Recent Comments

1. Plant A Tree - 15 Aug 2005

   we were given three trees for a wedding gift which i really appreciated. since then I have given trees to others – particularly people who have everything – for birthdays. I have used the woodland trust and can recommend them. they do a certificate and information about the woodland you selected.

2. Sort Out Your Unused Paint - then give it away - 15 Aug 2005

   I have sorted out all the paint that we inherited and added to in our cellar – but i haven’t passed it on yet. can someone remind me to do this in september?

3. Put A Save-A-Flush Device In Your Cistern - 15 Aug 2005

   this is an easy thing to do assuming that you don’t have a closed cistern or a flush saving loo already. i sent off for 100 and distributed them at church

4. Give A Gift That Keeps On Giving - 15 Aug 2005

   I love doing this.I gave 10 chickens to my dad at christmas (he used to keep them) and most recently 100 school dinners to a friend for his birthday. so far I have only used oxfam which have been v good – does anyone have any other experiences? I am also a fan of the woodland trust and buying trees for birthday presents- they do a nice certificate with details about the woods

5. Recycle Your Stuff - 15 Aug 2005

   i give my stuff to liz london who lives in my street and works with people who are fleeing domestic violence

6. Wear Your 'Make Poverty History' Band - 15 Aug 2005

   it makes a useful hair tie in emergencies

7. Choose to have one meat-free day a week in your home - 15 Aug 2005

   i have taken this action on in a slightly different way and I am trying to have 6 meat free days. we have increased our intake of fish. And when we do have meat I tend to by organic or free range. it has been an easier action than i first expected

8. Switch To Energy Saving Lightbulbs - 15 Aug 2005

   for some reason i am not very good at this. I have bought extra supplies of light bulbs but i don’t seem to put them in when the bulb goes. please can I be encouraged

9. Buy A Copy of Change the World for a Fiver - 15 Aug 2005

   i bought 20 copies of this book and sold them at church (i did give a copy to my sister, and two friends!)

10. Give Your Unwanted / Unworn Clothes To Charity - 15 Aug 2005

    i love giving clothes away especially children’s clothes – but i am finding it increasingly liberating to give my clothes away too. It is remarkable how little is needed to get by. although i think charity shops are great i tend to give mine to a woman down the road who works with peole fleeing domestic violence. I also take stuff to my parents who pass it on to SCRATCH a southampton based charity which is mightily impressive http://www.scratchcharity.co.uk/

11. Shop Small (Buy local, Switch from the Supermarket) - 18 Aug 2005

    I am trying to shop less and in a smaller way. this also ties into my efforts to avoid as much as i can supermarkets I have just returned from a lovely break in Mull. one of the things i liked was being able to buy fresh veg each day from a neighbour.

12. Make A Positive Lifestyle Change And Tell Us About It - 19 Aug 2005

    come then tell us what you did?

13. Switch To Good (Green Or Socially Resonsible) Energy - 21 Aug 2005

    karin – you should talk to phil levermore at Gb who will have a stand in the generous network -ebico provides just and now green gas and electricity and phil knows ALOT on this issue!

14. Wear Your 'Make Poverty History' Band - 08 Sep 2005

    this is not my comment – but as the email came into generous i thought i should post it for all to see

    Dear Generous

    How do I add comments at the moment, while I’m waiting for my application to finish being processed? Someone asked on the ‘wear your white band’ action whether they were available ethically, and I wanted to let her know that Traidcraft sell a fairtrade cotton wristband made by Craft Aid in Mauritius. I know this because I work for them! And as soon as the MPH wristbands came on the market we started sourcing a fairtrade one, but it obviously takes a few months for them to be made and shipped. If I can’t post commments til I can log in, can someone post this on my behalf?

    Best wishes, Rebecca Higgins Product Manager, Foods

    E-mail rebeccah@traidcraft.co.uk

15. Choose to have one meat-free day a week in your home - 22 Sep 2005

    vegetable curries – indian or thai are easy and delicious my sister does a rather wicked chickpea (tinned) and (frozen)spinach variety with a patak sauce (indian in a jar) which is very handy for no fresh food in the house days. and another friend of mine makes a great veg curry with lots of veg and some pulses and then adds coconut milk (good for using up any stray veggies) both very delicious (and worthy) with brown rice i am very into sharing other recipes if that is something of interest

16. Send a Child a Christmas Box - 02 Oct 2005

    don’t forget recycled gifts.

    during the year when my children accumulate lovely, but entirely unecessary items i spirit them away and save them for a project in southampton which does a similar thing for children at christmas

17. Commit random acts of generosity - 02 Oct 2005

    on an even smaller scale I was able to help a stranger this week by giving him a visitors parking permit. we have zoned parking with complicated rules and incredibly ferocious wardens.

    anyway it helped him and out of a spot and made me feel good!

18. Know your local political leaders - 10 Oct 2005

    http://www.writetothem.com/ has helpful information about councillors, mps and meps and the division of responsibilities hope this helps frangellica.

