Horizons

Why buying local is a great Christmas gift:Buying as much local food as possible when you do your big Christmas food shop next week has multiple benefits: the food is more likely to be fresh; will bring income to local growers and food producers; and will reduce transportation requirements and so the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere. Local food guides are popping up around the country.

One of the latest is in the Rathfarnham-Dundrum area of Dublin. Initiated by Rathfarnham Parish Eco Group, it has a comprehensive list of shops, farmer’s markets and home-delivery services. The group hopes its guide – Google “local food south Dublin Facebook” – will spawn other local-food pages.

How to send your old PC to an African school

Have you an old computer lying around in your attic? If so, you could donate it to Camara, an Irish charity that sends computers to Africa. You can also buy a Christmas Gift of Learning for €10, which will track a computer’s journey to a school there. Camara promises that each computer will have its hard drive wiped to US military standards. The machines are checked to ensure they meet minimum school requirements, then reconditioned and loaded with Irish educational software before shipping. camara.ie.

Don’t forget to keep feeding garden birds

Birdwatch Ireland is encouraging people to feed the birds during the cold weather. Many birds, particularly blackbirds and thrushes, are unable to dig for worms when the ground freezes, and most berries have already been eaten from the bushes. The organisation suggests putting out cut fresh or dried fruit (or whole apples speared on branches), bird seed, peanuts or sunflower seeds. Also, small tubs of water are essential for these garden birds, which stay here throughout the winter. Less common species, such as siskins and redpolls, are competing with blue tits, dunnocks, chaffinches and robins this winter, so the pressure on food is greater than ever. birdwatchireland.ie.

ECOWEB

goodfoodireland.ie

It’s a perfect time to check out this website, which offers the best of local food throughout Ireland, from producers to shops, farmer’s markets and restaurants.