Generous Member Profile: Karin McDonald

Recent Comments

Slow Down, Calm Down (Stick to the speed limit) - 21 Aug 2005

Having signed up to this on the previous YoLG website I found it did help me remember to stick to the speed limit when my mind starts to wander and my foot rests too heavily on the accelorator, but I generally did try to stick to the speed limit anyway. It infuriates my son, but you never know when a child could run out in front of you in a built up area and I would hate even to kill a rabbit when I was in the countryside.
Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy - 21 Aug 2005

We went on a tour of a hydro-electric power station while in Scotland, which was very interesting, and I like the idea of green energy, however, after discussing it with hubby I’m wondering how the so-called green tarif works.

As far as we can gather all “green” electricity currently being made is already in the system so opting for a green tarif does not increase the amount of “green” electricity available, so I am wondering what the benefit of the green tarif actually is. Can anyone please explain?
Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy - 22 Aug 2005

Yes, I’m hoping we’ll both get the chance to talk to him. I hope he’ll have some good answers, because hubby is bound to have some good questions.
Have A Fairly Traded, Ethically Sourced, Especially Tasty Dinner - 22 Aug 2005

It will be time to make our fairly traded ethical Christmas puddings soon! :0)
Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 22 Aug 2005

I’ve started a collection of non-plastic shopping bags since I undertook to do this. I already had a few cloth ones from time spent in Germany and apart from those sent unsolicited with Bishopston trading orders I have added one Fair Trade bag, one with the Traidcraft logo, one from Out of this World in Beeston, Nottingham and an extra sturdy one from the Iona Community shop. I forgot to mention the jute (or hessian) bag I got from One World and the shoulder bag I bought in the Christian Aid tent at Greenbelt over the last two years.

To the jute Fair Trade bag I ordered from Traidcraft last year, which is great to keep a collection of bags in the car boot ready for supermarket shopping trips, I have now added one slightly smaller one advertising local farmers’ markets (helps me to remember when they are, too) and one even smaller one from the visitor centre in Kilmartin, site of various prehistoric cairns and stone circles, in Scotland.

My manager at work expressed an interest in the growing collection the other day, but it would probably be best if I took a break from acquiring any more for the time being. There is a limit to how many bags anyone person can have a use for, after all.
Buy A Copy of Change the World for a Fiver - 22 Aug 2005

I bought a few copies of this for Christmas presents and also gave one to the church for the foyer, and one to the staff room. It proved to be a source of merriment both with my mum and at housegroup.
Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 31 Aug 2005

We went shopping for school uniform the Wednesday before Greenbelt and it was pouring with rain, so I decided not to take any bags and rely on waterproof plastic bags from the shops for bigger items – small ones could go in with other things.

I could have taken a strong supermarket plastic bag if I’d thought.

Sometimes I want thin supermarket bags as bin liners and also for when I’m selling Traidcraft in case I don’t have enough Traidcraft bags – a shame they don’t do the brown paper ones anymore.

We also need to realise it takes time and effort to get into a new habit. Wanting to change is a big achievement, making the change some of the time is another big achievement.

I was heartened by a quote from Brother Roger, who apparently said we need to allow 7 years to get rid of all non-essential items from our lives. I should think this is true for any major change in habits such as the YoLG is proposing.

Maybe we need a new title, “Seven years to a more generous life”! ;0)

I’m sure a lot of us can take heart from what we’ve achieved in one year if we take that as our motto/goal. :0)
Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy - 31 Aug 2005

I managed to hear what Phil had to say on Sunday afternoon and was interested in what he said about the “green” side of his business and the idea of buying part of the carbon emmissions quota. The explanation of why he felt there was a reason for a fairer energy company was interesting, too as he went into a fair bit of detail about how the system usually works for those who are on a low income.

We didn’t chat to him as hubby didn’t stay around and I don’t really need much convincing. I picked up the literature with the tarrifs and other info, though.
Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving - 31 Aug 2005

I saw a leaflet last year that included projects in this country. You could also give a bluebell wood for a wedding present and other imaginative ideas. If I remember who produced it I’ll let you know.
Buy A Copy of Change the World for a Fiver - 31 Aug 2005

Was this a woman associated with the “We are what we do” book?

What did she have to say?

While I think that the book is great and I’d agree that faith (and ideals and principles etc) that don’t result in any action at all are pretty worthless in many respects, yet even those are part of who we are, and in God’s eyes we are far more than what we do.

