Sustainability Action Plan

Reducing meat and dairy in your diet

Animal products account for around 80% of the impact of the average diet in the UK and are very resource intensive. Reducing consumption of meat and dairy can significantly reduce your footprint and save you money as well as reducing your risk of bowel and other cancers and heart disease. We're not saying everyone should become vegetarian or vegan but if we are to reach the One Planet sustainable level we will need to reduce the amount of animal products in our diet.

Here are a few ideas for meat free meals:
www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/
www.veganvillage.co.uk/fddrnk.htm
www.simpleveganrecipes.co.uk

Shop at Farmers' Markets

Farmers Markets are markets where producers bring their produce for sale direct to the public.

There is a monthly Farmers' Market in Wallington, from 9:00 - 13:00, the second Saturday of each month at the Old Town Hall, Woodcote Rd, Wallington. Dates in 2008: 12 April, 10 May, 14 June, 12 July, 9 August, 13 September, 11 October, 8 November, 13 December.

VegZED
Local resident Leon Pearson has set up a fruit and veg delivery service and local markets:

Sundays 11am-1pm / Mondays 1-2pm at BedZED Pavilion, 24 Sandmartin Way, Hackbridge SM6 7DF.
Tuesdays 11am-12midday at Riverside Centre, 297A Durand Close, Carshalton SM5 2BT.
Wednesdays 2.30-3.30pm during school term at The Link Primary School, 138 Croydon Road, Beddington CR0 4PG

VegZED is a social enterprise to provide fresh, local and seasonal fruit, vegetables and other foods to residents and workers in Sutton. There is now a box scheme to deliver affordable fruit and veg boxes to a wider area. You can now receive a weekly box of fresh, local fruit and veg to your doorstep delivered by bicycle trailer, so it's good for you, affordable and good for the environment! 

Grow your own with help from EcoLocal's

Local environmental organisation EcoLocal's Beanstalk project encourage families to learn how to grow fruit and vegetables. Children and adults enjoy learning to dig, sow, plant and grow.  0208 770 6611

Growing Skills project delivers practical outdoor food growing and horticulture skills sessions for 14-24 year olds. These introduce young people to the basics of food growing and horticulture as recreational, healthy exercise and as a potential career opportunity. 

Grow Your Own!

Growing some of your own food is good for your health (providing exercise and fresh produce) and can save you money too.

If have garden
Consider making a small vegetable patch in your garden, you'll be surprised how easy it is! If you'd like some extra help, containers and seeds contact Food Up Front: t. 0772 656 0703 or www.foodupfront.org

Allotments
There are several allotment sites in Sutton. There are still spaces available and they are very affordable. Call 020 8770 5070 for an up-to-date vacancy list, map of the site, costs and application form.

Surrey Organic Gardening Group holds regular meetings and is available for advice, plus there is the opportunity to meet other likeminded people and swap seeds etc.
See www.sogg.btik.com for more information or
tel. 020 8395 2521 / surreyorganic@yahoo.co.uk

Eat more sustainably! That means eating seasonal fruit and vegetables, a low (or no) meat and dairy diet and avoiding processed foods with lots of packaging. For more tips download a copy of our Sutton Local Food Guide.