Green Gifts for Christmas

 

OK so it is possible that you may want to buy people something as well as a Feelgood Organic Hamper for Christmas! But don't forget that last orders for Christmas delivery are only 12 days away on Sunday 20th December at midnight.  Don't miss out!

 After you have placed your order with us here's some other great green gifts you could buy.

There are 4 days left to get a gift from organic t-shirt company 'Hairy Baby'. Great t-shirts with very Irish slogans, you can even have a CSI hoodie or t-shirt made with the name of your town on it.  I know someone who might like a CSI Athy shirt.

The Cultivate Centre in Dublin City Centre has lots of great gift ideas from books to eco-gadgets.  You can pop in or shop online.

The Arboretum Life & Garden Centre in Carlow offers trees delivered to your door.

Or if you prefer you can have a tree planted on your behalf by the WWF.

Another Carlow based company Greenside Up are offering gift vouchers for their gardening courses and design services.

Although not based in Ireland a special mention has to go to Who Made Your Pants one of the most ethical companies I've ever come across.  These ethically produced knickers would make an ideal gift for me (hint hint!). 

And finally gift vouchers for interior design by Earth Balance Interiors.

If I've missed out on any great green gifts I'd love to hear your suggestions.  Please leave a comment below.

  

All about our packaging

At Feelgood Organic Hampers one of the most common questions we are asked by our customers is how do we package our hampers?  So today I thought I would show off our gift boxes and tell you why we chose this particular solution.


Just over 4 years ago when I started Feelgood Organic Hampers I started looking around for baskets to pack them in.  Up until this point my image of a hamper was a basket packed with produce wrapped in cellophane but I knew I wanted to do something different for my company.  I wanted something that would stand out, that would ensure that recipients of the gift would remember this hamper and the person who sent it.  I also wanted something that would enhance our brand and promote our eco-friendly and ethical ethos.


I looked at lots of different baskets, some were inexpensive made in India and China, both the air miles associated with these and ethical concerns I would have about the conditions in the factories where they were made meant that they were not an option.  Some were beautifully crafted and Irish made but sadly beyond the price I was able to pay for packaging.  My market research had also flagged that baskets were not popular with people who received hampers, they complained, that amongst other things they caused clutter in their homes.  So my next step was to look at gift boxes, packaging that could be recycled.  Again I looked at all the major suppliers in Ireland, I visited packaging companies, met salespeople and eventually, with the help of our company's designer Francis Taaffe came up with a solution that fulfilled the brief.  A box which mimicked the brown paper and string style of packaging, a design which evoked nostalgia, packaging which could be recycled.  Each box is tied with string and a tag and hand stamped with the company logo.


The box has worked really well for us, it has enhanced our brand by making it memorable, it's also memorable to the gifts recipients which means our clients are happy.


Because the boxes are mostly made in Ireland, because they can be reused and recycled, because they contain recycled material this is packaging you can feelgood about.


Customised Gift Boxes


We offer corporate clients the opportunity to customise their gift boxes by replacing the Feelgood Organic Hampers logo with their company logo.


If you are interested in customising a Feelgood Organic Hamper for your company contact us through our website or phone us on 059 863 899.

Can direct action cure green fatigue?

Today is blog action day.  Around the world bloggers are coming together to blog on one topic: climate change.

Thinking about what I would write about today I decided that I wouldn't write about the little things we can all do in our everyday life that can help guard against the onset of climate change.  I didn't want to become another of those droning voices that have started to repel rather than encourage people to become more eco-conscious.  For years we've been told to recycle our rubbish, not fly anywhere, take public transport, use energy saving bulbs, eat local and organic food and many of us have dutifully followed.  Every day we get new tips on how we can help and we embrace them mostly without complaint.  Some of us may have even experienced the guilt of having to purchase a plastic bag at the checkout because we have forgotten to bring our own.  For many of us 'being green' is part of our everyday lives but for others the fatigue has started to creep in.