I think it is a danger of the age we live in that we end up believing that we (and other people) are worth no more than what we/they do and the wealth we/they create, so hope she didn’t over-emphasise this point.
Get Rid Of Some Of Your Books - 31 Aug 2005

Prices for ordering books from libraries vary, but it is a great idea to try your library first of all. Here in Surrey it is now 90p to order a book from insided the county. If the book is only available nationally it could cost several pounds. It can take a while for a new book to be stocked and sometimes there is a long waiting list.

I don’t think it is possible to order fiction, either.

To give a few examples, I saw “Save Cash and Save the Planet” staring at me on the new book shelf a while ago, yet when I checked to see if Leo Hickman’s “A Life Stripped Bare” was on the catalogue it wasn’t, so I bought it. However, yesterday I noticed it was now in stock within the county – I’d decided to order his other book, “A Good Life”, for which there had been a long waiting list when it first came out. Most copies were still out on loan mind, but I am first in the queue for the first one to come back anywhere in Surrey.
Encourage Others To Go Generous - 31 Aug 2005

So how did you guys spread the word? Inspire the rest of us!
Slow Down, Calm Down (Stick to the speed limit) - 06 Sep 2005

Amazing! We have steep hills here, and you’d be hard pressed to go up them out of second gear. Maybe that’s because they roads are narrow and one is full of parked cars and the other has a few bends.
Encourage Others To Go Generous - 08 Sep 2005

Thanks for that, LondonWroes. Hope the rest of you spill the beans, soon.

My own efforts in this area have been to concentrate on writing about this project and what I’m doing as a result in my blog, which I’ve not added to much recently.

I’ve also written about “generous” ideas in the church magazine, which I edit.

The next step is to launch a website for those (select few?) who found my church mag. articles interesting, and hopefully a wider local group. It also means I can put shorter articles in there and tell people to visit the website if they want to know more.

I’ve a horrible idea apathy will reign and the website will prove a waste of time, but I try to remain optimistic, and besides, it’s making me think about it all and sometimes do some research.
Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 12 Sep 2005

There isn’t a local branch of the Co-op near us either, which would make life complicated.

I think you make an interesting point about supporting a useful community service, too, Soo. As we don’t live in a perfect world these decisions are often far from clear cut.
Recycle Your Old Mobile - 12 Sep 2005

I took mine to the Body Shop after it had died on me last year. It seems they can be made use of even if they have stopped working, but I think some charities only want working phones.
Buy Ethical Palestinian olive oil - 01 Oct 2005

I believe this action is about supporting the Palestinians who are suffering severe restrictions on the work they can do and on selling their produce, so buying organic oil of other sorts wouldn’t be the same.

The Zaytoun website has a list of many outlets for their olive oil, where you can almost certainly buy just one 500ml bottle, if you wish.

There is a local network here in Surrey and our Fairtrade rep receives a large quantity of olive oil via that network, which is sold at Fairtrade stalls in churches throughout our town.

If this isn’t happening in your area, you might like to make it happen, but equally, you might be able to persuade a local health food shop to stock the product.

It is a high quality oil with an excellent flavour.
Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 02 Oct 2005

I have been buying as many Fairtrade products as I could over the last few years, and also tended to buy Free Range eggs and chickens, but being part of the YoLG project has encouraged me to think more about the merits of buying local and organic produce.

In recent months I’ve started to visit the local farm shop and the monthly Farmers’ Market much more regularly than I did. We’ve now started to get a weekly organic box of fruit and veg deilivered. They only deliver what is in season, so nothing should have travelled unreasonable numbers of air miles, and if it comes from Britain or Europe it shouldn’t have been unfairly traded.
Encourage Others To Go Generous - 03 Oct 2005

Well, Akte, the action is to encourage others, so whether they act on it is another matter.

Speaking for myself, I know it took several years for me to realise the need to make some changes and there were ideas I resisted when I started this project, which I am now putting into practice.

It seems to me that we all need time to accept new ideas and make new changes, so if we are to encourage other people to do so we need to operate a tactful system of drips of information, somehow striking a balance between being such a nuisance or bore that people just switch off to our message and being so tactful we never dare say anything. We also have to accept that not everyone will agree with us, and that those who do could be in the minority.
Go Local - Join A Food Cooperative - 03 Oct 2005

I understand that Infinity Foods are ethically produced and these are available in this area through independent health food shops and two local farm shop, which are also independent. A food co-op selling this sort of thing would reduce business for these outlets, surely, so I can’t see how it would be a good idea. Aren’t we meant to be supporting small, independant shops that sell ethically produced goods?
Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 07 Oct 2005

Check out Abel & Cole. They deliver meat and fish to this part of Surrey and you can order online. If you type in your postcode their website will soon tell you if they will deliver to you.
Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 17 Oct 2005

It isn’t always easy to remember to take a bag with you. I’ve found it helps to have a cloth one to put in my rucksack-cum-handbag and a hessian bag full of cloth and reusable plastic bags in the boot. Even then I have been known to forget, especially if I dash to the shop after an evening at work.

