Category Archives: Green Living

General ramblings, Green Living

A Buddhist (and Axl Rose) Perspective on Attachment

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I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in saying that the beginning of any adventure is generally filled with excitement, intrigue and enthusiasm. Whether it’s a new job, relationship or home – or simply a different way of cooking potatoes – you really can’t beat that honeymoon period of trying something new and sharing what you learn along the way. The uneasy, yet hopeful journey of a road less travelled (at least by you…) is the best part of any new venture, along with the positive intentions and habit changes we all insist will follow!

But as the wise and beautiful Axl Rose once sang: “nothin’ lasts forever, even cold November rain”! And oh how wise and reflective that rock God is! Now, I’m pretty sure these lyrics were intended to provide a positive encouragement to an otherwise heart-breaking situation, but I can’t help but relate these words to the inevitable destination for most things in life. Situations begin and end. We are born and we die. It rains and then it stops (if we’re lucky). Life goes on in a circular of starts and finishes, in which no one factor is truly the creator of either state. To quote a slightly gentler but none the less emotional Elton classic: “It’s the circle of life, and it moves us all”. Continue reading A Buddhist (and Axl Rose) Perspective on Attachment →

Events, Green Home, Green ideas, Green Living, Green news, Nature, Recipes, Sustainability

Green Activity Ideas for Earth Hour

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Tonight I’m really looking forward to my first WWF Earth Hour experience. This year, the global annual event will see hundreds of millions of people switch off their lights, for one hour, to demonstrate their love of our wonderful planet. I love the idea that for just a short amount of time, millions across the globe are partaking in something so simple but symbolic; in a bid to raise awareness for environmental and conservation issues.

So between 8.30 and 9.30pm, I’ll be switching off all my lights, TV and music; and showing my love to the Earth!

But an hour with no electricity can actually be very long and boring if you’re not prepared, so I thought I’d share some of my green ideas for entertaining yourself during Earth Hour: Continue reading Green Activity Ideas for Earth Hour →

General ramblings, Green Home, Green ideas, Green Living, Green news, Reviews, Sustainability, War on waste

Tiny Green Living

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Earlier this month I made a step to downsize my outgoings, and belongings, by moving into a small but cosy studio apartment. I spent hours in the lead up to the move sorting through my stuff; posting onto Streetbank, donating to charity shops and recycling where they had completely given up the goat. It was surprisingly cleansing to get rid of so much, even the things I had kept onto for over 10 years. But surprise, surprise, when I moved into my new studio flat – which is literally a room with a bathroom attached – I realised that my many attempts of de-cluttering was simply not enough. I still have far too much stuff! Continue reading Tiny Green Living →

Green food, Green Home, Green Living, Interviews, War on waste

Your Green Life: Zero Waste Chef

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Ok, so first things first: a massive apology for how embarrassingly late this interview has come to you lovely people. About 3 months to be exact! But they say you leave the best to last, and I have to say this is a gem of a green life right here! 

Fellow blogger and my ultimate cooking inspiration, Zero Waste Chef, makes living waste free and cooking from scratch seem easier than finishing off a cool glass of white wine on a hot summers day! From buying fresh, local and seasonal; to using up every last morsel of food. Being the lazy old fool I am, I tend to watch with amazement but rarely give her recipes a go; though her ideas and food knowledge never cease to amaze me. 

Alongside her blog, Anne-Marie also hosts regular webinars and workshops to help others learn the skills of waste free cooking where she lives in California (dream home BTW!). In fact, as I will be finishing off my backpacking travels in San Francisco next year; I’m very much hoping I can catch one of these and learn a thing or two myself! 

Continue reading Your Green Life: Zero Waste Chef →

Green food, Green Living, War on waste, What to buy, Where to shop

Day 5 of Local for Lent: The Natural Store

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I’m now five days into my attempt to avoid supermarkets for lent, and so far so (almost) good. I had a little hick up late on Friday night when I needed to get a few bits and all the shops in my village were shut apart from a large supermarket chain. So I must admit I did cheat a little, but compromised and bought two things that couldn’t wait till the morning when the local shops opened again. Note to self: be better prepared next time!!

