Ecoideas Magazine

ecoecoideasIssue 3

Because pleasure shouldn’t be guilty!

340

Bringing up baby eco-styleWhy feed your kids organic?

Grown-upgap yearsVolunteer work abroad could beeasier to arrange than you think

Plus... DIY beauty • Microfinance • Retro fashion • Grand Designs competition

The

thrifty issueSave pennies and

the planet!

ways to gogreen withoutany hasslew

ww

.ecoideasmagazine.com

Issue03

Cover 18/8/08 20:39

If you thought climate change was too big a problem for

you to tackle – think again. By changing to a supplier

that produces electricity from renewable sources you

are taking one of the biggest steps you can to help

reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.

Switching is easy and takes only a few minutes. And

we even match the standard price of each regional

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way electricity is made.

FIGHTCLIMATECHANGE

Change whereelectricity comes from

WE’D LIKE YOU TO KNOW...Burning fossil fuels to make

electricity accounts for a third of the UK’s carbon emissions.

Ecotricity invest more per customer in building new sources of renewable energy than any other UK supplier.

In the last twelve months we’ve just doubled our electricity generation

with new wind power projects.

Call us free on

08000 326 100or visit

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EcoLiving Ad.indd 1 4/3/08 15:45:15

Editor’s letterWelcome to the Thrifty Issue of ecoideas. With so much talk

about tightening our belts and a possible recession, we

thought we’d look at some ways to save money and protect

the environment at the same time.

There’s DIY beauty for all you glamour pusses on page 12 and

handy hints for cleaning up without the chemicals on page 41,

so get moving! And after all that, you’ll be hungry so try out

some of our tasty recipes on page 58?

But if you are one of the lucky few with money to spend, how

about considering a microfinance scheme? These are a great

way to invest your hard-earned cash and still lend a helping

hand to those in need in the developing world. Find out more

on page 68. Finally, if hands-on assistance is more your style,

check out the great volunteering options in our great travel

feature on page 62.

All your feedback is very welcome, simply

write to editor@ecoideasmagazinecom

ecoideas

eeccooideas

Gardening EditorZelia Wilkinson

Ecoideas is published by:Figure8media Ltd20 Portland SquareBristol, BS2 8SJ

For advertising:Call James Guthrie on 0117 314 2836 or email [email protected]

For editorial:Call Jen Dallison on 0117 230 8844 oremail [email protected]

For more information, visit:www.ecoideasmagazine.com

Jen x

Beauty Editor Nickie Clare

Food EditorKaty Ladbrook

Fashion Editor Grainne Logue

Travel Editor Adam Baggs

This month we have been mostly eating Ben

& Jerry’s Baked Alaska. Yum!

p1 Editor's note 18/8/08 20:53 Page 1

Contents

ecoideas

Special Features

35 Bringing up baby...the organic wayMargaret Durand looks atorganic baby food

68 Can your cash save the planet?Ben Wickins reports on the success of microfinance

70 Work smarterTop tips for a great, green working environment

Regulars

05 Your letters72 Books

Health & Beauty

10 Natural beautyStay fresh and youthful withoutresorting to needles or the knife

12 Do you DIY?Save a fortune by making yourown beauty essentials

14 Very veganA new trend in high street beauty and skincare

17 Herb your enthusiasmAnn Power looks at the use ofherbal remedies to treat ailments

Fashion

23 She’s in fashionThis issue’s top picks

24 Retro chicIt’s a blast from the past withthese cute clothes from Amoosi

30 The saintly shopperGrainne Logue hits the highstreet and the internet in search of ethical options

35 12

24

p2, 3 contents 18/8/08 20:56 Page 2

ecoideas

Homes & Gardens

41 Keeping the green in cleanSay goodbye to chemical cleaners

44 Grand green designsTips for a more energy-efficienthome from the Grand Designsteam

47 Get outdoorsGarden goodies for all

48 The green-eyed monsterEcoideas’ Katy Ladbrook casts acritical eye over her allotment

Food & Drink

52 Waste not, want notGrainne Logue on making theright choices when food shopping

54 10 green bottles...Which one is best?

57 What wine?How to glug without the guilt

58 Dining inMore mouthwatering recipes

Travel

61 Packing lightTravel essentials for the eco-holidaymaker

62 Volunteers wantedA look at the world of workingholidays

66 A caring, sharing approachFocus on an Indian orphanage

41 58

62

p2, 3 contents 18/8/08 20:56 Page 3

p4 advert page G 18/8/08 16:43 Page 1

ecoadvice

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Eco chicI’m an avid reader of ecoideasand I love the fashion pages. Ireally want to start making mywardrobe more eco-friendly, butthe problem is that I live in asmall town and just don’t knowwhere to start! Where can I getstylish yet afforadable eco clothing?Tracey Bales

The internet is your friend! Thereare tons of brilliant eco clothingwebsites, where you can buy all ofthe latest ranges and get themdelivered to your doorstep. Why nottry www.patagonia.com for all your wardrobe essentials. Have fun!

Out and about

I just wanted to thank you foryour review of Organic Places toStay in the UK. My husband and Ihave booked a lovely weekendaway for the bank holiday in oneof the B&Bs in the book.Lorna Downings

I’m glad it was useful! I hope youhave a great weekend. If you’re

looking for some more readingmaterial while you’re away, take alook at our book reviews thismonth.

Thirst quencherFirstly, I love the magazine andI’m trying to make more ethicaland eco-friendly choices in mydaily life. The only problem is thatI am hooked on fizzy drinks,which can’t be good for the environment. What can I do?Chrissy Judge

Well, Chrissy, there’s no need togive up your fizzy fix, simply switchto Whole Earth’s range of sparklingdrinks.

Branching outI recently adopted a more eco-friendly lifestyle and I’m keen to meet people with similiarinterests. Are there any groupsthat I could join?Jodie Pickett

It’s always a great idea to try andbroaden your social circle, especially when you havedevleoped new interests. Why not

log on to www.natural-friends.com,to meet more like minded people!

Full of great ideasI recently picked up the last issueof ecoideas in my local healthstore and I have to say that itwas a thoroughly enjoyable read.Is there any way to ensure that Iget a copy of the next edition?Lisa Hatten

I’m glad you enjoyed the mag. You can actually subscribe atwww.ecoideasmagazine.com toensure that you recieve the nextissue, which will be packed full ofinteresting features!

Toilet trainingI’m a new mum and worriedabout the cost of buying nappiesas my daughter keeps growing,as well as the effect on the environment. Any advice?Carla Harrison

Why not try the Pop-In from theModern Baby company. It’s areusable nappy that effectivelygrows with your baby, from birth topotty. How clever!

Reader lettersWe always welcome your feedback, questions and queries, simply write to us at [email protected]

p5 letters GL 18/8/08 20:59 Page 1

Sustainable Ecoplanning

We specialise in the design of ecologically sustainingarchitecture and planning. In other words the holisticdesign of buildings and their surrounding spaces gardens that maintain the balance in terms of energies,materials, and human needs: aesthetic, physical, social,spiritual and emotional. We use scared geometry principles for the harmonic design of buildings and theirsurroundings spaces. In these harmonic proportions,geometries and numercial series are used to generatespaces and architecture to enhance feelings of wellbe-ing for all inhabit them.

Good planning helps create community & individualplaces that offer better choices for where

and how we live.

Our services:• Planning appeals• Planning applications• Eco Architecture• Permaculture design• Eco Hamlets

Contact: Sophie ChristopherTelephone: 01235 529266email: [email protected]

p6 advert page D 18/8/08 16:41 Page 1

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You don’t have to be an eco-warrior or live in a mudhut to be eco-friendly. That’s

one of the strongest lessons we’veall learned from Anita Roddick. AtCircle Earth, we’re just as pragmatic. We offer overseas properties and support services forpeople who live in the real world,who have a need for propertyabroad and who have genuineconcerns about protecting the environment.

“They might be relocating, investingfor their future, setting up an over-seas base for their sales force, orsimply buying holiday property touse and to let. Where we’re differ-ent from other companies is thatwe are totally committed to an ethi-cal approach.

Listening to Rachael Cartmell, managing director of Circle Earth ather home in the North West, it iseasy to see her personal environmental credentials.

The house ticks all the right boxes,free range rescued battery hens,organic vegetable garden, rightdown to a wind turbine that isbeing installed as we speak. But asa property agent, how can hercompany seriously claim to have agreen agenda?

“First of all, we do what everyorganisation should be doing –such as working as a paperlesscompany wherever possible. Wealso offset all CO2 from any flightsmade by clients to view properties,as well as any flights that are

made by the company. We are azero carbon footprint organisation.”

They also make a donation to charity for every property purchased through them, this yearit’s to the Alzheimers ResearchTrust.

“Encouraging eco-friendly developers is part of our mission,”explains Rachael.

“So not only do we offer clientsamazing investment opportunitiesin areas of outstanding naturalbeauty – often with guaranteedrentals – but we go to great lengthsto select properties that honestly fitwithin a commitment to the envi-ronment.” They actually refuse topromote more developments thanthey take on, as they just don’tmeet with their high criteria of buildquality, environmental credentialsor investment potential.

She also explains that being anethical company is more than justabout addressing green issues.“We understand how lonely it canbe making a major decision suchas buying property overseas. Wework in partnership with our clients,helping them to really work outtheir needs, to understand all thesteps to take, as well as the possible pitfalls. We eliminate thehassle and the worry, right throughbeyond the purchase, even helpingto rent out their property if theywish. We don’t abandon ourclients.”

Now that really is refreshing!

Ethical property overseas? Circle Earth comes up with arefreshing approach

ADVERTORIAL

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p7 Report 18/8/08 21:02 Page 1

p8 advert page I 19/8/08 10:48 Page 1

ecobeauty

09

Glamour pussReveal your inner gorgeous green goddess

Keep it hiddenThis cult beauty concealer comes in seven differentskin tones; £18.99www.cultbeauty.co.uk

Glossy girlThese cute pots contain arich and moisturising lipbalm; £9.25www.apples-and-pears.com

Cleansed outA percentage of sales

from this facial wash go tocharity; £16.50

www.renskincare.com

Buttered upThis shea body butter willmoisturise and soften theroughest of skin; £9.85www.revital.com

Bronzed beautyProceeds from these bronzers aid the fight

against breast cancer; £18.00 www.afterglowcosmetics.co.uk

Smooth finishThe Trilogyvital moisturisingcream works wonders; £20.95www.howonearth.co.uk

Get lippyMake a statement with this bright

organic lipstick; £9.99 www.greenpeople.co.uk

p9 Beauty opener GL 18/8/08 16:40 Page 1

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ForeveryoungWe look at simple and effectiveways to help you care for your skin

ecobeauty

Many women – and agrowing number ofmen – are accustomed

to caring for their skin. Frommoisturisers to facials, botox tofacelifts, the nation is used tospending lots of cash in thepursuit of youth. But there aresome simple and effective waysto younger looking skin - andways that will help you preventfurther damage, too.

Limit sun-exposureThis is the most important wayto prevent premature ageing.Experts say that 90% of skindamage which leads to premature ageing takes placein early childhood. If you avoided intense sun-exposureduring this stage, you shouldhave limited the damage. If youare young enough for preventative measures, coverup with a high SPF sunscreen atall times.