Green fatigue is a worrying yet understandable phenomenon.  People feel they are making day-to-day sacrifices but no longer seem to believe they are truly making a difference.  People see others not making any effort to curb their carbon emitting habits and loose the will to try and do something themselves.  Some people feel that it is the governments that are letting them down, their personal effort seems to pale into insignificance when their leaders are still proposing new coal burning power stations like the one at Kingsnorth which was the centre of last years UK climate camp.


Some feel big businesses are stopping governments making the right decisions for the environment.  I've talked to people who simply can't understand why big petrol thirsty cars are still being made.  Is it enough that the consumer wants them, or should the government just legislate against them?  Here in Ireland we have raised taxes on these vehicles but surely it would be a better solution to stop making them? Is capitalism ultimately killing the planet? 

So what is the solution?

Many think that direct action is the only way to mobilise enough power to force governments to change their minds.  This week we saw Greenpeace scale the Houses of Parliament in London in a call to make the government live up to their responsibilities and put climate change on the top of the agenda.  They received massive publicity for their efforts appearing on all the major news bulletins and in the newspapers.  Earlier this year we saw Ireland's first Climate Camp focusing to the peat burning power station in Shannonbridge Co. Offaly.  They also drew a lot of press attention to an issue that many of us in Ireland are ignorant of.  But can such direct action really make a difference beyond awareness raising?

I'd like to thing that tentatively yes they can.  In 2008 Camp for Climate Action in the UK camped out at the Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent.  The coal burning station was due to be closed down in 2016 to conform to EU pollution regulations but there were plans to replace it with yet another coal fired power station.   The new facility was heralded to be a cleaner coal burning station, it was to be 'capture ready', a term that incensed many as the technology involved in capturing carbon and storing it is still in it's infancy and comes with it's own set of problems.  The protesters believed, and many agreed that there should simply be no more coal burning stations built, instead they believe more money needs to be put into cleaner and renewable fuels, some would even be happier to see the nuclear option than more coal.


The camp became big news, not just because of the direct action but also because of the behavior of the police during the camp.  This week demonstrators will be celebrating a cautious victory as plans for the new station have been put on hold.

So is this a case where direct action has had a positive effect on climate change?  I would like to think so, I would like to believe that there is more I can do than cycling and recycling that has the potential to make a difference.  It could also be a way to curb our green fatigue.  This past 12 months has shown that we are not scared of standing up to our government, and we have achieved success with policy u-turns on issues such as medical cards for pensioners.  Direct action is something we can all take part in and it will also give us back the belief that there is something positive we can do.

Regaining the Freedom of Dublin on two wheels.

As anyone who knows me will know I have been slightly overexcited about the new Dublin bikes scheme. I moved from Dublin just over 3 years ago and really have missed cycling around the city so I signed up for the scheme at the first available opportunity. Last week I had several meetings scheduled across the city and was really looking forward to trying them out. It was the day after the Luas/Bus crash so my tram in from the Red Cow park and ride was only running as far as Smithfield. Luckily there is a bike station right next to the Luas station there.

So I picked up a bike and was able to complete my journey to Connolly Station on two wheels. The bikes themselves are quite bulky and heavy, there is a largish basket on the front which is handy, it also has some sort of security lock on it that you can thread through the handles of your bags so that no one can snatch it when you're stopped at the lights. The handlebars seemed strangely thin, in fact they surprised me with their thinness every time I got on one. I felt steadier on this bike than my own, possibly due to it's sturdiness and weight, this is not a bike you would want to cycle long distances on but is perfect for short city trips. There are only three gears and they are all pretty easy to pedal in. During my whole day I only felt a need to change down to second one time. This also means that you can't go that fast and you will need to get used to other cyclists overtaking you.

