Owner: Green Is The New Black URL:http://ladielizzie-wormeryetc.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:06:30 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: I am a suburban girl trying to step more lightly on the planet by living a more ethical/greener lifestyle.
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Wood Walk Caption Competition! 2006-10-30 21:36:00 Who Lives In A House Like This?One Eyed BeaverEgyptian EyesDead UnicornLazy, Fat Giant Read more:Caption
I'm Game for Anything 2006-10-30 20:47:00 I am not a pheasant pluckerI'm a pheasant plucker's mate.I'm only plucking pheasants because the pheasant plucker's late. Well there we were merrily bowling along when, suddenly, what should we spot on the road but a dead pheasant.I screeched to a halt, engaged reverse and jumped out.There lay this beautiful bird.It is now hanging in our garage and will remain there for a week. Then we pluck it. (No problem for I have a 10 year old who should have been born in medieval times. Dead animals no problem)Next it will need to be "dressed". I rang our local butcher for advice and he gave me a very comprehensive explanation of how so to do. However, equally impressively, he suggested that I bring it in and he would demonstrate the art. That's the benefit of shopping locally and developing a relationship with your suppliers.I will keep you posted re. progress.
Nature's Bounty 2006-10-28 18:21:00 During half-term week I took my children for a walk in a nearby wood. It was a beautiful, late afternoon and we all enjoyed our stroll. To our right the sun peeped through the branches in a Robin of Lockley kind of way. To our left, toward the heart of the wood, light was dimmed, grey and mysterious, in a Sherif of Nottingham kind of way.It was great to be out in the fresh air; the children had such innocent fun. We kept seeing all sorts of mysterious creatures in the bark and shape of the trees: dragons, snakes, crocodiles, rhinoseri... Try looking some time they are all there looking back at you.Just as we were nearing the end of the walk we happened upon a man collecting chestnuts. He said that he was collecting them for Christmas dinner stuffing. He explained a little about how to use and store them; you simply pop them into the freezer until required.Suddenly, we were so inspired. We rushed back to the car and found a spare bag and we were off. Once you looked the wood floor was c Read more:Bounty
Defrosting 2006-10-28 16:40:00 Have just got a chicken out of the freezer to defrost.Did you know that when you defrost something like a chicken in a fridge it makes the fridge more effecient? This is because the item being defrosted lowers the temperature inside the fridge and thus the fridge needs to work less hard.To make fridges yet more effecient:Regularly hoover the coils at the back.Make sure it is not too close the wall.Happy chilling!
Green Talk 2006-10-14 17:17:00 Today I went to a very interesting talk, targeted at women, organised by my church, entitled "Takeaway".It was thought provoking and challenging. The speaker, a geography teacher, talked about eco systems and inter-dependability, making reference to the Amazon rainforest and so forth.One of her early points was that the true price of a takeaway is not on the menu. She pointed out, rather like Jamie Oliver has in relation to the de-skilling of the cooking of school dinners, that people too are disposable in the takeaway market place. No cooking is involved, merely re-heating; thus there is no skill to be valued, thus those who work in the industry are easily disposed of.Her intro, by her own admission, was really quite depressing.However, she went on the make the point that if we are to make a change in the way we both treat our fellow human beings and also how we steward the Earth's precious resources, we should look at it as a numbers game.If we all didn't leave the TV on standby, Read more:Green
Sit Boiling 2006-10-11 21:51:00 Top Tip.Save energy by turning the heat off and leaving a lid on.For example, when cooking pasta: If the packet says cook for 10 minutes, cook for approx 6 to 7. Then turn off the heat, with a lid on. Leave for the remaining time in the residual heat. It works a treat.The principal can be rolled out to a whole variety of food, including stuff cooked in an oven.And while I am on the subject, chop potatoes, carrots etc into smaller pieces. They cook quicker, using less energy.
