Going Greener Together
Since the current situation means we’ve had to suspend our Community Fridge and weekly Community Meals, we’ve been looking at ways we can help our community access food in a dignified way. We are especially keen to help people who need support accessing food and those that have increased difficulty during this health crisis.
Using our experience and resources making healthy and nutritious meals, we’ve been piloting a delivery meals service in Kirkcaldy. The pilot has been really successful and we have delivered over 400 meals so far! Community Chef Iain has been busy rustling up all sorts of tasty ready-meals, which we’ve delivered to Kirkcaldy Foodbank, who have had challenges in accessing a consistent food supply, once a week. This has allowed their participants to enjoy ready prepared, home-cooked pasta, curries, mince ‘n’ tatties and more.
We are also supporting individuals, by delivering freshly made meals to their homes. We have had to make a lot of adaptations to make this happen and ensure everyone will be safe while doing this. Now that we have new systems in place some of our volunteers will help out with this project and we can deliver even more food.
With support from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund, which is funding community-led crisis support projects, we are now able to offer our Community Meals to Go project to more people ( in Kirkcaldy, including Dysart). We can provide 2/3 meals a week to people who lack family support and services, the physical ability to prepare and cook food on a regular basis, are on a low income or are not able to leave home.
It’s a ‘contact-free delivery’ in-keeping with social distancing guidance and given with a friendly smile or wave. This is not an emergency service, but we are able to deliver on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The meals are chilled and clearly labelled for allergies, use by dates and so on.
If you, or someone you know, might benefit from this project, please contact us for more information, or make a referral, by emailing communitymeals@greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk.
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These unusual times are putting extra pressure on our mental health. Being cooped up, living in close proximity with others, and without access to many of our usual support mechanisms, we may find that our anxiety and worry is building up. It is important that during this extended lock down to take the time to check in and find ways to make life easier for ourselves.
Many of us are finding that our 1-hour exercise is vital in keeping good mental health and in helping us get through this pandemic. It seems to me that more people are out there running, walking and cycling than ever before. One of my lifelines during my daily exercise is the chance to spend time in wild places. We are very lucky in Kirkcaldy and Fife to have good access to both the wonderful blue of the Forth and the luscious green of woodland, both colours that naturally soothe our minds.
Spending time in nature has been proven to lower blood pressure, decrease stress and anxiety, and boost mood. The physical act of movement releases “happy hormones”; being in the sun will top up your Vitamin D; the peace and quiet will calm your mind, and focusing on your surroundings lets you escape what’s inside your head. Time in nature is so good for you, that in 2018 on Shetland, the doctors began to prescribe time in nature as a treatment for patients.
Getting started
One of the great things about nature is that it is all around us – you can be immersed in it the second you leave your front door. Open you senses – use smell and sound, as well as sight. Take your time, walk like you’ve nowhere to go (which most of us don’t right now!). Notice the bird song, look for movement in the trees and hedges, actually stop and smell the flowers! Why not head to one of Kirkcaldy’s parks? My favourite walk is in the wild section at the top of Beveridge Park.
See if you can pick out the different bird calls and songs. The great thing about nature is that you can enjoy it without knowing a thing about it! Just close your eyes and soak it up. For those looking to learn, this guide is a good starting point to identify common garden or park visitors and if you want to go a bit further, the British Trust for Ornithology has opened its Garden Bird Watch to all for free.
For non-bird nature, there are plenty of identification guides online and even surveys to take part in, for example, blossom, bumblebees, butterfly and trees. By focusing on the nature around you, your mind is free from the stresses of the wider world.
If you are looking for something less taxing, why not give forest bathing a go – no brain power required and you won’t even have to get wet! The practice of shinrin-yoku, literally “forest bath” is very popular amongst Japanese city dwellers. It involves opening the senses in a woodland setting, taking time out to slow down and connect with nature. Studies have shown that such activity could reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol levels and that a chemical released by trees and plants, called phytoncides, was found to boost the immune system. The National Trust guide for beginners starts with something terrifying – switching off our mobile phones! You can find more information on mindfulness in nature on Mind’s webpage and plenty of other ways to connect with nature and the outdoors in their ecotherapy guide.
With your family
Children can benefit from connecting to nature just as much as adults. As well as benefiting children’s physical and mental health, time in nature is thought to have positive impacts on behaviour, learning, social skills and self-esteem.
There is plenty to keep children busy in nature. The National Trusts 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ is a good starting point which may encourage your young ones away from their screens. The Woodland Trust has hundreds of outdoor children’s activities for budding scientists, artists and explorers and the RSPB’s Wild Challenge lets you earn rewards (everyone loves a sticker!) as you complete activities that will encourage wildlife into your garden or local park. Just remember that social distancing and government guidelines mean that you may have to adapt these activities. If you are inspired, the John Muir Award is the obvious next step, but this will definitely have to wait until lock-down is over!
