Surely there are advantages to buying really well grown local produce. These advantages will become more relevant in the future as the real cost of energy and transport starts to be felt. But for now, the nutritional and taste advantages far outweigh the extra cost. We have several farmers markets here in Melbourne and to be fair, the value varies tremendously. There are always those who seek to capitalize on the idea of meeting the grower, and who charge accordingly. There are others who want to give something to the community that promotes health and a sense of global responsibility in the face of changing conditions. We can be trained, or train ourselves, to do almost anything, including develop new habits of growing and sharing our own food, no matter how big or small our gardens. (Herbs and vedgies grow well in pots too) changing the mindset is the key. Work regards from chilly Oz - Harry and Maribel Williamson

It's also where growing food in local gardens and allotments really starts coming into its own. We dug up most of our lawn 6 months ago and now we're enjoying courgettes, green beans, broad beans, strawberries, raspberries, fresh salads, beetroot, carrots, peas and new potatoes at very low cost.

People also start depending on one another more when times get tougher, which can revitalise communities. It's wonderful how sharing gardening tips, lawn mowing for compost, and fresh vegetables can really get people communicating again.

So, yes, I reckon we can actually become far greener during a recession.