Organic Gardeners Save The Earth

Photo: Flickr

Growing fruit and veg organically as part of an organic lifestyle could cut the average Briton’s carbon footprint by almost 40 per cent, while also shaving up to £350 off the average yearly grocery bill. That’s the findings of research carried by Garden Organic, the leading organic growing charity, which examined how the lifestyle of organic gardeners across Britain could benefit the environment.

The results of the study come at a worrying time for global agriculture, with fears growing over the spiralling cost of oil and food. At present, we are living well beyond our means, with the world requiring the equivalent of 3.4 planets to live, if consumption stays at the current level of the average UK consumer. Garden Organic’s research found that those who grow their own produce organically as part of an organic lifestyle dramatically reduced their burden on the earth’s resources, with the world ‘only’ needing the equivalent of 2.5 planets to sustain itself.

The food and drink carbon footprint of those who took part in the study was six per cent lower than the UK’s average each year. This saving is on a par with adding double-glazing to a house or replacing an old boiler with a more efficient model, so it’s easy to see the benefits for both the environment and the wallet.

The Garden Organic study also found that:

• Organic growers surveyed had a carbon footprint of 7.4 tonnes (per annum?) – 66 per cent lower than the national average
• Despite only using just over half of their garden space, growers were able to produce over 50 per cent of the fruit and veg they consumed in a year
• If the average sized garden (733sqm) was given over to fruit and veg growing, then householders could grow 98 per cent of the fruit and veg they consumed each year, only metres from their back door
• 60 per cent of organic growers eat their own produce daily

Garden Organic’s Chief Executive, Myles Bremner, said: “The results of the research make fascinating reading. The ecological benefits of organic growing have long been overshadowed by the debate around the nutritional benefits, but as the true impact of climate change is realised, the argument for organic growing grows ever stronger.

“There is no need for the food we consume to travel thousands of miles, when we can grow it in our back gardens. Similarly, there is no need to take car journeys to the supermarket, which in itself must add up to thousands of miles each year, when householders can step out of their back door and pick what they need. Packaging and food wastage would also be dramatically reduced. As a nation we need to change our mindset – and focus on food metres not food miles.”

The growers that took part in the survey also used manual tools where possible, eliminating the need for extra energy consumption. They invested in good quality implements and made a conscious effort to maintain them, expanding the lifespan of the items and reducing the carbon footprint associated with their production. Some respondents reported using the same tools for the last 20 years. Those surveyed also tried to limit the amount of waste they were producing by creating their own natural fertilisers and composts to help their plants grow, eradicating the long supply chains and the heavy associated carbon footprints that come with buying these supplies from DIY stores.

“As a nation we are now continually encouraged to take measures to cut our carbon footprint but many see this as an infringement on their daily life and activities,” continued Bremner. “Our research clearly shows that this is not the case. People can reduce their carbon footprint dramatically and reap the benefits at the same time - improving various areas of life including finances, nutrition and not to mention the health and psychological benefits that growing and gardening brings.”