19. Send a Child a Christmas Box - 13 Oct 2005

    hi joe – just to say MSRM – Mustard Seed Relief Mission is different to Samaritans Purse to the best of my knowledge.

20. Improve your home's energy efficiency - 13 Oct 2005

    I hate central heating and it makes me feel sniffy so i find wearing more clothes and using a blanket works for me. I do have blankets on the back of our sofas in the winter – for my less hardy friends (soocoo please note!) who always think my house is too cold

21. Resist Over-Consumption for Christmas - 30 Nov 2005

    like the suggestion about friends and sharing a meal together instead of presents

22. Post Your Packaging Back - 20 Dec 2005

    this email was sent to generous any takers From: “Beth Harding” Date: 20 December 2005 12:11:46 GMT To: Subject: Post Your Packaging Back

    Good morning, I am working on a new programme for ITV1, Richard Hammond’s 5 O’ Clock Show, which will cover all kinds of consumer issues and interesting stories, and one of the most important things we plan to look at is the issue of packaging – is there too much? are there any serial offenders? what can you do if you have a complaint? and so on.

    I read your piece about sending packaging back to the manufacturers and shops that supplied it, and wondered if you have any members who feel strongly about the subject who might be prepared to comment.

    Ideally I would like one or two case studies of people who have had problems with packaging, who might be prepared to tell us their story. For example, we have heard of a woman who has complained to Cadburys about excess Easter egg packaging?

    Any information or examples you could give me would be most gratefully received!

    Many thanks,

    Beth Harding

    Beth Harding Richard Hammond’s 5 O’ Clock Show So Television, London 0207 960 2012

23. See An Inconvenient Truth. - 11 Oct 2006

    don’t even go there…. my husband and i had the most depressing conversation about what the world would be like now if Gore had been declared President. the global impact of that lost election is huge as well as the specific impact on the UK which leads to a question given america is currently the super power – should other nations get to vote in their presidential elections… what do you reckon?

24. 'Waste Not, Want Not' - 12 May 2008

    How about not avoiding the buy one get one free/half price why not be generous and give one to a friend. OK not the point of the article – but it’s a thought!

25. Relieve The Postie - Get Your Bills Online Instead - 22 May 2008

    I just can’t get myself to do this yet. I have all my files on the shelf with bills neatly filed waiting for tax returns and all that boring end of year stuff. i want to say no to the paper but i can’t. virtual filing doesn’t seem right. even though i know it is what about you?

26. 'Asparagus Finally Giving Forth' - 22 May 2008

    have wanted an allotment for ages but the they won’t even let you join the waiting list for my local. so instead i grow things in little pots and randomly in my small north london garden. it’s not the same. took my mum to the chelsea flower show yesterday – my first time! the winner of the courtyard gardens was dorest cereals edible school courtyard. The initiative seeks to educate, inspire and encourage schools and community groups to develop a small garden in which to grow food. you can see it at the rhs website under the winners. it is cool.

27. Confession (My Ungenerous Hols) - 09 Sep 2008

    annie. I am surprised at you!
    but there again isn’t that what holidaying is about taking a break from the everyday of living life.

    two other things to share the new word on the street
    staycation – for those who holidayed at home

    and the idea i read about recently for holidaying

    a three year programme
    yr 1 staycation
    yr 2 flight holiday
    yr 3 holiday by rail as far as you like/can afford.

28. A Quick Straw Poll - 20 Nov 2008

    Just goes to show peter if you don’t ask you don’t get….
    Good on you for taking the initiative and approaching your colleagues.
    Sounds as though it worked out well.

29. Who Killed the Honey Bee? - 16 May 2009

    great programme.
    i am from a family of bee keepers. my dad took over from my grandad and i hope to keep bees when i am 50!
    keeping bees is a wonderful experience requiring commitment and patience. I have very happy memories of many hours spent with my dad pouring over hives, extracting and bottling honey, making beeswax candles… of course we got the occasional sting too but even that was part of the experience.
    and the best bit – well for me sneaking a mouthful of honey and wax during extraction, sweet fresh honey oozing followed by the squeaky chewing gum effect of wax. mmmmm maybe i wont wait until i’m 50 .

    bees matter.

30. Trustees worth their weight in gold - 14 Jul 2009

    I am a trustee of a great charity – magic me. we work in tower hamlets running creative projects which bring together young people (aged 9+) and older people (55+) for mutual benefit, learning and enjoyment.
    being a trustee is an enormous privilege.
    i am pleased to be able to use some of the skills which i take for granted in my everyday work in a different context.
    i can’t recommend enough getting involved in supporting charities which are changing the world on our behalf.
    be generous. think about becoming a trustee.

31. Think before you buy - 04 Sep 2009

    I find the think before you buy mantra helpful.
    do i really need this, could i borrow one, what can i pass on.
    this year i want to work harder on a one in one out policy!