Foraging is another thing I am still learning about but have probably done more than I think over the years. Depending on where you live and what you have access to you may be able to forage all sorts of nourishing plants fruit. I have enjoyed the results of a lot of my family’s foraging over the years. My mom it not shy and no matter where we are, on holiday, in a forest, down the street from her house - if she sees good fruit or veg going begging, she helps herself. She makes jam, pies, cordials, and other fermented drinks. The amount of free produce she gets given by friends and neighbours ..read more

For a long time, the biggest edible plants I grew myself were herbs on the kitchen windowsill. And those didn’t go so well. Recently I have been having a go at growing my own vegetables, with a little help from some friends, and it has been such fun! I am nowhere near self-sustainable or anything, but it has been so special to watch things grown, harvest them and savour them in a tasty dish. Growing your own herbs, fruit and veg is a great way to enjoy nature, help the environment and save some pennies. The cost There is always a cost, the question is how much are you willing to pay? And I don ..read more

This will probably be a lot of common sense for most of us but sometimes it’s helpful to hear someone else’s process to reaffirm what is going to work for us. So today I will be talking about how we can save money and the environment by being intentional in our purchases. Pre prepare My top tips for intentional shopping are all about being prepared and doing most of the work before you even get a product or service in the basket! Questions to ask: What do I really need to be buying right now? Where am I going to buy it? Who am I going to buy it from? What is it I am going to buy? Thi ..read more

We have come to perhaps the hardest but potentially most cost-effective option when trying to make more sustainable choices. Letting go of unsustainable products and practices. The truth is that for certain things eco-friendly alternatives just don’t exist. Either they haven’t been invented yet or the standards and expectations we have for conventional products are just unnatural. Manufacturing a substance that is sticky yet hardens, is smudge proof and doesn’t wash off when exposed to water, like mascara for example, was always unlikely to be sustainable. The same goes for cling film. Such a ..read more

There are three main ways we can be more environmentally friendly and eco-nomical: Go old school Embrace innovation Let go of unsustainable standards & practices I’ve already covered some old school options in my previous blog so today we will be focusing on embracing innovative products & designs. We still have a long way to go in this category. Many individuals and companies are on the journey which is exciting, and I look forward to seeing what solutions are developed over the next decade. In the meantime, let’s be clear about where to set our sights when it comes to sustain ..read more

I love this category of eco-friendly alternatives! They can be so simple, solid and satisfying. For many of the products we use today their original form was more environmentally friendly than the versions we have now. Now, I’m not saying that everything was better back in the day - but before things like plastic, disposables, mass production and pesticides some materials and processes were more natural. A lot of things were also made to last or be repaired. Quality was prized over quantity. So, for some alternatives, we just need to go back to what generations before us used. Soap A bar of so ..read more

When it comes to being more environmentally conscious, I always say its important to know what we are signing up for. What things do we want to be moving away from and what things do we want to be embracing more of? This type of change doesn’t happen overnight, it is a process that involves many individual choices day by day that will take us where we want to be. I’m not going to lie. It is a struggle at times, as there seems so much that needs to change, but then there are those moments when you realise that you have made a difference. That things are better, maybe not as good as they could b ..read more

Before we jump straight into saving money and the environment (so much easier said than done) I thought we’d best take some time to talk about cost. If cost is something we are going to be measuring, and trying to get the most out of, then I think it’s important we do so consciously – by knowing the context and the facts around the cost of stuff. Don’t worry we will get to the eco-nomical options soon! This context is just so important to start with as it will help us see the true value of our investment in the environment, and whether we are able to invest a little or a lot, our investment is ..read more

I was going to do a blog series on environmental hot topics but decided in our current climate and in light of all we have been through over the last few years (having just emerged from a worldwide pandemic) we probably could all use some good news. Or at least something helpful to deal with the problems we already know about!  I had a think and due to the current cost of living increase I’m going to be doing a blog series on how to live more sustainably and save money. In other words - how to be ‘eco-nomical’. For many people I talk to about being more environmentally friendly, this is o ..read more

Well, I don’t know about you, but I have certainly learnt a lot through this blog series on greenwashing! I hope, like I, you feel more confident in making good choices for the environment as a result. There are just two more things I want to mention before we conclude this series. Consumerism or Stewardship As I’ve been researching and on the lookout for greenwashing, I’ve realised just how different my daily habits and outlook are from a few years ago. I am so much more focused and intentional in my shopping that I automatically avoid so many shelves in the supermarket and even some shops en ..read more