Low Carbon Ringmer

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EAT SUSSEX DAY

Strong local interest in eating Sussex

The twin benefits of eating good quality nutritious food that helps the local economy brought out around 150 people for the 'Eat Local Eat Sussex' fair on Saturday 11 October.

Chris Bowers, the chair of Low Carbon Ringmer and a district councillor, with Norman Baker alongside the board showing the Ringmer precinct traders.

Stands promoting local meat and milk, cheese, veggie boxes, flour, ready-made meals and other homespun goodies attracted around 130 adults and 25 children to the village hall to see how much locally produced food is available - and to start 'eating Sussex' right there by buying some.

Norman Baker chats with Matt Craig of Gote Farm about their local lamb and unpasteurised milk.

The star of the show was the non-electric smoothie blender from the Lewes-based food cooperative Common Cause, which allowed people to pedal their own smoothies made from local apple juice and fresh raspberries and blackberries.

Seven-year-old Tamara was on hand to do the pedalling for those who didn't want to cycle their own smoothies.

Low Carbon Ringmer chair Chris Bowers said: 'The great thing about the fair was how all the various elements came together to make an overall picture. To have the district council stand explaining why locally grown food is so important for the environment was a great help to people as they went in, and then inside we had everything from the Lewes pound highlighting the benefits of supporting the local economy to having home-made refreshments. It all fitted together so well.

Franz Plachy, one of the millers at Michelham Priory, explains the benefits of locally ground flour from locally grown wheat.

'I was particularly impressed with the map made by the year 10 students at Ringmer Community College. It shows all the places people can buy food produced within 15 miles of Ringmer, and ought to be displayed at other events or even made into a brochure.'

Norman Baker tries some of the High Weald cheese sold by county councillor Rosalyn St Pierre at the 'Eat Local Eat Sussex' fair.

Among the visitors was Lewes MP Norman Baker, who spent a full hour at the event and took time to chat with all the stallholders.

Lewes MP Norman Baker finds the saddle is set for younger frames than his when he tries to pedal himself a smoothie.

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