Meet Liz Day, a young and enthusiastic vegetarian new to the scene in Cardiff. Liz is currently a student in Cardiff University and runs her blog The Green Veggie in her spare time.

Her website will be updated with the latest Vegetarian News, Interviews, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews and even Product Reviews.

I’m so pleased to see more and more people supporting the movement of “Meat Free” foods in Cardiff and Liz is clearly another who wants to educate people with new ideas in the kitchen and to raise awareness of deeper issues too.

I’ve asked Liz a few questions about her project below:

What has inspired you to start TheGreenVeggie Blog?

I’ve been vegetarian for 10 years and it’s something I feel really strongly about. I’ve only just moved to Cardiff and wanted to get to know the vegetarian restaurants, farmers’ markets, community projects, etc in the area, so I thought I could write about my experiences and share some ideas along the way.

What are your views on Industrial Farming?

I’m strongly against intensive animal rearing, both due to the animal welfare issues and the implications of air pollution. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, agriculture is responsible for 18% of the total release of greenhouse gases worldwide. I also avoid buying vegetables that have been grown using pesticides and artificial fertilisers. I think people are becoming much more aware of where their food comes from, and find projects such as the National Trust’s interactive online farm fascinating, as this really shows people are taking an interest in how their food is grown.

What do you think is wrong with Supermarkets and how could they do things differently?

I appreciate that supermarkets are a very convenient way to shop, but feel there are many things they could do differently. I’m always upset by how much packaging they use, and by how little of it can be recycled. Apparently packaging now makes up nearly a quarter of household waste and 40% of this ends up in landfill. I also resent the way they will only stock “perfect” products. Who cares if their carrot’s a bit knobbly or if their onions are a bit small?! That’s part of the joy of cooking with “real” food. I think supermarkets should make more of an effort to stock local and seasonal produce and pay farmers a fair price.

Where would you like to see your project in 6 months time?

I’m really hoping that people will get involved with the blog and take part in discussions and dialogues. I’m very happy that readers have already been commenting on some of the posts and hope more people will share their ideas. I’m also hoping the project will lead me to meet some interesting and inspiring people in the local area. I can’t wait to get to know the local veggie community.

Liz was kind enough to donate a recipe from her website to EthicalChef: The Red Dragon Pie.

Thanks Liz