Everybody loves a tanned body,which is why so many peoplewill fall victim to premature ageing, but you can get a

damage-limitation tan. Alwaysavoid the hottest hours of theday – usually between 11amand 3pm. Gradually increaseyour resistance to intense sunlight by starting with 30-minute periods in the sunwith a 15 or higher SPF lotion,building up to longer spells.

Avoid yo-yo dietingA recurrent cycle of gaining andlosing weight will cause yourskin to stretch and become lesselastic. As you age, excess skinwill be more prone to saggingand wrinkles simply by the forceof gravity. This doesn’t meanthat you should eat what youwant to achieve younger skin.Remaining overweight will alsocontribute to older looking skin,as excess fat can accumulatearound your chin, neck andcheeks as you age. Maintainingyour ideal weight will keep yourskin firm and keep you in optimum health.

Relax – don’t wrinkleFrowning uses far more facialmuscles than smiling, so don’t

worry, be happy. Fine linesappear where the muscles contract around the forehead,eyes and mouth, so make aconscious effort to relax anytense muscles in your face.

Sleep rightMost people have a favouritesleeping position, but did youknow that lying repetitively onone side could promote linesand wrinkles? You are applyinghours of pressure and pullingon your delicate skin. It is bestto sleep on your back.

Eat fishFatty fish such as mackerel,tuna, sardines and salmon areessential sources of omega-3fatty acids. These are essentialfor skin health – as well asbrain and joint function – butmany people are deficient. Ifyou have skin problems such aseczema or thick patches of skin,this may be a sign of deficiency.To help keep skin vibrant, youngand healthy, eat three portionsof oily fish a week, or take dailyomega-3 supplements.

p10, 12, 14 Beauty features 19/8/08 14:47 Page 2

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Do youDIY?

Everybody likes to look their best,but expensive face creams andbody lotions can take their toll

on your wallet. However, there areways to treat yourself to a relaxingfacial, some luxurious face cream orbody lotion for next to nothing.

You might think you’d need adegree in chemistry or cosmetologyto make your own beauty productsfrom scratch, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. You can createlovely natural treatments using itemsyou probably already have lurkingaround your kitchen cupboards. Aswell as saving a penny or two youcan rest easy knowing exactly whatyou’re putting on your face. No needto worry about nasty chemicals andsynthetic fragrances, all these ingredients are natural and edible.So get in the kitchen and cook upsome natural beauty!

Natural eye make-up remover1 tablespoon castor oil and 1 tablespoon light olive oil.Castor oil is excellent for removingeye make-up. A combination of castor, olive or canola oils is greatfor removing mascara at the end of

the day. Even the most stubbornmake-up glides off effortlessly withthis light oil mixture – all without theaddition of harmful chemicals soclose to the eye area.

Soothing foot balm1 tablespoon almond oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoonwheatgerm oil and 12 drops eucalyptus essential oil.Everyone’s feet can get a bit whiffy inthe summer heat, but you don’tneed to spend a fortune on expensive foot creams. Simply combine the ingredients in a bottleand shake extremely well. Rub innightly to smooth and soften rough,dry feet.

Soothing eye treatment2 used teabags and 2 slices of rawpotato.Who says looking good has to costthe earth? These two homemadeeye treatments are simple easy andvery cheap. For the first treatmenttake two very thin slices of potato,as these are great for brighteningand nourishing the eyes, and pressthem lightly on to the eye area.Make them thin slices so they makecontact, yielding into the contours of

the eyes. For the second treatmenttake two damp tea bags and placethem over your eyes. This will helpfade under-eye bags because theycontain tannin and polyphenols thathave an astringent effect.

Moisturising hair mask1 medium avocado.Avocados contain skin-nourishingvitamin E and phytosterols, whichare similar to the skin’s own lipidsand provide a barrier to the elements and lock in moisture. Tomake a nourishing hair pack thatwill leave you with a gorgeousshine, mash one avocado into asmooth paste and spread on clean,damp hair for 20 minutes, thenrinse.

Chemical-free scrub2 tablespoons of sea salt.Forget forking out for posh facialscrubs, sea salt removes dry, flaky,dead skin from your face and bodywith ease. Wet your face or bodyand apply a couple of tablespoonsof sea salt. Then gently massage thearea with a wet flannel or fingers.After one or two minutes, rinse withcold water to tighten the pores.

Look and feel great using store cupboardessentials instead of expensive products


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Once thought of as a zany fad,or simply an extreme form ofvegetarianism, veganism is

rapidly being seen as the newbyword for ethical consumerism andis winning the acceptance of thenation. As organic, Fairtrade andother ethical produce becomes mainstream and more widely available, the nation is beginning tofeel that the mass production of animals for meat, leather, dairy andslaughterhouse by-products doesnot sit comfortably next to greenerliving.

A recent EU survey revealed thateight out of 10 consumers are willingto make an extra effort to buy animal-welfare-friendly products. Soit’s not surprising that so many savvyvegan companies have decided thebest way to get their messageacross is to jump aboard the ethicalbandwagon. And it seems to beworking. A good example of this inaction is the success of ethicallotions and potions giant LushCosmetics. Following a string ofvegan awards during 2007, including the RSPCA Good BusinessAward, Lush cosmetics’ vegan campaigns team was invited to

speak in the Houses of Parliamenton ethical retailing.

This wave of veganism is still on aroll, according to the Ministry forInternational Veganism (MiV), whichsays: “The RSPCA claims ethical consumerism is now worth a staggering £29.3 billion per year.This fact alone will ensure that veganism is driven forward in anincreasingly unstoppable tidal waveof vegan awareness.? All the signspoint to the fact that key elementswithin the catering, retail and manufacturing industries have finally grasped the potential of veganism and ethical consumerism.

This ethical movement, which wasonce regarded as quirky at best, israpidly pricking the conscience ofevery ethical, environmental and so-called green consumer in theland. Helped along by a torrent ofmedia attention, veganism is hittingthe headlines for the right reasonsas a number of programmes on TVsuch as Newsnight and The TruthAbout Food examined vegan claimsduring 2007.

Organisers of the InternationalVegan Festival in Bristol said that the

number of vegans has doubledsince 2007 and said vegans hadreached critical mass in terms ofpercentage of the population. Eventhe government on its websitewww.direct.gov.uk recognised thevegan diet as an ethical sustainableoption. Further evidence of theacceptance of vegan lifestyles andproof that vegan issues haveclimbed out of a niche market sidestreet is also apparent in the fashionindustry, says MiV. Vegan handbagsand vegan shoes have become topGoogle search terms, while UKvegan designers such as NatalieDean and Stella McCartney havewon a string of awards. McCartneywas named Designer of the Year atthe British Fashion Awards, havingpreviously won an award from Ellefor Best International Designer, whileher recent partnership with Adidashas brought a whole vegan fashionrange into the mainstream.

ecobeauty

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Lush Cosmetics’Fairtrade footlotion, £7.25

VeryveganA way of living that’s jumped from the margins to the mainstream


p15 advert page T 19/8/08 11:10 Page 1

p16 Modern Herbals 18/8/08 16:37 Page 1

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Ann Power asks if we should be usingherbal remedies to help us feel better

ecohealth

For centuries, herbal remedieshave been used to treat ailments. It is claimed they

increase health, vitality and lifeexpectancy; they are used to treatillness and claim to have fewer orno side-effects, unlike commercialdrugs. Is this truly the case? Shouldwe be looking more to herbalremedies for common ailments?

Herbal remedies, along with vitamins and various other types ofdietary supplements, have longbeen popular with the customers ofhealth food stores. But now theyare part of a boom in alternativeremedies and are widely availablein supermarkets. In recent times,there has been an incredible surgein the volume of scientific studies

which have looked at the effectiveness of such herbal products. Although many scientistsconsider the findings promising, itis clear that additional research isneeded to confirm the claims madeon behalf of these herbal remedies.

Many consumers are opting to tryherbal remedies, based on thethinking that the ‘natural’ productswith a long history of use willundoubtedly be safe.

Although chemicals in herbs mayhave carcinogenic effects, this concern has not really been investigated. Some chemicalsfound in plants are known carcinogens or tumour promotersin animals (e.g. aristolochic acids

from wild ginger and catechin tannins from betel nuts). Whethersuch chemicals pose a threat forhumans remains unknown.

It is claimed that natural remediesaid the body’s immune systemtoward total body wellness. Theysupplement the body with naturalsubstances which have been usedin some cultures for many years.

A relatively new type of productbeing promoted is the herbalweight-loss remedy. These claimthat the right blends of naturalherbs promotes rapid weight loss.The claims are backed up by thefact that such herbs have beenused in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It is uuu

Herb yourenthusiasm

p17, 18, 21 Herbals 19/8/08 12:11 Page 1

18

said that this type of remedy willcontrol cravings, stop snacking andincrease energy.

Ma-Huang (Ephedra sinensis) isthe main ingredient in the herbalproduct fen-phen. It is a plant containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are usedin many over-the-counter medications to help deal with asthma and also in nasal decongestants. It is also included insome diet pills, functioning as anappetite suppressant.

Studies continue to test the effec-tiveness of these herbal remedies.However, until one is sure about thesafety, it is good to check with aphysician before beginning anynew health plan.

Herbs that are used for medicinalpurposes come in a variety offorms. Active parts of a plant mayinclude leaves, flowers, stems,roots, seeds and berries. They may

be taken as pills or powders,

dissolved into tinctures or syrups, orbrewed in teas. Salves, ointments,shampoos or poultices may beapplied to the skin.

Differing dramatically from scientificmedicine, Chinese medicine focuses on treating the entire bodyto promote health. The emotionaland spiritual health of a patient, inaddition to total wellness, are considered when treating anddiagnosing conditions and problems. When illness or diseaseis present, the condition is considered a symptom of the person being ‘out of balance’.

Holistic and homeopathic treatments used in traditional

Chinese medicine including massage, stress-reduction,acupuncture, exercise, cupping - ofwhich many A-listers such asGwyneth Paltrow are fans - lifestylechange and herbal medicine.

Herbal remedies are mostly organic and supplied in a tinctureform. A tincture is the name givento the method of extracting theactive ingredients from the herbs.The liquid used to extract themedicinal properties is a mix oforganic grain alcohol and distilledwater.

There are herbal remedies foralmost every ailment imaginable onthe market, from flu to arthritis.

One particular herb has recentlyhad a lot of press coverage andmarketing as a ‘new’ cure for colds.Echinacea has in fact been used byNative Americans for hundreds ofyears. It is native to the NorthAmerican Plains, but varieties of thespecies are found on most continents. Echinacea increases levels of properdin, a chemicalwhich activates the part of theimmune system responsible forincreasing defence mechanismsagainst virus and bacteria attacks.Its anti-bacterial effect makes it agood herb for treating many viraland bacterial infections. Echinaceais also an excellent blood cleanser;it helps to promote the movementof dead cells and other debristhrough the lymphatic system.

