Trevor Sargent, Green Party spokesman on justice, agriculture and the Gaeltacht
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
Yes, I try to be conscious of it. I love gardening, so I make sure what I eat is fresh or comes from my own garden. I grow cabbage, broccoli, kale and mange tout. I planted garlic yesterday. I have herbs, berries and an apple tree from which I make and freeze juice for the year.
How often do you exercise?
I have a brisk walk to the train station every day on my way to the Dáil. If I have to go to events in the Naul or Skerries, I cycle. I have a fold-up bike, so if I have to go to an event in Swords,
I get the train to Malahide and then cycle the rest of the way.
Do you get your five a day?
As a former minister of state for food and agriculture, I got into the habit of watching my diet, so I walk the walk. I’d eat an orange in the morning and have porridge with nuts, then I’d make a sandwich with salads from my own garden to take to the Dáil. A home garden is invaluable – the flavour and the colour is incomparable.
Do you worry?
I worry about the future, how we manage our resources and our bequest to the next generation. I have a Christian faith and I find prayer therapeutic – a problem shared is a problem halved.
What do you do to relax?
Gardening and cooking – putting your hands into the soil is grounding in every sense. Digging up beetroot, cooking and pickling it – bottling the sunshine from the garden for the winter is very satisfying. I also enjoy writing my blog, trevorskitchengarden.ie.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
The long hours. The Dáil is organised around those who travel from the country, so there can be late nights, particularly if there are also evening constituency meetings. Eight hours’ sleep would be a good night, but it’s often just six.
In conversation with
Joanne Hunt
