17 July 2025

We have lost around 100 baby carrots!
John had been nurturing them in the vegetable garden for weeks, then, just as they became almost edible a rat (we are pretty sure) has taken most of them and some of our neighbour's, too - and her baby beetroot as well.
I'm all in favour of living alongside wild life, but there comes a point .......
What should we do? Kill it, trap it, ignore it ...?
And that's the problem, isn't it?
How, given today's population and climate pressures, are we to grow enough sustainable, affordable food for all without resorting to unnatural or unethical means to protect and promote healthy, production?
How can farmers, on whatever scale, grow healthy, productive crops without destroying 'innocent' insects, plants, birds and animals as well as the ones they are fighting for the sake of productivity?
During the World War 2 farmers were encouraged to be as productive as they possibly could in order to feed the nation during times of potential blockades and shortages: this continued to be the ethos for some decades, when suddenly the thrust to over-productivity became unethical as we became aware of conservation and climate issues.
'Good' practice, almost overnight became 'bad' practice and many farmers were left floundering, not knowing quite what was required of them.
Now, many, many people whose life and wealth depend on the land are doing their very best to work in ethical, sustainable ways, respecting the natural habitat they are sharing at the same time as making a reasonable profit - after all, who wants to work for nothing!?
That does however have a pound sign attached so we, the consumers, need to be aware that when food prices rise there is often a good reason: we need to be prepared to pay reasonable prices for a sustainable, ethical future.
And also to work out, on our own small plots, in our own small way, what is the best way forward for us, too.

With love
Jacquie xx