Ethical Living Issue 9 November / December 2008
Ethical Sportswear
Issue 9 November / December 2008 £3.00 Make a positive difference
Plus cool socks and hosiery
Eco-Spa Experience Indulgence at Europe’s best spas
Christmas Veggie Feast
WIN A £50 DIY Christmas hamper
Tea-time: Our favourite teas
Plus
• Zero Waste • Eco-heating • Herbal Tea • Family Gift Guide • Veg Box Review • Backyard Wildlife • Tai Chi • Toothpaste
Ethical Publishing
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In the next issue January / February 2009 Green ‘I Do’s’ Weddings don’t have to cost the earth. Celebrate in eco-chic style
Fashion The latest organic and fair trade catwalk collections
Swapping Spree Want a new outfit but don’t want to splash out? Find out how you can with our guide to clothes swaps
Family The low-down on the future of education with eco-schools
Home and Garden Heading off to the bottom of the garden in search of eco-sheds Health and Beauty Get your health regime off to a flying start with our 1-week kick start plan Food and Drink Delicious seasonal and organic recipes, plus healthy snacking
Travel Luxury romantic breaks with a heart Finance and Work Want to save the planet but still need to make a living? We take a look an eco-friendly jobs
Welcome to issue 9 of Ethical Living magazine, our November/December 2008 issue. For this issue we have been much inspired by our readers, with many fantastic letters arriving with stories of your green exploits and adventures. It’s wonderful to have this reassurance that many different types of people are taking little, and sometimes giant, steps to make a positive difference. Whether it be simply leaving a pile of wood logs in the garden or taking on the enourmous challenge of becoming a mumpreneur and starting your own ethical business venture such as those in our Mumpreneurs feature, there is much comfort to be gained from hearing stories of people making small changes in their lives to reduce their impact on our environment. This positive feeling is greatly received in a time when we our news is predominately full of stories of crisis and recession. And it is also reassuring to hear that aspiring to live an ethical lifestyle doesn’t have to have to burn on a hole in your pocket, as the family in our Zero Waste Challenge feature can demonstrate. A little bit of creative thinking can go a long way. And if all the talk of credit crunch is stressing you out, take a few minutes to enjoy the slower pace of nature, sitting in your back garden or nearby park and watching the leaves fall, taking a relaxing tai chi class to soothe your spirit or visiting an eco-friendly spa for total indulgence. There’s an opportunity for everyone who is looking to make a positive difference.
Kim Marks Editor
Editor Kim Marks editor@ethical-living.org Published 6 times a year by Ethical Publishing Limited, PO Box 282, Stamford, PE9 9BW Tel: 08456 432 499 ISSN 1754-047X For subscriptions and general enquires hello@ethical-living.org
Editorial contributors Andrew Broadhead, Claudia Cahalane, Sarah Callard, Peter Holden, Nicky Solloway, Rachelle Strauss Design Tye Design Ltd www.tyedesign.co.uk
Marketing and advertising Matthew Wilkinson advertising@ethical-living.org
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Printed by Warners (Midlands) PLC, who are FSC and ISO 14001:2004 accredited and use vegetable based inks. Warners are local to Ethical Living and have company-wide initiatives to reduce energy use, promote recycling and protect their environment. Paper Cover printed on Arctic Paper Munken Pure, which is FSC certified and manufactured completely without optical brightening agents. Text pages printed on Munken Print Cream, which is FSC certified and virtually wood free. The Munkedal mill is ISO 14001 certified and is one of the most environmentally friendly paper mills in the world.
Printed using vegetable based inks TT-COC-002452
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Wild World Make a haven for wildlife in your backyard
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Eco-Spas Pure ndulgence for body, spirit and mind
Letters, News and Events Features 06
08 Palmed Off
Claudia Cahalane investigates what’s being done to make the palm oil industry sustainable and save our rainforests
24 It’s a Wild World
Could your garden be a mini nature reserve? Peter Holden talks biodiversity and how to create a wildlife haven in your backyard
Health and Beauty 28 Totally Tai Chi
12 Zero Waste Challenge
32 Toothpaste Review
Find out how one family have pledged to throw nothing away in a bid to tackle the landfill mountain without making compromises
16 Vegetable Box Review
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Taking a look at the practice of Tai Chi Brush up your daily dental care with our guide to ethical toothpaste
Subscription Offer
We get to grips with parsnips and carrots to find out which vegetable box delivery offers the best Fashion service for you 36 Sportswear Keep fit and healthy in style with the latest Home and Garden ethical sportswear
20 Heating
Eco-friendly heating options to keep you feeling warm inside and out
40 Socks and Hosiery
Ethical socks and tights to keep your toes toasty warm and your principles cosy too
November / December 2008
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Veggie Recipes Tasty ideas for an ethical Christmas feast
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Sportswear Get active, eco-friendly and stylish too
Food and Drink
Finance and Work
42 What’s In Season
58 Work at Home Mums
Starting a family is life changing but a growing number of women are becoming ethical entrepreneurs too
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Competition
Win a Christmas hamper!