Bruising, a common occurrence formost, also has a herbal cure. Theearly Greek herbalists considered St John’s Wort an effective herb forhealing wounds. It was also usedto dress sword cuts in the MiddleAges. Modern analysis of the planthas shown it to have antibacterialand astringent properties, bothqualities useful in the speedy healing of cuts and wounds. uuu

ecohealth

p17, 18, 21 Herbals 19/8/08 12:12 Page 2

p19 advert page M 19/8/08 10:53 Page 1

To advertise in ecoideascall James on 0117 3142836

Don’t miss out!

p20 advert page L 18/8/08 16:36 Page 1

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Either add a few drops of tincture toan organic oil or cream and gentlyapply to the bruised area or apply afew drops of the tincture directly tothe skin and allow to soak in.However, it isn’t to be used if youare pregnant.

Some other common remedies are:

Chamomile

This herb is known for relievingstomach distress, calming nerves,fighting infection, speeding healingprocesses and preventing ulcers. To make your own chamomile tea:add 2 to 3 teaspoons per cup. Steepfor 10 to 20 minutes. Use in up to 3cups daily.

GarlicA strong natural antibiotic inchopped or chewed form. It helpsreduce cholesterol and the risk of

heart attacks as it prevents the forming of blood clots. Garlic alsocontains anti-viral properties. To make your own garlic tea: put sixcloves of garlic in cool water andleave for six hours.

Ginger

This may reduce the risk of heartattack by preventing internal bloodclots. It’s also used to treat motion sickness; 30 minutes before departure take two or three 500-milligram capsules. To make your own ginger tea: add 2teaspoons of grated or powderedginger per cup. Steep for 10 minutes.Drink up to 3 cups daily.

GingsengThis is used to increase stamina, provide liver protectionfrom harmful substances, and

stimulate the immune system. Whentested on animals, sexual activityincreased! It is available in capsule,tincture, tablet and tea form.

Dandelion

This herb helps alleviate premenstrual bloating and may provide anti-inflammatory results. Tomake your own dandelion tea:Steep an ounce of dried leaves ineach cup for 10 minutes. Take up to3 cups daily.

Herbal concoctions have been usedfor many thousands of years in hundreds of different culturesaround the world. However, todaywe know a lot more about theeffects of drugs on the body, and wemust therefore use that knowledgeto our advantage and be cautiousabout any potential side effects.

p21 19/8/08 12:10 Page 1

To advertise in ecoideascall James on 0117 3142836

Don’t miss out!

p22 advert page R 18/8/08 16:34 Page 1

ecofashion

She’s in fashionSparkle in silverThis stunning reserva necklace ismade from Fairtrade-approvedsilver; £50www.cvjewellery.com

Wrap upIn this gorgeous double layeredwool/linen scarf; £55www.keepandshare.co.uk

Dress to impress in our top picks!

Work out in styleThis cute racer top is theperfect incentive to hit thegym! £18www.thtc.com

Go vintageIn this Georgian shift dress that willcarry you into next season in style;£155www.enamore.co.uk

Trendy toesCombine comfort and style inthese original open-toedRenata sandals; £65www.keepandshare.co.uk

Bag ladyThis recycled bag is made from post-

consumer rice sacks; £24.99 www.ganesha.com

23

p23 Fashion opener GL 18/8/08 16:33 Page 1

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ecofashion

RReettrrooStand out from the crowdthis season in these stylishoutfits from Amoosi.

cchhiicc

Polka dot dress coutureSimple and chic, this dress is perfectfor both long lunches and nights outby candlelight.Price: £120

p24, 25, 26, 27, 28 Fashion Spread GL 18/8/08 16:27 Page 2

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Tailored empire line shirtThis shirt is extremely flattering and can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion.Price: £55.00


ecofashion

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Halterneck top with drape neckThis elegant top will add a touch of glamour to any wardrobe.Price: £55


ecofashion

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Silk sash dressThis pretty dress feels as good as itlooks and will definitely make youstand out from the crowd.Price: £198


ecofashion

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The Ultimate LBDThis is a classic LBD with a twist. Thefloral band around the waist drawsthe eye and creates the illusion ofan hourglass shape.Price: £120


p29 advert page S 19/8/08 15:07 Page 1

Primark is one of the mostpopular clothing outlets for theaverage UK woman. From

T-shirts that cost less than the priceof a DVD to a pair of jeans for under£20, this store has it all. Fashionconsciousness is on the rise and sois demand for ever-changingproduct styles at cheap prices, andPrimark bridges the gap betweenthe catwalk and the wardrobe athome. Fast-changing fashions bringsomething new to shop shelvesevery three weeks and since theseclothes are so cheap, people canafford to buy them more frequently.However, this in turn forces workersto work long hours to ensure the

product is ready in time. Have youever questioned why thesegarments are so cheap? Or do yousimply question the price of thedesigner clothing, which seems soover-priced?

The sad reality of the situation isthat very cheap clothes do come ata cost, usually paid by poorlabourers working long hours indeveloping and under-developednations. In recent months the mediahas been overrun with stories ofsweatshops and the terribleworking conditions that areendured to fill our wardrobes, and itseems that people are finally

standing up and paying attention.More and more consumers arelooking into ethical fashion, but theproblem is the accessibility of suchclothing and the extra costsincurred in taking a stand. This iswhen the search begins forreasonably priced, fashionable,earth-aware, ecologically consciousand human-sensitive clothing forthe not-so-wealthy consumer.

The good news is that popular highstreet retailers such as Levis andGap are now stocking a growingrange of eco-friendly garments, asare a growing number of onlinestores with a variety of styles to

30

TheSaintlyShopper

Grainne Logue hits thehigh street and the internetin search of eco-friendly,ethical clothes

ecofashion

p30, 31, 32 Saintly Shopper:Layout 1 22/4/09 13:15 Page 2

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choose from. “Using our contactsand knowledge of the market, wehave been able to produce greatclothes with high ethical standardsthat are the same price as the highstreet, enabling consumers to buyethically without compromise,”explained Adam Smith, CEO ofAdili.com.

Now, I’m a self-confessed Primarkaddict, and those £10 dresses werejust calling out to me when I walkedpast the display window yesterday.But after finding out where manyvery cheap clothes come from, Idecided to become more aware andfind out just how hard it is to dress toimpress without contributing to theplight of those working under toughconditions. I don’t want to buy adress sewn together by a childyounger than my kid sister, nor do Iwant this situation to escalate to aneven wider scale than it already has.

Is your bulging social calendarpractically begging you to hit theshops this month? Well then, whynot check you these ethicalalternatives while you’re at it.

Hot date?

It would be a sin not to cast your eyeover this striking yet affordable dressfrom Stewart&Brown, which will lastyou through a few fashion seasonsand definitely make an impact onyour date! You can hand over thosecredit card details with a clearconscience too, as Stewart&Brown

donate 1% of all sales to non-profit,non-governmental environmentalorganisations.

Best foot forwardIf you want to feel like you’re walkingon air before you hit the wine, thenchoose from a gorgeous selection offootwear from Sui Generis atwww.beyondskin.co.uk. This label isa hit with celebrities such as LeonaLewis and Natalie Portman, whorecently wore a pair of Sui Generissandals to the Golden Globes.

No more wedding woesStrugging to find the perfect dress toimpress your ‘plus one’. Weddingsare the perfect reason to hit theshops without a guilty conscience!The Debbi Little Parachute Dressfrom equa clothing.com willguarantee you get noticed, whetheryou catch the bouquet or not! Madefrom 1950s parachute silk, it ispossible to order this dress in thesize and colour you prefer by calling020 7359 0955.

We adore this cute teadress from

Komodo.co.uk


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Meeting with the bossLooking for that big promotion?Adili.com has the answer with thisstunning shift dress that’s guaran-teed to give you theconfidence to secure the job. This

dress will take you from yourmeeting to the bar, for a fewcelebratory drinks afterwards!

Sweating it out in style!There are 50 treadmills in the gym,and that bronzed Brazilian beautyin her Kylie Minogue hotpants hasto use the one beside you. Typical!However, even if you can’t buy hertoned derriere (well not onlineanyway), you can cheat your way toit with a killer gym outfit. BambooClothing absorbs and evaporatessweat in a split second and is3-4 times more absorbant thancotton, ensuring you look and feelyour best. Just log on to www.bambooclothing.co.uk to browsethrough a comfortable, ethical andfashionable range of clothing for

every size and shape.

But exactly how accessibleis eco clothing?It seems that high street stores areindeed catching on to consumerdemand and supplying us with awider range of eco fashion,although I do think it will be a longtime before we see a 50:50 ratiocome into effect. I have found thatthe majority of stores supplyingethical clothing are based onlineonly. The relaunch of funky casualwear label Ascension this month atadili.com hopes to match the highstreet on style, quality and price.With printed Ts at £19, jeans at £45and funky hoodies at £38, this SoilAssociation Certified and SKALapproved collection proves fashioncan be stylish, ethical and afford-able.

However, women like to try onclothes, we like browsing and,detrimental as it is to our creditcards, we like to impulse buy! Yes,this can be done online, butpersonally I think you can’t beat agood old-fashioned shopping trip. IfAscension opened up next door toTopshop it would be my main portof call on payday! The problem isthat these stores won’t be openedwithout the demand fromconsumers, so it’s down to us toexpress an interest. The next timeyou hit the high street, ask if thestore has signed up to the EthicalTrading Initiative (ethicaltrade.org).The assistant may not know butdon’t be embarrassed to get themto find out, it’s the only way to sendthe message that consumers wantretailers to take responsibility for theway that clothes are made.

Other sites to check out:www.cielshop.co.ukwww.equaclothing.comwww.adili.comwww.peopletree.comwww.beyondskin.comwww.suigeneriscollection.co.uk

ecoideas loves......Enamore lingerie. This creativefashion label, which producesbeautiful clothing, lingerie andaccessories from organic andsustainable fabrics, debunks themyth that hemp undies areanything other than gorgeous! Allthe collections are currentlyproduced in the UK from organichemp, soya, cotton, silk andhand-selected vintage fabrics. Wealso love their super-cool styingand sexy models... who saidethical was boring!? For more infovisit www.enamore.org.uk.


p33 advert page V 18/8/08 16:25 Page 1

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Bringing up baby...the organic way

Margaret Durand looks at how to give your young child the best start in life with organic food

ecokids

Many parents worry that theydon’t have the time to makefresh food for baby once he

or she has been weaned off milk.Knowing that ‘you are what you eat’,it can be frightening to think aboutputting the wrong food into baby’sdelicate body. Babies need nutrientsto grow and develop.

Children’s developing immune, central-nervous and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable todamage from toxic chemicals.Traditional farming methods meanthat traces of pesticides are often lefton much of the food we eat.Worryingly for parents and carers,research has shown that childrenare especially vulnerable to these

toxins, as their blood, kidneys andliver are not developed enough toexcrete them. Even small amountsof pesticides can damage a child’slong-term health, so it pays to buyorganic food for baby as often aspossible.

The benefits of feeding baby withorganic food are numerous: • Babies who eat organic food are

not exposed to the pesticides inconventional foods, safeguardingtheir health and the wellbeing offuture generations. • The vegetables and fruits in

organic baby food are grown without pesticides. • Organic farmers build up their soil

through natural practices, creating a

healthy environment for growingcrops now and in the future. • Animals reared organically have

good living conditions and a healthydiet. • Organic producers get a better

price for organic food, which givesthem a more sustainable income.

