Cyprus and globalisation of food

Food systems worldwide have changed as a result of the increasing industrialisation in agriculture and as a result of consolidation in the food chain with large multi-national companies now owning the production, processing and distribution of most food. Huge advertising budgets and the viral spread of fast foods have caused a shift in diets and food cultures. This development has increased access to foods (especially imported ones) in many parts of the world. But the resulting ecological, socio-economic and cultural changes are at a cost to human health and communities.  Along with the internationalisation of food systems, has been the rapid demise of environmentally-sound small-scale agriculture, family farm enterprises, traditional food cultures and diets. This trend has had a severe impact on community welfare and on the sustainability of food systems. Many features of those traditional systems of food production, distribution and consumption are now recognized as key for the promotion of healthy, sustainable communities. 

Cyprus, is a small country and for much of it's history it's people were self sufficient. Primarily an agrarian society made up of mostly small villages which had strong family and community ties. My grandparents generation lived off the land growing and rearing their own food, spinning their own clothes and using their produce to barter for goods and services needed. Their diet was based heavily on olive oil, olives, vegetables, fruit, unrefined cereals and foraged wild food. Consumption of meat and dairy products was minimal and food was seasonal. This Cypriot Mediterranean diet resulted in good health and longevity and scientific studies have shown that this traditional diet was nutritionally very balanced and met the bodies needs. 


The changes in recent decades has undermined this healthy diet and health problems, associated with a diet high in saturated fats, sugars and low in fruit and vegetables, are on the increase. The globalisation of food has undermined Cypriot agricultural traditions. Farms were historically small and farming methods largely organic and sustainable. Small fields supported very old olive groves, grape vines and carob trees which created an environment for wildlife. Changes towards industrialisation of farming methods and the widespread use of pesticides and other chemicals has displaced wildlife and has led to a widely reported demise in the bird population.


Speak to the older generation in any village and they will tell you that although food is now plentiful and easier to obtain that they feel the loss of a traditional way of life and the community connections linked to food production, preparation and sharing. 


Industrialisation of farming methods, globalisation of food production and distribution were only possible with cheap oil. With depleting oil stocks and ever increasing costs I wonder whether we will see a gradual return to traditional and healthier farming methods. 

Gardening in Cyprus - Tasks for March

March is a spring like month in Cyprus and although temperatures can fall to as  low as 5c at night - day time temperatures can climb to 20c plus with an average of 7 hours of sunshine a day. March weather can be unpredictable but much needs to be done in the garden and it's not too hot to work. Fruit trees are in blossom, especially almonds which can be seen everywhere, and spring bulbs are flowering. March is sometimes referred to as the yellow month in Cyprus as wild yellow flowers can be seen growing all over the island. We have been fortunate with rain this winter and the soil is in good shape to start sowing. The following jobs should keep you busy throughout March and help you top up your vitamin D levels.

1.   Make and plant cuttings from geraniums, rosemary and sage 

2.   Start a planned program of organic spraying of fruit trees coming into bud

3.   Sow carrots

4.   Start cucumbers in a propagator

5.   Sow climbing french, dwarf french, string, haricot and runner beans

6.   Don't have enough or want a later crop sow tomatoes in a propagator

7.   Sow molohiya 

8.   Plant out previously germinated marrows, squashes etc

9.   Plant out spinach

10. A good month to plant out grape vines

11. Mid-month plant potatoes

12  Sow summer purslane a local favourite

13. Start majoram and chicory from seed indoors

14. Plant out lavender or rosemary plants

15. Plant out sweetcorn plants and start more in propagator for a later crop

16. Plant out tomato plants

17. Plant out kolokasi tubers

18. Sow chive seeds and or divide established clumps

19. Sow mid-month spring onions, beetroot and mustard greens, pak choi, rocket and salad leaves

20. Mulch goji berries with well rotted manure

21. Plant out egg plants, watermelons, melons and sweet potato during the third week

22. Plant out chrysanthemums

23. Prune grapefruit, persimmon, pomegranate, pear, citrus, almonds, apricot, nectarine and peach

24. Mulch apples, passion fruit and mulberries to the trees spread but keep away from the trunk

25. Sow lettuce plants out and start more seedlings for a continual crop

26. Towards the end of the month plant out pepper plants

27. Start more egg plants in the propagator for a later crop

28. Sow soya beans 

29. Sow coriander

30. Plant out comfrey, fennel, lemon balm, peppermint, sage, dill, oregano, borage etc

31. Alternatively start herbs from seed
32. Try something new - consider growing from seed or planting liquorice (glycyrrhiza glabra) from which the sweet root, which is sweeter than sugar, is extracted and processed. The plant is native to Southern Europe and is a member of the legume family. It is a herbaceous perennial and can grow to one metre in height with long purplish flowers. Best grown in a deep, fertile and well drained soil. The root is harvested three years after planting during the autumn.


