Eco Friendly House And Garden

Offer your kids that chance to learn more about their garden with your fun new game!

We all know how identification keys work – but sometimes they are just too complicated and tend to include things that you won't ever need to know; for example, rare wild plants or 7 species of woodlouse which all look the same!

So why not make your own more fun and relevant guides that only include what you know you already have?

By making a simple 'puzzle' for those younger people in your life – you could not only create a game to while away the hours before dinner – but one that is also very informative and hopefully intriguging at the same time.

Where To Begin:

Firstly, you need to do a bit of research yourself – unless you already know a fair bit about the life in your garden.  And you will need to decide what you are going to include – or how many different guides you want to create.

Will you include garden and ornamental plants only, wildflowers and 'pest plants'; maybe even garden birds and trees – depending on your garden of course!

Then you need to decide on which species you actually have present or are likely to have visit – and make a few lists.  Let's imagine you were just doing trees for this example and we can follow the process more simply.

Your List:

Let's say you have 5 trees in your garden; an oak, a sycamore, a holly bush, a horse-chestnut tree and a eucalyptus.  Now all of these have very different leaves to an experienced eye – but to children they are totally new.

So you need to start with the basics and work up from there – so pick the most obvious one first to eliminate it from the search – so the holly bush might be first to go with the question: "Does it have really spiky leaves?".  This way, the child should always remember the spiky leaves if it's a holly.

photo credit: Mark A Coleman (FREE photos to use / download)

This leaves (excuse the pun) 4 contenders – 2 of which could appear quite similar, and 2 completely different – so let's get rid of the noticably different ones like the eucalyptus first with "Are the leaves long, thin strips?"; then the oak with "Are the leaves wider than your hand?" with a no pointing to the oak.

Once you get to the final trees – you can then ask whichever way you want to get to the end – maybe even including your own drawings of the leaves as the final step.

Your Personal Touch:

You can of course, add anything you want to the keys to make it more fun – or more informative.  For example, you could elaborate on each species with a few 'facts' concerning their growth or history – or their benifits to wildlife.  Or you could point them towards certain pages in your field guides so they can learn for themselves.

You could make it a checking off game where some of the answers aren't really in your garden – just to make sure they are using it properly! I mean you aren't going to have a Giant Sequoia in your garden are you?

And obviously you can filter out all the 'hard' parts of identification so that you don't get them bogged down in the details and scare them off of identification for ever.  I mean, kids don't need to know that there are many different violet species – just knowing it is a violet is good enough for starters!

They don't need to know the habitat types, geology, how they reproduce or what season they flower in – that can all come later when they already have a keen interest in the subject.  You just want to harness their interest and give them something worth doing in the garden and in the fresh air!

You never know where it might lead their inquisitive minds in the future!

Deciding to stay at home for the day – instead of a walk in the park – could end up costing more than you thought!

Obviously a day out on a plane won't be better than staying at home, but if you take yours kids out to a local park, woodland or beach – you could be saving electricity, water, food and all sorts of other resources.

Lets take a typical afternoon stroll and a day at home as comparisons for a family with 3 kids, and see what could happen in both instances – good and bad…..

Pack Up Your Troubles:

Right, so the kids are up and have had a tasty breakfast.  They have played about a bit with each other and are starting to get restless.  The sun is shining – so let's get going.

Firstly, you would make a nice packed lunch or healthy sandwiches, fruit, vegetable sticks and maybe yoghurts.  You then fill up bottles with some cordial, grab a blanket and some balls and off you all go.

photo credit: Chris. P

Even if you drive somewhere local first, the whole afternoon spent playing with the kids and eating 'raw' foods will have been very easy on the environment.

The kids will no doubt entertain themselves for most of the time, maybe learn something while they are exploring, find plenty of natural things to 'own' and have worn themselves out for when you get home!

It's Mine!

However, at home there might only be one of something – and so the arguments begin!  Maybe even forcing you to end up buying multiple items in the future to avoid the rows!

