Your green promises:
I won't litter, Joel Austin, Pinner  >>  Be more eco friendly, Connor Buchalter, Hatch End  >>  Re-use water bottles so less waste, David, Middx  >>  I won't waste water anymore, Ben Green, Hach End  >>  Help my dad recycle everyday, Phoebe Decker, Northwood  >>  Turn electrical things off when I have finished using them, Talia Austin, Pinner  >>  Not to waste food, Joshua Roson, Rickmansworth  >>  Eat fairtrade chocolate, Josie Sacks, Pinner  >>  Bike/walk to places not to far away, Zoe Buchalter, Hatch End  >>  Recycle plastic bags when I go shopping, Sophie Scholl, Moor Park  >>  Take and re-use our own plastic bags when we go shopping, Cass Family, Harrow  >>  Not waste paper, Jed Gaffin, Northwood  >>  Walk to school more, Lea Abrahams, Pinner  >>  To be more careful with water, Max Abrahams, Pinner  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Ellie Roston, Rickmansworth  >>  Try and ride my bike as much as I can, Zack Bluestone, Stanmore  >>  Walk to from school everyday, Meiron Avidan, Stanmore  >>  Use tap water instead of bottled, Rianna Roston, Earth  >>  Turn everything off, not leave it on standby, Lewis Decker, Northwood  >>  Put my rubbish in the bin, Aron Bhalla, Harrow  >>  I will put my rubbish in the bin, Seth Bhalla, Harrow  >>  I will not watch the same thing as my brother on a different TV, Ilana Braham, Northwood  >>  Our family will walk to places if it is less than 2miles, the Garland family, Pinner  >>  Don't use sandwich bags for packed lunch, David Braham, Northwood  >>  Switch off lights when I am not using them, Matthew Rodin, London  >>  To walk and get the train more, Steph Leigh, Watford  >>  Not to litter and put rubbish in the bin, Jacob Lauder, Harrow  >>  Help put out the recycling more, Rachel Bard, Hertfordshire  >>  To put my cans in a recycle bin, Hannah Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Walk to the bus stop, Matti Brooks, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Gemma Black 5B, Hertfordshire  >>  I pledge to water my plants with a watering can and not waste water, Gemma Black 5B, Hertfordshire  >>  Make more things e.g sculptures instead of just putting them in the bin, Minnie Diamond, Bushey  >>  I shall turn off lights and T.V. when not needed on, Harrry Rubin, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Harry Rubin 5 Beech, Herts, London  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Katie Moss, Radlett  >>  Only flush the chain when I need to, Hannah Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Cycle one a day if not more, Jamie Cooper, Harts  >>  Ride on my bike at least once a day, Sophie Pollock, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Grow my own fruit and vegetables in the garden, Isabelle Copeland, Bushey  >>  Don't leave lights on, Rebecca A, Herts  >>  Use energy efficent light bulbs!, Dov Colman, Borhamwood  >>  Not use the car for short journeys, Josh Zucker, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Jake Murray, Borehamwood  >>  To not leave the shower running!, Lauren Seres, Herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Tyler Freedman, Bushey  >>  Do more recycling and help my mum sort out the waste, Maddie Freedman, Bushey  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Joseph White, Radlett, Herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Zoe Klein, Hertfordshire  >>  turn off the plugs in my bedroom, Oliver Rothstein, Adlenham, herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Nina Freedman, Borehamwood  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Harry Singler, Bushey  >>  Recycle my household waste, Harry Black, Bushey  >>  Recycle my household waste, Mrs Myers, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Daniel Simmons, Radlett  >>  Not to turn lights on if it is not neeeded, Etienne Dean, Borehamwood  >>  Not use the car for short journeys, Leah Gorb, Bushey  >>  Use bits of junk around the house to make something & to not throw it in the bin, Sophie Pollock  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Natalie Maurer, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Rebecca Selt, Radlett  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Avital Cohen, Borehamwood  >>  Recycle my household waste, Max Bean, Bushey  >>  Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Talia N, Hertfordshire  >>  Recycle my household waste, Leanne Rosner, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Leanne Rosner, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Kezia Blakeley, Hertfordshire  >>  Don't buy herbs if you can grow them, Emily Sterman, Hertfordshire  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Joshua Silver, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Ella Kosmin, St Albans  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Ella Green, Borehamwood  >>  Replace two light bulbs in my house with energy efficient light bulbs, Jacqueline Sefton, Bushey  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Sophie Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Joshua, Herts  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Benjamin Isaac, Herts  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Abby Rosen, Elstree  >>  Replace two light bulbs in my house with energy efficient light bulbs, Amanda Finestone, Borehamwood  >>  Try to have a shower instead of a bath and will not sing in the shower for too long, Sadie, Hertfordshire  >>  Cycle at least once a day, Jamie Cooper, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, holly, herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Michelle Hertz, Stanmore  >>  Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, nicola weisfeld, hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Jack Glazer, Bushey  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Jack Glazer, Bushey  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Holly Weisfeld, Hertfortshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Joshua Collins, Hertfordshire  >>  Eat less meat, Stephen Scott, London  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Hannah, London  >>  Continue to educate myself and others in ways of taking care of our earth, Raven Moon, Connecticut  >>  Try to live on less and take pleasure in the effort, Erich Connell, Greenville, NC  >>  I will be a vegertarian on a weekly basis, Lee-Ann, Tauyuan, Taiwan  >>  I promise to make sure all recyclable items go in the recycling and not in the bin, Lara Gordon, London  >>  I will try to keep recycling my clothes and not buy too many new ones, L.Bratter, North London  >>  I promise to recycle by altering my clothes, Anita Lancet, London  >>  Be vegan, Sren Kragh Lindbo, Copenhagen  >>  Think about what effect I am making on the world before I do anything, Zoe Black, London  >>  Walk not use the car, Tanzeela, New Malden  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Gideon Bratt  >>  To protect animal rights, Venecija Levi Breder, Quebec, Canada  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Lisa, Scottsdale, Arizona  >>  
A | A | A