Happy gardening and remember it's safer to grow your own. For further advice  go to cyprusgardener.co.uk 

Gardening in Cyprus - Tasks for February

The temperatures in February ranges from around 5c to 16c, the month averages around 10 rainy days. and frosts can occur at anytime during the month. There are lots of jobs to get on with which will keep you warm during February. The following can all be done during the month.  1.  Plant out Jerusalem Artichokes at 15cm deep and 40cm apart. 2.  Sow peppers in a propagator 3.  Sow parsnips 4.  Start shooting sweet potatoes 5.  Tomatoes can be started in a propagator 6.  Flax (linseed) and sage can be started in a propagator 7.  Sweetcorn can be started in mid-February in a propagator 8.  Chrysantheums can be started in a propagator 9.  Spinach can be sown  10.Sow aniseed, chamomile, chicory, chives in your herb patch 11. Sow directly marigolds and nasturniums 12. Egg plants can be started in a propagator mid-month 13. Marrow/squash/pumpkin can be started in a propagator mid-month 14. Sow directly into a prepared bed spring onions, beetroot, salad leaves, radish 15. Sow oregano, basil and tumeric in a propagator 16. Plant out comfrey offsets 17. Start chitting potatoes for planting in March 18. Plant out lettuce started in propagator in January and sow more in a  propagator 19. At the end of the month sow directly spring onions into a pre-prepared bed 20. Prune Olives at any time during the month Happy gardening - remember it's safer to grow your own. For further advice go to cyprusgardener.co.uk

Which fruits and vegetables contain highest pesticide residues?

One of the primary reasons we started growing our own vegetables, herbs and fruit, over twenty years ago in the UK, was the worry over what we were feeding our young family.The over use of  pesticides which are toxic chemicals mainly used to kill weeds, insects or fungal growth leave residues in most of the food we consume. These toxic chemicals can harm our health, wildlife and the environment. Every year agricultural workers are accidentally poisoned or after constant exposure to these harmful chemicals many suffer from long term health problems such as cancers. After researching the control of pesticides, I found that the government tests thousands of foods a year for pesticide residues. These results are published by the Pesticide Residues Committee quarterly. 


These reports show that between a third and half of all fruit and vegetables sampled contain detectable traces of pesticide residues and somewhere between 3% and 4% have residues over the legal limit. Residues get into the produce when overused on crops or when crops after harvested too soon after pesticide usage but can even be detected if used according to the pesticide manufactures instructions.


A few thousand tests are a very tiny percentage of the fruit and vegetables consumed and can only provide an indication of which produce are more likely to contain residues. A high dose of chemical residues may cause a short term problem such as a stomach ache but I am more worried about the long term damage caused by small amounts of a chemical cocktail. Although the manufactures tell us that individually these chemicals are safe in minute doses, it is the damage caused by a lifetime of exposure to a cocktail of chemicals which has never been tested.

The amount of pesticides applied to crops is high and one crop may be treated with several different chemicals all leaving residues. For example, a lettuce may be treated up to five times and strawberries about twelve times.  


So it is wise to grow as much of your own food as you can. Or alternatively buy organic fruit and vegetables. If using conventionally grown crops - thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables and scrub root vegetables, discard the outer leaves of leafy crops, don't use the peel or zest for cooking and for small children peel all fruit.

If you can only afford limited organic produce or limited space to grow then concentrate on the following which have consistently been found to contain the highest pesticide residues.

Apples, strawberries, grapes, peaches, celery, peppers, spinach, nectarine, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and potatoes. 

The Lemon

We are fortunate to have friends in the village who are happy to provide us with a bag of lemons whenever we want them. The lemon is a much undervalued fruit and is much more than just for lemon curd or lemonade, it has very many health benefits and uses. We planted a young tree about a year ago and it will probably be another few years before we can have our own supply but at least we can rely on our friends in the meantime.