Fresh, tasty foods for November/December
44 Veggie Christmas Recipes
Delicious dishes from The Vegetarian Society to give your Christmas an ethical twist
48 Refreshment
Try our sophisticated Christmas cosmo
49 Herbal Teas
Treat your taste buds with our fantastic fair trade and organic herbal teas
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Leisure 64 Ethical Marketplace 66 Ethical Advice
Family 50 Family Gift Guide Ethical gift ideas for everyone
Travel 56 Eco-Spa Experience
Soothe away your stresses and strains at a luxurious eco-spa.
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November / December 2008
Letters
Join our latest letter writing competition for the chance to win Woodland Trust Nature Detectives Club membership. See page 57 for details.
In the July/August 2008 issue of Ethical Living, we stated that Sarah and Ian Blenkinsop were taking their first steps towards sustainable living. We now realise that this is untrue and in fact Sarah and Ian have extensive and impressive experience in environmental matters extending over a number of years. We unreservedly apologise to Ian and Sarah for any inconvenience caused by this error and for misrepresentation as a result of this or any incorrect quotations in our ‘Switching on to Renewables’ feature in the same issue.
Events
Library Dear Ethical Living, This sounds really obvious but I have started making much better use of the Library. I decided, rather than mindlessly buying CDs and books, to check out the library. Most catalogues are online and can be reserved free of charge from your own home and then I can actually decide if it’s worth buying before I pay for something which will just sit on the shelf. You can take out tons more books these days and if it’s fiction I only ever read it once. With regards to reference books, I have recently taken out about seven books on a particular health issue. I would never have been able to afford this amount or have decided which was the best in a shop. This way, I have weeks to get through the information and can decide which is the best one for me to go on to buy, saving money and pointless consumerism. They have local information and, although I’m not sure if this is national, they even have a service which visits people with computers and books if they are housebound. So, once you get over the idea of ownership, I have been surprised at how useful the Library actually is. There will always be obscure stuff you won’t get there but I always make it my first part of call now. Helen Humphries Congratulations to our star letter writer Helen on winning a box of delicious Booja Booja truffles.
19 World Toilet Day Day to raise public awareness on toilets both in the rural to urban setting and in less developed to developed countries – www.worldtoilet.org
12 World Responsible Tourism Day Event for the travel industry supported by UNWTO, to encourage protection of tourism destinations and host cultures – www.wtmwrtd.com
21-23 Solihull Big Green Market Taking place in the West Midlands for the first time, a Christmas market with an exciting range of ethical goodies – www.biggreenmarket.co.uk
14 Orange for Orangutan Day Part of Orangutan Awareness Week. An opportunity to spread the word about the plight facing orangutans and their rainforest home – www.orangutan.org.uk
26-27 National Tree Week The UK’s largest tree celebration, launching the start of the winter tree planting season with fun events nationwide for people to get their hands dirty – www.treecouncil.org.uk
17-23 Social Enterprise Day Encouraging young people to have business ideas for social or environmental change and address society’s biggest issues – www.enterpriseweek.org.uk
29 Buy Nothing Day Campaign to inspire you to detox from consumerism by living without shopping for a day and shopping less to live more – www.buynothingday.co.uk
November / December 2008
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November
News
Ethical Award Winner Natracare, the organic and natural feminine hygiene brand, and the woman behind it, Susie Hewson, have scooped the prestigious award for Ethical Business of the Year 2008 in the Women in Ethical Business (WEBA) awards. Run by Triodos Bank, the awards celebrate the women who run the UK’s most ethical businesses. Susie Hewson said ‘It is a great honour to receive this award and more importantly it shows that it really is possible to run a successful business in a truly ethical way.’ Susie developed Natracare nearly 20 years ago, when as a keen environmental campaigner and mum of two, she was distress at learning of the environmental and health dangers of dioxins, a by-product of the production process of many feminine hygiene products. Natracare now offers over 20 products, including tampons, pads, panty liners and wipes. www.natracare.com
December 5 World Volunteer Day The annual celebration of the contributions of volunteers to various causes around the world – www.worldvolunteerweb.org 6 Warwickshire Green Christmas Fair Avoid the busy high street and opt for a local and sustainable alternative event in Leamington Spa with a range of environmentally friendly, fair trade and hand made gifts for sale – www.greenfinder.co.uk 6 National Climate March, London This year’s march goes to Parliament Square to demand the government act now on climate. Speakers include George Monbiot, Caroline Lucas and Michael Meacher – www.campaigncc.org
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Recycle CDs for Cash Online CD recycling service www.musicmagpie. co.uk lets music-lovers trade in their old or unwanted CDs for cash. It is estimated that over 30 million CDs are sent to landfill each year, with tens or millions more simply left lying around unplayed. Musicmagpie.co.uk is giving people the opportunity to quickly and easily convert these unused CDs into hard cash instead. The service is free and simple to use. Go to the website and click the ‘Get cash for your old CDs’ button. You then type in the barcode number from the CDs you want to sell. The website will search its database and make a cash offer for each one. When you accept the offer, you are sent prepaid envelopes to send in your CDs and a cheque is issued within 7 days of receipt. www.musicmagpie.co.uk
6-14 Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fayre Taking place in a giant, decorative marquee on Princes Street, an event bringing together fair trade, ethical and sustainable gifts, food and drinks from across the UK – www.handupmedia.co.uk 13-14 Eco Xmas Design Fair, London Bringing environmentally aware products directly from the makers to the public, including organic clothing and accessories, ceramics, toys and furniture – www.ecodesignfair.co.uk
If you have any news or events that you would like us to feature in Ethical Living please email us at editor@ethical-living.org
November / December 2008
Palmed off Cheap, versatile and plentiful – palm oil can now be found in many of our everyday products but at what cost to our rainforests. Claudia Cahalane investigates what’s being done to make the palm oil industry sustainable.
