Dreaming of a healthy and sustainable Christmas? As we become more aware of the environmental impact of consumerism (not to mention the health effects of luxuries such as selection boxes, in particular!) , many are becoming more aware of where and how they spend their hard-earned Christmas. cash. We still crave treats, but not at the expense of the planet.
It’s time to look locally for more nutritious and sustainable options from small Irish growers. For you and the world around you, Christmas shouldn’t come at the cost of the earth.
Cass and Nick McCarthy with their son Finn.Photo: Kirsty Lyons
Regenerative agriculture is a term we hear more and more in 2023, but you can stay ahead of the trend by ordering traditional breed pork and grass-fed beef from Lúnasa Farm. Regenerative agriculture, a practice focused on restoring the health of land and producing nutritious and sustainable food, is a key part of the EU’s farm-to-fork strategy to meet climate change goals. It’s a part. This is Australian-Irish couple Cass and Nick McCarthy’s priority at Lunasa Farms.
Though delayed by the pandemic, the McCarthys and their young son Finn (now joined by baby Isla) moved from Byron Bay last December to set up their own farm outside Quin in Co Clare. . Both have an Australian food background. Nick, a former engineer, trained as a butcher, and Cass, a Whole Foods cook, is currently studying for a BA in Food Science and Nutrition. They sell the finest meats directly to their customers, and a freezer-stocked mixed taster box of pork and beef costs €85 plus shipping.
Kenneth Keavey Offers Comprehensive Vegetable Box Delivery Service at Green Earth Organics
For those who love to cook seasonal vegetables, Galway-based farmer Kenneth Keavey offers a comprehensive vegetable box delivery service with Green Earth Organics. All the produce he sells is organic, much of which he grows himself and some of which is sourced from other Irish farmers. He also has a certain amount of organic fruits and vegetables that are imported without air transportation, so he has a year-round selection.
Nationwide delivery (by electric van where possible) is €4.50 and a 100% Irish farm box (€28) contains mushrooms, potatoes, chives, celeriac and occasionally kale in season. increase.
The company’s Instagram account (@greenearthorganics1) is full of ideas for getting the most out of your box, including storage tips and healthy recipe inspiration. Kale and apple salad, beet bourguignon, and curried parsnip soup are all posts to save. You can purchase a gift voucher or set up a recurring order and order a Christmas Day Box (€43) with all organic vegetables and herbs for your family to be delivered the week of Christmas. I can do it.
Send Someone To The Riot Lai Sourdough Course
Give a man (or woman!) a loaf of bread and he’ll eat it for a day. Enrolling him in the Riot Lysourdough course (€125 for a full day course) will give him enough skills not only to make an assortment of ready-to-eat breads when he gets home, but also to transform his home kitchen into a mini-his bakery. can be attached. .
The Bakehouse and Bread School in Kulajordan, Tipperary, Colorado, run by Joe Fitzmaurice and Julie Rocket, focuses on nutrition, sustainable production methods and access to all. They turn beginners into sourdough aficionados and are a gift that keeps on giving to everyone in the house.
At Christmas, you’ll get a free banneton (a proof basket to look like a pro) when you purchase a baking course location and baking course voucher. Want to learn how to make sourdough at home? Riot Rye also offers free online tutorials aimed at helping anyone bake real bread using basic, accessible kitchen kits like Pyrex dishes and Kilner jars. We also offer
Eat Great and Reduce Food Waste with Responsibly Sourced Spices in Green Saffron’s Turkey Delight Spice Blend
Once you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches, don’t waste food by giving your turkey a complete makeover with our Green Saffron Turkey Delight Spice Blend (€3.85). When it comes to freshness and flavor, nothing beats Arun Kapil’s spices, and Turkey Delight (which also contains coconut milk, tomato and lime) makes a difference in leftovers. Kapil has its own supply chain, where spices are ethically sourced directly from partner farms in India, ensuring consistency of supply and quality while guaranteeing farmers income.
Infused with Kapil’s Tamil Vadagam blend of spices from South India, the Turkey Delight pairs well with chicken and is worth buying a few packs, not just as a gift.
Eat great meals with responsibly sourced spices and reduce food waste. This is a win-win situation.
SynerChi Kombucha
If you’re going to someone’s house, ditch the soft drinks and bring along some Irish-made ‘bubbles’. and is made by fermenting organic tea with a live culture of bacteria. They come in a variety of flavors such as raspberry and rosehip, ginger and lemongrass, pear and matcha.
It’s never a bad idea to incorporate fermented foods into your diet, especially around Christmas time.These beverages are unpasteurized, contain live gut-friendly cultures, and are made with organic teas. Kombucha is great to drink on its own and can also be used as a not-too-sweet mixer for other drinks.
SynerChi Kombucha is widely distributed nationally and cases can be purchased online for €32 (12 bottles of 330ml) or €27 (12 cans of 250ml), with free shipping on orders over €60.
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