If children learn to love good food, they can change the way our food economy is organised. Give young people opportunities to grow their own food and visit local food producers, and as adults they will demand better quality food and support local producers.
These are the ideas which permeated this week's Food Programme (BBC Radio 4, Monday). It was an inspirational topic and one which needs attention in this country, as obesity (in children and adults) rises in tandem with the over-reliance on processed, pre-prepared meals and carry-outs from fast food restaurants.
Presenter Sheila Dillon talked about the renewed interest among English schools to have farms and allotments. She spoke to students who look after Dexter cattle and Shetland sheep and make goat's cheese and yoghurt in the farm club at their school. She met younger children who grew tomatoes, raspberries, pumpkins and peas in their school garden.
Contributors to the programme commented on how gardening skills (and cooking skills) are disappearing from our lives, and how there are still barriers to using local producers. Staff at school canteens have memories of peeling mountains of potatoes and podding piles of peas, which the children don't want to eat. Imogen Sharp, head of nutrition policy at the Department of Health in Britain, pointed out that the government there is bringing 80,000 pieces of fruit every day into schools at present with the aim of increasing that figure to four million. Ultimately, it was agreed that children learn better by having real contact with the soil, rather than by learning about the theory of diet and nutrition in class.
I've previously highlighted the dearth of radio programmes for children, so it was with great pleasure that I tuned in to Tall Tales (RT╔ Radio 1, Saturday).
The Tailor and the Jester was the first in a new six-part series of plays adapted for children from the classic collection The Tales of Scheherazade. The narration and pacing of the story was good, and the Oriental music in the background added an exotic dimension. And what I enjoy most about radio plays is that, as the visual component is obviously absent, everyone can invent the look of their characters, costumes and settings. Tape the programmes and young listeners can embellish their own imagined stage on every new listening.
Irish writer Anne Enright and English comedy actor Jan Ravens were Louise Doughty's guests in the first of a new series, A Good Read (BBC Radio 4, Tuesday). Each chose a book which all three then read.
Enright's choice was J.J. Farrell's Troubles (Phoenix, £6.99 in UK), Ravens's was Have the Men Had Enough? by English novelist Margaret Foster (Penguin, £6.99 in UK) and Doughty's was Things Fall Apart by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe (Heinemann, £8.99 in UK).
The advantage of this type of book review programme is of course that you get to hear about more books than you might generally come across, and assess whether you would like to read them or not. The disadvantage is that sometimes you very quickly make this assessment and don't want to know more about the book - either because you don't like the sound of it, or you do and you don't want a good read spoilt by too much knowledge.
That said, the reviewers made incisive remarks about their chosen novels. Enright described J.J. Farrell's novel, about a British soldier meeting up with his fiancΘe in a west of Ireland hotel, as a "grim, nasty and funny read". Ravens was absorbed by the social realism in Foster's novel, about how a suburban London family coped with their ageing mother's senile dementia. And Doughty described Achebe's book, about how white missionaries are the catalyst in the downfall of a native African farmer, as a "subtle portrait of a very complex situation". Enright, Ravens and Doughty were such genuinely enthusiastic readers themselves that it would inspire you to look beyond the bestseller list when next searching for a new book to read.
I felt duped by How to Make Love to your Partner for the 900th Time and Still Enjoy It (BBC Radio 4, Wednesday). The first of a two-part series to explore and celebrate long-term partnerships, the programme didn't at all live up to its tantalising title. Six different couples spoke frankly to presenter Edi Stark of the fear and uncertainty about making a life-long commitment, the reality shock of everyday married life, the irritating qualities in one's partner which prove eternally frustrating and the need for communication, compromise and negotiation. Suzie Hayman was the professional counsellor roped in as the expert commentator. She said that monogamy was what human beings need and want, and we all unconsciously know when we have found the right person.
Sounds easy, doesn't it? But there was ne'er a mention of sex. Maybe that's the crux, and alas, we've got to wait for the second part of the series to find out about that.
And then, finally, I tuned in to Nights at the Turntable (RT╔ Radio 1, Wednesday) as the sky darkened on one of those rare but wonderful warm Irish summer days. D≤nal Broughan featured three seminal albums that have fed listeners' passion for jazz. And they were wonderful. He opened with Blue Rondo α la Turk, Take Five and Kathy's Waltz from the Dave Brubeck Quartet's Time Out (1959) album. Time Out sold more than one million copies which, Broughan told us, was remarkable for a jazz album at that time. Then he played four superb tracks from Coleman Hawkins back to back - Meet Dr Fool, Fine Dinner, He's Funny that Way and Body and Soul. Last up were two from the Maiden Voyage album from Herbie Hancock: the title track and Dolphin Dance. Broughan's commentary was well-informed and interesting.
A very relaxing way to end the day.
Harry Browne is on leave
