It is important to buy locally grown, seasonal food when possible. Salisbury has a Farmer’s Market twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays as part of the Charter Market and an additional market on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays in the month.
The River Bourne Community Farm in Laverstock is a traditional farm in the heart of the community with a Farm Shop, straw bale education building and opportunities for volunteering. Website: www.riverbournecommunityfarm.org.uk
There is also a Farm Shop in Briford Village.
Organic food comes from a system of agriculture which respects the soil, building fertility so that it grows strong, healthy plants and animals. Working with nature, without the use of chemicals, requires a balanced approach rotating crops around the fields, growing leguminous plants, which transfer nitrogen from the air via plant roots to the soil and increasing humus content.
High welfare standards mean that fewer animals are reared per hectare. More people are employed using organic methods therefore the end product in the shops has to cost more than intensively produced food.
Food grown near to its customer outlet makes great sense. Freshness means higher nutritional value while causing less pollution than from costly long-distance transport which increasingly causes environmental degradation.
There is a growing interest in growing ones own food with a waiting list for allotments in Salisbury, we will be working with Salisbury City Council to see if more land can be made available to satisfy demand. Another alternative is Landshare – connecting growers with people with land to share: www.lanshare.net