How can we help?
We offer a route planning service for walkers and cyclists in the Kirkcaldy area, just get in touch with susan@greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk. You can download our new Kirkcaldy cycle map that will allow you to travel through the town, including to the more wild spots.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental health there is lots of support out there. Mental health charities SAMH and Mind have a wealth of information on helping yourself and others. If you need to talk to someone, the Samaritans 24 hour helpline is free to call on 116 123.
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We’re helping people and organisations in Kirkcaldy through the current pandemic with the help of the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund. This is part of their emergency support funding to help people and communities respond to the crisis.
The fund has awarded us £241,500. We’ll be distributing more than half of this (£148,000) to a number of local voluntary organisations. These are organisations who need financial help to stay open and deliver vital support services. Organisations receiving funding include: Kirkcaldy Foodbank, The Cottage Family Centre, Kirkcaldy YMCA and Linton Lane Centre.
We’ll use the rest of the funding to contribute to our own running costs, and support our emergency response projects:
The latest in our “How To Make” series from our Community Chef Iain is Tarka Daal and Garam Masala. Iain will take you through the recipes step by step to guide you.
Tarka Daal is a lentil dish lightly spiced and deep flavoured dish that can be eaten simply with bread, accompaniment to a main meal or used as a base for curry sauces or even soups.
Spices
Garam masala- This translated means “Hot” mixture of spices. The term “hot” refers more to the warming flavours given by garam masala than heat from chilli. There is no set recipe for garam masala and there is no problem buying a jar readymade but if you have or can get a mini coffee grinder would be well worth investing because when you start experimenting will spices you will find yourself becoming more creative.
My Basic Garam Masala
Life is too short to weigh out dried spices, so try to judge it, use a spoon as a guide if you prefer but is better to try to use your instinct and smell.
Cumin, fennel and coriander seeds are what I call the background flavours setting the stage for the more bold spices.
These include star anise, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon.
These are what I would say the basic spices are, the advantage of buying whole spices are they can be bought for less, their flavour is locked in until grounded giving a much longer shelf life and you can adjust your blend to a specific dish you are making.
To make
As a guide use equal quantities of cumin, fennel and coriander seeds
Approx half a regular-sized spice jar of each
This is background so doesn’t have to be too accurate
3 Star anise
6 Cardamom pods
20 Black peppercorns
½ Cinnamon stick broken
4 Cloves
All these spices are very strong in flavour so with these try and stick to the quantities.
When you have all your spices ready it is time to roast them. This is a very important stage in the process as it starts to release all the flavours (oils) in the seeds so when you grind them you get the maximum flavour.
Start with a dry frying pan and add all your spices put on a low to medium heat. Gently shake the pan every few minutes, you don’t want to see too much colour on the seeds. If the seeds look like they are colouring too fast then turn down the heat. After about 10 mins you should be able the smell the spices then transfer to a plate and allow to cool.
Tarka Dhal Recipe
Ingredients
2 Onions
½ Bulb of Garlic
2Tbsp Garam Masala
1Tbsp Tomato Purée
200g Red Lentils
Chopped Coriander to serve
Method
Cap and Kay are Greener Kirkcaldy members and gardening volunteers. Here are some lovely stories from their garden.
“THE WALLED GARDEN is off limits for a while but our own garden has plenty of pleasure and suprises for Kay and me. Bigfoot has come to stay and he might just be around for while. He looks out to our garden from a shelf in the conservatory holding a type fern we haven’t identified yet. But it has roots that look like hairy fingers which are busy crawling out of the pot. Shades of a bad science fiction film.”
“That is the story of our garden. If plants are bought, arrive by wind, or are just nameless, the’re welcome. Stay and have a home. A colourful and permanent resident (and my favourite) is the lilac in the back, sumptious and oozing with fragrance. It just grows and grows, and the bigger it is the finer it is. And wildlife itself makes an always suprising impact in this time of isolation.”
Crow stories No 1 – “He or she kept trying, and trying, and finally made it. The crow launched itself from the ground, flapped manicallly, and clawed a perch upside down on my suet feeder. A for effort.”
Crow stories No 2 – “Carol tells of the crow in the Walled Garden who takes his stale bread to the pond, dunks it, leaves it to soak, then retrieves the sodden slice. C is for cool.”
Crow stories No 3 – “Kay was putting away the hose at the door of the potting shed when a low voice said ‘Hello.’ There was no one in sight, but a crow was looking at her from the roof. Now the animals talk to us. It’s time for a walk . . .”
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