My second journey between Baggot Street and the IFSC was great, usually you would either need to get a bus into town and a Luas out to the IFSC or walk which takes quite a while. I was at the IFSC in about 15 minutes and had plenty of time for coffee before my meeting. It was dark for my return journey, the bikes have built in lights which come on automatically as soon as you pick them up but I did feel that as I was wearing dark clothes my visibility wasn't the best. Next time I'll be sure to remember my fluorescent vest. I was quite chuffed to hear some pedestrians making comment on the bike as I cycled past, apparently they are 'quite cool' I like to think that I looked pretty cool cycling it as well!

My last journey of the day was back to the Luas. The Internet told me that trams were still only running from Smithfield so I cycled up there only to find the bike station full. I checked their computer which gave me another 20 minutes of free cycling time but I must have read it wrong as when I arrived at the next station it too was full. Third time I was lucky and finally managed to get a spot at Jervis Street. Luckily the Internet had been lying and trams were running the full route again so I was able to hop on a Luas almost immediately.

I was pretty happy with the experience and I'll definitely be using them a lot more. There are a few disadvantages that are worth a mention.

1. Bring your own safety equipment. As I mentioned fluorescent vests and cycle helmets aren't provided. It would also be a good idea to bring a quality bike lock if you need to stop your journey at any point. Cycle clips are not required, as I discovered after cycling around with my trousers rolled up for half a day, there is a very good chain guard provided so there is no chance of getting your boot cuts caught up.

2. Check the availability of parking space at your destination before leaving. The bike stations have a display of what spaces are available at what stations across the city. If I hadn't found a space at Jervis centre I could have had to face a cycle back up the very steep hill next to Christchurch so checking where to park in advance of my journey would have been a good idea. The council moves the bikes during the day to ensure maximum availability but by 9.30pm they had obviously stopped this service, there were only two bikes to hire at Wilton Terrace and as I mentioned the stations at my destination were full. If you have an iPhone or similar there is a handy app which allows you to access information whilst on the road. Find it here.

3. One way systems. Bring a city street guide with you so you can make sense of how to get around the one ways. I'm used to navigating the city by foot so I found myself scuppered by one way streets a number of times.

You can buy a one year subscription to Dublin bikes online for €10 or, if you are in Dublin and fancy giving it a go right now you can get a three day subscription for €2. For full information check out the DublinBikes.ie website.

Climate Camp Ireland

Ireland's first Climate Camp is scheduled to take place near Shannon Bridge in County Offaly between the 15th and 23rd of August.

The week long camp is packed with workshops and seminars which tackle everything from bicycle maintenance to building your own wind turbine. The aims of the camp range from building a movement calling on direct action against polluters and carbon trading profiteers to proposing an alternative model which embraces sustainable living.

I am looking forward to attending, but my main concern is how I'm going to get there. It is clear that cars will not be welcome and although I love cycling I'm not sure my fitness level is good enough for me to join the bikebombers on their Dublin to Offaly 2 day cycle. A quick search for buses or trains that service the town brings up no results. I'm sure the organisers have come up with something and I guess that I'll have to keep an eye on their website to find out.

The camp is also looking for donations of certain materials for the construction of the camp, I did breath a sigh of relief when I saw that they were looking for toilet seats! Check out the 'Things we need' page of their website to see what you can contribute.

I'll try and keep you updated as I receive information. For the Facebook users amongst you there is an event group which you can join.

I'll look forward to meeting some of you there.

*UPDATE*

Transport arrangements as follows:

The climate camp is located beside the town of Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly.

How can I get there?

We are asking people NOT to drive to the camp. We not providing a parking service. We do not want to disrupt traffic in the village or block any footpaths, so please leave cars at home. If you have heavy equipment and children to carry we encourage you to take a train or bus and then avail of our shuttle service to and from ATHLONE. If you do arrive by car, you will have to find your own parking and this will be at your own risk.

You can reach the Climate Camp by:

Train:

Take a train to Athlone and from there our shuttle bus.