Food Blog

Big Green Jewish would like to introduce Rachel Davies, a Jewish chef in training from North West London. Rachel studies at Le Cordon Bleu and works as a chef in a French bistro. Rachel offers catering for dinner parties and events, and can teach cookery in your home or in her kitchen. For more information please contact her at davies.rc@gmail.com.
 
A bit about me - As this is a food blog, I should say that until about 2 years ago I was the kind of cook who burnt Super Noodles, and could just about manage 3 minute filled egg pasta with pesto from a jar as a ‘good’ meal. 
 
Then a year volunteering with VSO in Zambia changed all that. I was alone in a village in Southern Africa where the market sold dried fish, tomatoes and sweet potato leaves, and egg noodles were a 3 hour drive away. Something had to change, and that something was my ability to cook. So using whatever ingredients I could find, I started baking my own bread, and attempting all the dishes possible with the limited fresh ingredients. And I loved it!
 
So now, over a year since I got back from Zambia, I’m studying at Le Cordon Bleu and working in a restaurant. I’ll share recipes and tips here, and will have a look at what vegetables are in season and what great dishes you can make with them.

May
 
I’ve not had a chance to hunt around in the countryside for elderflowers yet this year, but for me, foraging for elderflowers is fun and absolutely worth it. Once you’ve made cordial from the flowers, you can drink it diluted with water, mix it with apple juice or lemonade for a non-alcoholic punch, or for an adult version, add it to champagne, or drink it with gin or vodka, with lemon juice and soda for a delicious cocktail. You can also spoon it over lemon sorbet, drizzle it in fruit salads, use it in fruit fools and crumbles, set it into jellies, stir it into yogurt, or even use it in savoury dishes. Click here for a few more ideas.
 
If you’re interested in making your own elderflower cordial, make sure you know exactly what elderflowers look like by doing your research first, and try to pick elderflowers on a sunny day when their flavour is at its best. Choose the freshest looking, white flowers, take them home with you in a plastic bag and make the cordial as soon as you can. To make about 4 litres you will need:
 
2.5kg sugar, either granulated or caster
2 unwaxed lemons
2 medium oranges
20 fresh elderflower heads, stalks trimmed
85g citric acid (you can get this from chemists)
 
1. Put the sugar and 1.5 litres water into the largest saucepan you have. Gently heat, without boiling, until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Once the sugar has dissolved, bring the syrup to the boil and turn off the heat.
 
2. Peel the zest off the lemons using a normal peeler, and cut the lemons into slices. Do the same with the oranges.
 
3. Rinse the elderflowers gently in a bowl of cold water to get rid of bugs and dirt, and pick off the flowers, removing the majority of the stalk. Then put the flowers in the pan of syrup, also adding the lemon and orange slices, zest and citric acid. Stir well, put a lid or clingfilm over the pot and leave to infuse for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
 
4. Line a colander with a clean tea towel and sit it over a large bowl or pan. Ladle in the liquid and let it drain through. Throw away the fruit and flowers, and pour the strained liquid through a funnel into sterilised bottles (for how to sterilise bottles, see lemon curd – March)
 
5. Drink the cordial straight away if you like! It will keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks, or freeze it for all year round yumminess!
 
Salad: 
 
Now that summer’s getting close, I’ve been experimenting with different salads, and a real favourite, as a healthy light meal or a delicious side, is a seasonal courgette salad. To make enough for 2 people, slice 2 courgettes into ribbons with a potato peeler. Put them in a bowl with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 finely chopped red chilli with the seeds removed. Toss it all together and leave for at least 10 minutes for the flavours to infuse. While you’re waiting, toast 2 tbsp pine nuts in a dry pan. Then add them to the courgette, along with some shredded basil leaves and a handful of parmesan shavings.
 