Products for children, from vegetables to meat and from fruit topoultry, should ideally be organic toavoid the presence of pesticides,antibiotics and growth hormones. Ifyou’ve been feeding baby non-organic food, don’t panic! A study bythe Environmental Protection Agencyin 2005 showed that changing achild’s diet to organic reduced theamount of pesticides in the uuu

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body to an undetectable level afteronly five days. You can buy freshorganic produce from your local supermarket, farmer’s markets andcooperatives.

And if you are time-poor, don’tworry! There is lots of choice available in ready-made organicbaby food. Organix, a Dorset-basedcompany, produces a wide range ofbaby and toddler foods that areavailable in all major retailers suchas Asda, Waitrose, Tesco andSainsbury’s. You can also locatesome amazing tailor-made babyfood brands online. Ulula(www.ulula.co.uk) is based inNorfolk and provides a range of biodynamic organically and biologically certified food usingingredients from the verdant foothillsof the Swiss Alps. So Baby (www.so-baby.co.uk) is a Cheshire-basedcompany which produces hand-made, additive-free, certifiedorganic baby food, in addition to avery user-friendly and helpful

website featuring advice for parents.

You are not limited by choice in theorganic market, there are dozens ofbrands to choose from. There is noreason not to give baby the best, soget junior into organic now, he’llthank you in years to come!

Try to buy organic for more thanbaby’s food; baby’s delicate skinand developing immune system willbenefit greatly from contact with natural products. The following is a guide to organicbaby products that you should consider using:• Natural cotton nappies • Natural baby shampoo and baby

wash • Natural baby wipes • Natural skincare products • Natural suncream• Eco-friendly clothing • Organic baby powder

All products available fromwww.soorganic.com

ecoideas loves......Sarah Jane bibs (below). Madeout of baby-safe soft leather (abyproduct of the meat industry),they are a fab environmentalchoice for mums as one leather bibwill last for years, helping to reducewashloads of cotton bibs. £23.95from www.sarahjane.uk.com.We also adore the cardboard EcoCradle (above). Safe, light, easilyassembled and disassembled, it ismade from 60% recycled material.£54.99 at www.ecoutlet.co.uk.This cute and cuddly sheep (belowleft) is made with bamboo andorganic cotton. £15 from www.fairwindonline.com.

ecokids


p38 advert page C 18/8/08 16:31 Page 1

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Heavenly homeGive your house that

extra touch of glam

Mirror mirror...Add a contemporary look to your walls; £50www.fresh-cargo.co.uk

The scent of homePerfect for home, work andtravel; £4.95www.ecotopia.co.uk

Recycled kitchen jarsBrighten and tidy up yourkitchen; £4www.ecotopia.co.uk

Music to my earsMade from old vinyl records, each

coaster is unique; £49.99 for 2www.ecotopia.co.uk

You’ve been framedMade from recycled

juicepacks, also available in pink £7.99

www.ecoutlet.co.uk

Keeping it coolAlso keeps food warm at theflick of a switch; £24.99www.ecotopia.co.uk

Bowled overWe love this gorgeous

handwoven recycled mithi bowl; £14.99

www.ganesha.co.uk

p39 Homes Opener GL 18/8/08 19:29 Page 1

Keeping thegreen in clean

Margaret Durandsays goodbye tochemical cleaners

ecohomes

There’s a certain element ofpride attached to having aclean house. Your home

reflects on you and can be seen asan extension of your own style.Nobody wants a dirty home, butdid you know that some householdcleaning products are causinguntold damage to the environment?

Cleaning agents, such as phosphates and chlorine found in

detergents, formaldehyde andphthalates found in furniture polishand solvents found in many clean-ing products, make their way intothe soil, earth and water throughthe sink and toilet drains.

Alarmingly, the packaging fromthese products also contains tracesof these toxins which make theirway into the environment duringthe waste disposal process. The

toxins proceed to pollute water andair, killing aquatic life and causingdamage to humans, animals andplants that come into contact withthe affected elements. Similarly,pesticides used in the treatment ofwooden furniture and in domesticgardening can damage water andsoil. Frighteningly, there is also evidence to suggest that the veryuse of common products can damage health. For example,

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disinfectant products containingamine-based ingredients, such asammonium chloride, in addition toproducts with limonene or pineneused to create lemon and pinescents, can all aggravate asthma.

Luckily, there is a growing numberof cleaning products available onthe market that can help you toclean with confidence and a clearconscience. Some reputable brandsinclude Bio Logic, Ecover andNatural House, whose productranges include kitchen cleaner,hand soap and laundry detergent.Ecover is available from all majorsupermarkets and health foodstores as well as selling direct. Youcan order a wide range of provenproducts online from a variety ofmanufacturers such aswww.sonett.co.uk and www.soorganic.com and havethem delivered direct to your home.As all the ingredients for theseproducts are natural and readilyavailable, you could very easily andquickly make your own.

Seems like hard work? It’s actuallyeasier than you could imagine, justtake a look at the recipes on theright and make a shopping list fornatural cleaners. And even products that were around longbefore the green movement aregetting in on the act. Persil has produced Small & Mighty, which

uses less carbon, and OxiCleanstain remover is 100% chlorine anddye-free.

Furniture is not exactly an everydayexpense, but the decisions youmake can affect your life. Pesticidesand chemicals used to treat woodand make glue for furniture arepotentially hazardous to humansand some chemicals, such asformaldehyde, have even beenfound to have carcinogenic effects.So, the next time you go shoppingfor anything for your home, from asofa to a bed to home furnishings,it is worth taking the time to buyorganic. Untreated wood andpieces manufactured in a traditional way using sustainablematerial are the best options. Thereis a wide range of organic homefurniture available fromwww.chestofdrawers.co.uk whilewww.organicfurniture.co.uk provides bespoke pieces of gardenfurniture made in the traditionalway from solid Sussex oak.

While organic wood is good, bamboo is emerging as a wise andsustainable choice for your homeand garden. Bamboo is one of theworld’s most prolific and fastest-growing plants and is able to reachmaturity in about four years, compared to the typical 25 to 70years for commercial tree species.Why choose bamboo? It is nature’s

most sustainable resource, isgrown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradeable,and naturally regenerative, andwith the latest innovations for fashioning it into furniture, it lookspretty good too! So, whether you’repolishing the coffee table or replacing the sofa, have a thinkabout the difference a naturalchoice can make.

Recipes for natural cleaners• For kitchen floors: Mix 1/2 cupwhite vinegar with 8 pints hot waterin a bucket. This is safe for hard-wood, linoleum and tiles.• Washing dishes? Mix water andlemon juice (with a ratio of 3:1) in asmall spray bottle. Lemon juice isthe main ingredient in dishwashingdetergent because it is an excellentgrease fighter.• For an effective glass cleaner, goold school and put 1-2 tablespoonsof white vinegar mixed with 2 pintsof water in a spray bottle. • For clean, bright carpets sprinkle1/4 to 1/2 cup of cornstarch, let it sitfor 15-30 minutes, and then vacuum. • Chopping board dirty? Wipe cleanwith baking soda or lemon slices. • For clean ovens, mix 1 tablespoonof baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt,and add 1/2 cup hot water. Make a gritty paste, apply to the oven, heatslightly, cool and then wipe awaywith a damp rag.


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Most of us spend a fortuneon laundry products thatalso cost the earth. You can

spend a fraction of that money andlook after the planet in the processby simply using Soapnuts. They’vebeen used in India and Nepal forthousands of years and they’retechnically berries that come fromthe Sapindus Mukorossi tree. Justpop five or six soapnut shells into alittle bag or thin sock tied at the topand put them into the drum with theclothing. As there are no harshchemicals there’s no need for fabricsofteners and you can use thesame ones three times beforeputting them on the compost. Ahuge bag costs only around a fiverfrom www.inasoapnutshell.com

You can also boil up some soapnuts on the hob and makeyour own foaming detergent, whichhas a multitude of uses…now I amstarting to sound nuts!

Balls! Yes we’re talking laundryballs. They’re supercharged withionised pellets that change themolecular structure of the waterand draw dirt and grime away fromthe clothes. You’ll need two to popinto the drum with the clothes andas they don’t create ‘soap’ there’sno need for extra rinses or fabricsoftener. They help retain the colourin clothing, but won’t work on actualstains, so treat those first. You canbuy a pack of two with extra pelletsfrom www.ecoball.com for around£35 and they claim to do at least1,000 washes – it comparesadmirably with conventional detergents and there’s no allergiesor environmental concerns.

Drying the laundryThe obvious method for an eco drying session is to hang clothesoutside in the sunshine. We allknow the British weather often prevents that, but whenever there’sa dry day get your wet washingout! When there’s sunshine hangout your whites and spritz withlemon juice to freshen them up andget rid of even those immovablestains, the ones you thought wouldoutlive you.

Search your garage or scour localjunk shops and see if you can findan old-style top-loading spin dryer,you’ll be amazed how in two minutes it can squeeze all themoisture out of your laundry (even

after a hi-tech 1400 spin in your AArated washer/dryer) and reduceyour tumble drying bills considerably.

Freshen the airConventional air fresheners containa hair-raising number of potentiallytoxic chemicals and are terrible forthe environment. Research alsoshows that they contribute to therise in asthma and respiratoryproblems and can cause lethargyand headaches. Cheapest of all isto open a window, next best is putsome bicarbonate of soda into a little container, it helps to neutraliseodours but if you actually like a fragrance then get a plant spray,half fill with water and add a coupleof drops of your favourite essentialoil. Lavender, geranium and lemonwork well. Use tea tree oil or eucalyptus for an anti-bacterialfresh smell – and spritz to yourheart’s content.

Going nuts!By Janey Lee Grace, author of Imperfectly Natural Home


Grand green designsecohomes

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Decorating can be a greenminefield. Many paints, floorings and materials

contain toxic chemicals, while manyfurniture manufacturers use timberfrom unsustainable sources. Butbeing eco-friendly doesn’t have tocost the earth. With the help of theGrand Designs Live team we’ve puttogether our top tips for redecorating while keeping an eye on the environment…

Choose vintage furnitureOne of the best ways to ensure thatyour furniture is eco-friendly is topurchase vintage or antique furniture, preventing the pieces fromending up in a landfill and avoidingnew furniture manufacturing. Visitsecond-hand furniture or charityshops to find some real bargains.

If vintage isn’t really your thing, then

look for Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) certification, low volatile compounds (VOCs) and furnituremade from recycled or sustainablematerial. One Eco Home has somegreat stylish pieces and you canrest easy as all suppliers have topass an ‘eco test’ to ensure theyuse materials from sustainablesources. www.oneecohome.co.uk

Friends of the Earth has also compiled an informative GoodWood Guide to help consumersmake the best choice when buyingor using wood in DIY projects.www.foe.co.uk

Eco wallpaper There are some fantastic eco-friendly wallpapers on the market which are great for addinga vibrant touch to any room. Unlikeregular wall coverings, eco-friendly

wallpapers feature water-basedinks printed on chlorine-free paperobtained from sustainable purpose-built forests. Low-VOC adhesive canbe used for lightweight and medium weight paper-based wall decorations. When removing wallpaper use a steaming methodor toxin-free removing aid.