The shuttle buses depart from bus station in Athlone to the camp each day at 10.30am and 6.30pm. On Weekend days there is an additional departure from Athlone at 3.30pm. The journey takes 25 minutes and the cost is €5 each way.The first shuttle bus will run at 6.30pm on Friday 14th of August, from Athlone. The last bus will depart from the camp 9.30am on Monday 24th of August.

Buses leave the camp at 9.30 and 5.30 everyday, and also at 2.30pm on weekend days.

When you know your desired departure times from Athlone PLEASE TEXT 087 1320240 with your time and number of passengers to help us make sure everyone gets a ride.IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEXT SO THAT YOU ARE NOT LEFT STRANDED IN ATHLONE.

Bus

Take a bus to Athlone and from there our shuttle bus.

The shuttle buses depart from bus station in Athlone to the camp each day at 10.30am and 6.30pm. On Weekend days there is an additional departure from Athlone at 3.30pm. The journey takes 25 minutes and the cost is €5 each way.The first shuttle bus will run at 6.30pm on Friday 14th of August, from Athlone. The last bus will depart from the camp 9.30am on Monday 24th of August.

Buses leave the camp at 9.30 and 5.30 everyday, and also at 2.30pm on weekend days.

When you know your desired departure times from Athlone PLEASE TEXT 087 1320240 with your time and number of passengers to help us make sure everyone gets a ride. IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEXT SO THAT YOU ARE NOT LEFT STRANDED IN ATHLONE.

Cycling

A group is cycling from Dublin to the Climate Camp departing on 15th August. Contact bikebombers@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for all the details
We encourage as many people as possible to cycle to the camp from wherever you are in the country. If you are new to cycling and would like some advice contact 087 1320240This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For tips on what to bring and choosing a route contact bikebombers@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for support.

You could also combine a short cycle with a bus or train journey. We'd recommend putting your bike on the train or bus as far as Ballinasloe. From there it's a 12km to the camp in Shannonbridge, which takes about 40 minutes to cycle. It's a pleasant route, not many cars and you'll get a good view of the vast cut bogs and rolling agricultural landscapes as you approach Shannonbridge from the west.

Walking

It's a 12km walk from the nearest bus station and trainstation in Ballinasloe. If you are walking we recommend using an Ordnance survey map to plan your route. The R road is a pleasant route, not many cars and you'll get a good view of the vast cut bogs and rolling agricultural landscapes as you approach Shannonbridge from the west, but there is no footpath for most the route.

Hitching or liftsharing

Hitchhiking in Ireland is becoming a lost tradition - it's a lot easier than you think! You can also check online whether there are any lifts going that you could take - www.tripmi.ie

Barge..Currach..canoe

Shannonbridge is on the River Shannon - if you have fossil-fuel free boat transport available to you, we encourage you to use it!

From the Climate Camp website

Coca-Cola, The Environment and Mark Thomas

I was lucky enough to be invited to a book launch last week. The book in question, 'Belching Out The Devil' written by British political comedian and activist Mark Thomas is an investigation into the behaviour of Coca-Cola.

I first became concerned about the environmental impact of drinking Coca-Cola and other carbonated drinks after watching 'A World Without Water' broadcast on Channel 4 back in 1996. One particular segment of the documentary stuck in my mind. It showed Indian farmers who due to the amount of water being pumped away by the nearby Coca-Cola plant were finding their wells were drying up. Some dug as deep as 450 feet without finding any water. The documentary also suggested that it took three litres of water to produce one litre of Coca-Cola. I stopped drinking Coke after that figuring that it was unfair of me to drink it if it was depriving other people of the water they needed to live.

It seems that the Indian situation is not unique. In his book Mark Thomas tells us of his visit to Nejapa a small community in El Salvador and home to a Coca-Cola bottling plant. When Coke moved in the locals welcomed them with just a few conditions, one of these was that they would respect the environment. As the author travels to a community who rely on the water which flows down steam from the Coca-Cola plant he discovers that far from protecting the environment Coke are polluting the water. Children who used to swim and bath in the stream before Coca-Cola moved in were now developing allergies attributed to the water. Fish were dying and this impoverished community, which once had the asset of clean drinking water, were now being forced to pay for safe water pumped from wells and distributed from water tanks.