You do have to be awake and assertive in some shops in order to avoid your goods being bagged before you know it. I guess we should try to be generous when refusing bags and do so as graciously as possible. Some people do seem to be a bit offended if you don’t want their bag.
Plant A Tree - 17 Oct 2005

Last year we gave my dad some trees for his 80th birthday as he likes forests. They are in a Woodland Trust forest not too far from where my parents live. I’ve just done the same for my cousin’s daughter who is about to be christened. The recipient gets a certificate to mark the occasion, which makes it special, as well as instructions for where to find the area the tree(s) is/are planted in.
Organise Your Money (What You Want To Give Away) - 17 Oct 2005

This action encouraged me to set up a direct debit to my favourite charity in the New Year, but I now realise I need to think about a CAF account so occasional donations to other charities can benefit from gift aid.
Take A Mug To Work - don't use plastic - 17 Oct 2005

I have taken a mug to work, although there are plenty there already and we use a kettle anyway, so no vending machine cups. However, we do have a water dispenser, and we do need to drink copious amounts of water at work due to its unfavourable microclimate. I make sure I use a glass for this and not one of the plastic cups provided.
Have A Fairly Traded, Ethically Sourced, Especially Tasty Dinner - 17 Oct 2005

Oxfam and Traidcraft do crackers for you to put together yourself, which means your money isn’t entirely wasted. I’ve always struggled with crackers, as hubby sees them as an essential part of Christmas and I think they are a complete waste of money. Now we can both be happy.

I bought some tree decorations carved out of olive wood from the Palestinian section at Greenbelt this year. There’s quite a range of fairly traded decorations in many charity catalogues.

As well as supporting producers in developing countries we could also aim to support local producers and craftspeople this Christmas.
Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 18 Oct 2005

A lot of fresh products don’t stay fresh for more than a few days, but milk and some vegetables can be frozen. The Abel and Cole website gives advice on storage. We’ve started getting an organic veg box delivered by them as they tend to stick to local seasonal produce with a few exceptions such as bananas (these are shipped, not sent by air frieght) and they swap fruit and veg in the box that you really don’t like for things you do like.

As far as the extra cost of organic,local produce is concerned, I’ve found this is at least partly offset by visiting supermarkets less and so not being tempted to buy all sorts of things we don’t really need, although I do make sure we have treats from time to time even if they aren’t ethical, so the family doesn’t feel too deprived. We eat less meat, as I try to buy more organic meat, but I’m flexible about it.

I also have learnt to think of certain things as undesirable because of unethical practices so again, I’m tempted less and so I could be spending less than before and don’t seem to be spending more overall.
Compost Your Leftovers - 28 Oct 2005

It could take a year or thereabouts, but it should be worth the wait. It’s useful to have two bins or piles as one needs to be left to rot once full while you carry on with the next one. If you are very impatient there are products available that are meant to speed the process up, but I’ve never tried them.
Send a Child a Christmas Box - 06 Nov 2005

There’s an [url=www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_05113samaritanspurse.shtml. ] article about Samaritan’s Purse [/url]on Ekklesia at the moment(6-11-’05) Among other things it says, “Although no Christian literature is included in the boxes, the charity does separately distribute Christmas stories from the Bible and encourages Bible study in areas where it gives toys out.”

It finishes by saying, “Steve Whaley, of Samaritan’s Purse, said donors to the shoe box scheme were warned that boxes must not include “anything of a political, racial or religious nature”.

He added: “If found, such items are removed. However, because it is Christmas – and in distribution areas where it is culturally appropriate – we do offer, separately, a small booklet of Bible stories in the native language.

‘The booklet is available in approximately half the locations we deliver shoe boxes to.’”

