Eco Friendly House And Garden

I have been sitting in traffic lately – and have found out why there are always big queues!

People seem to have trouble accelerating away from their standstill when the lights go green; I’m not sure why but there is always a massive delay with people pulling away at the lights when they change.

Seemingly, people forget that they have just been sat in traffic for ages and so pootle about themselves when they get to the front of the queue – creating even more of a queue behind them.

It is the same as the people who queue up for ages in a fast food restaurant, swapping from leg to leg while they wait for the orders up ahead to clear – yet when they get to the front, they have no idea what they want to order – and stand there ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’.

People don’t seem to connect their actions with cause of the problem – and have just come to accept queuing as a part of life rather than think about how they could make everything that little bit nicer if they just thought about others rather than themselves all the time.

The Traffic Lights:
I always wondered why the traffic all didn’t move forward together when the green light finally appeared.  The whole of a train can move forward at the same time – so why can’t a train of cars all go forward on green.

I thought that having sat in traffic for a while, they would all have their foot on the pedal waiting to take off again as soon as they could – but it seems as though people don’t do this.

photo credit: oksidor

I have recently watched people at the front of the lights sorting through their bag and not spotting the green light appear until someone honks at them.  I have also watched people not know whether to pass on the nearside or far side of a car at a junction when they have clearly had ages to think about it at the front of the queue (especially when passing on the passenger side means more cars can pass through at a time).

People pull away slowly, take extra wide corners, don’t accelerate at a normal speed and basically ‘dolly daydream’ a bit about the whole thing.

Yet we all need to get to work – and noone likes sitting in traffic!

Why Does It Matter?
Well being a slow driver doesn’t really matter in itself – but queues of traffic are no good for anyone.

Yes, we have all heard the stories about avoiding the busiest times on the road unless it is absolutely essential travel – and I am a true believer in this – but sometimes you just have to sit in it.

Now surely, if everyone sped up their actions a little bit around traffic lights and round-a-bouts etc, there would be less queues on the road – and less queues mean less sitting traffic; less pollution; less angry divers; less of a rush hour and faster moving traffic. 

All adding up to a healthier traffic network, less stressed people and means that the morning or evening commute will take less time and so more time can be spent at home with the family and less time is spent in your car polluting.

So next time you are sat in traffic wondering why the traffic isn’t moving up ahead even though you can see a green traffic light – think of the mantra: You aren’t stuck in traffic – you ARE the traffic!

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!

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

Is there really an eco difference between a Bulldog and a Beagle?

When you are thinking of buying a puppy and are considering breeds that are easy to train, good with children or don't shed hair – shouldn't you be considering the eco side effects of these breeds too?

All dog breeds and cross breeds (dogs that have obvious traits of one or 2 breeds but are not pure) have a certain amount of 'known' traits that can end up taking up time and money – and maybe affecting their health – and your families enjoyment of having a dog in the first place.

General Health:

Firstly – there are breeds of dog which are known to have certain health issues within the breed circle – for example you might hear the following phrases: all Westies have bad skin; German Shepherds often get bad hips and Yorkies have bad teeth.  Of course not every single German Shepherd on the planet will have hip problems and other breeds of dog can also get bad hips – but there are trends that are common in certain breeds.

So, should you not buy one of theses in the first place – incase it ends up needing ongoing treatment, pain-killers and possibly surgery? 

Of course there are breeders who have made sure that the unhealthy breed traits are not found in their offspring – but should we even consider the risk?

The last thing I would want as a dog owner is a sad sick dog who always has to take certain tablets, can't walk very far, is always in pain or is at the vets every other month.

And all those car journeys, treatments, tablets, operations and specialist diets aren't much good for the environment either!

The Type of Dog:

Not only are there known health issues with certain breeds – there are also certain breeds themselves that can generate problems without really trying.

photo credit: bomb_tea

For example; dogs with very short faces will virtually always get out of breath with exercise, and make terrible breathing noises in hot weather.  Dogs that have heavy flaps of skin will no doubt suffer from some types of skin problems, including ulcers, eczema as well as harbouring fungal infections and ticks.  Dogs with long bodies can find themselves with skeletal and muscular problems if overweight, with too much exercise or just as they age.

Why would you buy a dog with the potential for these health issues before you even take it home?

And You?

