Sorry for disappearing for a while. The reason arrived on January 19th, my baby daughter - an even bigger incentive to try and find a way for the borough to become sustainable.

The council has just consulted on its draft climate change strategy and one startling omission I noticed was that it didn't mention Food.

Our consumption of food contributes more to our greenhouse gas emissions than any other human related activity. From the manufacture of fertilisers and pesticides through the mechanisation of agriculture, the greenhouse gas emissions of the animals we eat, distribution, packaging, supermarkets and other shops, car journeys to and from shops and the waste resulting from the food we throw away. Helping local residents and organisations source locally produced organic food will contribute significantly to reducing the borough's carbon emissions.

Merton has 18 allotment sites which provide a unique outdoor leisure activity for residents living in the urban environment. A farmers market has been running in Wimbledon Park since May 2000. Located in a school playground, this market is very popular with the local community and is centrally situated in Wimbledon, serving people who live in both Wimbledon village and Wimbledon town (An additional market in Raynes Park has been planned for some time), and residents are able to access commercial organic box schemes run by national companies who supply organic vegetables from UK farmers directly to the consumers' doors.

The Western Road Allotment Site is a good example where local residents are working in partnership with the council to make unused allotment sites available to individuals, schools and community groups. Community food growing initiatives introduce residents of all ages to food growing as a fun and healthy pastime which has many positive benefits including reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with food.

I believe that the council needs to work with community groups and residents to achieve 100% use of all of the borough's allotment sites. It should encourage residents to grow organic food in gardens, roofs and balconies and permit residents to grow food in unused green areas (such as verges). It should assist residents and community groups to set up and run community supported agriculture projects. The council should be planting fruit trees in all green spaces in the borough and develop a system of harvesting by and for the local community.

There should be much more promotion of the health benefits of a low meat/dairy diet as part of a healthy diet to reduce obesity, diet related illnesses and greenhouse gas emissions (a vegan who drives an average sized car emits a tonne less carbon each year than a meat eater who doesn't drive).

Residents should be composting at home and the council should collect biodegradable waste from those unable to compost for use in community composting schemes.

But while you're waiting for the council why not eat less meat/dairy as part of a healthy balanced organic diet, grow your own fruit and vegetables or buy organic vegetables from a local farmers market or box delivery scheme and start composting at home - you'll be surprised how much fun it is.