If you are concerned you might find reading the whole article helpful.
Buy Nothing on Buy Nothing Day (In November) - 06 Nov 2005

I suppose this is a good one for people who walk past shops and kiosks every day and so tend to buy something, but there is at least one day, and sometimes more, most weeks when I don’t buy anything at all and hubby buys nothing most days, so if 26th November happens to be a good day for us to do Christmas shopping (ethical and sustainable etc as far as possible) or for hubby to look for much needed new trousers I’m afraid that’s probably what we will do. In fact I think we’ll be having visitors, so may need to buy food if we don’t manage to buy it all beforehand.
Give Something Away - and declutter your life - 06 Nov 2005

Hubby redecorated the bedroom this summer and replaced the old wardrobe, which he has never liked with a new one to both our liking – the old one came with the house so was old then and we put up with it for 9 years, so not too profligate.

As a result I needed to reduce my clutter, especially the paper, which I’m a terror for holding on to. I’ve done quite well on that score, so that will be one of my actions for this November. I’ve still got a bit more to get rid of.

Unwanted clothes also went to charity shops in the process of decluttering, unless they were too old and tatty.
Get Rid Of Some Of Your Books - 06 Nov 2005

November ‘05 I think I did this last year, but we’ve just had another grand clear out of our bookcases spurred on by a bag from Help the Aged to say they’re collecting in our area this week.
Buy Ethical Palestinian olive oil - 08 Nov 2005

I’ve recently heard that The Surrey Olive Oil Network, through whom we get our Zaytoun olive oil and soap, distributed 550 bottles of the oil in the first year (2004) and this year have already distributed 1,120 bottles plus 24 five litre containers of the oil and 170 bars of olive oil soap! Approaching a three fold increase !

When asked a question about how much help it was to sell even one bottle of olive oil from Palestine the olive growers replied that you could not quantify the effect but that every bottle sold helped them to find food for their children as for them it is a question of day to day survival.

The Surrey Olive Oil Network has also been able to sponsor five children in Gaza, who are ulikely to have been able to go to school without that help. Currently they have been able to send enough for their sponsorship for the next six months – until March 2006.

How about giving Zaytoun olive oil or their high quality olive oil soap as Christmas presents?
Recycle Your Greetings Cards - 13 Nov 2005

Apparently Tesco’s and WHSmith should be having collections of Christmas cards for recycling after Christmas this year.

I didn’t recycle my cards last year as I like to keep them, but I have years’ worth of cards in the loft, which I would be happy to get rid of if we have had cards from the person subsequently, or if the person is only a vague memory or less these days.
Buy Nothing on Buy Nothing Day (In November) - 16 Nov 2005

Very generous, though, Ray. Trying not to give in to commercialism doesn’t have to mean being stingy. :0)
Wear Your 'Make Poverty History' Band - 16 Nov 2005

Mike, was the band you found irritating plastic or cotton? If it was plastic, be extravagant and buy a cotton one, cotton is less likely to irritate your skin.
Make A Positive Lifestyle Change And Tell Us About It - 20 Nov 2005

Sorry, can’t help, but I have the same problem, so would also be interested if anyone knows of such a source.
Post Your Packaging Back - 23 Nov 2005

What about sending back the junk mail that is still sent in spite of registering with the Mail Preference Service? I’m hoping that will make them stop.
Shower More, Bath Less - 01 Dec 2005

I am showering more often . . . and am having less baths, so have made some progress. This is particularly good for me in Winter, and we still haven’t got the bathroom double-glazed, although we plan to do that soon.
Make Your Own Greetings Cards - 20 Dec 2005

As well as making some of my Christmas cards this year, I have also sent an e-card to everyone taking part in the Year of Living Generously.

If you aren’t on the Generous e-list, you can view the card here http://www.foe.co.uk/cards/dec20-070296.html
Buy Presents That Make A Difference - 28 Dec 2005

We gave a goat and some chickens last year, but didn’t think the recipients would want something similar again this year and didn’t think others we give presents to would appreciate them at all.

So this year we put them on our own Christmas list and duly received 200 school dinners (Oxfam unwrapped) from my sister, plus son has given me a voucher to spend on the Good Gifts catalogue.