I find it hard to believe that I ever drank Coca-Cola, it seems natural to me now that I would reject it but there are bigger issues with the company than the environmental impact that it is having. I would recommend the book, Mark Thomas seems to be able to infuse the horror of the places he visits and the things he finds out with such humor that I find myself chuckling through even the most horrendous stories. Unusually this doesn't distract from the message but means that you won't feel too depressed when you read it. There's even a chapter on Ireland!

The bigger issue is that we really need to consider the impact of our consumerism. It isn't just Coca-Cola that is destroying our environment, our reliance on all fizzy drinks and even bottled water is plundering the worlds resources. These products seem to have gone from being a treat to being a part of our everyday lives. I am as much of an offender as anyone else, a quick look in my recycling bin is testament to that but if we all just cut down a bit at a time there is the possibility of making a real difference.

You can buy 'Belching Out The Devil' on Amazon.

Also check out the Mark Thomas Website for tour dates, there's one promised but not yet listed for Dublin.

Further reading on the world water crisis here

The documentary 'A World Without Water' can be viewed here.

Just found an Irish site where you can buy the book also.

Can flying ever be eco-friendly? - Part Two - Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the system that allows an individual or a business to counteract their carbon footprint by investing in the planting of trees or, more recently supporting eco-friendly projects overseas. Simply by paying a company like Carbon Neutral or Climate Care a small fee - as little as 75p sterling for a flight to the UK -  you can rest assured that the carbon you are generating is made up for elsewhere. It's always seemed a bit good to be true to me so I thought I would look into it further.

The first thing I discovered is that offsetting carbon is not just about planting trees. In fact tree planting has fallen out of fashion. The problem seems to be that although a single tree can absorb 1/2 a tonne of CO2 in it's lifetime, it is only temporarily stored and when the tree dies and decays the carbon is released again for more see Sinks Watch. There have also been stories about heavily sprayed, large mono-culture plantations populated with fast growing tree species which suck nutrients out of the ground and don't deliver on their CO2 targets. That is not to say that planting trees is a waste of time. Last week I was speaking to Keith Shirley who is thinking about planting trees on his own land to offset his carbon emissions. Climate care also supports a rainforest restoration project which works with Ugandan rangers to replant deforested lands.

Carbon offsetting companies are now offering other alternatives. Some support wind farms in developing countries, others work with communities in the developing world on projects that include providing energy saving stoves, people powered foot pumps and energy saving bulbs. I have no problem with helping these communities but I do feel that by offsetting my carbon this way I am allowing myself to be decadent with my emissions whilst expecting people in other parts of the world to pick up the tab. All this aside, I feel that by offsetting my flights in future I will be giving something back.

A more effective alternative to offsetting is to simply cut back on the amount of flights that youtake. To really make a statement why not take the pledge at low fly zone to stop flying for 12 months. 

Eco Brides and Green Grooms

Whilst researching weddings in an attempt to construct the perfect organic wedding hamper I came across this article in the Sunday Business Post archives. 

There are over 12,000 weddings each year in Ireland, each one creating an average of 14.5 tonnes of carbon emissions. That makes over 174,000 tonnes of carbon in total more that twice the amount that the population of Athy generates in a year. 

If you find these statistics compelling and you are planning a wedding why not make it a green one? Not only will it make a difference to the environment but you will be able to create a day that could truly stand out in the memories of all those who attend.

I found some great sites which can help you with the planning,  this fab site offers a 'challenge us' section for any hard to solve eco problems. The WWF also have a good site devoted to weddings which even includes an eco-friendly gift registry. You can even buy an eco friendly wedding dress. Conscious Elegance  have a great selection including the one pictured above. They tell me that they are planning to launch some party dress designs in May so your guests will be able to find something to wear there too.

