Recent Comments

1. Make A Positive Lifestyle Change And Tell Us About It - 04 Nov 2005

   Trying to buy clothes that are fairly traded, organic cotton etc. or clothes from charity shops.

2. Use your LOAF at the shops (Local, Organic, Animal-Friendly and Fair Trade) - 04 Nov 2005

   We have an organic veg. box from a local supplier (JP Organics) and buy either organic or free range meat from local shops and Saturday farmers’ market. Also buy game packs from the market (venison, pheasant, rabbit & pigeon) which is very reasonable and makes excellent casseroles. Doing main grocery shop at the Co-op, including fairly traded tea, Divine chocolate, bananas etc., also buy Traidcraft foods. We’ve been using Ecover products, but for some items are now trying BioD which have been recommended and are made in UK (www.biodegradable.biz).

3. Buy A Copy of Change the World for a Fiver - 19 Nov 2005

   Have bought 8 copies, 7 to give away. Am planning to put them in non-plastic shopping bags as Christmas presents.

4. Make A Positive Lifestyle Change And Tell Us About It - 19 Nov 2005

   Already I’ve not been able to keep entirely to buying fairly traded and preferably organic cotton clothes or charity shop purchases. Partly due to temptation, and partly due to the fact that while I’ve been successful in getting fairly traded tops (Bishopston Trading), being short I find that skirts and trousers are always far too long, and although I’ve altered one pair of new trousers this year, I really don’t want to have to start chopping new things about. Any suggestions as to sources of fairly traded skirts/trousers that come in shorter lengths please?

   I’m feeling that I’ll be settling for a compromise on this one.

5. Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy - 06 Dec 2005

   We switched to Equigas some time ago, and to Equipower at GB this year. The next step is to switch to the greener tariff perhaps next year.

6. Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 06 Dec 2005

   Have switched to the Co-0p Bank using their telephone banking system. Our ‘branch’ is in Manchester, but we haven’t found this a problem at all. For cash we get cashback at the local Co-op usually or other supermarkets occasionally.

7. Make A Positive Lifestyle Change And Tell Us About It - 11 Jan 2006

   Still buying organic fairly traded or charity shop clothes but not exclusively. Also asked for fairly traded goods for some Christmas presents, e.g. had some excellent bright organic pillow cases, and several fairly traded but different shopping bags (to replace plastic ones), most made of natural materials, but one made in India of recycled plastic bags. I plan in time to replace all bedding with fairly traded organic cotton, and would like to do the same with towels, but am on the lookout for some that are not natural in colour, as although this is more environmentally friendly using no dyes or bleaches, I find them dull! I need to research sources for these products, and would welcome suggestions.

8. Give Your Unwanted / Unworn Clothes To Charity - 11 Jan 2006

   I hope this is as liberating as some folk say. I find it really difficult to get rid of clothes that I no longer wear but seem too good to throw away, e.g.I still have 3 1980’s Laura Ashley dresses! They came from charity shops, but are still in excellent condition – who would buy such things even from a charity shop now? Perhaps the material could be recycled into patchwork quilting! Now there’s an idea… The LondonWroes point is pertinent – it is a luxury to be able to replace clothes before they are well worn, just because they are not fashionable – need to reflect on this. On an upbeat note my favourite recent purchase is a great (and originally expensive) pair of jeans bought for £6 in a charity shop.

9. Hold off on the heating - 15 Oct 2009

   We’re trying to do this already too. Being a wimp I would previously have turned the heating on by now. So far three things have helped. Two already mentioned on Generous are getting some vests (fairly traded from M & S)and wearing a scarf. The third big help is that last Christmas I requested and received several very cosy blankets. So when I sit down at the computer, watch TV, read etc. I wrap a blanket around me and keep as warm as toast. (This idea came from my daughter and grandaughter who’ve been wrapping themselves in blankets when relaxing on the sofa for years). This isn’t really a man thing though – Roger contents himself with wearing a fleece.