I also purchased a Christmas card from World Vision, which involved schoolbooks being given to children in the developing world, to give to everyone at church, but although it is meant to have been sent out in good time (Mon 19th December) I didn’t receive it in time to take to church on Christmas Day and in fact still haven’t received it, which is a shame.
Plant A Tree - 28 Dec 2005

Hubby gave me an olive tree for Christmas. I think it will need to go in the garden fairly soon, but I’m not entirely sure how to make it happy. We live in a fairly sheltered area, but still get frost from time to time and it doesn’t like temperatures below zero apparently. It doesn’t like getting waterlogged either, so it will probably need to go in a pot as our soil is fairly heavy.
Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 28 Dec 2005

Last year I switched our standard lightbulbs to energy saving ones as they needed changing. Now I’m able to switch to energy saving candle bulbs downstairs as Homebase finally have the right type and size for our light fittings.
Recycle Your Greetings Cards - 16 Jan 2006

Took a carrier bag of old greetings cards to Smiths today. We’ve cleared out a bit more clutter and the Woodland Trust should benefit.
Buy 'Making Terrorism History - 11 Feb 2006

As I said above, I’ve bought it. I’ve read a fair bit, but need to sit down and read it thouroughly and more thoughtfully. I particularly like the fact that it gives examples of things we can do here in the UK in our own communities to promote peace, understanding and better relations.
Become a Fair Trader - in your community or workplace - 15 Feb 2006

I’ve been selling Traidcraft goods at the fortnightly lunch club in my church for several years. Not sure how long I shall continue to do so, though.
Give Thanks Before A Meal - 15 Feb 2006

A spoken grace needs the aquiescence of those we eat with, in my opinion, otherwise it could be seen as us forcing our ways onto them.

I like the idea of lighting and also of eating mindfully. As the rest of my family aren’t keen on saying grace I shall try to do these instead.
Choose to have one meat-free day a week in your home - 12 Mar 2006

We didn’t have meat every day when I grew up and I’ve always had at least one meat free day since. Most weeks we have several. I also buy free range or organic meat fairly often these days.
Start A Generous blog or journal - 12 Mar 2006

Last Lent I decided my blog http://living-faith.blogspot.com/ would reflect aspects of the Year of Living Generously and I still try to keep that up. This year I’m trying to blog more reflectively for Lent, http://living-faith-prayer.blogspot.com/ .
Love books? Join the library - 05 Jul 2006

The above information will vary across the country. Here in Surrey, for instance, you can only borrow 9 books at a time, with separate allowances for audiovisual materials, but an overall total of items.

We charge 90p per adult book ordered from another library in the county and 20p for a children’s book. If the book is not in stock within the county it will cost you more, I think £1.50 per book requested, and this can only be done for non-fiction books as far as I know.

I have been pleasantly surprised to find books in stock, which I hadn’t expected to be, and it often takes only a few days for the book to be sent from the other library.

However, if a book is in demand, such as the latest best seller, it there could be a long waiting list, and libraries don’t always get them in the moment they are published.

If you haven’t been down to your library recently go and have a browse and see what they have in stock and be generous to the library assistants too – put books back where you found them, which should be in alphabetical order according to authors surname for fiction, and for non-fiction, in numerical order according to the number on the spine label under the letters which signify the category, e.g. WOR (world) for travel, geography and history, or BIO for biography etc.

Please note: libraries can get busy, so avoid frustration by giving yourself more than five minutes to achieve your purpose. Also check out opening and closing times before you go – don’t dash in 2 minutes before closing unless you just want to drop books off.

If you want to use the computers they may not be on the whole time the library is open. For example ours come on half an hour after we open and shut down half an hour before we close.

Most libraries have at least one late night opening and may well be open for some time at the weekend.

If you want to join the library make sure you have your driving licence with you or otherwise a bankers card or passport with a utiliies bill (i.e. proof of identity and proof of address).
Start A Generous blog or journal - 01 Aug 2006

Have given my blog an overhaul. It is very much focused on YoLG and my progress. I thought it was time to take stock. I shall look at moving forward in September. The blog is here http://living-faith.blogspot.com/

My website also looks at YoLG related issues http://living-faith.blogspot.com/ Contributions welcome as I am making slow progress with it.
Organise Your Money (What You Want To Give Away) - 01 Aug 2006

I’ve been encouraged to assess my giving and give more. However, a CAF account isn’t appropriate as I don’t pay tax and I tend to plan most of what I give. Hubby tends to Gift Aid most of what we give to charity anyway.
Improve your home's energy efficiency - 01 Aug 2006

Our house already had cavity wall insulation when we moved in. This Spring we finished having all the windows double-glazed.

Our hot water tank has a very efficient jacket and we tend to keep the heating fairly low – it rarely goes above 18 degrees C and is more like 15 in the daytime.
Energy Efficient Cooking - 09 Oct 2006

This works for potatoes, too. In fact it’s esepcially good for the kind that disintigrate when cooked on too high a heat such as King Edwards.
Dry clothes outdoors. - 09 Oct 2006

I always have done this when the weather permits, but we did invest in a tumble drier last Autumn as it was getting difficult to dry everything needed by a family of 4 adult sized people when the weather was dull, damp and/or dismal.

