What is this? How do I join?
Between October 2007 and October 2008 the Fife Diet asked people to sign-up to eating food from the region of Fife, for a year, monitor their progress and share their experience. Having tested what the region can and can’t produce in that first year, the project is now continuing and is now growing into a mass-member food network of people trying to access sustainable food. It’s free to join.
The project was described as ‘Inspiring’ by Sir Crispin Tickell in the two part Food Programme (Radio 4, October 2008) dedicated to local eating and the Fife Diet.
Professor Tim Lang said of it: “I’m a fan of the sheer daring, the wonderful experimentation of it (the Fife Diet).”
Hardin Tibbs said: “We see here the harbingers of much more changes in the future.” Satish Kumar, Editor of Resurgence and Programme Director at Schumacher College called the Fife Diet: “An inspiring sign of the coming movement for real change and resilient communities.”
Shucks. The project aims to bring people together who are into preparing for a low-carbon future. The project aims to:
- Bring people together to eat good local food
- Boost the local economy
- Make fresh organic produce more widely available
- Help each other re-learn how to eat seasonally
- Challenge the insanity of food miles.
To join us contact us at: fifediet@yahoo.co.uk. You will be sent details of local suppliers and put on our monthly e-newsletter.
We don’t tell people the exact way to go about it but equip you with the information to find your own way. The simplest method is to sign up for a vegetable box from one of the excellent farms that do this. Bellfield Organics or Pillars of Hercules are two that we’d recommend. There are links to all the food producers in Fife on our website and more information when you join by emailing us at fifediet@yahoo.co.uk.
If you make the seasonal food of the vegetable box the heart of your weekly shopping you can transform your food miles and your carbon footprint. You can then supplement the vegetable box with food from your Farmers Market, local shops or farm shops, fishmonger etc. Go here for all the details of the weekly Farmers Markets.
September 12, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Really exciting initiative and source of local information. Glad I was passed the link for the site.
September 14, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Audrey, we’re still getting off the ground but keep in touch and we’ll let you know of our l(a)unch!
Mike
October 14, 2007 at 5:34 pm
hi mike
just checking – does this mean it hasnt started yet? was feeling guilty & had meant to have it as a new years resolution!
ciao
sam
October 15, 2007 at 9:53 am
Some people have started but we’re going to have a proper launch now. Why not cpme long to the launch and do something on the Ethics Girls?
We launch on the 2nd November – see new post.
Mike
October 30, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Great idea but where is the “how to”?No details that I can see.
November 2, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Dunfermline based manufacture soft drinkls but perhaps more of intrest natural fruit flavoured waters from a Fife source.
November 5, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Thanks for your message John. Would you like to offer some of your product for our next meeting?
Email us at fifediet@yahoo.co.uk
Mike
November 6, 2007 at 10:31 am
Hi Mike
Heard you mourning the loss of coffee and and wine from your diet on the radio just now. Why not try Bouvrage which is made with the juice of Fife raspberries. All the taste and healthy compounds of fresh raspberries and the tannin bite that is reminiscent of red wine. Might help your tastebuds cope and provide an all year boost to the anti-oxidants. See our health story: http://www.bouvrage.com/infomation.aspx?InfoPageID=18
best wishes
Anne
November 15, 2007 at 9:42 am
I saw a comment about Fife diet in the press saying that coffee was the one thing that could not be included. I remember quite well that, during the Second World War coffee was unobtainable and a tolerable substitute was made from dandelions. Seriously. I have no recipe but recall this clearly and perhaps museum records could assist.
November 21, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Was very interested to find out about this development (both via the media and the grapevine) as I share similar concerns re environmental cost of current food production and distribution. As a Kinghorn resident I’m delighted to find out it’s being led from Burntisland.
November 22, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Regarding the coffee comments, chicory has long been used as a coffee substitute. Last year we had a flourishing chicory plant in our garden which self-seeded with gusto. I planted a lot of the seedlings at the herb garden at Kinghorn’s Ecology Centre. The local rabbits tucked in with enthusiasm, but the plants survived and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a fine display of blue flowers next summer. If any Fife dieter is interested in trying out a local chicory drink feel free to leave a message here.
November 23, 2007 at 4:15 pm
As nigel says above, Dandelion cofee is good, acorns also make a good substitute but are more hastle (have to remove tannin fist). If you grow your own veg, grow chicory. Eat the top for salad, wash dice and roast the root.
Method for dandelion or chicory: wash, chop to about the size of coffee beans, Roast for between 1 and 2 hours depending on how well roasted a cofee you like (medium heat). Ive been making it for years now. Dont drink too much (more than 4 mugs) though as it still retains some of the dandelions diueretic properties(pee the bed).
November 23, 2007 at 4:19 pm
As nigel says above, Dandelion cofee is good, acorns also make a good substitute but are more hastle (have to remove tannin fist). If you grow your own veg, grow chicory. Eat the top for salad, wash dice and roast the root.
