Good Things

MrsM used to be a mainstay of a local small business that bought organic fruit and vegetables from a number of local producers, co-operatives and wholesalers, then split the produce into individually-tailored, mixed boxes for home delivery. It was a small scale sellotape-and-string operation, with some rickety vehicles, creaking home-made software and part-time staff who supplied a lot of goodwill and dry humour. It wasn't a non-profit - the owner relied on it as their only income source - but the wages were such that people didn't stay long unless they had some commitment to the 'cause'

'Riverford Organics' was and is a much larger business doing much the same thing on a national scale. They were spoken of in Mrs M's circles with a slightly curled lip and raised eyebrow - with scepticism that something so large and commercially successful could be truly 'organic'. Guy Singh-Watson, the owner, was a near-contemporary of mine on the same university course. I didn't know him, but I have friends who did, so he's always been on my radar

Guy has turned himself into something of a media personality, pundit and iconoclast in recent years - speaking some hard home truths back to the farming industry he is part of and governments of all stripes. If you have not read the interview with him in today's paper, I think it contains a great deal of sense about UK agricultural and food policy. There is nothing he says here that I disagree with - except that I have never tasted cardoons, wouldn't eat anchovies and prefer food without garlic! 

The good old National Trust provides access to open land and sweeping views of the Peak District, well-maintained paths suitable for children's buggies, a car park and a café for (rhubarb ripple!) ice cream. Small wonder that it is far from a wilderness experience on a warm bank holiday Sunday. It is tame and risk-free but, with two one-year-olds and limited time, it fulfills a need. And take a second to look at the range of textures, light, near and distant interest in this hastily grabbed snap. I'm pleased it is there