The alternative is to put the heating on when we don’t need it, which would probably be more extravagant and make us feel unwell, or we could wear fusty-smelling clothes, which isn’t very nice.
Save Paper and Packaging: Dump Your Junk Mail - 09 Oct 2006

Just sent an e-mail to optout@royalmail.com I wonder what response I’ll get if any.
Save Paper and Packaging: Dump Your Junk Mail - 09 Oct 2006

Just sent an e-mail to optout@royalmail.com I wonder what response I’ll get if any.
Save Paper and Packaging: Dump Your Junk Mail - 09 Oct 2006

Had a very prompt response which includes a form to fill in if I’m sure I want to do this.

There is also a warning that:

“It is not possible for us to separate advertising material and information that you may want, such as leaflets from Central and Local Government and other public bodies. Opting out from Royal Mail Door to Door stops all unaddressed items.

“Opting out means no one at the Delivery point will receive mail of this nature, is this acceptable to everyone inhabiting the property?”

I thought I heard on the radio a little while back that such items are not be included, although I’m wondering if it would matter anyway.
See An Inconvenient Truth. - 14 May 2007

An Inconvenient Truth was available from our local library, so I watched the DVD at home with hubby. Have since found it on Amazon for £5.99 so thought I’d get a copy.

Watching it helped clear up some questions for me, like how can they know about carbon emissions thousands of years ago.
DIY vegetables! - 14 May 2007

Enjoying my best ever crop of broad beans. If you grow them yourself you can enjoy them when they are still small, young and tender.
Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 27 Jul 2007

You don’t need to pay £1,000 a month into a Co-op account and you can use the Post Office and High Street cashpoint machines, plus there are a growing number of branches.
Walking ... It's The Way To Go - 12 Oct 2007

I’ve been trying to do this with limited success, but I shall try a bit harder. I’ve just changed my hours so that I start an hour earlier, but I’ll make an extra effort to get organised enough to walk. As I now need to leave before 9 am I don’t gain much time if I drive anyway owing to the state of the traffic at that time.

The other thing I try to do is combine journeys and cut back on special journeys to particular shops, within reason.
Party On ... Without the Plastic - 12 Oct 2007

sorry kate & ami I got a message saying:

This blog is under construction.

Hier entsteht in K�rze ein neues Blog.

Let us know when it’s up and running. It sounds like it could be inspiring. :)
Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 15 Apr 2008

I’ve just discovered onya bags. They are light and fold up small as they are made from parachute material, but are the size of a fairly large carrier bag.

The idea is that they are always ‘onya’, so you are much likely to forget to have one with you.

However, the material is some kind of nylon and they are made in China and come via Australia, but they do have a UK website.

Bishopston Trading now do a Fairtrade organic cotton carrier bag, for those wanting a more ethical alternative.
Shelve The Bottled Water - 25 May 2008

I bought some water in glass bottles produced in a neighbouring county, but as glass bottles don’t absorb germs like plastic does it’s much more hygenic to reuse these bottles over and over again, rinsing them out between uses. I notice other drinks such as the Bottle Green range come in small glass bottles, too, so it shouldn’t be hard to find suitable bottles.

Unfortunately glass is more breakable and less lightweight than plastic, so not suitable for all occasions, but I hardly every buy bottled water now.
Shelve The Bottled Water - 25 May 2008

I bought some water in glass bottles produced in a neighbouring county, but as glass bottles don’t absorb germs like plastic does it’s much more hygenic to reuse these bottles over and over again, rinsing them out between uses. I notice other drinks such as the Bottle Green range come in small glass bottles, too, so it shouldn’t be hard to find suitable bottles.

Unfortunately glass is more breakable and less lightweight than plastic, so not suitable for all occasions, but I hardly every buy bottled water now.
Go Fair Trade At The Office - 27 May 2008

I tried this. The people who run the tea club seemed to agree.

I bought an initial supply of FT tea and coffee, and sugar, I think, but after that there were excuses why they couldn’t buy FT tea and coffee.

However there are only a very few people in the tea club. I don’t drink hot drinks at work as a rule so don’t belong to the tea club myself.
Compost Your Leftovers - 27 May 2008

We’ve recently acquired a pair of bokashi buckets for the food waste that can’t go in the compost bin. I thought we were wasting a lot of food, but after several weeks the first bucket still isn’t full.

