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going organic-advice needed

8 replies

justamum · 15/09/2006 00:10

I am thinking of completly changing the way I shop and bypassing supermarkets as much as possible. I have plenty of info about organic veg boxes but does anyone know any good websites for delivery of organic meat/fish & other produce. I am looking for a site that directs you towards producers in your local area really. I have decided we should eat less meat but have better quality and that we should eat veggie on at least 2 days a weeks and should have fish once a week min. I think that if I am not buying half the rubbish i pick up in the supermarket then the cost will even itself out. Has anyone done any cost analysis?

OP posts:
brimfull · 15/09/2006 00:18

I haven't done a cost analysis but we have drastically cur down our supermarket shop.I have an organic veg box delivered. Meat we get from a local farm,Hockeys Farm.They do deliver,but I don't know where you live.
We tend to stock up on meat and buy a months supply and freeze,it helps having a chest freezer in the garage.Today I bought a months supply of meat,possibly more for £75.00
My veg cost me £17.00 a week including delivery.
Fish I buy either from local fishmonger or weekly market .

portonovo · 15/09/2006 10:32

Try www.allaboutorganics.co.uk - lots of local listings.

Or do a web search something like 'organic food delivery' - lots of stuff comes up.

I get meat every few months from Sheepdrove Farm (www.sheepdrove.co.uk or might be com). They deliver nationwide, but free for 'local' i.e. about 30-40 miles radius as long as you spend over £50-60 I think it is. Or sometimes I get a few meat extras added to my Abel & Cole order. We also buy a few bits from a local garden centre, although they focus more on free-range than organic. We have 2 huge freezers so tend to buy in bulk.

We do exactly what you say. We now only eat meat about twice a week (3 is a real luxury!), with fish once a week. So up to 4-5 days a week is veggie and we love it. It's much better to have really good-tasting, ethically-produced meat, but have it less often. And I'm sure it's better health-wise too.

I think our food bill has risen since going as organic as possible, but not drastically because some of our meals are so very cheap - we eat a lot of pulses and home-made soups and we also grow lots of veg ourselves.

We have decided that we are prepared to pay a bit extra for food because it's so important to us and we live modestly in other areas - e.g. we don't drink much, don't smoke, don't have cable or satellite TV, don't pay to rent DVDs etc, spend about £10 a YEAR on mobile phones. So while other people say organic food is too expensive, they spend loads more than us on other areas of their lives. It's all about choices isn't it, and this works for us.

KathyMCMLXXII · 15/09/2006 10:38

See Soil Association website for listings of local suppliers.
I did a cost analysis the other day comparing the cost of Hulababy's Farmaround North organic veg box with the same produce at Sainsbury's (see my thread on 'organic boxes - how much stuff do you get?) but you say you already have info on veg.
FWIW I also compared prices of meat available on one organic site (but can't remember which, sorry) with Sainsbury's and again, the organic shop was about 10-20% cheaper than supermarket organic meat but obviously way more than standard supermarket produce. Also this would involve buying in bulk so you would need a big freezer.
Interested to see anything else you come up with as I am thinking the same as you atm!

justamum · 15/09/2006 14:06

I have found a local website which looks ok, i am planning on overhauling our dreadful garden to grow veg eventually when I can move without being attacked by stinging nettles. I am now thinking along same lines as you portonovo that meat should be the exception rather than the rule, ethically I have finally seen the light and decided I can no longer justify eating meat unless the animals have been treated well. A big freezer is on my wish list but if ours was emptied of all processed stuff we could definitely shop by the month, thanks for the advice

OP posts:
twocatsonthebed · 15/09/2006 20:50

whereabouts are you?

There are some great delivery sites, but bigbarn.co.uk should help you to find good producers and farm shops etc - we find the best value is to go to our almost-local but brilliant farm shop (in Pitney, should you happen to be in Somerset) and get organic meat once a month or so and freeze.

We only go to the supermarket once a month or so (cat food, kitchen towel etc) and definitely save from not buying all the ridiculous impulse purchases alone.

northender · 15/09/2006 20:59

Just remember that organic isn't always the best option especially where meat is concerned imo but going local and knowing the farm where it's produced can be just as good and much cheaper. Again with fresh produce such as fruit and veg thinking seasonal and local as far as possible is the best thing, again this is just my opinion. It's the old argument between organic f&v from tesco which has been flown round the world twice or local stuff which may have been treated but is likely to be fresher.

pupuce · 15/09/2006 21:07

I compare prices regularely and bying organic OUTSIDE of supermarkets is definitely cheaper!
I live in Kent and shop at 2 organic (well actually bio-dynamic) farms ; Plaw Hatch and Tablehurst... and it is definitely cheaper, it's totally local, it's great quality (even looks fab!)... I mean there is just no comparisson.
Here are some of Plaw Hatch prices... (all what I list are grown in their farm)
Spinach £2.9/kg
Black kale £2.90/kg
Courgettes £2/kg
Sweetcorn £0.75 piece
Tomatoes: £2.10/kg
Cherry tomatoes £2.90/kg

Not from their farm but from the UK - potatoes: £0.71/kg

Tablehurst - Forest Row
I know the chicken is £5.95/kg for a whole chicken (i buy it whole and DH cuts in pieces ... far cheaper that way!)
Mince (beef) is £8.50/kg
Sausages MADE by the butcher they ahve... so not full of left overs from the pig, He uses belly and I think shoulder to make his large variety of sausages £8.5/kg
That's not cheap but it's premium quality, you can see the animals when you go to the farm.
Their beef is award winning... I mean I eat less meat as it is a bt expensive but I really enjoy it when I eat it!

pupuce · 15/09/2006 21:11

Northender i agree about food mileage a 100% but in the case of meat I do also worry about over use of anti-biotics and possibly poor care of the animals.
I am quite lucky that I live 15 miles from these farms and can pay them a weekly visit!

Also buying local means a local person is earning money....

Have you read "Not on the label" by Felicity Lawrence???

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