Method for dandelion or chicory: wash, chop to about the size of coffee beans, Roast for between 1 and 2 hours depending on how well roasted a cofee you like (medium heat). Ive been making it for years now. Dont drink too much (more than 4 mugs) though as it still retains some of the dandelions diueretic properties(pee the bed).
Wine: Make your own…. Bramble is particularly good
I’m currently trying the fife diet equivalent in lanarkshire.
December 20, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Just wanted to say I think what you’re doing is brilliant.
I’m trying to source more local produce too – Matthew, I’m interested in where you source things from if you could let me know? I’ve found some really good meat and veg suppliers at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, but keen to find out about other foods.
December 27, 2007 at 11:05 am
Excellent idea! On the other side of the Forth or might be tempted to try! Produce a lot of our own food and I am going to try and not buy new stuff (save a few exceptions: cleaning products, food we do not produce, Land Rover parts, underwear) in 2008.
Added your site to my blogroll and will check in regularly!
December 30, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I found out about your site and the Fife Diet though a forum that I am a member of (ww.neeps.co.uk – North East Eco=friendly people Site).
My family have been buying locally for some time now, plus growing our own veggies, keeping chickens for eggs etc and we would really be interested in taking part.. we also live in Fife.
Where do we sign up
)
January 18, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Has anyone looked at the question of how productive Fife could ever be, versus how many people live there? I suppose another way of looking at that might be to ask if there are too many people living in Fife–”just over 350,000″ according to Wikipedia. It’s sustainable if they mostly eat imported food, but maybe not if it all has to be produced locally. If the numbers don’t work out, then maybe the truly eco-friendly way to live is for everyone to move to places where there’s enough for them to eat. We don’t want to sign up for any kind of “Modest Proposal” a la Jonathan Swift!
January 18, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Its a very good question John. We are having our own emission reduction looked at and trying to make various calculations over the year of the research. I think we can all reduce our carbon footprint whilst living where we are. Fife has great arable land and resource potential, though at no time do we advocate exlusive localism or entire self-sufficiency. Just seasonality and sanity about food miles.
Thanks for your comment
Mike
January 22, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Hello, just thought you’d like to know that we’ve started a Coventry local diet based on these ideas (although obviously eating different local produce). See here:
http://livingsimpler.wordpress.com/
All power to the locavores!
January 31, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I am a third year University student in London researching Local food- I need people to take part in questionnaires, could anyone contact me at zoeperrett@yahoo.co.uk if they’re interested?
February 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hi glad I stumbled across this site. I dont think you can beat fresh fruit and produce and that we’re lucky with the number of farms in Fife who provide just that.
Just a wee query though – it says to click here to find out how to get involved but I cant find anywhere to do this, can anyone help? Cheers. Sarah from Kelty
February 10, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Hi Sarah
email us at fifediet@yahoo.co.uk and we’ll put you on the newsletter list. We are an informal network, so its just a matter of keeping in touch and sharing the experience, we do also have monthly meetings.
Mike
February 12, 2008 at 8:24 pm
[...] 2-The Fife Diet, an initiative that aims to boost the local food industry in Fife by getting people to only eat fresh food from the area is helping to cut local’s carbon footprints. Why not try and only eat fresh food from your area for a week? [...]
March 9, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I have only eaten locally sourced meat for a number of years and try to source most of the rest of my food locally too. I did consider joining in till I read that coffee and wine are out. That’s a sacrifice too far. But in a later entry on January 18 you say that you do not advocate exclusive localism or self sufficiency so why can’t coffee and wine be included? How do you decide what’s allowed?
March 11, 2008 at 10:32 am
Thanks for your comment Naomi, we are not strict or asking people to adhere to a template. We are asking people to source as much from Fife as possibel and discuss their experiences. For some people this is near 100% for others much less so depending on time and circumstances.
You decide what’s allowed.
We source beer and wine from Clackmannannshire and Perthshire, that’s our compromise. Come and join in and share your experience…Mike
May 1, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hello,
My name is Shirley Moyes and I work for the Adam Smith College. This year we are leading the Fife Schools Tourism Challenge and the challenge involves working with a local business and looking at their current procurement of produce and coming up with a case for change, consdering local produce as an alternative and the impact that will have. I think this is a great project and I am looking for a contact person who may wish to be involved with the challenge. Is there a founder of Fife Diet? If so can they contact me.
Thank-you
May 16, 2008 at 9:06 am
Enjoyed your thought provoking talk in Kirkcaldy last week. Over the past few years we’ve been trying to source local produce, scottish produce and fairly traded food. We’ve been working our allotment in Kinghorn for around 6 years and have learned lots about keeping salads going over the winter. Peas are great grown in a box or length of guttering – eat the tops in salads and just keep on planting throughout the winter – helps if you have a greenhouse or cold frame.
Doe anyone know of a source for Fife butter?
Look forward to receiving your newsletter.
