Boycotting the supermarket in search of local, organic food...

This subject is huge, so excuse for doing it a little at a time.

One thing that really gets to me now is when people say:

'Oooohh Tesco's, you can get everything in there'

Now, I don't get angry at the person as they are just another victim of the multi million pound advertising. It just gets to me how fragile we all are in the face of such tactics. I was one myself you know!!

Anyway, over the christmas period, my mum and I decided to go local (North Oxfordshire +100 miles) and organic. So this was our shopping list:

• Milk
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Beef
• Chicken
• Ham/Bacon/Sausages
• Bread
• Other Dairy
• Storecupboard stuff
• Household cleaners and toiletries

Milk - we both have Dairy Crest delivering to our doorstep, so now have Country Life organic milk delivered. I have heard that Dairy Crest are the Tesco's of the dairy trade, so I will look into this a bit more.

Fruit and Vegetables (and eggs) - now get these off of a lovely man called Paul who works for Flights Orchard Organics. We get a box every week delivered to my mums from Worcestershire. Fantastic food, all in a reusable crate. http://www.flightsorchardorganics.co.uk/

Beef - well, we have been lucky here. We were recommended a farm just a few miles south of our town. Organic Beef, extremely well cared for. You can order specific cuts or beef boxes and they will deliver to your door. So far we have had mince, a sunday joint and some beef sausages. All beautiful and not much dearer than the packaged stuff at Tesco's. Well worth it! We have even been invited over to meet the cows! http://www.dunsteworganicbeef.co.uk

Chicken/ham/bacon/sausages - not much luck on this front yet, however we do have a few leads to follow up on. I'll keep you posted.

Bread - another fantastic find only a few miles from our house! Bread & Co make a wonderful range of artisan breads. If you phone up before 1pm, it will be ready the next morning. The only thing is, they deliver it to their distributors and you have to pick it up from there. Not a problem for us though as one of the local outlets is the best find so far! (details a bit further down). So far we have tested 'Old Hooky' bread, made from a local beer, Roast Onion bread, Granary bread and the Fruit Loaf. All were delicious and we will be putting our weekly order in soon. One downside is the website http://www.breadandco.co.uk/ isn't working at the minute, but I am assured it will be fixed soon.

Other dairy/storecupboard stuff/household cleaners & toiletries - this has to be the find of the year! A small family run shop in Adderbury that has only been open a few months. The owner Chris, knows everything there is to know on organics and the local area. What Chris doesn't know about organic and ethical, is not worth knowing! I enjoy going to the shop, not only to get my supplies but also to pick his brains with whatever it is I am trying to find out about that day. http://www.arujo-organics.com/ You can also order online on their website, but the visiting the shop is so much better. Now I know that most of the stuff in this shop is not produced locally, but it is all ethically sourced from fairtrade organisations and by buying there supports a new local business. This is where the bread is delivered to.

We visited one of the best farmers markets around, but get there early as parking is a nightmare!: http://www.deddington.org.uk/community/farmersmarket.html Next one Feb 24th 07

We have heard that Stratford also has an award winning farmers market, so we shall be visiting there quite soon: http://www.warwickshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/whereandwhen.html First and third Saturdays.

Well, that's about it for now. I have only been to Tesco's twice this year, once was a proper food shop at the beginning of the year and the other was an emergency small shop. I won't feel too bad if I do have to go for the odd thing or another, after all it takes time to get a system sorted.