Recent Comments

1. Shop locally - 06 Oct 2005

   We’ve been working on this one for a while trying to get away from supermarkets using Traidcraft, a farmers market and the local greengrocer but dairy products are a problem.

   Any ideas about sourcing “industrial” quantities of organic milk for our hollow legged teenagers?

   The local milkman could help us out, but at a price. 64p per pint would make bankruptcy a distinct possibility. :-)

2. Wear Your 'Make Poverty History' Band - 06 Oct 2005

   Worn out 2 bands now. I reckon my plastic World Vision one is indestructible! Just as well because I can’t get it off, not that I want to, it’s such a good talking point.

3. Shop locally - 25 Nov 2005

   Still working on this, with increased urgency since reading Joanna Blythman’s book “Shopped”. Also found an organic delivery service, Sesame Organics, who deliver in Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

4. Encourage Others To Go Generous - 25 Nov 2005

   Got involved in the diocesan environment group and got to write a “Greener Christmas” article in the diocesan news magazine. Spreading the word about goaty presents, reducing, reusing and recycling. Hoping for some feedback.

5. DIY vegetables! - 07 Feb 2006

   A couple of dry days in January and I’ve got a lot of digging done – perhaps this is the year that I crack DIY vegetable supply!

6. Shower More, Bath Less - 07 Feb 2006

   Oh dear, this is not going to be an easy one….

7. Put Your Money Where Your Heart is (Bank Ethically) - 07 Feb 2006

   Opening a smile account was easy – they even sent me a case of wine – very nice people!

   It’s miles to my nearest Co-op bank branch but I can use the local Post Office to get cash and pay in.

   Just need to close my Barclays account now – but still struggling to get Child Benefit moved to the Smile account….. would it be un-generous to leave my Barclays accounts dormant? They would have the expense of running them (tee-hee)but all that paper would be wasted (boo).

8. Shop Small (Buy local, Switch from the Supermarket) - 02 Jul 2006

   I had to go into a supermarket recently – first time in months – and it was awful!

   I suppose their regular victims (oops, customers)just get used to the retailers’ assault on the senses – dazzling lights, oppresive/misleading advertising at every turn, the feeling that you – and the other paid and paying inmates – are just cogs in their over-consumption machine.

   All in all, not a pleasant experience and one I’m keen to avoid again.

   Local shops, farmers market, Sesame Organics deliveries …. it’s good to know the name of the people you re shopping with.

9. Switch it off at the Plug. (Don't Stand By.) - 05 Jul 2006

   S’pose this isn’t rocket science – and now I’m getting some excercise bending over and clicking the switch on the wall socket too! Most PCs are not really “off” unless you switch off at the plug either – especially if you use Standby. There are people who tell you to “keep things running because they go wrong when they start up” – advice that might have applied in the days of valves but now we should switch things off. It’s more likely “things wear out from continuous operation”! Think of all the money we’ll save on our electricity bills, and a we can save a little bit of the planet too.

10. Stop Taking Plastic Bags From Shops - 06 Dec 2006

    Been trying to do this for a while. It has been so effective that we have a general shortage of carrier bags in the house for things like dirty football boots and bin liners (Lining the bin rather than cleaning it every time saves warm water and cleaning materials, probably more of an energy and resources saving than the resources associated with producing a “free” bag, which is being reused too).

    By restricting the supply we value the "free" carrier bags we do occasionally receive.  If we all valued these bags, by paying for them perhaps, we might use them more reasonably and responsibly.