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ainforest destruction was a hot topic back in the 1980s, when it was the green issue du jour. But since then, deforestation has had to vie for attention with thousands of other issues like landfill, climate change and pesticide use, which have been rising up the agenda. As with many other eighties’ trends though, the topic is undergoing something of a resurgence. Why? Because the rapidly increasing amount of land being destroyed for palm oil plantations is killing off orangutans, tigers and other wildlife, displacing humans and releasing huge amounts of carbon from peat sinks. In Indonesia, more than 28 million hectares of forest have been destroyed since 1990, largely for palm oil plantations. In a report at the end of last year, Greenpeace said that ‘Through growing demand for palm oil, the world’s largest food, cosmetic and biofuel industries are driving the wholesale destruction of peatlands and rainforests. These companies include Unilever, Nestlé and Procter & Gamble, who between them account for a significant volume of global palm oil use, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia.’ For years, environmentalists have been putting pressure on governments and multinational companies to stop using unsustainable palm oil. But it’s so cheap, versatile and plentiful that it’s easy to see how the world has become addicted to
it. Palm is now an ingredient in about one in ten of our everyday products including chocolate, crisps, cosmetics, cakes and soap. And, what’s more, the oil is also finding a home in the fast-growing biofuels industry. But as with much that comes cheap and easy, there’s a high price to pay elsewhere.
A complex issue So what do we do? Stop using palm oil? Put pressure on companies to be more ethical? Easy questions but the answers are more complex. The supply chain for palm oil is complicated and there is much corruption according to charities working in these areas. Many multi-national companies have admitted it is hard to tell where their palm oil actually comes from. And, to add to this, palm oil can sometimes be labelled as vegetable oil. An official spokesperson for Tesco said that he didn’t have available a list of which Tesco products did and didn’t contain palm oil but that if a customer wrote and asked for the information Tesco would ‘answer as fully as possible’. Last year, Asda promised to stop using any products containing palm oil from unsustainable sources, Body Shop switched to an ethical palm oil supplier in Colombia and Lush completely removed palm oil from all its products. Meanwhile, an organisation called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), set up by multinational palm oil users such as
November / December 2008
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Orangutan and Logging - © Sumatran Orangutan Society www.orangutans-sos.org
‘...areas of remaining forest must be protected, they cannot be allowed to be deforested for palm oil, or anything else for that matter’ Andrew Butler – Lush
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Unilever, claims that it now supports sustainable palm oil practises. As of this year, members of the organisation who financially support what they say are better practises, can use a Greenpalm stamp on their products.
Making improvements As with all such organisations, there have been criticisms from charities and other groups who say that the RSPO’s criteria is too weak, isn’t rigorous enough on deforestation issues and that it is still too difficult to check sustainability of supplies. Some of the major players in the industry, claim they are now pushing for stronger criteria on not allowing deforestation. But, the RSPO has been alive in some form since 2001, so critics wonder why it is only now that members are asking for this. ‘It amazes me that the RSPO’s inaugural meeting was in 2003 and only now, five years later, are they proposing to disallow deforestation,’ says Lush’s campaigns manager, Andrew Butler. ‘This should have been a starting point for sustainability. Yes, this is what needs to be done, areas of remaining forest must be protected, they cannot be allowed to be deforested for palm oil, or anything else for that matter, but how long will it take the RSPO and their members to actually enact this proposal, and how exactly are they going to monitor and enforce it?’ Bob Norman, spokesman for the RSPO says that he is aware there is an argument that the criteria is ‘not quite strict enough’. However, he continues ‘we do support continuous improvement... but producers want to be given a chance to work towards the criteria that’s been agreed. If it’s changed too much it will lose some continuity and credibility.’ Greenpeace believes the RSPO and its members have taken few meaningful steps to end the devastation linked to the industry and its expansion. And that by ‘dragging out and complicating its sustainability process, many in the industry are using the RSPO to cover their backs, putting off urgent action while the destruction continues.’
Looking for solutions Environmental groups do not necessarily advocate a total ban on palm oil as the solution to deforestation, because they are concerned that a move to alternative oils will just shift the problem. Lush’s policy is to use a range of sustainable oils. ‘We are working hard to ensure that our oils, especially the coconut oil, which comes from a
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cooperative on the Indonesian Island of Nias, are sustainable and fairly traded. We also want to make sure that we use a range of oils, spreading the load and not putting undue pressure on any one area.’ Relocating away from Indonesia isn’t necessarily the solution either. As it comes under increasing scrutiny, the palm oil industry is moving to Latin America. War On Want, the poverty campaigning organisation, has reported mercenaries forcibly moving people from their land in Columbia to make way for palm plantations, and Yasuni Green Gold is reporting similar problems in Ecuador.