Cavity Wall Insulation Update 2006-10-11 20:21:00 Dear me.I really have been quite negligent in the upkeep of this blog. In my defence, your honour, I have not had the same attitude towards the lifestyle. It has been a case of living it rather than writing about it!Anyway, that's enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do you think about me!!!!!!!! To quote The Divine Miss M.Seriously, the cavity wall insulation has been quite a success. I know that we are experiencing a mild autumn, but even so I think I can feel the difference. Our house did have a tendency to loose quite a lot of heat. Now we are surviving on the natural heat of the day, from that free light source the sun , and have not had to put the central heating on at all yet.I am very pleased about this because I have got a bee in my bonnet about reducing the amount of energy we use, not just for financial reasons. I took gas and electricity readings at the end of June and have monitored our usage closely since. A combination of not using the tumble dryer, bet Read more:Update
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Cavity Wall insulation 2006-09-03 05:26:00 Hi - I'm back. Apologies for the break in service; school holidays intervened.We have had a great summer, punctuated by a family holiday in Cornwall. ( I may return to several features of the said holiday at a later date.)Yesterday was somewhat of a red-letter day because we had our cavity wall insulation
installed.Everything went very smoothly. The guys arrived with their drills and hoses and got on with it. The drilling was v noisy, if you were contained within the house, but the whole process was surprisingly clean. They even went round with a hose to shift the dust from the outside of the house. All in all it took approx. 2 hours with 2 guys working on it.We had done our research, looking at the Energy Saving Trust site. I would recommend this as a good starting point for any research you might do to meet your own requirements.Now we have this insulation we are hoping to retain between 25 to 35 % of our heat. (Figures quoted from The Whole House Book; Cindy Harris and Pat Borer - Read more:Cavity
Leo Hickman - A Life Stripped Bare 2006-07-17 11:07:00 I have just finished re-reading the excellent A Life Stripped
Bare by Guardian journalist, Leo Hickman
; ISBN 1 903 91960 6.Rating ***** Highly recommended.Leo was challenged to live a more ethical lifestyle for one whole year by a colleague. Thinking that perhaps this would necessitate little more than a change of washing up liquid and abandoning bagged salads, he responded.Visited by three "ethical auditors", from Ethical Consumer magazine, Friends of the Earth and Planet Organic he and his family were in for a shock. Every aspect of their life is examined.He contemplates box schemes for fruit and veg; starts to clean his bathroom with lemon juice and bicarb; goes on holiday to Italy by train with an 18 month baby; receives ecoballs through the post and gets worms!!!!!!!!! It is all highly entertaining and enlightening.He even ends up travelling by barge down the river Thames with his rubbish to see where it ultimately ends up; a landfill in Essex.However, perhaps the most amusing ele
Ecover Rant 2006-07-16 12:46:00 As you will have noticed from previous posts I am an Ecover
user.I use their washing-up liquid, washing powder, bleach and handwash. To build on this enthusiasm I would take it take to it the next level by refilling my ecover bottles with ecover stuff. Indeed, if you log on to their website you can tap in your postcode and your nearest ecover refill station will be shown. Check ou the link HERE.Unfortunately there does not appear to be such a refill station near me. Boo Hoo. Just think of all those plastic bottles I am needlessly sending to landfill. (Oh yes my local authority does not recycle plastic either)However, you may not be so similarly hampered.