And will your kids choose to eat a cheese salad sandwich on brown bread if they had the whole kitchen to choose from? I doubt it.  There will be demands for larger meals of more processed foods (if you have them in the house) or maybe even a cooked meal instead – all adding up over the day and increasing the washing up and filling up the bin!

There is also the likelihood that they will want to play with electrical goods while at home too – as this is where the power is.  No doubt they won't be choosing the watch nature programs and play online puzzles either – they will be watching endless American movies and playing tiny consumer games on they energy-intensive hand-held gadgets!

Share The Love:

I am well aware that all kids like different things – and that taking out 3 kids every day can be very time-consuming and sometimes expensive – I'm just suggesting that a simple trip to the park isn't so bad to force on them.

Many parents I know think that the local park is so boring – but that is a parent-only point of view.  We as adults just see the same old swing, round-a-bout and climbing frame – but the kids will see castles, speed trials and ways to show off their bravery (or stupidity in our eyes!).

I know of kids who beg their God Mother to take them around the block on their bikes every time she visits – just because it is something different for them – rather than a life-changing experience.

So going out for a walk or picnic isn't just great fun for the family and energy-saving - it can also inspire and entertain! 

Hello, and welcome to my short post about what we think about the 'eco perfect house'.

The personal limitations that we think about when we think of the perfect eco friendly house don't seem so difficult to achieve – like less meat, less energy, more local products and make do and mend.  It all makes perfect sense in a non-selfish energy-efficient sustainable way – but does it all add up to anything worth achieving?

Of course, we know that the world is fast running out of certain community 'ingredients' like oil, land, food etc – but are individuals willing to make that trade-off?

My Home:

Let's start with a few things about myself and my eco friendly home.  Firstly – let's get the big things out the way; I live in a one bedroom flat as there is only the one of me, and I don't have a car as I can walk, cycle or use public transport to get where I need to be for work and family.

I eat very little meat, prepare many meals in a batch as well as only shopping locally and growing a small amount of my own food on my allotment.

I don't buy any unnecessary electrical goods, clothes, consumer goods or furniture, and I only have a shower.  I don't have central heating or air conditioning as my flat is south-facing so I can regulate it's temperature as necessary.

All sounds good so far – doesn't it.  However, all is not as it seems……

My Life:

I forgot to mention that I only moved into the flat because I couldn't afford anything else – and it is right by a noisy train station in the middle of town where I hear sirens and alarms every day. 

photo credit: anemoneprojectors

It is the same reason why I don't have a car, don't eat meat and why I grow my own vegetables, create meals in batches, don't buy anything I don't need and why I don't have central  heating or air conditioning.

And for the sake of more money – I would change it all.

I know that we are all too demanding these days, and that we need to stop consuming on such a large scale.  I know that we should all live in a property that is perfectly suited to our needs without extra rooms or swimming pools – but if we had the money – I bet we all would!

I know that I would definately move into a home with a garden – as my allotment is miles away from my home as there are so few spaces anywhere else.  I would also start eating more meat and replace all my worn out, home-repaired clothes that I have hung on to for so long.

I would fit central heating into that property if it didn't already have it, and would enjoy more hot and deep baths!

Your Life:

Now to you.  Did you like my eco lifestyle before you thought about what it actually means to live that way?  Would you trade down to what should be your perfect eco home?  Or if you had more money – would you trade up to all the mod cons that we come to expect these days?

Obviously I wouldn't go leaving everything on full power all the time, heating empty rooms, waste food or clothes and wash one item of clothing on it's own - but the very act of living in a larger home would create more demand on the world.

I bet if you could – you would go one more: why not buy a huge home with walk-in wardrobes, sunken baths, indoor heated pools, and a cinema room and a tennis court – and why not a few horses, a yacht and a few trendy cars.

I bet if you won the lottery – most of you would upgrade a few things, even though you know the eco consequences. 

All these things aren't eco friendly – but it is what we expect these days.