The losers There are many losers in the palm oil war, one of the biggest perhaps being the orangutan. Helen Buckland, UK coordinator for the Sumatra Orangutan Society (SOS), says ‘Ninety per cent of the world’s palm-oil exports come from the oilpalm plantations of Malaysia and Indonesia. Most of these plantations are on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra and the very lowland forest that the oil-palm industry favours for conversion is the only remaining habitat of the orangutan.’ Buckland says that by 2020 Indonesia’s oil-palm plantations are projected to triple in size to 16.5 million hectares – an area the size of England and Wales combined. This expansion will have devastating impacts on the remaining orangutan habitat. SOS doesn’t advocate a boycott of products containing palm oil either, or of companies using palm oil in their products. ‘But’ says Buckland, ‘the international community must demand that oilpalm concessions are not granted in forested areas, and that our local retailers and consumer goods manufacturers only source their palm oil from non-destructive plantations.’ The organisation is keen that more pressure is put on the industry by governments, and while she admits that this is difficult when Indonesia’s government is complex because it’s decentralised, Buckland says there have been positive talks recently with sympathetic key government officials. She adds that SOS is pleased companies are recognising the issues: ‘A lot of key industry players are now starting to publically acknowledge the unsustainability of the situation and are striking up partnerships to do something about this. Whether that’s for their CSR image or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that they’re doing something. If they don’t, orangutans could be extinct by 2020.’
November / December 2008
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Zero Waste Challenge T
he average UK household produces over a tonne of rubbish every year. Research indicates that we have about 9 years of landfill space left in the UK. After that, the options for dealing with our waste include incineration, which produces toxic gases, or shipping our rubbish to other countries. In June, we set ourselves a challenge: Could an ordinary family produce NOTHING for landfill collection each week? Inspiration for this challenge had been building since 2004, when we were in Boscastle on a day of devastating floods. As our car filled with water, our possessions got damaged and the bridge out of town crumbled into the sea, I realised that climate change was real and that we needed to do something about it. I started to green up my life by supporting local business, growing some food, reducing our electricity consumption and setting up our local Freecycle group.
Making the pledge Earlier this year, I read about a woman who had taken part in her county council’s zero waste week. She produced just one plaster! I decided ‘I can do that’ and started to recycle more of our rubbish. Unfortunately, my husband thought I was mad and after a few days of picking cans and bottles covered in sloppy tea bags out of the bin, the novelty wore off. However, in May I read an article about the effects of plastic on marine life. I gave the story to my husband and it had a profound effect on him. Our zero waste challenge began. When we started the challenge we were producing rubbish like any other household. Around 100 litres was an average week for us - 1 metal dustbin and 2 swing bin liners. By recycling more and changing our shopping habits we began to produce less waste. After three months we put out just 55gms, which I could hold in the palm of my hand. We then went for the ultimate challenge: to get through a week without producing anything for landfill. We began by planning our meals. Much waste produced in the average household is food packaging, such as Clingfilm, convenience meal trays, milk bottles, tetrapak juice cartons, tins and packets. We knew what could be recycled, so those items were allowed on the shopping list, but anything that could not be reused, recycled or composted was banned for the week.
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November / December 2008
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Earth in Trash - © Gino Santa Maria - fotolia.com Locked Trashcan - © Paul Fleet - fotolia.com The Dump - © Joy Fera - fotolia.com
Is it possible for an ordinary family to throw absolutely nothing away? Rachelle Strauss tells us how her family are stepping up to the challenge to becoming zero waste.
Follow our progress at: www.myzerowaste.com
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Celebration treats It was important for us to view our challenge as a celebration, rather than a week of deprivation, so we planned lots of lovely treats along the way. I made posh bread, biscuits and soup and we bought delicious salads from a deli taken home in our own reusable containers. We even managed to maintain convenience as well. It’s easy to open a tin of soup and serve it with some home made bread or to make a rice pudding in the slow cooker without producing anything for landfill. We blogged the progress of our challenge and put a few how to videos on our website, which amassed a huge following of loyal readers who visited for our latest news and advice. Support was amazing and the most beautiful thing was that so many people were inspired by our challenge. We received many wonderful comments, such as ‘I am amazed at what you have achieved so far and what you intend to achieve. It’s really given me an incentive to do the best I can’ and ‘Every time I went to put something in the rubbish I thought of your video – you have inspired me’.
Finally, we talk of throwing things away, but what does that mean? It just means it goes into a hole in the ground, an incinerator, the bottom of the ocean or on a ship to China. Next time you purchase something remind yourself that there is no such place as away.