Food Shopping Online 2006-07-16 05:47:00 For the past twelve months I have been doing my monthly basic shopping online. Although I have to pay between £3.99 and £5.99 for delivery, depending on the day of the week the it arrives, I have saved loads of money.The reason is obvious really; I am not tempted by all that the supermarket lays before me. Indeed, I feel that I am a genuinely restrained shopper, but, even I used to succumb to BOGOFs, end of aisle temptations and various other not so subtle promotions. Now I simply buy what my family needs and leave it at that.The reason for me finally transferring to shopping online was my local superstore was made even bigger. It was redeveloped, with an extended footprint and mezzanine put in. It takes way too long to get round and is an altogether depressing experience. There is way too much choice and somehow that leaves even the most disciplined shopper dissatisfied. Moreover, go with children, who do not understand how they are being manipulated, and experience the true torture Read more:Shopping
Ecover Article 2006-07-04 03:07:00 Check out an excellent post about Ecover
products on The Little Green House blog. (Is Mine a Healthy Home? 27 June 2006)If you are interested in topics covered on "Green is the New Black" you will love this one too. Read more:Article
Rotary Clothes Line 2006-07-03 03:15:00 A few posts ago (03/06/06) I mentioned that I was reducing my tumble dryer usage and using a washing line instead.Well, the aforementioned line was just that, a simple line.However, I have been hankering after a rotary clothes line. In the past I would have probably looked online and purchased a brand new one without a second thought. I just can't do that anymore. I now think about how much energy and resources go into making anything. Moreover, as you may pick up from other posts, I have discovered the benefits of "freecycling".So, I put a "Wanted" post on my local freecycle site and, hey presto, was rewarded with a wonderful Brabantia rotary dryer. Ok, we have had to buy a new lawn spike, because the nice lady could not get the original one out of the ground, and it may be a bit wonky because it is not the dedicated make of spike but, I tell you what, my clothes are dry and smelly naturally fresh.Suddenly, I am so aware of the amazing power of the sun. Indeed, we are planning solar Read more:Rotary
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Childrens' Clothes 2006-07-01 03:19:00 I am lucky enough to have two lovely children; a boy and a girl.I am also lucky enough to have some lovely friends.As a result I rarely have to buy my children any new clothes because there is a culture of passing clothes on. My children don't end up looking like second-hand Roses either; the clothes they receive are usually barely worn, well known high street brands; just what I would buy anyway.In turn, anything my children grow out of I pass on to other people. The system works very nicely; it feels good.My children are primary aged and have not yet got to any real high level of brand awareness, so I do not suffer from pester power, in that respect, to any large extent. Indeed, my top tip is avoid shoping as a recreational activity, either with children or without them. What you don't see you don't want.Their shoes I either put into a shoe bank or leave at the shop , to be sent to the developing world, when we buy new ones. Read more:Clothes
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Potted Plants 2006-06-30 11:07:00 Have just been round and watered all my potted and tomato plants with water collected in my water butt.Also took the opportunity to feed them all with liquid feed produced by my wormery. How organic is that? 1:10 ratio, feed to water.I am now avoiding air-fresheners by consciously having more plants around; natures air-filters. Carbon dioxide in, lovely fresh oxygen out.And when we need a real boost of freshness we open some windows!!!!! Read more:Plants
String Bag 2006-06-29 11:39:00 Another thing I bought from Summer Naturals was a Fair Trade string bag. £4.00 plus p & p.It is great. It screws up really small in my bag but expands to an enormous size when you start to put shopping in to it.I really enjoy refusing plastic carrier bags now and walking along whilst swinging it. It makes me feel so virtuous.Ireland now levies a 5 pence per bag tax on all plastic carrier bags. I think we should have the same in England, Scotland and Wales.Why do we allow all this waste to go on? Read more:String
Level Crossings 2006-06-28 04:14:00 Why do people not turn their engine off when waiting at a level crossing?I pity the poor people who live near them; having to put up with all those fumes being pumped out as vehicles wait in line. Read more:Crossings
Balls 2006-06-28 03:48:00 Ecoballs, actually.In the past week I have started to use ecoballs, instead of washing power and fabric conditioner; and I must say, so far so good.I bought the ecoballs online from Summer Naturals at a cost of £32.00 plus p & p. (They arrived very promptly) They are supposed to last for up to 1000 washes, costing around 3 pence per wash. They also come with a small tube of stain remover, for those more stubbon stains.As you can see from the picture they look rather odd, a bit like mini plastic planets with foam orbits.You put the 3 of them into your washing machine drum and they are suppposed to "unleash ionoc cleaning power", IE they ionize the water, making it more effective as a cleaning agent in its own right.Because you are not using any bleaching agents clothes do not fade as much and, of course, you are being kinder to the environment.Non-greens might be attracted to the concept for economical reasons: no need to use washing power or fabric conditioner and, if your machine al Read more:Balls
Worm wee 2006-04-21 21:27:00 I am ecstatic. I have just drawn off the very first "worm wee" from my fledgling wormery. I believe that this stuff is liquid gold for containers etc.REJOICE with me.This will be mighty useful to feed my newly planted tomatoes, rocket and herbs. At last I feel that I amtruly making a bit of progress.