So yesterday, whilst enjoying a day out in Falmouth, I popped into my favorite Cornish chain, The Natural Store, to stock up on some bits and bobs (and indulge in a few non essential treats!) Alongside the Falmouth branch there is one in Helston and nearer to me in St Austell, but Falmouth is much bigger and is in fact slit into two stores; one for food stuff and one for home and body.

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Continue reading Day 5 of Local for Lent: The Natural Store →

Green food, Green Living, What to buy, Where to shop, Zero Waste Week

Giving up supermarkets for Lent

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Coffee, chocolate and wine…the many pleasures I have tried to give up for lent. Unsuccessfully of course. But why is it that giving something up always sounds like a depressing way to deprive yourself of something you like? What if we switched it, and gave up things we couldn’t give two hoots about?

Well, that’s exactly what I’m planning to do this time around. Instead of giving up something for lent that becomes a countdown to the moment it meets my lips again, I’m giving up something I have been trying to do for a while: Supermarkets. Not like I have anything against the big boys, they offer incredible vale on tinned tomatoes and sacks of rice; but when you live somewhere with such a thriving local foody culture, it seems mad not to tap in to some good old Cornish produce. There are markets and farm shops galore around here, and we happen to have one of the most delicious bakeries where I work at the Eden Project.

In fact, even our local independent healthfood shop sells everything I need for my vegan diet; from nuts, seeds and flour, to soy milk, tempeh and (most importantly) dairy-free ice cream!

My biggest worry though, will be reigning in my budget so I can keep on track with my recent realisation that my travelling savings has gone a little bottoms up. But buying in bulk, cooking smart and eating for my height (instead of my greed) will certainly help.

So what do you think? Fancy challenging yourself to live supermarket free for lent? I can guarantee it will be rewarding to switch those pesky trolleys and grumpy checkout ladies, for local producers doing their thing in your community. Plus, it’s much nicer proposition that giving up something you actually like, surely?!

Keep up with me, and some of my wonderful green blogging freinds, on Twitter to see how we get on:   

Green ideas, Green Living, Reviews, Sustainability, What to buy

Book Review: Green Moxie’s Guide to Sustainable Living

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This weekend, I’m a bit of a kid in a (vegan) candy shop. I’ve managed to get my hands on one of the most exciting green books of the year: Green Moxie’s Guide to Sustainable living, and I’ve been dying to share my thought with you all!

I’ve been a massive fan of Toronto based Nikki Fotheringham and her website Green Moxie ever since I began A Lazy Girl Goes Green last year, and have be fortunate enough to do a few blog swaps with the sustainability legend. What struck me from the outset was how honest, funny and down to earth Nikki was with her approach to sustainability. Though she specialises in environmentally-friendly building technologies and renewable energy, her cheeky and stylish approach to green living makes it a more accessible, and in fact desirable, way to live.  Continue reading Book Review: Green Moxie’s Guide to Sustainable Living →

Green Living, Green news, Interviews, Sustainability

Your Green Life: Elsie Bryant (Development Truths)

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I’m sure I have said before that sustainability is not just about recycling, organic food and solar panels. It’s also about all of us wonderful human beings, and how we treat each other and the world around us. I choose to be an optimist when it comes to the intentions of others, and believe that deep down we all want the best for the world; and will do anything in our power to make it fair, safe and enjoyable for everyone in it. But as we all know, information spins around so freely these days, conflict and confusion can happen; and we are often unsure what to believe when it comes to “making a difference”.

Well, let me introduce a very inspiring young lady, who happens to be one of my nearest and dearest friends: Miss Elsie Bryant! Having worked in many areas of sustainability – from Start UK and UK Green Building Council, to  awesome events such as Bristol’s Big Green Week – Elsie has worked her communications & campaigning magic across the UK green world. But her true passion lies in people; and her interest in international develop has lead to her fabulous work as an inspiring Humanitarian and environmental entrepreneur. Her personal blog, Development Truths, is an honest and frank look at the world of international development; which seeks to challenge, but not judge, our perceptions of the world around us.

And from a personal, extremely biased perspective, I simply love this chick!!

Continue reading Your Green Life: Elsie Bryant (Development Truths) →