Winter Rest for Washing

Without the risk of sounding like a bit of a stinker, one of the things I love about winter is not needing to do my laundry as often. In the summer months clothes get sweatier, sandier and generally dirtier! But when it gets chilly outside, and my body turns to an icicle, I can get away with wearing outfits multiple times before they need to go through the washing machine.

A few months ago I swapped my usual washing powder to soap nuts, and have recently been experimenting with eco balls (which are awesome BTW!) to use less chemicals on my clothes. But it’s not just the toxins on our skins, and in our water, that excessive clothes washing contributes to.

It’s estimated that every year UK washing machines use £800 million of electricity, and 500 billion litres of water, just to keep up with our obsession for cleanliness. That’s a lot of time, money and natural resources to be spending on a few scraps of fabric to hide our nudity! Especially when you consider that demand for water has doubled in the last 30 yrs; and that by 2025, two thirds of the world population will face water shortage. Continue reading Winter Rest for Washing

Lazy Vegan Recipe: Chestnut and Chia Seed Nut Roast

There is a tradition in my house that we always have a roast dinner every Sunday. This tradition, I have to admit, stems from my unnatural love for roast potatoes; in which a Sunday roast is my chance to overindulge in carb heaven.

I have been trying, and mostly failing, to follow my nans amazing nut roast recipe; which is always a hit even with the meat eaters in my family. That was until yesterday, when I cracked jackpot with this chestnut and chia seed recipe. It was a really lovely “meaty2 consistency, and the chunks of cashews made my mouth water.

And whats more, it can even be made in batches and frozen, ready for a lazy dinner another day!! I have kept the quantities fairly loose as I tend to use up whatever bread I have, and work the ingredients around that.

Continue reading Lazy Vegan Recipe: Chestnut and Chia Seed Nut Roast

Your Green Life: Free Range Learning

As the late Whitney Houson once sang “I believe that children are our future….” and I have to say that I agree with her whole heartedly .

It’s taken me nearly 30 years to pay less attention to what advertising tells me I want, and more attention to the bigger picture of what I (and the planet) actually need. But what if everyone learnt these values from an early age? What if learning about animals, growing food, and how we all have a chance to make the world a better place was something kids got to explore in a fun and interactive way?

Well that’s just what Hannah, founder of Free Range Learning, is setting out to do. I first came across her work a couple of years ago when she got involved in a free workshop event I organised in Cardiff (with the help of the awesome Green City Events), and was impressed by her enthusiasm, passion and all round fun approach to inspiring children to live happy, healthy and sustainably!

You can watch the video from that event below:

 

Here’s what Hannah had to say about the work she does, and why she seems to accumulate sacks of empty toilet rolls….

Continue reading Your Green Life: Free Range Learning

Give-a-thing-away-a-day: my advent challenge

Recently one of my close friends, Kate (who works for the awesome neighbourhood sharing organisations, StreetBank) drew my attention to a thought provoking film: My Stuff. The film centres around 26 year old Petri Luukkainen, a man from Finland who decides to put all of his stuff in storage and only take one item back per day, for a year.

The idea struck a chord with Kate, who believes passionately that we don’t need to own as much “stuff” if we simply opened our homes (and hearts) to others and shared the resources we already have. For Luukkainen, by shedding himself of his belongings, he was able to focus on the things that really mattered. Continue reading Give-a-thing-away-a-day: my advent challenge

DIY Lavender & Patchouli Salt Scrub

Over the last few months, I have been successfully weaning myself off unnecessary toiletries. Apart from my plastic free lush essentials, toothpaste and a bar of natural soap; I have been treating my body to a relatively product free life. But last weekend I was feeling a little achy, and my skin was starting to look as grey as the cloud outside, so I decided to knock up a quick salt scrub to rejuvenate and relax.

You could mix up the ingredients to match your favourite scents, but I just love the smell of patchouli and the lavender compliments it really well. Continue reading DIY Lavender & Patchouli Salt Scrub

Your Green Life: Lucy Bee

Over the last few weeks – whilst hearing what green living means to a whole variety of people – I have noticed a recurring theme. Whilst inspiration for living more sustainably ranges from  animal ethics, environmental concern and existing family values; everyone seems to agree there are real health and well being benefits too. 

Many believe that eating fresh, seasonal and organic food is not only supporting good farming practices; but also keeps our bodies sustainable too.  And often these first steps of thinking about what you buy and consume in the food aisle, starts to influence other shopping habits too. 

This motivation for a healthier, happier body is something this weeks interviewee – the founder of Lucy Be Coconut Oil – is very passionate about, and she’s an aspiring example of how eating fresh, organic food can be one of the best medicines around! Continue reading Your Green Life: Lucy Bee

Tree Huggers Heaven: St Nectans Glen

It’s no surprise that – as a vegan who has a passion for sustainability, and a laid-back attitude to my appearance – I would sometimes be affectionately referred to as a tree hugger. And despite the connotations associated with that term, I think I would have to agree. I really do love trees!!

I grew up in a small market town in Devon, and was lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful countryside and enchanted woodland. My favourite thing to do growing up was to run through the woodland with my best friend (my adventurous and loyal dog, Roxy) and pretend that nothing else existed in the world other than the beautiful tall trees towering over me. I saw the woods as a place to explore nature, enjoy some fresh air and lose myself.

Continue reading Tree Huggers Heaven: St Nectans Glen

Easy green living for the passionate but lazy!

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