Organic shopping 2006-04-11 01:03:00 Today my two children and I have visited a new organic market/store that has just opened near where we live. Interestingly it has sprung up on the site of an old pub.I was not as impressed as I wanted to be. It felt quite high end, expensive for the sake of it and slightly artificial with twee little wicker baskets for shopping baskets. It seemed rather santitised, with not a whiff of mud, or even dust in sight.As yet there are no re-cycling facilities on site, which as I had a load in my boot, was disappointing.The meat by, Audrey Allen, looked of a high standard and quite tempting. (There were quotes displayed on the counter from well-known chefs extolling the virtues of Audrey Allen - although I have never heard of the company myself)There was a nice selection of vegetables and, indeed we left with a pineapple. Later I realised that this was proberly a bad idea due to the number of food miles involved!!!!!!!! Hey Ho.Also availbable were wines, fish and various dried goods.I am not g Read more:Organic
Container growing 2006-04-05 11:08:00 Green is the New BlackToday i am going to have a go at starting to grow tomatoes in grow bags, with some rocket seeds i got free from a national newspaper (can't remember which one). Will take the next step re growing pototoes at the weekend. I am also thinking about growing a few mushrooms. Will let you know how i get on.I have been helped by advise received from the Friends of the Earth discussion forum, a lively bunch of folks.www.foe.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl Read more:Container
Duvets 2006-06-27 04:25:00 I have recently washed two duvets at a launderette - one kingsize and one single. In the past I had taken the kingsize one to be dry-cleaned; costing me approximatley £16.00.This time, however, I did some pondering ahead of time.Should I simply buy a new one; I was sure that these days I could find a reasonable one for not much more than the dry-cleaning costs? No I decided, because this would simply waste a perfectly good duvet; thus being enviromentally bad.Should I pay for it to be dry-cleaned and thus get it pumped full of yet more chemicals? Equally dodgy.After seeing a similar thread on the Friends of the Earth website, I decided to try to find a launderette. No easy task thse days!!!!!!!!!!! When finally I found one I was able to use their large machine for £4.70 each. FAB.When washed I took them both home and dried them on the line. RESULT.
Defrosting and Microwaves 2006-06-23 06:32:00 I am making a concerted effort to get food out of the freezer with sufficient time for it to defrost naturally.In the past I would often forget and then have to rely on the microwave at the last minute.However, since receiving one of many informative Friends of the Earth "Tip of the Day" emails have turned my back on my mirco.Apparently, it takes just as much energy to have a mirco plugged in, for the purpose of having the digital clock showing, as it does to actually run the darn thing.There are also some very powerful arguments against micros, from the point of view of what they do to the food. (To be discussed in a later post)Why not sign up for a FoE email and add this site your favourites?There are many small adjustments you can make to your lifestyle that will eventually add up to a big difference.
Envelopes 2006-06-23 02:26:00 Any post that I receive goes through two filters now:Any stamps are saved to be passed on to an appropriate charity.Any envelopes that can be reused are saved so to do. Indeed, I have invested in a roll of self-adhesive labels in order ot reuse the envelopes.Furthermore, I have signed up to the Mail Preference Service, in order to cut out unsolicited post and therefore paper.I also use any paper generated via post as scrap paper.
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