James5

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Blog Action Day is upon us! This post comes to you as part of a the wider campaign to get bloggers to raise awareness about the environment. Check out Blog Action Day to see what other people are saying.

It was in year 12 that I finally decided that what I ate actually mattered. After reading an issue of Adbusters that was…graphic…to say the least, I knew that the current agri-industrial complex was the not the right way for us to get food. From an eco-perspective, conventional food often takes a massive toll on the environment, whether it’s the squishing too many pigs into a stall or transporting food thousands of kilometres or the use of pesticides, there are some major environmental issues with traditional food production. Ethically, the way we treat animals is often cruel, degrading and an insult to their Creator. While I’m not vegan, I don’t think there’s anything wrong per se with killing animals, there’s no justification for what we put some animals through.

So what follows is a bit of a list of the eco-friendly and more ethical options available in Australia. If you have any additions let us know in the comments.

Chicken

If you love the white meat these days you have heaps of options. Just check for the free-range label and you are all set. Lilydale Free Range is one of my favourites, but La Ionica are also hugely popular and very widely available. These chickens are allowed to range free rather then be cramped into a tiny space, mutilated and generally mistreated like batter hens. This also has an effect on the surrounding environment with waste run off and the like. Free range really should be mandatory for all chickens, but until it is make sure you check your label.

Red Meat

While Australian cows and sheep are generally free-ranging, without a label or accreditation you can’t be 100% sure. I prefer to get the organic stuff just to “let the market know” there is demand out there for a more ethical option. Safeway has quite a large organic meat range, and Coles has King Island Beef which is a beautiful meat raised in pristine environment in a way that is good on the land and the animal. I also find it helpful to just talk to your local butcher to see if they can get a good meat for you.

Fruit & Vegetables

These days every supermarket and local store has at least some organic vegetables to pick from so it’s not hard to get an organic fix. If you want to save some money check out this list for some vegetables and fruit that aren’t has hard on the environment when grown. Also, once again check with your local greengrocer to see if they can get a good deal on what you need. Eating organic vegies often means you can’t get that exact vegetable you need for some crazy recipe, so it can be helpful to get a seasonal recipe book and plan accordingly.

All of the above are generally a bit more costly then their conventional varieties, but are well worth it in terms of flavour, nutrients and their effect on the environment. We’ve also found the extra costs means we aren’t as wasteful in our buying, storage and eating patterns. We aren’t 100% organic yet, but we are working towards it when we can.

I hope you have a good Blog Action Day, don’t forget to check out some other blogs for ways in which you can make this planet a better place for us and for future generations.

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