Well, nothing genetic that a dog has wrong with it can be 'caught' by humans – but surely you got a dog as you enjoy the outdoors and think that they will be great company in the home – so what if it can't fit that bill?

A dog with itchy skin problems, sore joints, digestive upsets and breathing problems isn't really going to suit your needs.

How can you go out all day with the kids if the dog can only walk for an hour at most before collapsing in a heap?  You won't want to take it to the local park if it has loose stools or patches of fur missing, and you can't ask a friend to watch it every time you go out can you? Or make it wear a giant headcollar so it can't chew itself!

And you won't get a moments peace indoors with a scratchy dog following you around, or a stiff old thing that keeps slipping over as it wanders between rooms, or a dog that has to have a tablet every 4 hours through the night!

So, when you are considering a new dog, don't just think about whether they are easy to train or if they are the same colour as your sofa – think about the environmental effects of owning them too.

Final Note:

Of course, any dog can get ill and as a result suffer from any of these complaints, but there is a difference between 'knowing' that these complaints exist in the dog when you first buy it and having them happen by accident.

I mean your car might break down at any time – and mine have done just that – but would you buy a car that was known to break down every year?  Would you regularly eat spicy foods that make you ill - or do you avoid them completely because of that?

However dogs aren't disposible items – once you buy one, you will have it for around 10-20 years – so think that far ahead!

Lighting your home for low energy consumption is an important part of modern eco living.

But don’t forget that it is also very important for all your other hoursehold activities too - like reading, entertaining and general safety.  So do think about these when trying to change your lighting for the better.

If you don’t plan for the correct number of light fixtures in your rooms – or bulb brightness; then you may end up having to make adaptations to the room, or changing room uses – which could all be avoided with better planning.

For example, if the lights are not bright enough in your lounge, you may want to read and use your laptop in the kitchen instead, where seating is usually more uncomfortable - and you may have to keep moving out of the way for others to eat.  And why heat the front room if noone ever really uses it anyway?

But then what if your kitchen is open plan to the hall, the stairs or the conservatory – heating that space is going to cost you more money and energy than having fitted a suitable light in the lounge in the first place!

No Need To Compromise:
Planning for a greener home doesn’t mean you have to ask for less stylish fittings - and you can still take advantage of contemporary designs like modern alessi Designs or AXO’s avant-garde approach in your home.  ‘Eco Friendly’ doesn’t have to mean ‘boring’ – just plan ahead and choose the eco options where possible, for example fittings that work with low energy bulbs and lighting that makes a room in your home fit for the purpose you want to use it for. 

I mean, you can still have glitz and glamour in your home – but make sure it is with a purpose: like some delicate chandelier lighting in the dining room!  If you have a dining room that you want to glam up for special occasions – then go for it!  Energy-efficient light bulbs can be used for most fittings these days – and you still get to enjoy that special treat for yourself without having just a boring single lampshade in your room!

And, as you use it regularly for entertaining – it will be fit for purpose and so make better use of that space, those fittings and your energy choices.  It can also help to keep that room ‘kid free’ so it stays as a special place for grown-ups or special events.

Planning Ahead For A Night In:
Another idea is to have 2 sets of independent lights in a room – for 2 different purposes.  Take your lounge: day to day living for the family, or quiet night in for the grown-ups? 

If you are like me and want the lounge only lit with low light while watching an evening movie – then consider a pendant light – or three.  Rather than leaving the bright kitchen or hall way lights on to create that ambiance; why not light the room with low wattage (and low energy) tiny lights – maybe with colored covers for some warmth. 

And don’t forget – keeping the lighting in the room you are actually in means you can close the door and keep the warmth inside in the winter – rather than it all leaking out of the open hallway door!

So, plan ahead – way ahead – and make sure that the time and energy you spend on planning your new light fittings will fit with your hopes and uses for each room. 

No more having to sit somewhere stupid just because it’s brighter, no more having to move the furniture around to fit in a new lamp – and of course no more compromise on having an eco friendly house!

Here we are again – with some quick easy steps to staying green…..

1) Buy Old Stuff:
Choose products that contain recycled materials otherwise why are we bothering to separate out our rubbish in the first place! 

There is no point expecting people to wash out and separate out all their plastics and glass if we aren’t prepared to buy the stuff we make out of it all!  Something is only worth making if people are going to buy it – I mean you don’t see trifle flavoured crisps or eyeball pies in your shops do you?