If you’re inspired to reduce your waste here are my top five tips: 1. Recycle and compost all you can Find out what you can recycle in your local area, using both kerbside collections and nearby recycling banks. A great resource for this information is the Recycle Now website: www.recyclenow.com
Near miss We had a couple of near misses. On one day a package arrived for me in the post with brown packing tape around it, which would usually be ripped off and put in the bin. But this time I did something completely crazy. I meticulously picked off the tape from my parcel and I reused it. A radical challenge calls for radical thinking. On another day, my daughter chose a bar of soap when out with a family member. It came in a pretty organza bag, but was wrapped in cellophane too. Some sources said cellophane was biodegradable, while others said it needed to go into landfill, so I decided to send the cellophane back to the manufacturer. Manufacturers are under no obligation to state what their packaging is made from or how to dispose of it and we have to show them that this is unacceptable to us as conscious consumers. So, we got through a week relatively unscathed but the real progress comes when you can keep something like this up long term. We would like to put our dustbin out perhaps only three times a year, as we feel that total zero waste in the 21st century is not a realistic aim for most people, especially as recycling facilities are limited.
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2. Start small Choose a small goal such as ‘I will recycle my tetrapaks this week’ and do it until it becomes a new habit. Then add something else. 3. Set up a system Make a recycling system in your home that works and is convenient for you. If recycling boxes are on hand, you’ll have a better chance of success. 4. Reuse your bags One of the easiest first steps is to start reusing your own shopping bags. Some stores even give you loyalty points for this, so not only do you help the environment but you are rewarded for your efforts too. 5. Make a shopping list And don’t go shopping when you are hungry. If you do, you’ll fill your trolley with all sorts of excessively packaged treats and have a lot of rubbish to dispose of.
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Boxing Clever Looking for an easy way to get fresh, local and organic fruit and veg directly from the growers? Don’t get out of your box. Check out our guide to the best vegetable box delivery schemes.
G
etting fresh fruit and vegetables direct from local farmers has never been easier. Many farmers and growers have set up their own vegetable box delivery schemes in order to sell directly to customers and receive a fair price for their produce in comparison to supermarkets. There are several different types of box schemes now available, with many offering a variety of box options and extensive grocery ranges too. However, suppliers are aiming to sell mainly organic and locally grown produce, which makes vegetable box delivery an easy way to ensure you are eating a seasonal diet. Ordering your vegetables directly from the producer can also be a great way to minimise excess packaging of your food. Most vegetable box providers endeavour to reduce the amount of packaging
that they use and offer returnable boxes or bags, which can be handed back to your delivery driver and used time and time again. Some also strive to reduce packaging for individual items and opt for biodegradable bags. Don’t worry if you have a particular aversion to beetroot or swede, most vegetable box providers offer the option to omit one or two items from your weekly delivery and are happy to accommodate your likes and dislikes. Many also provide recipe ideas for the more unusual items in your delivery. And because many of these companies are small scale, you can simply ring them to ask for advice or tell them your preferences and be reassured that your comments are being heard rather than going in a lonely looking suggestion box at the back of your local supermarket.
London: Farmaround Mini Fruit and Vegetable Bag – £14.50
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November / December 2008
Girl Eating Fruit - © NiDerLander - fotolia.com
Delivery: Minimum order of £12.25 and delivery at £1.00. Delivery to most of Greater London and also North Yorkshire. Contents: Broccoli, leeks, carrots, potatoes, savoy cabbage, bananas, oranges, red apples, green apples. Description: All organic produce, frseh and grown in UK but with some European items. Potatoes and apples were interesting varieties. Likes and dislikes system available to replace up to 3 items. Delivered in a single large protective sack, which stores easily and can be returned with the next order or recycled, with only carrots seperately packaged. Extras: Good selection of veg and fruit boxes as well as salad, juicing and Mediterranean options. A great selection of groceries is also available. Each week comes with a newsletter and recipes. Alternatives: Growing Communities, Bumblebee
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North West: Abel and Cole Medium Mixed Box – £15.95 Delivery: Free delivery with a minimum order value of £8.00. Broad delivery coverage to many areas of the North West, West Midlands and South East. Contents: Leeks, potatoes, carrots, bananas, pears, apples, red pepper, squash, curly kale, cabbage. Description: Safely delivered in a returnable cardboard box. Majority of produce is organic and much is from the UK - Abel and Cole work with a network of over 120 British farmers, bakers and producers. Bananas are fairtrade. Comes with newsletter and seasonal recipe idea. Extras: Many additional products can be added to your order, including meat and poultry, fish, dairy, bakery products, dried goods, drinks and household items. Alternatives: Northern Harvest, Mossley Organic
