local produce being sourced and small farmers being supported by the schemes. So, we looked into it and found a Company that delivered to our area and we put in our order. Our weekly box also includes fruit and the best thing of all, for me, was the quality of the produce. Instead of it only lasting for a few days, we found that both the vegetables and the fruit would last for weeks (that is, if we didn't eat it first, which we usually did!) It also means that the vegetables we get are in season and it is really good fun to sit down each week and plan the menus around the stuff in the box. So, it was not much of a decision for me to become a fully fledged vegetarian, as well. Ray decided that he still wanted to eat meat, on occasion and I have no problem with that, at all. So, at the beginning of each day, he will ask what we are intending to eat that night and sometimes he will eat totally vegetarian fare and at other times, he will request some meat, as well.

And, just like Jacqueline, we have seen unexpected benefits. My weight is starting to come off and to stay off. To date, I have lost 2 stone and although the weight loss is slow, it is steady and is still going down. My whole system has been slugguish all my life and I have been plagued with constipation for years. Not any more. I have so much more energy and standing and cooking each night is not a chore. And it seems that the more that I do, the more I can do. My daughter may have has some hair brained schemes in the past, but this is one of her better decisions and one which I for one, wish that we had made years ago.

How it all began

2008 for me was not a good year. To cut a long and personal story short the end of the year found me struggling with a bad case of depression. If I was to get any better things had to change and the best place to start was with something small. For me that small thing was to become a vegetarian. It was something I had wanted to do for a long time. But for one reason or another had never taken the plunge.

I had always been a fussy eater. My range of choice foods was mainly fast food and frozen processed junk. Consequently I was constantly tired and lethargic. My choice to go vegi had nothing to do with health but more of a need to eat with a guilt free conscience. My reason for mentioning my poor diet is really to help you understand the horror with which my mother took my momentous news. I seem to remember a cry of ‘what are you going to eat? It’s hard enough to feed you know!’ I promised to find some recipes that I felt I would like and cook them myself. Before long I was not only cooking for me but for everyone else.

It was almost overnight that I feel in love with food. Not just eating it but cooking it too. Always in the past I eat because I had to. Dinner had to be fast and quick to hand, as I never thought about what I was going to eat before I got hungry. Food was there simply to keep me alive. Now Dinners are planned a week in advance. I look forward to all my meals, so much so there is no picking in-between. Needless to say I have a lot more energy and enthusiasm. I can honestly say I have never felt so good.


The unexpected side effects

Along with the increased energy levels have been some other unforeseen side effects. Once I started cooking and enjoying my meals. I became interested in exactly what was going into my food. The easiest way of knowing what goes into your dinner is to cook it yourself. And of course if you want to know that your ingredients are completely organic without them costing you an arm and a leg is to grow it yourself. And if you are going to be organic you also need to care about the environment. If you care about that and you cut down your carbon footprint and recycle more you start saving money.

So what starts off as a simple decision to not eat meat suddenly becomes a life changing and exciting journey. I do not want to go through the last few months of 2008 ever again. Nor would I wish it on my worst enemy. But in a lot of ways I’m glad. It was a huge kick up the butt. One that I so desperately needed.