Lemons are vitamin and mineral rich, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-rheumatic, anti-viral and act as a diuretic.

Lemon juice can be diluted in water and used as a gargle for sore throats. Diluted in a little olive oil to relieve insect stings. Mixed with honey to treat colds and flu's. Rub around your teeth to remove plaque.

Lemons are also useful in the kitchen. Add lemon juice to stop the smell of cabbage and greens spreading. To crisp up limp lettuce, place the lettuce in a bowl of cold water with added lemon juice.

We have recently been making a regular batch of lemon curd. The curd, as it contains eggs, has to be refrigerated and used within 2-3 weeks, although this has not proved a problem as it tastes delicious. The recipe is available at http://sites.google.com/site/cyprusgardener/home/preserving-and-storing-produce/preserve-recipes if you would like to try it for yourself.

The lemon is useful in so many ways for making home made cleaning products, home made beauty treatments, a multitude of recipes and for use in home remedies.

Gardening in Cyprus - Tasks for January

January still provides warm days of between 15-18c but colder evenings and hopefully some more welcome rain. January though is a good time to get vital gardening jobs done and work off the excess Christmas kilos. The following jobs can be done in January

1. Olive, apple, almond, plum, fig and citrus trees may need heavy remedial prunings. Younger ones and all other fruit trees will require annual pruning to stimulate flowers and fruit this year.
2. Prepare raised beds or your vegetable plot for sowing/planting up from March onwards.
3. Hedges can be trimmed as part of the winter cutback.
4. Compost can be turned and chopped pruning's and weeds added. Last years fully composted heap can now be worked into vegetable plots or used for mulching shrubs and trees.
5. Branches cut from trees will need cutting, stacking and drying ready for burning next winter in the wood stove.
6. Continue cropping citrus and dry, make marmalades, jellies or dry to preserve
7. Sow salads, pak choi, beetroot, carrots and parsley
8. Start sowing tomatoes and okra in the propagator.
9. With more and more chemical gardening products being banned consider organic altenatives
10. Plan, plan and plan again. There is no reason why you should not be able to enjoy something fresh from your garden 365 days of the year

A simple, frugal and self sufficient lifestyle - why?

We moved to Cyprus in October 2009 with the aim of growing most of our own food. We have a large garden and have established twenty-two deep beds for vegetables, a herb garden and a mini-orchard where we have planted 44 fruit and nut trees.

We initially started the Cyprus Gardener website to provide information on growing organic food but have gradually come to realise that food is only part of living a sustainable lifestyle and this blog is an opportunity not only talk about growing our own food but other sustainability issues. 

There is a growing awareness that our materialistic lifestyles, in a world with depleting resources, are not sustainable over the long term. Especially in a world where one in four of the worlds population still live in extreme poverty. We need to consider living simpler and more sustainable lifestyles to meet our everyday needs but at the same time not compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy a life without scarcity. A simpler lifestyle does not mean we need to go without but we do need to review lifestyles which are generally based on over consumption and materialistic values. As Gandhi said, "The rich must live more simply so that the poor may simply live".

Growing some of your own food organically is a good start to a sustainable lifestyle which is open to us all. And reduces our over reliance on the large food multinationals which are dependant on depleting oil for growing and transporting food thousands of miles around the world. Growing your own food without relying on artificial fertilisers and chemicals also protects the soil on which we all depend and supports biodiversity.

There is growing evidence, obviously denied or rejected by the food industry, that organic foods are higher in nutrients and vitamins and consequently a healthier choice. Feeding ourselves with food which is chemically and GM free has to be your first step towards a sustainable lifestyle. Everybody, even with very little space using containers or pots, can grow some of their own food organically or if not support, by using their purchasing choices, those who do. With food scare stories almost daily such as mass food poisoning, hormones in milk, mad cow disease and cloned meat its no wonder more and more people are realising that growing their own food is the only safe method of producing nutritious food. 

This blog will hopefully offer suggestions on what you can do to live a more sustainable, simpler and frugal lifestyle.

I honestly believe that there is a growing shift in attitudes to food, and other sustainable lifestyle choices, as we gradually return to enjoying our food rather than treating it as another factory commodity where our food is produced as cheaply as possible.

Small steps do matter so join the movement.