Eco-friendly wallpapers don’t haveto be expensive or traditional –Urbane Living has a great range ofwallpapers made from naturalmaterials in a variety of textures,colours and prices. www.urbaneliving.co.uk

FlooringBamboo is fast becoming a popularflooring material. Stronger than oak,stable, easy to work with, environmentally friendly and non-allergic, bamboo is a great

p44, 45 Homes tips 18/8/08 15:52 Page 2

ecoideashas teamed up with GrandDesigns Live to give away a pairof tickets to readers. To entersimply answer the followingquestion: Who is the presenter ofthe popular Channel 4 show,Grand Designs?

A) Kevin McCloudB) Sarah BeenyC) Phil Spencer and Kirsty Allsop

email your answer [email protected]

WIN!

alternative to hardwoods. ThePanda Flooring Company specialisein bamboo flooring which gives theappearance of hardwood.www.pandaflooring.co.uk

Rubber flooring is another option.Unique, durable, stylish and sustainable, rubber flooring is idealfor kitchens and bathrooms. Werecommend Dalsouple. www.dalsouple.com.

If you decide to opt for hardwoodsthen always use FSC-certified flooring as the wood is harvestedusing sustainable methods.Reclaimed wood floors are alsoanother option.

Check your fabricsThere are some fantastic fabrics outthere – search for eco-friendlymaterials when choosing soft furnishings. Upholstery, pillows anddrapes can be found in bamboo-based fabric as well as organic cotton and wool. If buying dyedfabric, look for environmentallyfriendly, solution-dyed fabrics. If you

do go for cotton, make sure it’sFairtrade.

Ensure rugs are made from recycled products and naturalmaterials. Floor coverings madefrom jute, wool, sisal, coconuthusks and sea grass are generallydurable, long-lasting and look fantastic. We recommendwww.greenshop.co.uk

Eco paintsThese paints have low VOCs for aneco-friendly way to decorate yourwalls. Not only will eco-friendlypaints help to protect the environment, they are guaranteednot to emit toxic gasses that cancontaminate the air inside yourhome. Try celebrity designer OliverHeath’s range of Eco Chic paints developed by Earthborn. The natural clay paints are available in18 different shades and leave anultra-matt, suede-like finish. Oliver will be at the Grand DesignsLive show in Birmingham to offer his expert advice on goinggreen.

The Aglaia Natural Paints range byNatural Paint Distribution is alsomade entirely from natural ingredients including minerals,beeswax and clove oil. They’verecently launched a new contemporary range comprisingvaried colours and also have a historic colour palette, perfect forperiod properties. www.naturalpaintsonline.co.uk

For more tips on eco-friendly interiors visit Grand Designs Live,www.granddesignslive.com, theUK’s number one consumer showfor design, build, interiors, homewares, gardens, kitchens,bathrooms and innovation. Morethan 500 exhibitors will showcasetheir products at the show at theNEC, Birmingham, from 10-12October. Celebrity experts, includingGrand Designs presenter, Kevin McCloud, will be on hand to provide advice to anyone interested in renovating their home.

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Heuga flooring is committed to completely eliminating the negative impact the company may have on the environment by 2020. www.heuga.com

p44, 45 Homes tips 18/8/08 15:52 Page 3

p46 advert page H 19/8/08 11:08 Page 1

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Drop that TV remote and try

out our top gardening products

Light upAdd a cool modern twist to your garden; £12 (set of 2)www.tearcraft.org

It’s a bugs lifeIdeal for hanging in a garden, house or orchard; £15www.ecotopia.co.uk

Get outdoors

Get organisedThe perfect horticultural companion: £15.95www.ectopia.co.uk

Going pottyMake use of your old newspapers; £8www.ecoutlet.co.uk

Kauna - phok mattressRelax in this hand-wovenkauna rush mattress; £99www.ganesha.co.uk

Growing painsAll you need to grow your ownsunflowers; £2.50www.ecotopia.co.uk

p47 Gardens opener GL 18/8/08 15:49 Page 1

Inever thought I’d become the typeof person who got competitiveabout gardening. Yet here I am,

feeling seriously inadequate aboutmy pumpkins. Things were going sowell this year, the little fellows wereshowing real promise and I wasalready gloating about the size mylanterns would be come Halloween.Then I spotted one growing uphill,already twice as big as mine andright by the path so everyone cansee it. Now I just feel like a completefailure and am afraid that I’ve beentaking it out on the veg. “Why can’tyou be more like that nice big onefrom up the hill?” I find myself saying. Where did I go wrong?

It must be karma for getting all highand mighty over that massive carrotfrom last year. I can still remember

pulling it out of the ground andsearching around the allotment forages to find someone to show it offto – a complete stranger in the end,the poor guy had to put up with aquarter of an hour of me harpingon about the mighty root. Pridecomes before a fall, I suppose.

It’s not just the size of my veggies,I’m beginning to worry about presentation, too. Some gardensare absolutely flawless, planned seamlessly so that never an inch ofground is bare. I’m convinced thatpeople go out there with vacuumcleaners because everything isimmaculate; you wouldn’t guessthat it was all born of mud.

Gardening used to be a liberating,messy and playful pastime. I was a

happy amateur with gaps in mybeds and radishes you could breakyour teeth on. Now as each seasonpasses I feel under pressure tomaintain standards. I need tomeasure up, especially againstsome of these ‘new kids on the plot’who are, quite frankly, putting me toshame.

Take the winners of this year’s MostImproved Allotment, for example.Lovely couple; heroically cut backeight feet of bramble and eradicated the knotweed. A shedgoes up and beds go in within theirfirst season. Quite an achievement and yet all Ican think about is how scruffy itmakes my plot look and that it’s allright for some with their cordlesspower tools.

48

Green-eyedmonster

It’s rakes at dawn for Katy Ladbrook asshe eyes her neighbours’ allottments...

ecogardens

p48, 49 Garden Feature 18/8/08 15:48 Page 2

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What’s happened to me? I neverused to bother about these thingsand now I find ideas of sabotageentering my imagination. I think thatbehind all that cheery camaraderiethere is unspoken competitionbetween gardeners. We tell ourselves that size doesn’t matter,that looks don’t count, but if we’rehonest it lifts our spirits when wesee that we’re doing better thansomeone else.

I don’t need to be alpha gardenerand lord it over people, I just want tobe able to hold my own. You canclose the door on housework, buteveryone can see your garden withits wonky leeks and floppy daffodils.It’s war out there, and you need tobe tactical. Arm yourself with thesetop tips for keeping up appearances.

• Arrange your beds so that perennials grow in the most visible“shop window” areas of your garden. A herb patch or row of fruitbushes require little attention andcan be counted on to look tidy andproductive with minimal effort.

• Cover unused areas with a permeable barrier or mulch so thatit stays weed-free until you areready to use it. Even if you’re notintending to get round to using it thisyear, it will look as if you are!

• Be a rebel and germinate yourplants ahead of the sow-by date toget a head start. Seedlings are perfectly happy on a windowsill untilMarch and under glass until the lastfrost. You can be all smug as youbring out three-month-old plantswhile your neighbours are just getting started.

• Some plants can always be reliedupon to deliver the goods. MorningGlory climbs like the clappers andBusy Lizzies spread beautifully, both

producing lovely flowers. Radishand lettuce are good quick fixes fora vegetable plot, with a bit of luckthey can go from seed to harvest in4-5 weeks.

• Plant up lots of pots and growbags as well as your beds. As theseasons progress you can movethem about to boost parts of thegarden that are looking a bit sad. It’sthe gardening equivalent of covering a bald spot.

p48, 49 Garden Feature 18/8/08 15:48 Page 3

p50 advert page N 19/8/08 10:56 Page 1

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Getting oatyThese tasty treats are great as a quicksnack; £1.99 www.nairns.com

Feeling fruity100% natural and available

in three flavours; £4.10 www.belvoirfruitfarm.co.uk

Tea timeA great tea/coffee

alternative; £1.39 www.birtandtang.com

Healthy snackRefuel with a Seeds

of Change cereal bar;£1.69 for a pack of 6

www.seedsofchange.com

Just dessertsThis fat free yogurt is new fromYeo Organic; £1.60www.yeovalleyorganic.co.uk

Top treats

Choc fixA selection of yummychocs in a biodegradable boxwww.lilyobriens.ie

A taste of flavourThis yummy pesto is perfect

for adding to a pasta dish; £2.89 www.essential-trading.coop

Get stuck into this delicious food and drink

Browsing the food aisles in M&S can be just as detrimental to your wallet as

having a walk around Harvey Nicks,and with a grumbling tummy, thatready-made dinner can be just astempting as the little black dress inthe window display! Often you go in knowing what you want and comeout with everything except the onething that you went in for!

Get planningThe key is to plan your weekly shopand figure out what exactly you canget cheap and what you need tospend a bit more money on; this

way you can economise on yourshopping bill and waste less food.Start by checking your fridge, freezerand store cupboard so you don’tshop for things you already have,and then you can get started onyour weekly list. Once you have yourlist made, you will find that it’s a lotless time consuming, especially ifyou are moving from shop to shopto get your food.

Follow these tips to ensure that youdon’t throw your money away withyour food each week:

• Buy whole chicken instead of

chicken breast. It’s amazing howmany meals you can get from one chicken! If you enjoy a roast onSunday, the remains of the jointwould make a great curry or a delicious risotto later in the weekand you’ll always find enough for asandwich. If you have time, the carcass can also be boiled to makestock and soups. Plus, by gettingmore meals out of each bird, youcan afford to buy organic.

• With a little bit of thought, you cancreate some delicious surprisesfrom your leftovers. That stale loafcan be blitzed in the food processor

52

Waste not, want notGrainne Logue looks at how to make the right choices when out food shopping

ecofood

p52, 53 Food feature 18/8/08 15:43 Page 2

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to make breadcrumbs, which canbe stored in the freezer. The samecan be done with cake or biscuitsand used as a topping for crumblesand puddings.

• Meat, fish and ready meals areoften the most expensive things webuy, so it helps to get into the habitof regularly checking the dates onperishable items in your fridge.Move them into the freezer if youdon’t think you’ll have time to eatthem or cook them for tonight’s supper.

• Have a root through the cupboardto create meals from leftovers. Anyspare fresh tomatoes could beadded to some canned ones tomake a great topping for pizza. Ricewould turn leftover chicken andwrinkly peppers into a delicioussummer salad. Add a tin of lentils toyour minced meat to make it stretchfurther.

• Did you know we waste a staggering seven million slices ofbread in the UK every day? If youenjoy hot buttered toast, keep aready sliced loaf in the freezer,which can go straight into the toaster when you want a piece.Large whole loaves of bread can becut in half and one frozen for later inthe week. You’ll be surprised howeasy it is to save money just bybeing more careful with your portions.

• By reducing the amount of foodyou waste you are also reducing theamount of waste you produce.

According to www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, around a third of all thefood we buy ends up being thrownin the bin and most of this couldhave been eaten. Reducing foodwaste is a major issue and not justabout good food going to waste;wasting food costs the average family £420 a year and has seriousenvironmental implications, too. Ifwe all stop wasting food that couldhave been eaten, the CO2 impactwould be the equivalent of takingone in five cars off the road.