Surely if you were rich, you wouldn't choose to live in a tiny flat and give up your car? 

photo credit: Udo Schröter

We all love eating outside – but plan ahead otherwise you could be creating waste.

There is nothing better than eating outside with your family and friends in the summer as it isn't something we Brits normally get the chance to do.  But watch out for potential problems that could fill your bin bags and make you break your eco promises!

Shops across the country are currently selling out of everything disposable – and this is where you shouldn't be involved!  However, it is really tempting to do so.  so here are a few tips to keep you on your toes.

The Barbeque Itself:

Now although the food needs to be cooked – it doesn't need to be done outside.  You can bring all the cooked meat outside along with all the salad and drinks you prepare – but using your own oven will actually be more eco friendly than buying a disposable barbeque that stops cooking effectively after about 5 minutes.

Your fitted outdoor cooker may well do a bit better for you, but all that smoke and open spacing means that a majority of the heat you generate with coals or gas is wasted as it passes right by your food and heats up your face!  Not to mention all that smoke.

photo credit: zoetnet

Food For Thought:

Why opt for the standard outdoor fare of sausages and burger slapped in a white bun with some lettuce and ketchup?  When you are cooking indoors you could rustle up some cous cous, pasta and better quality meat products – as well as using alternatives to bleached bread – like wholegrain pittas, corn wraps and homemade breads as they don't have to be burger-shaped!

And these days you don't need to go an buy lettuces and tomatoes – you should be growing them in your garden.  It is so satisfying to go and collect a handful of salad leaves, asparagus and radishes from your own garden to eat – or step in your greenhouse for fresh tomatoes!

The Washing Up:

No need to wash up after a barbeque – just throw everything in the bin!  Only if you forgot to plan ahead….  Buy buying a set of plastic 'crockery', cups and large bowls you can stop worrying about broken plates and dishes and start enjoying yourself!

The dreaded paper plates – aren't so eco friendly if you think about it.  They never last well with sauces and hot food on them anyway – and you can't compost them with cooked food all over them – or really throw them in the recycling – so they go in the bin.

Plastic cutlery rarely serve their purpose and can't be recycled either, and we all know where plastic cups go.

So spend out on a great set of long-lasting outdoor products that you can use year after year for such events without having to worry about breaks or filled to the brim bin bags!

Or that last minute rush to the shops over the bank holiday to get supplies. 

Thinking of eating in season – but not sure what's growing in the spring?

Well, don't worry if your allotment looks a bit bald, and all your seeds say 'plant in may' – there is still plenty of tasty food out there growing locally with the seasons.

Whether it's hearty vegetables you are after, something with a bit of flavour or something light – it is all out there waiting for you to find it – and here is a quick list to help you choose.

Fruit & Veg:

It is spring – so spring onions are out in force – as are their larger twins, the leeks (left over in the ground from last year).  Also still in the shed from last year are my potatoes and onions with some fresh kale - just waiting for a chunky soup to be made!

photo credit: Matter = Energy

New veg just appearing on the scene and over the next few weeks are radishes and new potatoes – as well as some wildfoods like elderberry and gooseberry.

And to season – chicory, samphire, watercress and morel mushrooms!

Are You Game?

Well, needless to say there will be plenty of fresh lamb out there for a nice roast – just pop to a local farm who will no doubt be offering prime cuts of these little woolly wonders!

photo credit: brianfuller6385

Also still out there are all the local seafood specialities caught by the local fishermen along the coasts; we've got crabs, cockles and oysters a-plenty to throw into a dish for the weekend – and sardines to come in the next few weeks.

Pick Your Own…

There are plenty of wild plants out there that you could add to a meal, including wild garlic, dandilions, cleavers, chickweed and cow parsley.

And the more adventurously named nipplewort, navelwort and lesser celendine!

Obviously, before you eat anything new – check that it is safe to do so as nutrient (and toxicity) can change very quickly. For example - with lesser celandine, the leaves should only be eaten before the flowers appear!

Enjoy!