This should give us some concentrated liquid to dilute for feeding plants and a pickled residue that is safe to compost or dig straight in the ground. I plan to update on our progress via my blog.

The cheapest option to purchase the buckets and special bran was via our local authority.
Compost Your Leftovers - 27 May 2008

We’ve recently acquired a pair of bokashi buckets for the food waste that can’t go in the compost bin. I thought we were wasting a lot of food, but after several weeks the first bucket still isn’t full.

This should give us some concentrated liquid to dilute for feeding plants and a pickled residue that is safe to compost or dig straight in the ground. I plan to update on our progress via my blog.

The cheapest option to purchase the buckets and special bran was via our local authority.
DIY vegetables! - 29 May 2008

My broad beans have got a bit of blackfly, but I’m hoping they won’t be too bad this year. I planted them a bit late. We’re hoping for runner and French beans, too if they survive the slugs etc, and the peas aren’t looking too bad. This year we’ve sown some root crops and have brussel sprouts in the ground and cabbage seedlings still in their tray. In fact we’re hoping for quite a bit more veg this year.

I’ve been reading about permaculture recently and wonder if hubby can be persuaded to have a hazelnut tree and maybe a plum or a pear, or both. We’ll have to see come autumn.
Why Weeds Are Good For Us - 20 Jun 2008

I think you can get rid of mares’ and all other horses’ tails, but it will take time. I’m pretty sure my parents managed it, and I think we used to have a patch that I haven’t noticed in recent years. In both cases it was probably growing somewhere shady and or moist, so improving the conditions might help.

we cleared ground elder one year by keeping it covered with old carpet and maybe thick black polythene. Mind you we had a large area of unproductive land as a result.

Couch grass can be a problem but our biggest bind at present is bindweed.
Why Pay More? - 23 Jun 2008

On the subject of Primark, which Annie has raised again in relation to a programme on BBC tv tonight, I think we must realise that cheap clothes are unlikely to be produced in a particularly ethical way.

However, I think there is a dilemma, as people employed in sweatshops need work, and even the families of young children working in ways we might deem inappropriate could be desperate for the few pence they bring home.

There is also my personal problem that I cannot always find fairtrade, organic etc goods that meet my requirements and I’m not sure it is healthy psychologically to be too much of a martyr for any cause.

It seems to me we need to find a balance between buying what we think we need (perhaps reassessing what we really need from time to time) and encouraging fair practises that neither exploit people or the environment in order to produce the goods we need. We have the power to influence this by what we choose to buy, but more has to be done by more people for any significant change to occur.

The Panorama programme tonight is an important step in making more people aware of the damage, which the production of cheap clothing can do to other people.
Yellow and Grey - The New Green - 23 Jun 2008

Reusing your plastic cup is good, Peter, but have you considered that taking up the Generous challenge to take in your own washable glass or cup might be even better?

We’re meant to be getting bins for recycling at work in August, which I’m looking forward to as well as wondering how that will work out in practice.
Yellow and Grey - The New Green - 23 Jun 2008

I see your fifth action, in 2005, was to take a mug to work. Didn’t it work out?
Wear Your 'Make Poverty History' Band - 23 Jun 2008

I’ve just got round to washing mine. Perhaps I should start wearing it again. I got out of the habit because it was grey and horrible. Not sure why I didn’t wash it sooner, though.
Why Pay More? - 26 Jun 2008

To qualify the above, I do not think the ends ever justifies dishonesty or irresponsible behaviour. I have been told that the reporters for the Panorama programme, or some of them, may not have behaved very well in order to make the programme.

To my mind, making people aware of the damage caused by poor working conditions, low wages and other bad employment practices must be done in a way that is moral and with the best interests of employees in mind.
Shelve The Bottled Water - 30 Jun 2008

I have to confess that we bought bottled water for our walk from Swanage to Corfe yeasterday as it was a warm and sunny day. We thought of taking the glass bottles, but hubby had the only rucksack so would have carried both and they would have been heavy. Perhaps this could have been avoided if we had been better organised.
Confession (My Ungenerous Hols) - 01 Sep 2008

Maybe you needed a break from being ethical?

We shopped at Tesco on our holiday, but I’d have gone to Sainsbury’s or Waitrose if there had been one. There was a Co-op but it didn’t have such a good choice. I’m sure they had less Fairtrade options than our local supermarkets, but Oban is a Fairtrade town, while we’ve only just been told we now qualify, having been refused last year.