Why not grow your own?It’s 5pm on Sunday evening, youdon’t have enough veg for dinner,and the shop down the road isclosed, so it’s a 10-mile trip into townor pasta for you tonight. But wouldn’tit be great if you could pick your dinner from your own backyard?

There’s no reason why anybody withaccess to a few square feet of outdoor space shouldn’t have a goat growing their own organic vegetables. Anybody with even amodest vegetable garden can growhealthy organic vegetables at muchlower cost than those at the localsupermarket, and it has to be saidthat they are noticeably tastierpicked straight from the garden.Some of the easiest crops to grow(in our climate) are: lettuce, radish,courgettes, squash, beans, onions,leeks, broccoli, carrots, parsnips andpotatoes. Makes you hungry justreading it, doesn’t it!

So turn off the TV, pull on some oldclothes and start digging!

ecoideas loves......Loch Fyne. Too tired to cook?Really can’t be bothered shopping? Well there is thecheat’s solution... order in! Theymight be members of the SlowFood Movement, but you cannow have a scrummy Loch Fyneorganic hamper deliveredstraight to your door. Choosefrom fresh fish, smoked fish, oysters, venison or the larderrange of patés, soups, fishcakes,cheese, etc. And what’s more, 3%of the value of your order will bedonated to the Loch Fyne Trustwhich is dedicated to protectingthe marine life of Loch Fyne. Formore info call 01499 600470 orvisit www.lochfyne.com.

p52, 53 Food feature 18/8/08 15:43 Page 3

What runs through your mindwhen you’re deciding which wineto opt for? Taste? Volume? Price?Does the company’s ethical stanceplay any part in your decision?More and more consumers arenow becoming socially responsibleand making ethical food choices;we care about where our foodcomes from and the impact it hason the environment. Why shouldn’tthe same apply to the glass ofwine that accompanies ourevening meal? There are producers that care about the environment and about their workers. Some are willing to payfor certification for organic, biodynamic or Fairtrade status andthey need to be supported in this.The following are things to considerwhen buying your bottle:

FairtradeThis is a word that’s on everyone’slips at the moment. Usually appliedto commodity products such ascoffee or tea, there are nowFairtrade wines, which guarantee aliving wage to the farm workers incountries such as South Africa,Chile and Argentina. Fairtrade wine

is still not readily available in theUK and can be hard to track down,but the fact is that this won’tchange until consumer awarenesshas increased and the demand isthere. Licence fees for the Fairtradelogo are about 1.8% of the netsales value according to theFairtrade Foundation website andthis is a huge obstacle for manywine producers.

OrganicOrganic wine is generally madefrom organically grown grapes –from vineyards that have not beentreated with man-made chemicalfertilisers, weedicides and pesticides. However, it’s importantto be quite selective when optingfor an organic wine. It can be ofbad quality as there is anincreased risk of rot-affectedgrapes, which, if not discarded, willresult in off-flavours in the wine.

Food miles and carbon footprintResearchers have found that lessenergy is spent transporting foodthan in producing it – only around2% of the environmental impact offood comes from transporting it

from farm to shop. However forwine it could be as much as 34%,depending on the distance andmethod of travel. Purchasing locally-produced wines will play amajor part in reducing your carbonfootprint. Opting for organic winesmay also help as a recent Italianstudy has suggested that an organic wine’s carbon footprint ishalf that of a conventional winebecause fewer chemicals areused.

Biodiverse winesBiodiversity isn’t top of the consumer awareness list, but thatdoesn’t make it any less important.It refers to all the genes, species, ecosystems and processes thatallow life to persist over time. Whenbiodiversity is intact, species andecosystems are resilient, enablingthem to adapt to environmentalchanges. Wines of South Africa(WOSA) is a non-for-profit industrybody committed to sustainabilitywithin the winemaking regions ofSouth Africa. Their goal is to minimise the further loss of threatened natural habitat, and tocontribute to sustainable wine

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10 green bottles......which one to choose?

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production, through the adoption of biodiversity guidelinesby the South African wine industry.

Our favouritesBelow from left to right: Argentinian Torrontes, £67.70 (for 12) from TraidcraftL’Olivier de la Rèze Minervois Red, £6.64 from Tesco Bookers Vineyard Autumn Spice 2007, available fromWaitrose, Tesco, Booths and OcadoBoschendal Rose 2007, £48 (for 6) from TescoErrazuriz Organics Cabernet Sauvignon, £9.99 fromOddbinsFonseca Terra Prima Organic Port, £11.99 fromSainsbury’s and WaitroseL’Olivier de la Rèze Minervois White, £6.64 from Tesco Familia Zuccardi Organica Bonarda Sangiovese, £6.99from WaitroseBookers Vineyard Dark Harvest 2007, available fromWaitrose, Tesco, Booths and OcadoSpier Inspire Sauvignon Blanc 2005, £5.99 from Asda

PackagingA 2007 report from Marks & Spencer states that they use “around 79,000tonnes of food packaging annually of which 25,000 tonnes is glass, mainlywine bottles”. According to the Waste & Resources Action Programme, the problem is that the majority of wine bottles are made from green glass rather than clear flint glass and there is not enough high value, domestic demand for green glass waste in the UK. So although it is recyclable, it is not being recycled. To tackle this problem WRAP has launched GlassRite, an initiative to encourage the drinks industry to use lighter weight glass. Tesco already claim to be making headway with this, by reducing their annual glass usage by 2,600 tonnes from one single wine supplier by switching to lighter glass bottles – a 15% saving.

p54, 55 Green Glass 18/8/08 15:41 Page 3

uu Sonop PinotagePinotage is a red grape unique to SouthAfrica, and is a cross between the PinotNoir and Cinsault grapes. The SonopWine Estate grows all grapes to international organic standards, andthe owners support local workers,earning them the Fairtrade symbol.This wine has a soft and generousstyle, with plenty of damson fruitflavours and a rich finish that is ideal for drinking with most foods.Price £6.25

Whatwine?

57

ecodrink

qq Live A Little redThis is a lovely soft and juicy Shiraz winemade from organic, Fairtrade grapes. Aswith the white and rosé in this range, LiveA Little wines are designed with no pretences in mind – just made for drinkingany time, any place, with friends! Youdon’t even need a proper wine glass toappreciate these wines – just a tumblerwill suffice, so pour and enjoy the richfruitiness of this wine.Price £5.65

tt Sonop ChardonnayThis international white grape hasbeen grown at the Sonop estate, inSouth Africa, to international organicstandards. It makes for a light, fruit-driven wine, which is perfect forsummer drinking – with salads andlight meats or fish. Along with allwines from the Sonop Wine Estate, it isalso Fairtrade, as the vineyard’s workers directly benefit from the salesof this wine. Families living at Sonopnow own 12 hectares of land and thehouses on it, with a percentage ofearnings going directly back into thecommunity, for such initiiatives asschooling and building projects.Price £6.50

pp Live A Little whiteAnother Fairtrade and organicallly produced wine from South Africa – thistime made from two white grapes –Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. It ismade in an upfront and fruity style, sothat it is easy to drink by itself or withmost foods. It comes from the StellarWinery which is situated 275 kilometresnorth of Cape Town on the road toNamibia. It is a joint venture between four farmers and the cellar, where theycrush more than 1,000 tonnes of organic grapes each year, making it the largest organic grower in the country.Price £5.65

Vintage Roots has specialised in organicwines for more than 20years but these fourfavourites are Fairtradetoo... even better!

p57 What wine 18/8/08 19:31 Page 1

Dining inImpress your friends by whipping up these mouth-wateringdinner treats from Albert Bartlett and Hugo Woolley

ecofood

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Linguine with potatoes and broccoli Serves 2

Ingredients5 tbsp extra virgin olive oillgrated zest & juice 1/2 lemon2 tbsp pine nuts2 medium rooster potatoes200g dried linguine225g broccolihandful basil leavesgrated parmesan, to serve

Meetthhoodd1. Heat 1 tsp of olive oil, add thepine nuts and cook over a mediumheat until golden.2. Pour the rest of the oilve oil intoa bowl, add the lemon zest andjuice, season and whisk together.3. Cut the potatoes into cubes andboil for 5 mins in salted water.4. Add the pasta and continue tobboil for 4 mins. Add broccoli florets,cook for 3-4 mins.5. Drain and return to the pan, addthe pine nuts, olive oil and basil.Serve on warmed plates with grated parmesan.

Grilled halloumi with peasand broad beans Serves 4

Ingredients200g frozen garden peas150g shelled broad beans3 tbsp pine nuts2 x 250g halloumi cheese2 spring onions2 large handfuls rocketFor the dressing: 5 tbsp olive oilJuice of 1 lemon1 tsp caster sugar1 small clove garlicsea salt and black pepper1 tbsp of fresh mint1 mild red chilli

Meetthhoodd1. Boil beans and peas separatelyfor 3 - 4 mins then drain and coolunder cold water.2. Mix with spring onions.3. Dry roast the pine nuts and addto the pea/bean mixture.4. Dressing: Mix all ingredientstogether and set aside.5. Grill the halloumi for 2 min oneach side until slightly browned.6. Season with pepper.

Italian potato and beansalad Serves 4

Ingredients75g thin green beans, trimmed350g small rooster potatoes175g cherry tomatoes1 small red onion, slicedsmall handful basil leavesFor the dressing:4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 tsp red wine vinegar1/2 tsp Dijon mustardsalt and pepper

Meetthhoodd1. Boil the beans for 4 mins, drainand transfer to a bowl of coldwater to cool.2. Cook the potatoes for 12 mins oruntil tender and put the ingredientsfor the dressing into a bowl andwhisk together.3. Drain potatoes, remove skinsand slice quickly. Add to the dressing while still warm and tosstogether. Allow to cool.4. Cut tomatoes into quarters andadd to cooled potatoes. Drain thebeans and cut into 2.5cm lengthsand add to the salad.

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Potato gnocchi with watercress pestoServes 4

Ingredients900g rooster potatoes200g plain flour1 med lightly beaten eggFor the watercress pesto:1 bunch of washed watercress2 garlic cloves1 tsp of coarse sea salt40g shelled walnuts90ml extra virgin olive oil25g grated parmesan1 tsp of soft goats cheeseparmesan shavings, to serve

Meetthhoodd1. Cut potatoes into even-sizedpieces, cook for 15 mins.2. Watercress pesto: Trim the stalksfrom watercress, dry and put in afood processcor with the garlic,salt and walnuts. Pulse until finelychopped.3. Add oil and cheeses. Give themixture a quick blitz until blended.4. Drain potatoes and push thougha potato ricer into a bowl.5. Add flour and egg, form asmooth, soft dough. Roll it into aball 2cm in diameter, then cut into2cm lengths. Place on tray.7. Add gnocchi to a large pan ofboiled water, poach for 2-3 mins.8. Add pesto and mix together,serve with parmesan shavings andextra watercress.