North East: Goosemoor Organics 2-5kg Vegetable Box – £5.00 Delivery: Delivery to local areas free of charge on orders over £5.00, elsewhere in delivery area (most of Yorkshire) free of charge for orders over £15.00 Contents: Potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, chillies, large red pepper, cabbage, celery and tomatoes. Description: All organic produce, with all but the pepper locally grown, delivered in a good, sturdy, returnable cardboard box. No excess packaging with only the farms own delicious chilli’s separately wrapped but with useful explanation label as to suggested uses and strength. Extras: Goosemoor’s weekly changing Pick of the Crop lists information on what seasonal fruit and veg are available for purchase. Also offer over 2500 organic groceries. Alternatives: G&S Organics
South West: Rod and Ben’s Large Vegetable Box – £15.00 Delivery: Exeter, Exmouth and Plymouth £1.00. Elsewhere by mail order at £4.99. Contents: Potatoes, onions, leeks, broccoli, runner beans, beetroot, carrots, mushrooms, chillies, herb salad, cherry tomatoes, chard. Description: Delivered in good condition in a sealed cardboard box with many items individually packaged. Most of the produce is grown organically at the local Bickham Farm. Extras: Rod and Ben’s have two flocks of black rock hens for eggs and 20 beehives for honey. A selection of fruit, cheese, olive oil and fruit juice available, as well as organic free range turkeys. Alternatives: West Country Organics, Graig Farm
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South East: The Ethical Food Company The Local Treats Veg Box – £15.00 Delivery: Locally to Buckinghamshire £2, South and West London £3.00, by courier elsewhere £7.50. Weekly or fortnightly standing order and text reminder service. Contents: Potatoes, new potatoes, carrots, parsnip, leeks, sweetcorn, broad beans, squash, spinach, apples. Description: Ideal for those aiming to lower their food miles, with most produce from within 40 miles. Delivered in a wooden crate, which protects food well and can be returned with the next order. Organic and non-organic produce packaged separately but all bags biodegradable. Extras: Many fruit, veg and mixed boxes on offer, as well as interesting menu and recipe boxes. A wide selection of other food products and some grocery items. Alternatives: Everybody Organic, We Love Local
The Midlands: Riverford Organic River Nene Summer Box – £12.95 Delivery: Free delivery throughout the East Midlands and East Anglia through River Nene and nationwide using Riverford’s sister farms to keep things local. Contents: Broccoli, chard, leeks, pak choi, green pepper, romanesco cauliflower, spring onions, sweet potatoes, sweetcorn, tomatoes. Description: Most produce grown locally or in the UK with the exception of peppers, tomatoes and sweet potatoes which are all from Europe. Arrives in a clever, returnable, fold down, cardboard box for easy storage and with tomatoes separated in a cardboard tray for protection. Extras: You can top up your box with all sorts of goodies from dairy and pasta to chocolate and wine. Alternatives: Woodlands Organic
Scotland: Grow Wild Medium Veg Only Box – £16.15 Delivery: Edinburgh or Glasgow free of charge, West Lothian and Central region £1.00. Weekly standing order. Contents: Chard, onion, carrots, leeks, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot, swede, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes. Description: Much of the produce is locally grown in Scotland and the remainder is from the UK, all organic. Packaged in a sturdy, collapsible cardboard box but with the lettuce, chard and loose items packaged separately. Included a useful newsletter with product information and recipe ideas. Extras: Additional fruit and veg can be added to the order, and a wide variety of dairy, meat, breads, drinks, dried goods and toiletries are also available. Alternatives: East Coast Organics
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November / December 2008
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Facing a
Warm Front Thinking of getting a new heating system this winter? Kim Marks takes a look at ecofriendly options that keep your toes warm and your conscience clear too.
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s winter draws in, most of us will be switching on heating systems to keep warm. But if this years switch on causes you to think about updating your heating system, an eco-friendly option could save you money. What type of eco-heating system you choose, will depend on many different factors from location and type of building to cost. It will certainly be worthwhile if you put the time in and do your research thoroughly before making any decisions or going ahead with any work.
If your home is being newly built, by yourself or someone with whom you are able to influence the major construction decisions, then the possibility of installing an underfloor heating system is certainly worth investigating. This may also be a realistic option if you are undertaking some major renovation of your house or replacing your entire current heating system. Underfloor heating systems tend to be much more efficient than conventional radiator systems, running at around 25 degrees Celsius, 45 degrees lower than radiators. There are also less draughts associated with underfloor heating systems than radiators and the heat is dispersed through the entire floor, thus giving an even temperature to all parts of a room. It’s also a great space saver! An ideal position for underfloor heating systems is in solid floors, so that the heat will release slowly. Firstly, a concrete layer is placed over your damp proofing, followed by a good layer of insulation. Then, a network of pipes are placed on top of the insulation covering the entire floor area. Finally, another layer of concrete forms the top layer of the sandwich and forms a smooth surface onto which your tiles are placed. However, these systems can be installed under some timber floors too, which requires insulating between the joints to prevent heat loss. The best system to install in environmental terms is one which runs off a biomass boiler but electric systems and
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Going underground
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Advertorial
Save Time, Save Your Money and Save the Planet?
