Natural spring water is a luxury that few can afford, but I used to use five litres a day. I’d even hand wash my knickers in it. Before you jump to conclusions, I’d like to say that I’m not a diva. For the seven years I lived off-grid on a narrowboat, my drinking water mostly came from a spring that flowed from the hillside into the canal, and I collected it by bicycle every few … Read more
Today marks the start of Plastic Free July – a great campaign to help you refuse single-use plastics! “Plastic Free July® is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?” I’ve gathered a few links for Plastic Free July discounts on plastic-free … Read more
Do you know your CO2 from your N2O? Or your GHGs and CFCs? I am not going to lie: I had no idea what radiative forcing was until very recently. Although I spend my life writing about sustainability and trying to make planet-friendly choices, science isn’t a strong point for me. So, when the opportunity arose to attend a climate science workshop in exchange for a review, I jumped at the chance! The workshop is … Read more
Spring is here! Tiny lambs are leaping, birds are building nests, the blackthorn is in blossom and the wild garlic is ready to pick. It’s still pretty flippin’ cold. But that’s OK. From here until the autumn equinox, days are longer than nights – wooohooo! In a couple of weeks it’s gonna be Easter, and it’s time to get prepared! Here are a few ideas about how to have an eco-friendly Easter. *As usual, any … Read more
Today marks the end of the new Lent: well done to anyone who managed to achieve Dry January and Veganuary during lockdown this year. I have not managed either, although as usual I have eaten a vast amount of tofu, and had very little to drink. Today also marks the start of Waste Free February – a brilliant campaign organised by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. I took part in 2019 and it really has had … Read more
Here’s an easy way to literally reduce your plastic footprint: 100% plastic-free socks! Most socks are made with artificial fibres, meaning they will shed plastic microfibres every time they are worn and washed. Conventionally grown cotton also uses huge amounts of water and relies heavily on pesticides. ‘Cotton rich’ socks usually contain polyamide and elastane too. A lot of ‘eco’ companies use a blend of bamboo and recycled polyamide, which is a step in the … Read more
I’m not going to use the C word. Or the other C word. Or any C word at all! But we all know the festive season is shaping up to be a bit different from usual this year… With shops closed, and socially-distanced Post Offices queues growing longer all the time, I’ve got an idea which might just help: If you want to get a gift that gives the recipient something to look forward … Read more
To give you some indication of how long it’s been since I regularly wore a watch, when my last watch died, I had a pager that I could use to tell the time instead. A pager. Just let that sink in for a moment. Since upgrading to a mobile phone, I’ve used them as a way of keeping track of the time. But last year something changed: I got a smartphone. Instead of checking my … Read more
Lockdown life tested my ethical car-free lifestyle choice to the limit. Other people were zooming off to the seaside for their permitted ‘daily exercise’ but my family hadn’t been beyond a 3 mile radius of our home for over three months. We usually rely on public transport to get around, including the occasional taxi for hard-to-reach places. What if I needed to take my child to a medical appointment? Or one of my parents got … Read more
It seems like forever since we were in a school routine, and it’s hard to believe that we’re going back in a week! Here are a few links to some places where you can find ethical and sustainable school kit. As always, affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. I earn a tiny commission if you click through and buy something. Frugi* have a great selection of colourful water bottles, backpacks, pencilcases and more Chalk … Read more
