This week we hear from Josh who is a member of the FoodFriends scheme run by LESS.
What is decentralised food?
Decentralised food production is balanced and in harmony with the laws of nature, not harmful pesticides. It changes seasonally with weather which varies with the climate, rain, and time of year, allowing for natural crop rotation and balancing the soil’s needs and nutrients. Decentralised food-growing is carried out by members of the community across North Lancashire community, rather than one profitable company and their employees.
Decentralised food can be grown and regrown from seeds, rather than being a genetically modified crop. In both a literal and philosophical sense, decentralised food is a pathway to thriving local communities.
Why am I interested in decentralisation?
Bitcoin! Although decentralised systems existed before Bitcoin, it is the first peer-to-peer electronic cash and store of value. The computers verifying transactions earn Bitcoin for doing so, which can be done in any country, by anyone (permissionless). The Bitcoin computers (miners) are decentralised and permissionless, meaning anyone can send and receive money. The supply of Bitcoin is capped at 21 million, meaning it is resistant to inflation and ensures that it will not be devalued through “printing money”.
I believe that we should have full control over our money and our food, as individuals and as a community. The existing systems do not give us the control we need, and our dependence on food grown and shipped from other countries and the other side of the world places puts us at risk.
Our community
Organic and locally grown food should not be a thing of the past or something unreachable for working-class individuals. We shouldn’t be reliant on food from thousands of miles away that is often picked before it’s ripe and experiences shortages due to health crises, climate issues, and economic fluctuations. I believe we should know our food growers and enjoy the seasonal food that is grown in our hometown.
I have a strong memory as a kid of my mum driving to a farmer’s house where she’d pick up fresh eggs, milk, and potatoes that were still muddy. We should rebuild those relationships with local farmers that have seemed to disappear. Buying and eating locally strengthens our local economy to become more self-sufficient and resilient and benefits the physical health of our community who are being fed fresh food grown down the road – free of pesticides!
The work being done by the Plot is very important. As a FoodFriend, I want to support them so that over time, more projects like this can start up. Hopefully, the people in our community can reconnect with the farmers who grow their food. Let’s take the power back.
You can find out more about the FoodFriends scheme and the local food project it supports here.