Enjoy!


To read previous blogs click here. 
 
If you would like us to let you know when this blog has been updated please email info@biggreenjewish.org 
 
 
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Food 

Agriculture contributes about 7% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions and if you include additional emissions such as distribution, manufacturing and consumption this accounts for approximately 20% of the UK emissions. 
 
Food miles are the distance that food travels from where it is grown to the plate we eat it off. Half the vegetables and 95% of the food we consume in the UK does not come from our shores. The food we eat makes a huge contribution towards climate change and unnecessary waste. Making small changes today can lead to a healthier and tastier life!
 
For glossary of terms click here.
 
In this section:

Eat seasonally - Vegetable boxes 

Grow your own Kashrut Eat less meat 

Organic Fish 

Eat seasonally 

Easting seasonally, locally and unprocessed food can be much better for the environment. Local out of season produce usually requires energy-intensive techniques such as heated greenhouses, or refrigerated storage. For information about what’s in season click here
 
There are also farmers markets where you can buy fresh produce grown locally. To find a farmers market near you click here. 

Vegetable boxes

Make sure you try buy fruit and vegetables that are not in packaging. Organic foods and fresh vegetable boxes can be ordered from a supplier such as Able and Cole or Riverford. It is also important to support your local Green Grocers:
 
Moishe House London has launched a fruit and veg box scheme in partnership with local traditional Willesden grocers A.J. Reynolds run by brothers Wayne and Barry.  
 
Rachel from Moishe House said, "there's no point in focusing only on buying organic if our local independent high street traders suffer from our use of large organic foodbox suppliers. Companies such as Riverford and Abel & Cole do a great job, but they also affect a more homely and small farm image than their reality. Meanwhile, our local green grocers lose thousands in trade from those who do big shops at supermarkets.
 
When enough people order from us we'll be able to start making special purchases of organic items and seasonal specialties.  If all these stores close we will lose our local infrastructure and become dependent on supermarkets or long distance van deliveries. Neither a desirable option.  Boxes are delivered on Thursday evenings. £10 for small £15 for large in the Brent, Kilburn, Crickewood and West Hampstead area. A small delivery charge will apply for further areas.
 
To set up a standing order, to try a box or for more information email Rachel at thelondonhouse@gmail.com

Grow your own

Growing your own food can be cheaper, fresher and fulfilling. It provides healthy and delicious food that is good for the environment. Whether you are interested in growing food in your own home, or starting a community food growing project, there is lots of advice and information to help you get started. 
 
Read The Big Green Jewish Website's tips on growing your own.  
 
Alexei Charkham, a Jewish Allotment holder from North London write a blog about growing on his allotment, to read more click here
 
For more information click here.
 
 
The Jew & the Carrot is the fastest growing on-line resource tackling the relationship between Judaism, food and climate change.  Launched in November, 2006, The Jew & The Carrot is the epicenter of Jews, food, and sustainability on the web. It brings together 3,000 years of Jewish thought and food tradition with contemporary issues like sustainability, organic eating, nutrition, food politics, and healthy, delicious cooking. The Jew and the Carrot is a project of Hazon.
 
To Read about Kosher Organic Foods click here.

Eat less meat

A 2006 United Nations report summarized the devastation caused by the meat industry by calling it "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." 
 
Producing meat uses up a lot of energy and water. Limiting your meat intake will help to reduce usage of energy, water and CO2. 
 
For more information about Judaism and Vegetarianism see this article. For more information on Judaism and Vegetarianism click here.

Eating meat in moderation is healthy. Industrialised farming has made it possible to produce vast amounts of the stuff and all that cheap meat is having a negative effect on our health. 
 
For more information and to join in the Part Time Carnivore Campaign click here.

Organic

Organic farming offers the best, currently available, practical model for addressing climate-friendly food production. This is because it sequesters higher levels of carbon in the soil, is less dependent on oil-based fertilisers and pesticides and confers resilience in the face of climatic extremes. 
 
New research from the Soil Association reveals that if all UK farmland was converted to organic farming, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year - the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road. The research reveals that widespread adoption of organic farming practices in the UK would offset 23% of UK agricultural emissions through soil carbon sequestration alone. (Information from the Soil Association) 

Fish

Overfishing is the greatest single threat to marine wildlife and habitats, with many fish critically endangered. When an entire fish population is destroyed it can have huge knock-on effects on the local ecosystem. Help to play your part by making informed choices about the fish you eat, starting with what to avoid and what you can eat instead. 
 
You can help by ensuring that you only buy sustainable fish. For frequently asked questions about sustainable fish click here
 
Some species have already been fished to commercial extinction, and many more are on the verge of extinction. To find a list of fish to eat and fish to avoid click here.
 
Join in The End of the Line campaign - The End of the Line is not against fishing. It is not against eating fish. But it is for a responsible attitude towards the oceans.
 
 
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