Spring is famous for its lambs (as well as pancakes and daffodils) – so go see some!

What better way to support your local farms and landscapes than to head off into the countryside to watch some of the cutest little lambs bounce around the yard or field!

Sheep farming has seen a small comeback – as we are focussing on returning landscapes to past habitats – like chalkland heaths and grasslands – and you can't do this without grazing.  It is essential to have sheep grazing our sloping hillsides otherwise the whole place would become covered in bramble and gorse and all the native wildplants would never be seen again.

Unfortunately – it wouldn't be just the blanket of summer flowers that disappeared either.  Insects such as butterflies depend heavily on certain plants to complete their lifecycle, so if the plants aren't there – neither will the butterflies and other flying creatures.  And these insects are foodstuffs for birds and bats – so on up the food chain until they have all given up living near you and gone elsewhere.

Basically – you lose top predators like foxes and sparrowhawks from the area if you get rid of small flowers on a hillside.  And all you get instead are tall trees and scavengers!

Your Local Farm:

No doubt your farm – just as with many other niche markets – has seen a certain amount of 'belt tightening' recently.  But they must still farm their sheep to keep everything in shape. 

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

If they were to take a few years off until the market picked back up – their grass fields could already be at the point of no return.  The fast-growing scrubby plants don't take long to spread out – and sheep can't eat them – so that land will have to be stripped by hand, or left to grow over.

So, by popping into a local lambing open day – you could help make it all worth while.  Especially if the farm had branched out into other areas – like homemade jams, chutneys and cakes, honey, meat and wool products.  Imagine the haul of farmyard goodies you could end up coming home with.

You would be buying your own little piece of the countryside!

Why plant yourself in an office when you can get your work done out in the garden?

Running an eco friendly business shouldn't be separate from your lifestyle, so why should you have to make all your decisions and phone calls in your office?  Why can't you plan your next meeting while you are planting your next crop of courgettes?  Or catch up with your contacts while you are painting your pottery?

Eco living is all about the life/work balance not just remembering to check the page setup before printing anything or ordering those reycled content envelopes!

But Smart Phones Are Bulky?

Well, good job I wasn't talking about smartphones then!  I was thinking about wireless headsets.

Modern mobile gadgets can have their place in an eco friendly office – especially if they replace old-fashioned, energy-consuming older versions – but why still rely on an old phone for your office?

Yes, simple phones with no ansaphone or display features don't use electricity and are still the most eco friendly form of telephone communication – but you can't run a successful business these days without technology – and this includes your phone.

If you were trying to run nearly all big businesses with one landline number, no answering or call divert system and no website – you wouldn't get too far.  So why not take all the gadget world has to offer – but just choose the most eco friendly companies to buy from and recycle all your old equipment.

What Is Out There?

Well, there are many companies out there that can offer a range of wireless communication headsets and accessories – like Plantronics - where you can get the whole set-up you need from the one place.  There are also many types of headsets and bluetooth ear-pieces to choose from

And you could be out there too!  Most businesses thrive on their ability to answer customer calls within seconds and to actually offer a human voice to your consumers – so what better way than to have your landline linked up to a headset that you can wear or carry around your home and garden with you – and never miss a call!

There are different accessories of course, for different purposes.  Ear pieces for when you are in public, or comfy supported headsets for longer use and greater ease of use.  Whatever suit your needs – and wants.

All options keep both your hands free for getting on with the important things in life without having to wedge the phone between your chin and shoulder, muffling your voice or dropping your phone!

Never miss and eco customer and never waste time at your desk waiting for a call!

Think smart – think eco friendly!

A seemingly perfect eco friendly product could have a naughty little secret……

When people see an eco friendly alternative, or a potentially eco friendly product – they might not always see the whole story – and this is where enbodied energy comes in to the picture.

Basically – there is a hidden trail of things that go into making anything – and this trail could hold some less than eco friendly pathways that you hadn't thought of before.

They aren't all bad though – they just need to be taken into consideration when weighing up one thing against the other – for example local grapes might use more energy to grow than South African grapes – even though they have used less energy to transport to market.

