Recent Comments

1. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 30 Sep 2005

   We have the Waitrose recycle, heavy duty bags. It is great to hear comments from shop staff when we say we do not need their shops bags. They are all positive. (Some even ask how to get hold of them). Also I have a bag specically for my wheelchair. It is amazing to see what will go in it and we rarely have plastic carrier bags now.

2. Send a Child a Christmas Box - 03 Oct 2005

   Ihave tried to buy from ethically sound companies and choosen some wooden toys and metal toys as opposed to plastic ones.

3. Buy Presents That Make A Difference - 30 Oct 2005

   I have brought from the Leprossy Mission and Traidcraft catalogue and also brought presents and gifts from the Traidcraft shop in Truro. I have also brought present from producers in Cornwall. Shane and I will also be purchasing some substainable gifts too for each other from Christian Aid. We have tried to avoid shopping in large department store and instead concentrated on buying from small independant shops in our local area.

4. Take A Mug To Work - don't use plastic - 30 Oct 2005

   I actually take my mug to college and encourage others to do so too. We have a kettle in our classroom and the tutor now supply fairtraid coffee instead certain other non-ethical brands. Most of the machines also use paper cups rather than plastic ones and we have paper recyle bins for them too.

5. Give Thanks Before A Meal - 07 Nov 2005

   Shane and I say grace at every meal time, whether we or at home or in a resturant. It is nice to be able to bear witness so simple whilst adhearing to our christian needs, in thanking God.

6. Shop Small (Buy local, Switch from the Supermarket) - 07 Nov 2005

   Shane and I tend to use our local shops, fruit veg and fish shop (fish brought into our local harbour), butchers (pigs reared by the owner and free-range in the fields we can see), bakers and post office. We tend to buy milk and butter from a local dairy and local cheeses too. We are lucky that our area, Cornwall, it allows us to do this. We will also try to buy at famers makets or from friend who are farmers. We even buy our pet food from the local pet shop or the garden centre which stocks James Wellbeloved. We do have to occasional have to go to the supermarket to get some food that my cat eats and products that we cannot find it elsewhere. Then we try to use Waitrose or one of the smaller chains. The Good Shopping Guide helps us in the matter of the ethics of a product or shop. We also shop in the Traidcraft shop when we go down to Truro to buy sugar and biscuits.

7. Sharing with students - 07 Nov 2005

   I am a mature student, studying with mature students. Instead of sharing my home, which at the moment is not really needed by my fellow students, I bake cookies and cakes and take them into class. They are made with organic and local products. It then helps people whose money is tight and saves them buying snacks during the day. I know it is only little but being disabled, it takes a lot of effort for me to do.

8. Turn Off The Tap When Brushing Your Teeth - 07 Nov 2005

   I have taken this action and even changed over to organic tooth paste too!

9. Recycle Your Greetings Cards - 16 Nov 2005

   Our local Post Office will collect cards at Christmas for a nominated charity. It is worth asking if you local shop will be a collection point for a short period after christams for a charity. Often the chariy will collect the cards from the shop.

10. Recycle Your Stuff - 16 Nov 2005

    Our Chapel has collection bins proided by our local council. It helps generate money for the church as well as helping the environment. It may be worth asking your local council if you church could raise money in this mannor too.

11. Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 16 Nov 2005

    I have cancelled my HSBC bank account and credit card as has my husband.

12. Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 24 Nov 2005

    We are lucky in Cornwall that at Disability Days and Royal Cornwall show there are energy companys advocting these bulbs and will give them away too. Almost all the bulbs in my home are now energy saving. Thay seem to last forever too!

13. Recycle Your Inkjet Cartridges - 24 Nov 2005

    I tend to send mine to a mental disability charity, which feel often gets left out of mainstream society.

14. Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 03 Jan 2006

    We have now almost changed every bulb to energy bulbs and now save around 10000 watts of energy a week. This saves money and also reduces greenhouse gases too

15. Phone a friend - someone who has sent you a card this year who you don't see often - 03 Jan 2006

    I contacted some friends from where I use to live and from the church I use to attend. I also phone friends in Argentina too.

16. Slow Down, Calm Down (Stick to the speed limit) - 03 Jan 2006

    I rarely drive but am very conscious of my speed and always encourage my husband to so down.

17. Pass On Those Unwanted Gifts - 13 Jan 2006

    I will be giving some of my unwanted gifts form Christmas and other holidays to my church, for bazzars and the like. I do tend to do this but want to make it a focused task for 2006.

18. Become a Fair Trader - in your community or workplace - 13 Jan 2006

    My husband and I are exploring the prospectof becoming a rep for Triadcraft. I will allow us to spread the word of fairtrade and also be able to promote fairtrade products. It will only generate profit for the church. We will have the support of the Traid craft shop in Truro too.

19. Become a Fair Trader - in your community or workplace - 13 Jan 2006

    My husband and I are exploring the prospectof becoming a rep for Triadcraft. I will allow us to spread the word of fairtrade and also be able to promote fairtrade products. It will only generate profit for the church. We will have the support of the Traid craft shop in Truro too.

20. Energy Efficient Cooking - 11 Feb 2006

    I tend to cook like this anyway and I also stem my food together too or if I am reheating rice, I put it over something else that is cooking.

21. DIY vegetables! - 12 Mar 2006

    Being disabled I am going to grow onions, beans, garlic and tomatoes in tubs this year. Ineed motivation and maybe signing up to this task will help! Pleas ask me how I am doing. :)

22. Switch off and unplug appliances and chargers - 12 Mar 2006

    I have the habit of leaving mylaptop to charge overnight. I WILL turn it off before I go to bed or when it is not being used.

23. Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 22 Mar 2006

    I was in Edinburgh staying at The Kings Manor Hotel and was pleased to say that most of the bulbs in the hotel used energy saving bulbs. I was so pleased as you can imagine.

24. Phone a friend - someone who has sent you a card this year who you don't see often - 22 Aug 2006

    I have contacted a friend in Argentina that I haven’t seen for over a year.

25. Start A Generous blog or journal - 22 Aug 2006

    My husband is a local preacher in Cornwall and will often speak about Generous in his sermons to the congegations. He and I are both proud to be part of the group.