One pot lamb casseroleServes 4

Ingredients650g lamb neck fillet, diced2 tbsp plain flour2 tbsp vegetable oil12 button onions or shallots1 carrot, peeled and diced1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tin chopped tomatoes2 tsp runny honey400 ml chicken stock200g baby new potatoes250g frozen peas1 tbsp mint, finely chopped

Meetthhoodd1. Preheat the oven to1800C/3500F/Gas Mark 4.2. Season the flour and toss in thelamb. Heat the oil and brown thelamb pieces in batches. Set asideand add the button onions andcarrot.3. Cook for 5 - 10 mins until goldenbrown, add cinnamon and cookfor another minute.4. Add the chopped tomatoes,honey and stock, stirring well, andbring to boil.5. Return lamb to the pan, addnew potatoes and season.6. Cover and cook for 1 hr 20minsuntil the lamb is tender.7. Remove from the oven and stirthrough the frozen peas, add a little more stock if necessary. Cookfor a further 5 mins.8. Sprinkle with the chopped mintand serve.

Tuscan bean and tomatosoupServes 4 - 6

Ingredients90ml extra virgin olive oil1 medium onion2 celery stalks1 medium carrot2 garlic cloves2 tomatoes2 x 400g cans cannellini beans1 ltr vegetable stock400g rooster potatoessmall chopped bunch parsleygrated parmesan, to serve

Meetthhoodd1. Heat 4tsp of the oil and add thechopped vegetables (except thetomatoes). Allow to soften over amedium heat for 5mins.2. Add the chopped tomatoes andcook for another 10 mins.3. Rinse and drain the beans. Putthree-quarters into a food processor with 300ml of the stock.Blend until the texture is a coarsepuree.4. Peel the potatoes and cut into 1cm dice. Add to the pan with theremaining stock and simmer for 10mins.5. Add the puree and reservedcannellini beans. Simmer for 5mins or until the potatoes are tender.6. Season and stir in parsley.7. Ladle into bowls, drizzle with oiland serve scattered with gratedparmesan.

p58, 59 Recipes GL 19/8/08 11:38 Page 3

p60 Intrepid Travel 18/8/08 15:39 Page 1

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Stay sun safeEdelweiss Sun Lotion SPF15with tan accelerator; £15.99www.greenpeople.co.uk

Powered upThis duracell charger wasnamed 2008 product ofthe year; £9.99www.duracell.com

Cool campingFor all your camping needs; £14.95www.coolcamping.co.uk

p61 Travel opener 18/8/08 19:23 Page 1

Volunteers wanted...... for the experience of a lifetime

Grainne Logueexplores the world of working holidays

ecotravel

Want to get a lot more out ofyour holiday than a stripysuntan? More and more

people are shunning the temptationof luxury holidays in favour of volunteering abroad. If you’re sickof the daily grind and starting tofeel like the world is moving alongwithout you, then this could be yourchance to start making a difference.

As most people will organise sponsorship for their trip, volunteering can also prove to bevery inexpensive. Most volunteer organisations willcharge a set fee for the programme, which includes food,room and supervision for the volunteers from the very beginningof their trip.

Choose the right experience for youSo you want something a bit out ofthe ordinary… then why not join theAfrican Conversation Experience?You could end up hand-rearingbaby warthogs and lion cubs, identifying dangerous species,horse-riding by moonlight, gametracking and learning how to drivea 4x4 or shoot a rifle in the bush -

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as well as sleeping out under thestars to a background noise of lionroars and hyena cackles. Prices range start from £995 pp fortwo weeks, which covers all accommodation, all meals and allproject-related costs; however, youcan book for up to 12 weeks. Flight inclusive packages are also available.

Are you good with children? Then afew weeks/months helping out inan orphanage could be ideal.Children are often the hardest hit bydisasters or poverty. TheVolunteering in Nepal OrphanageProject is a life-changing experience for both volunteers andthe children themselves. Theorphanages usually accommodate20 – 30 boys and girls agedbetween three and 15 years of age.This isn’t your standard babysittingfor the neighbours lark though, itentails everything from playinggames to teaching English andhow to use computers. Any skillsyou have will be used, no matterhow small or insignificant they mayseem to you right now.

If you’re still not sure about whattype of volunteering would suit you,then log on to www.gvi.com for amountain of information. GlobalVision International was formed in1998 to provide support and services to international charities,non-profit organisations and governmental agencies through volunteering opportunities anddirect funding. It offers exceptionaltraining and career developmentopportunities and facilitates the ability to make a real difference.GVI is a non-political, non-religiousorganisation, which through itsalliance with more than 150 projectpatrons in more than 30 countriesprovides opportunities for

volunteers to fill a critical void in thefields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development.

Keeping your travel greenMany travel companies are nowtaking responsibility for their impacton the environment. Hands UpHolidays offers a selection of 158trips to 36 destinations, blendingtravel with meaningful volunteeringexperiences. Also, you can travelwith a clear conscience as HandsUp Holidays is a member of theEthical Tour Operators Group andan affiliate member of Green Globe(an environmental standards organisation). To offset any carbonomissions from your travel, the company pays to have trees planted and for other energy efficient solutions to be provided forguests. Hands Up Holidays MDChristopher Hill explained: “Weknow that our holidays won’tchange the world, but that shouldnot be an excuse for not trying, fornot making a contribution.”

The essentialsAs many people are daunted at thethought of all the organisationinvolved, Volunteerworkabroad.netgives the following preparation tipsto ensure everything runs smoothly:

• Prepare your passport and checkif you will need a visa. You mustdecide if you need a travel or atourist visa – this really depends onwhere you’re going as visa requirements vary from country tocountry. It is a good idea to contactthe consulate of the country youplan to volunteer in, to find outabout any travel restrictions.

• Check on the medical requirements of the country you areplanning to visit. Some international

programmes require an AIDS testas well as other physical tests.Many also require malaria vaccinations and so on. If youwear glasses and contact lenses,make sure to bring extra pair, justin case.

• Prepare your traveller’s cheques.This is still one of the safest ways tocarry money and is accepted inmost countries… but do checkbefore you travel. If you decide tobring credit cards, keep them in asafe place.

• When you pack, pack light. Don’tbring anything that is valuable toyou, instead pack clothes that youare happy to leave behind. Dobring a journal and some photosfrom home. You may want to writeabout your experiences and localpeople will be curious about whereyou are from.

ecoideas loves......Intrepid Travel. For travellerswith a yearning to get off thebeaten track, Intrepid opens up awhole new world of possibilities.With a huge variety of tours available, travellers can explorethe world's most amazing places:from the back streets of Asia andthe wilds of Africa, to the colourful landscapes of LatinAmerica. The core of each volunteering project is buildingwork in a village. This is the mosttangible contribution to the hostcommunity. Those less keen onheavy building work usually takeup the lighter, but equally important, work such as paintingor plastering. For more info visitwww.intrepidtravel.com.


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I recently started a placement atSepilok Orang Utan RehabilitationCentre in Sandakan, Sabah,Malaysian Borneo. The experienceso far can only be described asamazing.

I booked my project here throughan organisation called TravellersWorldwide. I found them on theinternet and did all my bookingonline. After filling out a few formsand talking to some of the co-ordinators in the company onthe phone, everything was in place.

Our placement officially started on12 July. After arriving in KotaKinabalu at the start of July mygroup was given a week to get toknow each other and to recoverfrom jet lag. There are 12 people inthe group – all women, but the project is open to men, too!

For work we are divided into fourgroups of three and work in different sections of the centre on anine-day basis. After working fornine days in a row we are giventhree or four days off. We have alocal guide who books tours toplaces like Gomantong Caves andSipidana (a top diving spot) for uson our days off. We also have freedays to do what we like.

I am currently on my second slot ofnine days of work. I started in theoutdoor nursery, which is where wework with Orang Utans who are inthe process of learning how to liveout in the forest around the reserve.Our work is mainly to assist therangers with bringing bananas andfruit out to various platforms aroundthe forest for the Orang Utans toeat. It was wonderful being able tosit with the Orangs and learn howto distinguish them from each otherover the nine days. We could watchthem in their natural setting, climbing trees and building nests. I enjoyed this part as it involvedmore observing than hands-onwork.

I have just started nine days of jungle trekking, doing surveys onOrang Utan nests in the area andtaking part in a small mammals survey and nocturnal surveys. It’svery peaceful walking in the forestwith a constant buzz of insects andbirds around us!

The other two placements I will bedoing will be in the clinic with thebabies and in the Rasa Ria resort atthe Nature Interpretation Centre inKota Kinabalu.

Travellers Worldwide have beengreat. I had the choice of havingthem book my flights as well asorganising insurance. The staff athome were very helpful and the

co-ordinators out here in Borneomade us feel welcome and at easestraight away. The staff at Sepilokare very warm and friendly towardsall of us and seem to value the volunteers as there is a lot of workto be done!

I would definitely recommend volunteering abroad to anyone whowas considering it. As the placements can be long, you reallyget to settle in with the local community. We live in a rest houseat the gates of Sepilok and it feelslike home already!

I would advise people thinkingabout volunteering abroad to shoparound on the internet. If you havepicked a project, do some researchon it. Research the area you wantto go to and learn about local customs. The local people appreciate it when you make theeffort to learn some phrases in theirlanguage. Most importantly, go withan open mind. My project is notwhat I expected it to be, there aredownsides too. But I want to give itmy all so that I leave here with thebest memories possible.

If you are worried about travellingalone, don’t be. You will meet like-minded people on your trip and willmake many friends. Every person inmy group came here alone.

Bon voyage!

My journey by Selina Campbell


Never miss an issue! Subscribe to your ecoideas online atwww.ecoideasmagazine.com

p65 advert page O 18/8/08 15:35 Page 1

The Karm Marg orphanage wasestablished 12 years ago togive a home and support to

the street children of New Delhi.Now run by the older children andtheir peers, the orphanage givesrefuge to many children who otherwise would be begging, working or selling their bodies onthe street to get money to survive.

Matt spoke to Shared Earth founderJeremy Piercy who agreed todonate a large hand-made wallhanging as a prize for a rafflewhich later raised more than £360.Matt was already due to travel toIndia with the Shared Earth productdevelopment team earlier this yearand was delighted to present thefunds and meet some of the children face to face.

“Because many of us have met theartisans and visited handicraftworkshops, we feel so much morepassionate about it. It’s definitely this

ethos thatdrives uson, andbuying our products gives customers a feel-good factor, knowing that theirpurchase is making a difference,”explained Matt.

The Shared Earth team arrived atthe orphanage just in time to enjoya puppet show organised by one ofShared Earth’s suppliers, and todance and sing with the childrenwho were welcoming and eager totry out their English.

The Karm Marg project is funded bya combination of Shared Earth andtheir suppliers within Fairtrade tohelp give disadvantaged children agood start in life. The children’s education includes learning Englishand children aged 15+ help in theKarm Marg onsite workshops,which give them skills to use infuture careers.

Back in Bristol, Matt and his teamrecently achieved 100% in their second mystery shopping examination. “I think the reportshows how much all the staff loveworking here and how much we allbelieve in Fairtrade. Shared Earthhas a real family feel to it and weare all keen to give customers thebest experience possible,” he said.

The Bristol Shared Earth store is oneof seven in the UK that works with40 producers in 15 countries. Tohelp staff understand the impactthat the products they sell have onworldwide communities, SharedEarth has regular visits to overseas producers and often takes staffmembers with them. Visitwww.sharedearthnewsandmedia.co.uk to read further recollectionsabout the impact of Fairtradearound the world.

