Opt Out of Christmas Excess – Take a DIY Approach

It might be tempting to over-buy at any time, but the temptation can be particularly strong for some around the holidays – especially where it comes to food. While many may buy mince pies, Christmas cakes, cookies and other treats in abundance from the supermarket shelves, those trying to live in a more sustainable wayContinue reading “Opt Out of Christmas Excess – Take a DIY Approach”

This Black Friday, Remember What Your Purchases Really Cost

Black Friday represents the very worst of consumerist culture – the societal systems which encourage people to go out and buy, buy, buy. All the advertisements and gimmicks that companies use to try to coerce people into purchasing their products, or even worse – to make people think that they actually need them, are darkContinue reading “This Black Friday, Remember What Your Purchases Really Cost”

Reduce Food Waste – Make Full Use of Leftovers

I hope that those of my friends in the US celebrating Thanksgiving (or enjoying a meal with family or friends) are enjoying the holiday. But thinking about your celebrations, I was minded to write today about the importance of making full use of leftovers in order to prevent food waste. Food waste is, as manyContinue reading “Reduce Food Waste – Make Full Use of Leftovers”

Important Sustainability No-Nos For New Gardeners

New gardeners should set out on the right foot, and make sure that their gardening practices are as sustainable as possible from the outset. To make sure you are not making one of the common mistakes, here are things you should not do if you want to garden in a sustainable way: Don’t use syntheticContinue reading “Important Sustainability No-Nos For New Gardeners”

Sustainable Living – What Needs To Change as We Return to ‘Normal’?

Today, due to underlying health conditions, I will be receiving my second vaccination. I will be heading out for that shortly. Of course, for most people globally, there will be no return to any form of normal for quite some time to come. I realise even more at times like these how lucky I amContinue reading “Sustainable Living – What Needs To Change as We Return to ‘Normal’?”

Having No Money is Not Necessarily a Barrier to Sustainable Change

When I talk to people about sustainability and green living – money is often the monster lurking in the background. Whether spoken or unspoken, there is often the feeling that sustainability is a ‘luxury’ some people cannot afford. My job is often to make it clear to people that having no money is not necessarilyContinue reading “Having No Money is Not Necessarily a Barrier to Sustainable Change”

Plastic Free Bedroom

I’ve previously written about how to reduce plastic waste and go plastic free in the kitchen, and in the bathroom. Next, let’s take a quick look at how to avoid plastic and reduce waste in another room of your home: the bedroom. In permaculture, we often talk about small, slow solutions. And that is justContinue reading “Plastic Free Bedroom”

Plastic Free Kitchen

Food packaging generally accounts for most of the plastic waste generated in most households, so the kitchen seems like a good place to begin. Reduce Plastic Packaging Reduce packaged food consumption by growing at least some of your own food. Buy unpackaged, local, organic produce wherever possible. Farm shops, wholesalers, local veg. box schemes.  TakeContinue reading “Plastic Free Kitchen”

Sustainability Begins At Home

One of the services I offer is help for individuals to create their personalised sustainability plans. At times when so many of us are stuck at home, it can be difficult to imagine how we can still make a change in the wider world. But sustainability begins at home. Each small, personal change we makeContinue reading “Sustainability Begins At Home”