Recent Comments

1. Sign Up Online To Become An Organ Donor - 22 Sep 2007

   Our first action through the Living Generously website – pleased to make a start.

2. Love books? Join the library - 24 Sep 2007

   Hi. This is our second action. We used to live in a small village, supplied by a weekly MOBILE LIBRARY. If you can, please do support these services. They are crucial for the elderly and for rural schools. And, it’s surprising what they will get for you – I did a theology course and provided them with my book list at the start of the module and they managed to get most, plus extras they thought I might like!

3. Give Your Unwanted / Unworn Clothes To Charity - 24 Sep 2007

   I’m pleased to commit to this, as we have been giving to and buying from charity shops as a family for years. Particularly children’s clothes, as they just don’t wear out. My only exception is shoes for the kids as regular measuring is vitally important while they are growing.

   For adults clothes, I do urge using a MENDING SERVICE for those items you love but need attention – better than them cluttering up your washing basket. For those in East Anglia, there is a fantastic lady on CAMBRIDGE MARKET (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) who does all sorts of sewing and mending, cheaply and quickly.

4. Get someone to join the Generous Community - 25 Sep 2007

   We’ve set up a Household for the college in which we live. I’ve spoken with the Eco Rep, who is also “Generous” and we’ve decided to suggest that the students stop using their PCs for FaceBook and start doing something good with the ‘lecy … by living generously! We pray that the uptake will be good, but it may be a softly softly catchy monkey thing!

5. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 28 Sep 2007

   Probably already mentioned in other tips, but I’m keeping the folding sort of cloth bags in my handbag plus I’ve purchased a (not granny style) shopping basket on wheels. I live in Cambridge and was encouraged to when I saw the most glamourous 30 something lady dragging one – why hurt your hands/back/shoulders with heavy bags (whether plastic or not).

6. Compost Your Leftovers - 28 Sep 2007

   We’re lucky at Westcott that there is not only composting going on for the garden waste, but we have a composting bin collection too. I need to slow down and remember that ‘straight into the bin’ when cooking isn’t the answer for the veg waste when it could be turned into brown gold for farmers, market and council gardeners, and the like.

7. Choose to have one meat-free day a week in your home - 28 Sep 2007

   Having seen how much water it takes to ‘grow’ a pound of beef mince (50,000 litres), we’ve decided to go meat free in the week (but with growing children, we’re still keeping oily fish on the menu). Feel so much better for it and seem to be slowly losing weight. It also makes me feel less worried about having a nice traditional sunday lunch … Trying to source the meat we do have from farm shops rather than supermarkets too – nice to know who has actually looked after the animals and that they were well looked after too.

8. Buy Presents That Make A Difference - 05 Oct 2007

   Christian Aid also now does a version of unwrapped, along with the original “Good Gifts.” Worth looking round for these, as you can really personalise the gift. Also, you can support local business (e.g. ceramic painting shops, making personalised handprinted mugs / tiles for family if you have kids) and you could ask your local farm shop to ‘make up a hamper’ using the new hessian ‘eco bags’ that are so fashionable (I saw one in the Lakeland catalogue and the idea twigged).