2) Buy New Stuff:
If you see a new product that supports Fair Trade, palm oil certification, MSC or anything else – make sure you are one of it’s new supporters!

If someone has bothered to make something that supports something you believe in, then the least you can do is buy it occasionally.  Sometimes these eco friendly versions are just as tasty as the normal things you buy, but that extra 50p you spend could make all the difference.

3) Bring Your Own Stuff:
We all remember to save our bags for shopping, and nearly all of us remember to take our bags to the stores – but then we go and leave them in the car! 

So, try to make a concerted effort to remember your bags when shopping, and to take more than you think you will need.  The number of times I only wanted ‘a few things’ and ended up remembering a whole load of other stuff – far out-weighing my original bag capacity! 

4) Leave Stuff Behind:
Make sure that you don’t buy fish that is not MSC certified – otherwise that might become a type of fish that you won’t be able to eat in the future – especially if it is being over-fished!

Isn’t it better to go without it this week rather than lose it forever!

The same goes for everything really.  My local store didn’t have my usual organic, free-range medium hens eggs.  So I didn’t buy any.  Firstly, I can go back to the shop tomorrow without having starved to death overnight: and secondly, buying the less chicken-friendly alternative in the shop lets the shop manager know that I’m not really that bothered about the type of eggs I buy!

I mean, if non-organic supermarket eggs sell just as well when the organic ones have sold out – and there is a better profit margin on the non-organic ones – then they might well let the organic ones ‘run out’ more regularly knowing that it’s more important that customers have eggs than the fact that they are organic!

Don’t let supermarkets decide what you can buy – make sure you tell them what you want to buy.

5) Make Your Own Stuff:
Rather than buy processed foods from Asia, and vegetables from Africa – why not try out some new recipes and using veg you can grow in your own back garden!

Try shopping in the fresh and home baking sections only for a week.  Don’t rely on someone you don’t know making a meal for you miles from your kitchen and then sticking it in a box for you and shipping it to your nearest store!

Give it a go!

Whether you are buying crisps, pet food or office equipment – look for the logo!

The Ethical Accreditation Scheme has been running for many years, helping to identify the most ethical companies in all areas of the market.  All those who pass the basic criteria can then display the Good Shopping Guide Logo on their products and websites so that you know you are choosing from the best out there.

For example did you know something as simple as choosing Sainsbury’s over Spar or Teacher’s whisky over Bell’s could be affecting the environment and even peoples lives?

What Is The Scheme About?
The Ethical Company Organisation runs the UK’s leading ethical accreditation scheme to help identify companies and brands that are one step ahead of the competition in terms of their impact on the environment, animal welfare issues if applicable, human rights, responsible marketing and suppliers and their ethical investment policies – amongst other criteria.

The ‘scoring’ takes into account many aspects of trade and staffing, and then allows for full accreditation if all categories are met.  It also allows for other companies to be listed as ‘almost there’ and those that are no good at all really!

The History Of Ethical Shopping.
In the past 2 decades – ethical shopping has come along in leaps and bounds.  People as consumers are actually asking where their ‘stuff’ comes from.  And are finding out that Brother make more ethical products than Samsung or Xerox for example.  Where products are not that different in appearance of function – it’s good to know that your choice can help make a difference.

Picking one brand of toaster could help support the sale of armaments and abuses of human rights where as another could be preserving habitats and helping to encourage fair trade.  The difference to you could be just 50 pence, but the difference to the whole chain of people associated with the raw materials and production could mean life or death!

1986 saw the boycott of General Electric for it’s involvement with nuclear weapons, 1989 saw Avon in the public eye for animal testing, then in the 1990′s Nestle were forced to rethink their Baby Milk marketing after the truth was exposed.  1994 saw the timber trade in the spotlight and France itself had to do some serious ‘fixing’ after it’s nuclear tests were thrown into the news during the following year.

Since then, there have been some serious changes in policy for most major areas like animal testing, the timber trade, marine and dolphin fishing, fair trade coffee and chocolate becoming mainstream and many many more – including the new palm oil certification.

Consumers want to know everything – and they know that they can make a change now.

Visit www.gooshing.co.uk for some information that can help you decide if Hula Hoops are a more ethically responsible choice than Pringles; whether your cooking oil manufacturer is supplying weapons to troubled countries or whether your sewing machine is harming animals!

Take a look……