But to make all this easier to understand, let's look at what embodied energy really means: "…..the total energy used to create a product from scratch and then dispose of it after use".

However, when you really pick this apart it includes an awful lot of things – so lets look at those grapes now.  So, we need to grow the grapes, pick them, pack them and get them to the shop – simple?  Not very……

photo credit: martingarri

Embodied energy would include the following list of things:

1) Maintaining the vine since the last harvest – which includes feeding, watering, clipping, treating and possibly heating or covering throughout the winter – which includes all the creation of all the chemicals used from scratch, energy to pipe the water, energy to move people and products to and from the site, energy to dispose of waste products, energy to heat or create covers for plants and the energy to create and maintain the necessary tools for the job.

2) Harvesting the grapes – which includes transporting all the staff and equipment to and from the vines, including and refrigeration, storage and internal transport of the grapes once harvested.  And the energy needed to dispose of all the waste created by this process.

3) Packing the grapes – which includes all the packaging needed to wrap and protect the grapes while they are moved through the packing process (and the energy needed to make all this packaging in the first place and the energy to package the packaging and transport it to the vineyard), energy to run the machines, conveyers, and storage facilities while stored and before transportation.  And the energy needed to dispose of all the waste created by this process.

4) Transporting the grapes – which includes all the energy needed to chill and protect the grapes while they are in transit – this of course will include all the energy needed to fuel the transport from vineyard to warehouse and could include road, rail and ship or air freight (and of course all the energy needed to keep that transport in tip top condition for transporting the product in the first place!).  You will also need to use a small amount of energy in all the paperwork that needs to be completed as the product changes hands and moves through countries.

And after they get to the warehouse – they may be repackaged and re-loaded onto other modes of transport to go to individual shops, and then are stored, protected, chilled and moved around the stores using yet more energy.  And of course, all the energy needed to dispose of all the waste created by this process.

You then need to buy them from the shop – using the tills and bags and your car or bus for transport which of course are all made of energy – and then you use your fridge to chill them, your water to wash them and your electricity to dishwash your kitchenware and then your bin bags to dispose of the stalks and packaging (and the dustmen have to use energy in their vans to collect it!).

Is That All?

Now, obviously this is a very detailed story of a grape's embodied energy – but is very simplistic as there are many things that haven't even been calculated here!  And who want's to have to think about all of that when choosing grapes for tea?

However, there are some very simple things you can think of when choosing between 2 or more products for their eco friendly qualities – and this is one of them.

By thinking of the processes that have gone into making each of the products, you can get a clearer picture of it's qualities. 

So, yes, those local grapes did only travel 20 minutes down the road to your local market – but did they have to use tonnes of energy-rich fertilisers to maintain in a not-the-best-suited environment as well as megawatts of heating to keep them alive through the winter waiting for the next harvest!  

Or is the energy of transporting those African grapes (which were grown in a perfect environment with no need for heating or treating) less overall?

So, the concept of embodied energy can switch many 'simple' ideas on their head – but it is itself a very difficult thing to put your finger on.  As you can see from the breakdown above – there are so many factors that it may be near impossible to fully estimate!

But at least you know what it is now!

Shouldn't being eco friendly be easier than not being green?

Why do so many eco friendly alternatives mean 'putting yourself out' or taking longer to get things done?  When you are a busy mum or are running a tight business – green alternatives should be making your life easier – not slowing you down!

So, I have found a few great eco inventions that could make being eco aware that much easier – and hopefully save you time and money along the way…..

Whole House Switch Off:
Why waste time checking all your plugs and appliances are switched off before leaving the house – because if you are in a hurry – you might not be so thorough!

By wiring up your whole home – or just parts of it – to 1 single 'OFF' switch your life couldn't be easier!  Obviously it won't be linked up to your fridge and freezer, or anything else you need to leave on – but all the lights, TV's and other appliances will switch off until you return home!  Easy.