66

A caring,sharing

approachBristol Shared Earth shop manager

Matt Kent was so moved upon hearing about a

colleague’s visit to an Indianorphanage that he decided to do

something to help out.

ecotravel

p66 Shared Earth 18/8/08 15:34 Page 2

"Amazing space"Circomedia's new home in Portland Square, Bristol is

a breathtaking and inspirational space available for hire.Suitable for a variety of uses including:

Meetings • Workshops • Parties • Conferences• Wedding receptions • etc.

Entertainment and circus activities available

For further information or to arrange a viewing please contact Jo on 0117 924 7615 or [email protected]

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p67 advert page F 19/8/08 11:01 Page 1

68

Ben Wickins gets to grips with

environmentalmicrofinance

ecoadvice

As the popularity of eco fashion continues to grow,with online retailers selling

hemp socks and organic cottonteatowels springing up on the internet on an hourly basis, it maybe surprising to learn that the Westis actually years behind the developing world in this! Wherenew clothes, shoes or bags areprohibitively expensive, recyclingwaste is the only means most people have to acquire the goodsthey need. Here at home it might befashionable to buy T-shirts madefrom recycled plastic bottles fromretailers such as Waste Products,but it is a matter of survival to manyelsewhere.

Small local businesses in the

developing world also play theirpart. They harness the endlessstream of plastic bottles, rice sacks,tyres and scrap metal to sellimproved tools and consumergoods to their community andrelieve some of the strain on theirenvironment. But despite fulfillingsuch an important ecological andfinancial service, these businessesoften struggle to accumulate thecapitol to start off. This is wheremicrofinance helps.

Take, for example, Oikocredit, amicrofinance organisation whichworks by giving out small loans ofas little as £20 to help small businesses in the developing worldget off the ground. These fundsoriginally come from investors in

Europe, from people wanting toinvest in an ideologically and environmentally sensitive business.Because of the organisation of thelocal lending groups, repaymentrates are around 95% – much higher than commercial loans,making investment in a microfinance organisation a verysound proposition.

So how does this benefit the environment? Let’s take the example of Lesing Abatayo, anentrepreneur from Jaclupan in thePhilippines. After her husband lefther, she began to collect plastic andsardine tins to recycle in return for awage barely sufficient to subsist on.Then, in August of 2002, she tookout a microfinance loan of $60 to

Can yourcash save

the planet?

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purchase 1,200 used cementbags destined to be dumped onthe local ecosystem. She and herdaughter turned these sacks intoshopping bags to sell at the market. This venture was so successful that after only threemonths she had to take on additional staff to meet thedemand of more than 3,600bags per week. Over the next 18months her income increased by700% and the bags that wouldotherwise have posed a threat tothe stability of the local environment now carry fruit andvegetables from the market. Thisproduce would otherwise havebeen held in a plastic bag, adepressingly common sight inSouth East Asia not only in themarket place but in rivers andstreams and the branches oftrees where they pose a threat towildlife. The economic and ecological success of LesingAbatayo is down to investors inthe Western world and microfinance organisations.

While the ecological success ofmicrofinance ventures may be aby-product of the main goal ofgetting families out of poverty, theeducation of children is often themost pressing concern of borrowers. Environmental education is growing in developing nations like Thailandand Cambodia where the majority of people still live in ruralareas and work the land for a living. Through investments bymicrofinance organisations,

families are able to start businesses in order to pay fortheir children’s education. Insteadof relying on expensive fertilisers,children are now taught that thebest way to improve the soil iswith animal manure, which canbe sourced locally. This cheapand readily available resource ismuch less damaging to theecosystem as nitrates are lesslikely to leach into the river systemand cause the growth of toxicalgae. In this way, microfinance is again helping the environmentas it helps poor families.

So what can you do? An investment in organisations suchas Oikocredit, AfriCap and SKSgoes entirely to helping some ofthe world’s poorest people andfor whom microfinance is the onlychance of escaping poverty.An investment of £500 over fiveyears will get five families out ofpoverty. This is an astonishingstatistic, especially given that theonly thing it will cost the investoris the difference in interest paidby a commercial bank and theinterest paid by the microfinanceorganisation (around 5% withOikocredit). This is how microfinance is fundamentally different to charity and representsthe only sustainable way toreduce poverty.

And it is self-perpetuating, as themoney you invest is just the start.It continues to be loaned out andrepaid with interest that can inturn help yet more families.

Workers, right, who havebenefitted from help fromthe Fairtrade Foundation.

Your money could helphundreds like them

p68, 69 Microfinance 18/8/08 15:33 Page 3

70

Work smarterGrainne Logue finds out how to be greener in the workplace

ecoadvice

You don’t have to be vegan tobe a vet, and your office doesn’t have to be

eco-oriented to be eco-friendly. Withthe rising popularity of greenerhomes it’s only logical that the trendshould continue into the office.

Unfortunately, many business owners believe that switching to amore eco-friendly office will be troublesome and expensive, not tomention time-consuming. However,while environmentally friendly products can be more expensive topurchase, they can save you andyour business a substantial amount

of money in the long run. For example, high efficiency light bulbscost 75% less to run than standardlight bulbs and will last 10 timeslonger. Also, don’t forget to turn offthe lights when you head home forthe evening, as well as computers,fax machines and other electronicdevices. Increasing numbers ofpeople are demanding that thosethey do business with have an ecoconscience, so making eco-friendlychanges in your office may have animpact on your potential clientele,as well as the environment.

If you don’t know where to start, just

go back to basics with the first andmost obvious solution – recycling.Even though the concept isn’t new, itdoesn’t mean that it is any lessimportant. The fact is that businesses, small or large, use a lotof paper and for every tonne ofpaper we recycle, we save 17 trees,42,000 kilowatts of electricity,26,000 litres of water and 27 kilograms of air pollutants. Youshould also consider cutting out anyunnecessary items that end up inyour recycling bins. Encourage youroffice to purchase recycled paperand envelopes with 100% post-consumer content and no chlorine

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bleaching. When printing, use twosheets to a page and make double-sided copies. Have you ever printedout more than 10 pages when youonly really needed seven? Well, acompany called Green Print has created a solution that allows you tomaximise the available print space.It allows you to decide what to printso you only waste as much paperas you need to. Unfortunately, GreenPrint currently only runs onMicrosoft-based systems, so whilethis will cover more than 90% of computers, it won’t help businessesthat run on Macs.

Think twice about your commute.Why not walk, cycle or hop on thetube for a change? You could evenbuy yourself a pair of roller blades! Ifyou must drive, then try to organisea carpool with your colleagues or goa step further and purchase a hybridcar. Once you get to work, skip theelevator and take the stairs, you willsave on energy and burn a fewcalories too!

Plastic lunchesWhenever possible, bring your ownlunch to work in reusable containers,this way you use significantly lesspackaging and work your waytowards a healthier diet. Try keepinga box of cereal, a pint of milk and abowl in work for those days whenyou skip breakfast rather than grabbing something from the supermarket. For coffee breaks,make sure you have your jar, mugand Fairtrade coffee at the ready toreduce waste and avoid handingany more of your hard-earnedmoney over to Starbucks!

Working from homeMore than 3.4 million people in theUK now work from home, reducingcarbon emissions by avoiding thedaily commute. Maximise the lighting in your home office byinstalling a solar panel, which will

store eight to 11 hours of light. Forbusiness calls, switch your phone toa Siemens Gigaset digital cordlessphone from John Lewis, whichclaims to use up to 60% less energythan regular cordless phones.

Save money and the environmentWhy go for green furniture? Does itreally have that much of an impacton the environment? The answer isyes – furniture making has traditionally been a problematicsource of emissions. Traditionalmanufacturing processes createemissions of volatile organic compounds from glues, stains andfinishes. VOCs are a major contributor to indoor air pollutionand outdoor smog. To combat this,you should buy used or refurbishedoffice equipment and furniture. Notonly will this save you money, itmeans one less machine has to bemanufactured, with one less boxand one less instruction manual. Ifyou don’t mind your furniture beinga season or two behind in the stylestakes then this method will allowyou to save money for moreimportant things – perhaps a spot ofeco fashion shopping! You couldeven take a leaf out of Jeff Bezo’sbook: the Amazon.com founder wastoo cheap to buy desks and insteadchose to make his own out of olddoors!

ecoideas loves......Mike Wye & Associates Ltd. MikeWye supplies a great range ofenvironmentally friendly traditionaland natural building and decorating products. These arewidely used to keep traditionalbuildings 'healthy' and for modernhomes and new builds wheregreen products such as naturalpaints, sheepswool insulation andlimecrete are in demand. For moreinfo call 01409 281644 or visitwww.mikewye.co.uk.

All the contents of the stationeryset are made from a variety ofrecycled materials including carparts, packaging, polystyrenepackaging and juice cartons.www.ecoutlet.co.uk

The Wottle from Brita and OrlaKiely is made of 100% recycledmaterials, making it the best wayto bring your drinks to work.Available from John Lewis.

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Wildlife Rescue By Angela Wilkes£15.95This book is the first fully comprehensive guide tothe UK’s “unofficial” healthservice for wild animals,dealing with causes,treatments and solutions.It highlights the rising tollof wildlife casualties,many of them the result ofhuman activity. Thisranges from hundreds ofthousands of mammalroad-kill victims to theeffects of DIY home“makeovers” and the lossof green space to highdensity building and“town cramming”. It’s also full of advice onhow to take care of anyinjured or sick animalsyou find and has thedetails of rescues centresacross the country. And itfeatures handy guides onhow to identify many ofthe types of birds and animals we see in ourgardens and when outand about.

Eco Chic By Matilda Lee£7.99Recent news stories havealerted us to the toxicmaterials and slavelabour used in the fashion industry. A newgeneration is turning itsback on throwaway fashion and looking forways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Eco Chic takes a close-uplook at the rise of ecofashion. Meticulouslyresearched, with up-to-date, eye-openingfacts and quotes frominfluential names in theindustry, it explains whichfabrics are harmful to theenvironment, the designpioneers to watch, thelabour behind your labels,and how to create eco-friendly fashions by recycling and savvy shopping.

Ecoescape UK andIrelandBy Laura Burgess£8.99New from the GreenGuide comes Ecoescape– the easy guidebookseries to environmentallyfriendly travel in the UKand Ireland. Through theguides, travellers can discover a wide variety ofhotels, attractions, restaurants, which companies source theirproducts locally, whichcompanies are movingoff-grid and informationabout green travel. Hereyou can find out whereto stay in a house madeof straw or how to hire aNorwegian-inspired,grass-covered cottage aswell as smallholdings andfarms offering accommodation andcompletely organic,homegrown food.

Ban The Plastic BagBy Rebecca Hosking£4.99The author encounteredthe destruction caused bycarrier bag pollution first-hand while filmingmarine life for the BBC.The sight of the sea littered with dying seabirds and animalsinspired her to persuadethe traders from herhome town of Modbury inDevon to stop using carrier bags. Modburybecame plastic bag freein 2007. This book is acall to action, sharing theknowledge of campaigners likeRebecca who are fightingto make their towns, villages and streets plasticbag free. It provides theknow-how for everyonearound the UK to followModbury's example andto Ban The Plastic Bag.

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Green reads

Taking in everything from animal welfare to eco holidays,we take a look at the latest brilliant books on the shelves.

ecobooks

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