Running A Paperless Office

I am going to try to give up paper for February and am moderating a discussion on the subject on Irish Business Women.com at the moment. I will keep you up to date with my progress on my blog but you can also follow the discussion here.

5 step guide to a greener Christmas - Step 5 - Entertainment

It seems traditional at Christmas to flop down in front of the Television after dinner, the Children might go and play on their Wii or Playstation and our electricity meters start spinning at an alarming rate. 

One of the best Christmases I can remember we suffered a power cut and were forced to resort to more traditional entertainment. We spent the evening playing 'Trivial Pursuit' by candle light. This year Cranium, Connect 4 and Kerplunk are on the cards. If it isn't already a tradition of your family to take a walk after dinner, why not try it? It's a beautiful winters day here in Athy and I for one intend to take a stroll by the river this afternoon. So, today on Christmas day, why not make a resolution to switch it all off for a couple of hours and spend some quality time as a family, you are not only saving electricity and the environment but it gives you a chance to really bond with those closest too you.

Have a great Christmas everyone and I'll see you back here in the new year.

5 step guide to a greener Christmas - Step 4 - Presents

This years must have gift, the Nintendo Wii, is flying off the shelves, but what are it's green credentials? According to Green Peace, who have recently launched a new website: Clash of the Consoles, games consoles "contain toxic chemicals and can contribute to the massive growth of electronic waste that's often dumped, causing widespread environmental pollution and health problems for unprotected workers." So I guess to be green we should look else where.

If you live in the Kildare area, there is still a chance to buy one of my organic gift hampers, you can collect or buy at the Naas Farmers Market on Christmas Eve.  For other green gift ideas, you could visit the Eco-shop in glen of the downs which is open until 5pm on Christmas Eve, or the Cultivate centre in Dublin city centre, which although closed on Christmas Eve is open on Sunday the 23rd of December 2007 from 12-5.30pm. 

Online, but sadly too late for this Christmas, have a look at  Nigel's Eco Store. I sent the link out to all my friends in the hope that they would get me something from there. Be warned you could spend the best part of a day browsing through all the great products on offer on his site.

Another lovely idea, is the gift of a tree. Either delivered to your door, sent as a gift certificate so that the recipient can choose their own, or planted on your behalf   this is the ultimate environmental gift. 

For gift wrapping Klee paper do a good range of recycled wrapping paper and cards. For a list of retailers stocking their products check their website. And remember to recycle and reuse your gift wrap.

5 step guide to a greener Christmas - Step 3 - Dinner

Eating has become the thing that I look forward to the most on Christmas Day. But in the midst of all the gluttony it is possible to be a bit greener. 

Firstly, try not to buy too much food. I know myself that it is a hard to resist the mountains of food in the supermarkets at this time of year, but wasted food is a disaster for the environment. The population of the UK throw away about a third of the food they buy, I haven't been able to find a statistic for Ireland but I would imagine that it would be quite similar. The problem is that a lot of our food waste ends up in landfill and produces methane as it decays. As we are now all aware thanks to the belching cow phenomenon, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. The more worrying and less obvious consequence, according to WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Is the "embedded energy used to produce, package, transport and deliver the food to our homes which produces the equivalent of at least 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year." 

If you are a meat eater I am sure that turkey and ham is a must. Try and source organic meat if possible, if you can't source organic try and buy locally to cut down on the food miles. 

For vegetarians, again try and source local and organic produce. A lot of the ingredients for my own veggie feast can be found at Farmers Markets and health food stores. By shopping here as well as having the best variety of organic and local foods you can also avoid all the packaging that often comes with supermarket vegatables.

If you have a garden it's worth investing in a good compost bin so that you can compost your peelings to help your garden grow in the new year.

