Eco ChurchWhat does harvest mean to you? A distant memory of assembly with hymns at school, with the invitation to donate a tin of something? Or perhaps harvest festival in church, with seasonal produce and flowers stacked before the altar? Perhaps you simply get a sense of well being when you have done the weekly shop and the cupboards are full. Whatever it brings to mind, the seasons are turning, the light is changing and harvest time is beginning.Weather dependant, harvesting is not always easy. There are still many seasonal UK crops that require handpicking and there are farmers across the globe who reap, stack, dry, thresh, grind and store without machinery ... if the harvest is a good one. Rushwick (or Rysc-wic, the farm in the rushes) is lucky to be partly surrounded by an organic farm and the wildlife that this encourages but globally, farming carries a huge footprint. So what can we do?Whether you shop in a supermarket, farmers market or farm shop, British Food Fortnight starts on the 18th September and The 'Love British Food' and 'Meat Free Mondays' websites are full of information including in season fruit and veg lists and recipes.Not everything can be bought locally or in season, so St Thomas' has registered as a Fairtrade Church and will use its tea, coffee and sugar for post-service refreshments. Taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight next year will be new to us. On our page at a Church Near You, we have pinned some resources if you want to read further about the differences we can all make. And of course, you'd be most welcome to attend the Harvest service at St Thomas' on 12th September!A couple of useful links<div>https://www.lovebritishfood.<wbr>co.uk/</div>https://www.mondaycampaigns.<wbr>org/meatless-monday