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et’s not dwell on the turbulent times but perhaps, like most, you are making an increased effort to seek out the best bargains. Aside from rifling through the boxes and clothes rails of your local charity shop, you might think that being green and thrifty just can’t be done. Well, actually it can, and it’s easier than ever before due to the marvels of modern technology. Green online shopping removes a lot of hassle that in the past turned people off buying eco products. It’s now much easier to find products and services that you perhaps thought didn’t have a cost-effective eco alternative. Kettles, bicycles, eye shadows, bed linen and even sexy organic undies - it’s all out there and can be delivered directly to your door! There’s also a trump card to cash in with: the traditions of customer loyalty have had an eco makeover, thanks to the emergence of green rewards websites on a browser near you. Moreeco.com, which launched this month, hosts a single entry point to some of the finest green online retailers and brands. You can buy next season’s wardrobe from ethical fashion specialists Adili.com, order your Christmas dinner online through Abel & Cole,
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feed your sweet tooth with Green & Black’s chocolate, or switch to a renewable energy provider or ethical insurance policy, all through this one site. It’s easy to collect your moreeco reward points each time you shop - with 500 complimentary points when you sign up for free, you exchange points for all sorts of things, from magazine subscriptions to books or gift vouchers that you can redeem with moreeco retailers. For every 10 points you earn with moreeco, they offset 1Kg of CO2 for you for through ClimateCare, which helps reduce global greenhouse gases through a range of projects around the world that make real reductions in carbon emissions but also make a difference to people’s lives. When you set up a free account with moreeco you get a personal carbon counter to see how many tonnes of CO2 you are offsetting each time you shop through the website. It’s a lovely reminder that when you reward shop it is not only your wallet that can be richer.
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ones that run off your combined gas boiler are also available. However, before you rush off to find out how you can install such a system in your home, there are some disadvantages that mean that this is not the right system for you. In particular, it can take a while for underfloor heating to get going and bring warmth to the room, so it’s not ideal if you tend to need your heating in short bursts.
Woody and wise
Radiator - Š zolwick - fotolia.com
Wood fuel is a great cost effective and sustainable way to heat homes. You may think that burning wood in order to heat homes must have terrible environmental consequences, but wood is a renewable fuel that when burned, releases only the carbon dioxide that it used in growing. This means that if the tree had been left to rot naturally an equal amount of carbon dioxide would have been released. Wood fuel burners are suitable to many homes but must have a dedicated vent to avoid producing carbon monoxide and comply with building regulations. Perhaps surprisingly, burning wood efficiently and cleanly can be relatively smoke free and many wood burning stoves can be used in smoke-free zones. Check that your wood is properly seasoned and avoid anything treated, painted or glued.
Ground source Another eco-heating option is to install a heat pump. Geothermal heat can be pumped from the earth and harnessed using ground source heat pumps. Theses systems capture heat using water that is passed through pipes buried in the ground Make a positive difference
and transfer it to your house, a bit like a refrigerator in reverse. Even just a metre down the temperature is consistent throughout the year. As heat pumps transfer heat rather than produce it, they can be very efficient. They are powered by electricity but the heat energy that is produced using this method is several times more than that used in the process. Disadvantages of this choice of heating system are that you may need a large amount of land in which the pipes can be installed and it could mean digging up your much loved garden, although pipes can sometimes also be installed through boreholes, which minimises these factors. If you’re not convinced, air source and water source heat pumps are also available. Air source heat pumps do not require the same cost of ground work in laying pipes and so have an advantage over ground source versions. Water source systems take their heat from a pond, lake, river, stream or other significant body of water to provide heating for nearby homes. These pumps extract heat from the water before returning it to its original source.
Useful contacts: Clearview Stoves Tel: 01584 878 100 www.clearviewstoves.com Danfoss Heat Pumps Tel: 0114 270 3900 www.ecoheatpumps.co.uk
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It’s a wild world Butterfly Š Stepanie Rethore - Fotolia.com
Could your garden be a mini nature reserve? Peter Holden explains how with a little thought and careful management we can increase biodiversity in our own gardens.
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Garden wildlife is endlessly fascinating and it is dependant on us and the way we choose to develop our gardens. If we manage them like tiny nature reserves, then creatures should increase in number and diversity.
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omeone has been eating my apples! It’s a good crop this year with the Worcesters hanging low, their weight pulling some branches right down to ground level. As I picked up the windfalls, I could not miss the numerous signs of wildlife. There were the inevitable marks on the apples, where codling moths had eaten their way out. A small but attractive moth, the codling lays its eggs on young apples and then eats away at the ready meal of flesh and seeds inside. Often dismissed as a grub, maggot or worm, it is in fact a small caterpillar. By now, most seem to have eaten their way out again and gone to ground to pupate, but it is well worth checking the other apples carefully. Other insects were even more obvious. A couple of wasps buzzed around a bruised fruit, looking for somewhere to take a bite – they seem to go for the apples that have already been damaged. Wasps have had a rather poor year this year, presumably because of the rather damp conditions. Make a positive difference
Some other bruised apples had peck marks where the local blackbirds had been feeding, and one early windfall was reduced to a mere shell. A red admiral butterfly landed where the birds had been pecking and was using what we call a tongue, but is more properly called a proboscis, to suck up the sweet juices. The other day there was a comma butterfly doing the same thing. On the trunk of the tree a ladybird had settled, looking, I assume, for a safe crevice in which to pass the winter. I checked, 7 spots, one of the UK’s native ladybirds, and a gardeners’ friend because of the number of aphids it consumes. Fortunately, this time it is not one of the newly arrived, larger harlequin ladybirds that are spreading across the country, which bring with them the threat of competition with native ladybirds because of their aggressive behaviour and veracious appetite. All this wildlife is living within a few feet of the house. I have a little ecosystem that I can watch and enjoy at any time. What’s more, I own this little November / December 2008
