Green jigsaw peace

Evening light on the fields between the coastline and the coast road, about 20 minutes from home. It was a late walk because I'd spent the day helping with the refreshments at the Energy Efficiency Day arranged by our local Transition Town Initiative. Fishguard is a one of 400+ communities in Britain that is attempting to address the impact of climate change, peak oil and economic crisis by grassroots action on several green fronts, essentially at a local level. A number of projects are on-going, such as farmers'/producers' markets, allotment growing and garden sharing, cookery classes, sustainable building, energy conservation, recycling and composting, better public transport and so on. It's incredible how much enthusiasm, energy and expertise exists in an impoverished town of 5000 souls on the marginalized edge of our beleaguered nation. No challenge is too great, no enterprise too minor to be considered.

The latest project, and one that I am eager to participate in, involves collecting and utilizing waste or surplus food from supermarkets, shops and producers for sorting/recycling as fit for human consumption, animal feed or composting. Plans include a community cafe, catering courses and distribution of food to the needy.

These Welsh black cattle are grazing peacefully in a natural environment, their small green pastures bounded by this year's gorse and blackthorn blossom on one side, and last year's vestige of dry bracken on the other. Their meat, whether you chose to eat it or not, will be all the better for their green lifestyle.