Tree planting wasted efforts......

[GarethM]

Most of your root veg is UK, as most of it gets put through the factory in Measham.

 

Not so much gets flown in except the quick perishable stuff. Shipping containers were historically the most efficient form of transportation, it may do ridiculous like 6" to the gallon, but it's 18,000 containers.

[openspaceman]

11 hours ago, GarethM said:

Letting land go fallow when it could be turned into high welfare, sustainably grown meat, should be a crime in itself to waste it.

I agree, especially of the "hope" land all around the M25, hundreds of acres left idle and owned by people that either expect to develop it or just want a large buffer around their properties. Not to mention all the open spaces which would have been grazed in the past.

[openspaceman]

52 minutes ago, Stere said:

Horticulture would make UK alot more self sufficient and probably if done right less co2 emissions but the economics don't add up, as global transport is  still alot cheaper than labour costs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the holdings around here which used to be productive vegetable growing when I started work are golf courses and a car factory now.

[GarethM]

You could even argue about the large country parks around and inside London.

Huge acres of grass, just mowed off so Tarquin can shout Jesus Christ at his dog.

[Stere]

I think an increasing  pecentage of grazing land  now appears to be pony paddocks also.

 

 

 

 

[coppice cutter]

Not much incentive for the horticulture industry when the produce has to be dumped.

 

Farmer gives away blueberries worth millions of pounds

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

---

A Perthshire farmer says it no longer makes economic sense to harvest the fruit, which will now go to charity.

 

Something like this shouldn't be happening. Given that it's the BBC there's no proper explanation for why it's happening, and I'd be wary of taking what they say at face value anyway, but plainly there is a big problem here.

[GarethM]

Don't get me started about horses, they do even less for the environment. Having had horse types in the past, I've long ago decided never to repeat the mistake as I'm still repairing the damage even after 20 years.

 

The BBC will be blaming Brexit and lack of foreign workers, whilst blueberries are probably mechanically harvested and could be turned into juice or alcohol cheaply.

Edited November 2, 2022 by GarethM

[GarethM]

This blueberries thing does make me wonder why they can't machine pick them and juice them for schools to have like they did with milk time.

 

Or turn it into ethanol for the horrible E10 we have to buy.

 

They go on about a cost of living crisis, well turn it into cheap deserts etc etc. Same with wonky veg, well slice it and sell it for 20p a bag.

Edited November 2, 2022 by GarethM

[Dan Maynard]

6 hours ago, GarethM said:

Most of your root veg is UK, as most of it gets put through the factory in Measham

Fair old bit of root veg in the Fens too, surprised if they ship it all the way up there.

[GarethM]

There are plenty of more local and brand specific ones dotted around the country.