Power Aware Cord:
If you don't fancy a giant one off switch, then maybe glowing power cables can make it easier to see if things are switched off before you go to bed rather than climbing behind units and cabinets to check the wall switch.

Strida 3 Folding Bike:
Rather than having to carry around your bike seat, take spare clothes to work or wipe oil off your trouser leg – you could ride a tiny folding bike instead!  Gone are the days when a bike was in 1 piece and you needed to worry about leaving it outside.  No more riding in the rain or catching your shin on the pedals when pushing your bike into the garage! 

This neat little bike folds up so easily and is so portable that you have nothing preventing you cycling to work or town knowing that you can still pop inot the shops – or catch a bus if it starts raining!  And they are thinking of making an even smaller, lighter version too….

Eco Friendly Room Dividers:
There are several different eco friendly room dividers on the market that can change the appearance and layout of a room without resorting to stud walls, re-decorating or demolition. 

Either made or felt, wood, eco-friendly plastics or strengthened cardboard and designed in a modular fashion – these 'walls' could be made, shaped or moved to suit your needs – without great cost.  And coming in a variety of colours – they could act as temporary 'wall paper' as well then changed with the seasons being used again and again over time.

Just keep them coming…. We need more like these……

What is this eco friendly living method that is creeping into our lives?

You have probably heard of the Permaculture movement, but aren't really sure what it is all about.  The prefix 'perm' doesn't immediately sound eco friendly or green, but suggests permanency – long term goals and aims.

But long term 'culture'?  The word doesn't instantly connect with your changing lifestyle – but it could.

Define Permaculture:
Well, there are plenty of definitions all revolving about the same point but emphasizing the particular niches within it:

"Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies."

"Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. This synergy is further enhanced by mimicking patterns found in nature."

"Permaculture is sustainable land use design. This is based on ecological and biological principles, often using patterns that occur in nature to maximize effect and minimize work."

"A system of perennial agriculture emphasizing the use of renewable natural resources and the enrichment of local ecosystems."

Basically, permaculture can be seen as a way of living and farming in synch with the way that nature would do it herself.

In the way that natural cycles in weather, plant distribution, human activities and so forth carry on regardless when unaffected by humans – why can humans fit into that system rather than change it?

Forests grow from bare rock in nature; each plant or animal finding the best way to fit in to the changing habitats – so why can't humans exploit that natural series of events to help them survive – and without affecting it adversely.

Change Isn't Always Good.
We know that over time, a heath will become overgrown with scrub plants which will eventually turn into trees and so a woodland is born – and this is the way that nature works best. 

But when humans want the land to stay free of trees – they have to go against that very natural pattern – and this takes time, energy and money.  For example, large scale farmers have to plough the land regularly to stop other plants growing, kill insects with chemicals, kill wildlife by other means and basically fence off the natural habitats long term and feed and water it excessively in order to grow the 1 thing they want.

However, permaculture looks at growing crops that are naturally occurring there – or can grow well in that location without draining on resources or getting rid of natural plants and animals as a result.

It still isn't an easy job as you need to be able to survive on these crops and make a living from them- but you use nature to help you farm and grow them instead of chemicals and a life-long battle!

The Basic Plan:
Permaculture is a working science with some very technical examples - but its principles can be easily understood.

Ideally a working system would use less energy, increase productivity and help restore or balance the natural environment.

For example housing the duck pond near your flower garden or veg patch so that these ravenous feeders can eat all your garden slugs for free (saving you food for them and chemicals to kill your slugs).  Or growing mature trees over your water source, so that less water evaporates from it and the plants can water themselves. 

photo credit: george.schon

Much of this you might think is common sense – yet we still buy white bread (which has most vitamins and minerals bleached out of it – with man-made vitamins and minerals added back in afterwards) and we sell all our home-grown milk to other countries and then buy milk back from yet more countries to make up the difference!

And the principles of permaculture are just applied to farming methods – they can be applied to almost any human environment including cities!

But that's a whole other story……