5 step guide to a greener Christmas - Step 2 - The Tree

The scent of the pine tree, to me is the smell of Christmas. But are Christmas Trees eco friendly? The good news is that it can be. Christmas trees are farmed and replanted every year so even if you get a cut tree you can rest assured that you are not depriving the earth of a CO2 absorbing tree. Try to buy locally in order to cut down on the amount of fuel consumed getting it to your house. If you buy one in a pot with a view to replanting it at the seasons end, be aware that our warm houses are not neccesarily the best environment for keeping them in, to help it survive make sure you give it plenty of water. The most important thing is to remember to recycle it after Christmas. There are lots of council run recycling stations which will take in your christmas tree, mulch it and use it to help new things grow.

So what about artificial trees? Unfortunately, although as they are reusable artificial trees consume massive amounts of energy during manufacture. This means that they create CO2 during production where as a real tree absorbs it. They are also made from PVC which is derived from oil. If you have one already, don't throw it away, it would be a shame to think that all that CO2 would have been wasted. They make great second trees. 

Although an Irish grown living tree is the more environmentally friendly of your choices do be aware that trees are often sprayed with chemicals and as yet I have been unable to find an organic tree here.

For more information, I found this great article on the Christmas Tree Debate.

5 step guide to a greener Christmas - Step 1 - Christmas Decorations

It’s easy to put aside your good habits when it comes to Christmas but being green can be fun too.
Organic Yum Yum has compiled an easy step by step guide on how to have an eco friendly Christmas

Making your own Christmas Decorations is a great way to bond as a family. Try painting patterns on used paper, cut it into strips and make paper chains with them. They are a great alternative to tinsel. If you are a bit more adventurous you can be more creative with your paper chains, try these ones. Pine trees shed their cones throughout the year and if you live near a wood with lots of evergreens you should have no problem collecting them. They make great Christmas Tree Decorations, or if you are creative you can add them to some fresh cut holly or other garden foliage to make a Christmas Wreath.

You can even bake your own Christmas Tree decorations. Subscribe to Feelgood Organic Hampers recipe of the month service for free by emailing recipe@feelgoodhampers.com and you will get a recipe for shortbread Christmas shapes just in time for the big day. There are plenty of LED, low voltage fairy lights available at the moment which will help cut down on the amount of power you use, try to remember to switch them off when you go to bed.

Travels In Britain Part: 2.

I’m home, and it feels great. I’ve never been one of those people who would go on a relaxing holiday and our whistle stop tour of the UK, although great fun, was far from relaxing. We were very lucky with the weather missing all the floods and enjoying the sun for virtually the whole two weeks.

Although it’s great to be back, I can’t help being envious of the popularity of Organics within the UK. Almost every town I went to had a small shop or deli selling great local organic food and drink. There is such a wealth of locally produced organic foods both fresh and pre-packed to choose from in Britain and such an awareness of the organic way that there is plenty of business to keep these shops going. Brighton had by far the best for choice, with several organic café’s and even a supermarket sized health store, there is nothing that you can’t get an organic version of.

The other thing that I noticed was, that even since my last grand tour of the country two years ago, the amount of renewable energy being generated has grown at a terrific rate. There seem to be Turbines everywhere and they appear in the most remote spots. Out to sea and in the mountains the windmills seem graceful and beautiful. There is a certain amount of opposition towards the installation of them amongst the British people, particularly those living in the countryside. I suppose it must be hard for people living in the most unspoiled part of the UK , who never before would have had the threat of a power station being built near them, to accept these huge turbines. At the same time it is great to see Britain taking a step towards sustainable electricity generation.

Another reason to eat Organic

With all the recent hype about global warming it seems that one of the largest contributors is being ignored. No I am not talking about Methane from farting and belching cows.

Nitrogen which is used to create chemical fertilsers, pesticides and animal feeds has a 300 times greater effect on the global warming epidemic than Co2.

Of course organic crops are grown without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides so choosing the organic option is not contributing to global warning in this way.

Find out more about nitrogen here.