Recent Comments

1. Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 18 Oct 2005

   This is something we are trying to do, and we are learning more about what to buy and where. The trouble is, the shopping bill is so much more expensive. I try to get to the fortnightly Farmers’ Market, and buy as much of our meat, fruit & veg, and dairy products, but we have discovered that is doubles our budget for these things, and also that some of the products go off very quickly! We still tend to shop a lot at Tescos, or Morrisons, as it is difficult to do our main weekly shop anywhere else in this area, but we do try to by organic fairtrade products as much as we can, and we are now consciously making the effort to look at the country of origin and buy British if at all possible. Have discovered the local health and organic shop, and use that quite a bit. Would like to find more places to by local, organic food though.

2. Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 18 Oct 2005

   I have been meaning to do this for a long time, but the price of the bulbs kept putting me off. When I discovered that Morrisons is currently selling 60 or 100 watt equivalent energy saving bulbs for 99p each and on a buy on get one free offer I bought 8 this week and fitted them to all the main lights in the house. Worth popping into Morrisons I think on this occasion!

3. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 11 Dec 2005

   It’s hard to avoid having some plastic carrier bags, but when we do, we don’t thropw them away but use them as bin liners or keep them to re-use. I have bought a few jute bags from the farmer’s market, and usually remember to take them with me every fortnight when the market is on, but not so easy to remember when going to the supermarket. If we don’t have enough bags with us when we go to the supermarket, we try to re-use the shops cardboard boxes rather than take more carriers. This also helps them to recycle rather than throwing away all their cardboard.

4. Recycle Your Stuff - 11 Dec 2005

   Have been recycling paper, bottles and cans for years, but I wish we could find somewhere that would take plastic and cardboard in our area. Even if we take it down to the council recycling centre, it just gets put in the “General Waste” compactor, which I presume then just goes to land-fills.

5. Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving - 11 Dec 2005

   I know how you feel Jane B! I would like to do this myself, but have been reluctant, as I feel the reaction from the “recipient” might be, “So what do I get? I thought the idea was that you give me a present for Christmas, not tell me you’ve given it to someone else!” I keep thinking more people would be willing to sign up for ‘just’ gifts if it was in place of a present for themselves rather than their friends and loved ones. I suppose it’s a bit late for this Christmas, but next year I might tell some people to buy me a ‘just’ gift instead of their usual presents. And this year, I shall still give presents in the usual way, but I might just buy a just gift anyway as well!

6. Give Something Away - and declutter your life - 11 Dec 2005

   Interesting idea this one! Would like to know more about the ‘Give or Take Day’ Helen3rose mentioned. Is this something we could organise for a parish fund-raiser by charging admission? Or does that just become a jumble sale?

7. DIY vegetables! - 11 Dec 2005

   I have been meaning to do this again for sometime, especially as my daughter has expressed an interest in growing our own vegetables. I just need to find the time to get out and do the digging! Did do it once before a few years ago, and grew some potatoes. Trouble was I stuck the garden fork through my toe when digging them up! Put me off doing it again for a while! Neveretheless the potatoes tasted great. Now, any advise on environmentally friendly weed and pest controls, as we have loads of slugs, ants, weeds, etc.!?

8. Recycle Your Inkjet Cartridges - 08 Sep 2006

   Recently bought a new HP printer, partly because I can recycle their cartidges, so will start doing that the first time the cartridge runs out. We also have an couple of Epson printers, but I can’t find anyone that recycles Epson cartridges. Any suggestions?