May 26, 2008 at 3:54 pm
How do I buy flour from Hutchisons in Kirkcaldy?
I phoned them but they didn’t know!
June 1, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hi Annette
sorry to get so long to get back to you. We were given some 25kgs of flour as support for the project. I dont think they sell retail.
It something we are looking to do in thr coming year.
There is a debate about whether you can grow hard, winter, glutenous wheat flour here. Thisis is still being explored.
Mike
June 25, 2008 at 8:07 am
I just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and am in the process of reading John Robbins’ Healthy at 100, and I am convinced more than ever that changing how we eat is the most efficient route to changing the world for the better. I cannot recommend these two books highly enough.
My husband and I live in Tayport, and my experience so far with trying to eat locally grown, organic food has been tough, but I know I can do better than trundling through the mega-grocers and buying apples from New Zealand and veg from South America. I am from the US (Portland, Oregon), and really miss the opportunity to select from many local vendors at multiple farmers’ markets that occur in the city every weekend from May to October. Surrounded by farms here in beautiful Fife, but unable to find local produce — what a strange irony!
I only found out about Fife Diet by a happy coincidence — making small talk with a woman at Ninewells in Dundee. I’m really glad she mentioned this project, although she’s not involved in it. You never know how little conversations can result in big things.
Count me in! I’ll send a separate email to join, and let my friends know as well.
Bonnie
June 26, 2008 at 9:22 am
Welcome Bonnie!
Of course you can visit our great Farmers Markets in Fife each week, the nearest to you if probably St Andrews or Cupar?
http://www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk/producers/index.htm
Mike
October 19, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hi Mike
Have only just heard about the Fife Diet today listening to Radio 4. I can’t believe I haven’t heard about it earlier. I really admire what you’re trying to do. I really resent having to buy so much foodstuff from the supermarkets which source nationally and internationally, especially foodstuffs which ARE produced in Fife but not SOLD in Fife, e.g,. milk, flour. Its crazy. Perhaps approaching producers to see if they could retail locally could be a route which could be further exploited…? I know its time-consuming. Please could you add me to your mailing list.
October 19, 2008 at 3:10 pm
What an inspiration ‘The Fife Diet’ is! I am interested in a Nottinghamshire Diet that completely pinches all of your ideas!
Any advice?
Cheers and best wishes
Rob
October 21, 2008 at 11:44 am
i applaud your ideas and have been inspired to try the same sort of thing in somerset .some friends and i are getting together to see what we can come up with. i hope we can get it together. do you have any tipsthat would be usefull thanks
October 22, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Hi Caroline, thanks for your comment, we will be taking it forward by connecting producers and retailers and buying collectively too.
Hi Rob, feel free to pinch all of our ideas, after all – all we are doing is common sense, we don’t ‘own’ the idea of eating food from near where you live – you do. We’ve just been conned into thinking we need to eat so much processed food that’s traveled an average of 1500 miles before it gets to your plate.
Joan – thanks for your comment. I think the best advice would be to start with planning a single meal, invite friends to come and cook a big lunch or evening meal – and surprise everybody by explaining the concept at the end, or invite a load of people to come up with a dish each. You need a map of the region and some internet searching. Divide the food groups up (dairy, veg, meat, cereals etc) and see what’s out there. The next challenge would be to plan, say, a weeks evening meals and see how you get on.
Mike
October 25, 2008 at 11:54 am
Dear Mike, and all your readers:
I’m part of a small team in Chipping Lancashire called “A Sustainable Community for Chipping”. We are one of six communities around the country selected by the West of England University to introduce to school children the concept of practical action on environment issues. Following on, we are now turning our attention to getting grown ups involved. Ideas include new allotments for those wishing them, food Miles, and even consortium procurement of central heating oil as we have no piped gas in the village. I listened to a radio broadcast recently and was delighted to hear about the Fife Diet for the first time. I shall be discussing this in our group as a “Visionary Community Opportnity”. If there are any likeminded groups in rural Lancashire I would be pleased to make contact with them.
Best Wishes to all concerned, David Hall.
October 26, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Hi all,
We were going to try the same idea here in Glasgow, but the project failed when we could not find a local substitute for the deep fried Mars Bar.
Mule
October 28, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Really enjoyed listening to the radio 4 report on what you’re doing.
I am about to embark ( as a teacher ) on a cousre of study with my class all about food and marketing . Key words are – ethical , sustainable, free trade, organic , non-essential goods and services– choices.
I think it is such a good time to work with children .. and of course, it reaches out to the adults who care for them .
I guess I’m asking if anyone would be prepared to come and talk to my class about these issues . It is a small group of 24 and they would be well-behaved !!
Perhaps , if you can’t come , you could give me further advice as to who could help ?
This topic fits into the new Curriculum for Excellence and I feel SO enthused that I can facilitate true and important dimensions to the kids developement.
Thanks
Liz
July 12, 2009 at 10:07 am
I find the web pages very hard to read. The small font size and the white on black make it hard to persevere.