There was a selection of gifts and souvenirs made in Scotland, but an awful lot of stuff promoting Scotland was made in China, too, and if I didn’t buy any then I nearly did, but I may have succumbed without realising.
DIY vegetables! - 25 Jan 2009

Beans, onions and courgettes did well last year. We also had a bumper crop of apples.

We’re hoping we’ve learnt a bit from last year’s mistakes where other crops are concerned and will try to start a bit earlier. I managed to get my broad bean seed in just after Christmas and have some potatoes chitting on the windowsill, so things are going well so far.

This year we’ve decided to branch out into growing our own eggs, too, and have ordered 3 little brown hens, who are due in the next few weeks.
Fowl Play - 25 Jan 2009

It depends how small your garden is, but Almost Mrs Average of the Rubbish Diet blog is planning to keep a few chickens in an Eglu in a fairly small garden.

http://therubbishdiet.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-years-resolutions-in-almost-average.html

Eglus seem designed for small gardens, as well as fairly small chickens. If anyone is wondering if they could fit some chickens in their small garden, Mrs A should be recording her progress as a chicken keeper fairly soon. The Eglu arrived last week.

http://therubbishdiet.blogspot.com/2009/01/eglu-has-landed.html
Fowl Play - 26 Feb 2009

Just to say we have our chickens now, and they are fun to watch. If you think you could cope with a few rabbits in the garden, then why not have chickens instead and enjoy your own fresh eggs. Chickens are probably more interesting than rabbits, although not quite so cuddly.
Put Eco Balls in your Washing Machine - 19 Apr 2009

What about using soap nuts/pods? No plastic is involved and they seem to be a by-product of the pharmaceutical industry. Some are fairly traded.
Quiet Revolution? - 26 Apr 2009

If you found ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ interesting, Peter, you may well also be inspired by ‘The Power of Community’, about how Cuba reacted to a drastic reduction in their oil supply.
Quiet Revolution? - 27 Apr 2009

If you don’t know anyone who can lend it to you it can be obtained from the Green Shopping Catalogue http://www.green-shopping.co.uk/

You can read about it here
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php
Make your garden bee-friendly - 30 Apr 2009

As a gardener it is important to encourage bees into my garden, so I have a number of plants which attract bees.

The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust’s list of bee-friendly plants looks interesting, so I shall see if I can get a few more in my garden over the next year.
DIY vegetables! - 30 Apr 2009

You can still sow quite a lot of seeds now, Mar, and if you go down the garden centre you’ll find some they sowed earlier.

Lettuce can still be sown now, as can beans and peas, unless it’s going to be a few months before the allotment is ready for planting. If that’s the case you could sow things like kale, sprouts and Winter cabbages in a week or two so they are ready to plant in July – just check the packets for exactly when.

Then October and November you’ll be ready to plant broad beans and garlic, and Autumn/Japanese onions can be planted in September already.
Holiday generously - 19 May 2009

We’re renting a cottage in the Lake District for a week this year, but we shall be driving up as it is less hassle and we shall want to get about easily when we are up there. I did my share of car-less holidays (car-less life in fact) when I was younger and I know how tricky it can be to go where you want, especially if there is only one bus there and back once a week at times that don’t particularly suit.

We shall probably do some walking, but not all the time, and not with backpacks from one hostel to the next. I also did that when younger, but my neck would rebel these days.

I don’t know if this kind of holiday counts as generous or not. What are the criteria for a generous holiday?
Make your garden bee-friendly - 02 Aug 2009

We have some marjoram and sweet peas and every time I go past them a cloud of small brown butterflies (perhaps some kind of fritillary) rises up from them. They also attract the bees, as does the borage. I was also watching a honey bee visit the tiny flowers on the lemon balm earlier.

A lot of our bee-friendly flowers are over now, so it’s good to plant some for every season. I’m not sure about mid-Winter, but winter-flowering heathers are a good one for early in the year.
Get a wind turbine (if you live in a windy spot) - 02 Aug 2009

I don’t want to be negative, but I’m pretty sure George Monbiot said individual wind turbines were not a good idea as they are unlikely to generate much power.

Don’t take my word for it, or George’s,, though, but do make sure you research the idea thoroughly before parting with your hard-earned cash.
Right Royal Common Sense - 13 Oct 2009

Presumably he can only drive one at a time, and if he still has the car he was given when he was 21 he is clearly looking after them. Royals can’t use public transport so easily as the rest of us and their security retinue would take up a whole bus anyway, so he may as well keep his cars so long as he uses them thoughtfully and cuts down on mileage where he can. After all his work does require him to travel.

Karin

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