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unit of biodiversity because I planted the apple tree when I moved here 12 years ago. Until then it had been a garden with very little nature on show. I have enjoyed many apples, but it’s good to know that the enjoyment is shared. And, of course, I can increase the range of species visiting my garden by making some simple decisions. If I leave some of the fallen apples, the insects will benefit, and if I hold a few back and throw them out in, say, a months time I may well attract some of the migrant thrushes, such as redwings, and the extra blackbirds that always turn up in the UK in autumn, having crossed the North Sea from Europe. Garden wildlife is endlessly fascinating and it is dependant on us and the way we choose to develop our gardens. If we manage them like tiny nature reserves, helping by providing food and shelter, then creatures should increase in number and diversity. By providing a greater abundance of small invertebrates we increase the chances of visits by the top predators, be they birds of prey like the sparrowhawk or mammals such as the bat. However, managing a garden for wildlife does not necessarily mean leaving a wilderness. It is true that patch of nettles and a hedge of brambles will attract birds and butterflies, but most people want a garden that looks good as well. In some larger gardens there may be space for a wild area, a wildflower meadow and even a nettle patch, even if the nettles do need to be grown in a bucket to prevent them from spreading, but in most gardens there needs to be compromise. Creating a wildlife garden needs a plan. Starting with the boundaries and planting traditional hedgerow plants or, if walls and fences are the only option, introducing trellis and planting climbers. The aim is to have a soft edge where creatures can shelter, birds can nest and flowers will bloom. Climbing honeysuckle, berberis and cotoneaster all do the job and can be interspersed with more familiar roses and clematis. A wildlife garden doesn’t have to loose familiar garden flowers. Indeed there is little better than a traditional herbaceous border full of nectar producing flowers in summer. This will be a magnet for bees, butterflies and some less familiar invertebrates, such as lacewings and hoverflies, while also radiating evocative scents. The traditional lawn is also good for wildlife, rather like a glade in a wood, but if it is cut less frequently and no herbicides added, the sward will be a better home for many more tiny creatures and
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a feeding area for birds such as starlings. Starlings have declined critically in recent years, and need all the help they can get. Depending on the size of garden, there can be other changes that will increase biodiversity. A pond with shallow edges, a traditional compost heap and a pile of small logs, will all attract their own inhabitants, plants and fungi as well as animals. Then there is the introduction of man made infrastructure, either home made or purchased from a knowledgeable retailer such as the RSPB. By infrastructure I mean a bird table (one should be enough), nest boxes for birds (two is about right for an average garden), bat boxes (two or three), a hedgehog box (one) and homes for insects (as many as you can fit in). Traditionally garden birds have topped the popularity polls and I suspect this will always be so. They are easy to attract, attractive to look at, and generally, being top of the food chain, they represent the health of the local environment. However, I would like to see more people taking pride in other creatures, to welcome hedgehogs on the lawn, bats in the roof, moths at the windows at night and some of the native plants we think of as weeds but which are really the food plants for many butterflies and moths. Learning a bit more about these plants and animals will not only bring its own pleasures, it will help us make a significant contribution to local conservation and ensure these wonderful experiences survive for the next generation. As the countryside becomes more hostile to wildlife, so our gardens will play an increasing important role as an oasis. Here in the garden, we are in control and we can make a difference. So let’s be ready to meet that challenge by planning now, making changes that will, by next summer, start to increase the biodiversity outside our windows, even if does mean there will be even more competition for my fallen apples.
November / December 2008
Peter Holden is joint author of the RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife published in September 2008 by A&C Black. Tel: 020 7758 0200 www.acblack.com
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Totally Tai Chi Tai Chi can help to reduce stress, cultivate inner strength and develop qualities for living a happy and balanced life. Andrew Broadhead of Tai Chi Nation™ explains how.
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ai Chi is a dynamic form of moving meditation helping to bring about calm and peace of mind whilst gently exercising the whole body. It stresses the principles of relaxation and yielding, and the cultivation of inner strength and harmony. The roots of Tai Chi are firmly planted in Taoist philosophy and its view of the natural world. The ancient Taoists, through observations of nature, learnt to live in harmony with it, and devised many art forms in order to cultivate a happy, healthy, and balanced relationship with all of life. The movements and principles of Tai Chi teach us how to live more in harmony with ourselves, those around us and our environment. Through the practice of Tai Chi, we can begin to orient ourselves to a more balanced and sustainable way of living. A quality that is so much needed in the world right now.
The origins of Tai Chi practice The origins of Tai Chi practice as an art form can also be found in the ancient Taoist philosophies based on the principles of Yin and Yang, which represent the opposing forces of nature and the constancy of change within them. The laws of Yin and Yang are seen to affect all processes at work in the world and encompass the idea of harmonising body, mind, and breath. It is said that a Taoist master, Chan San-feng, was the founder of Tai Chi and that he was taught the practice in a dream, which was confirmed later by his observations of nature. In the dream, a crane and a snake were engaged in mortal combat. He noticed how the snake recoiled to avoid attack before striking and how the crane would use its wings to softly cover the snake. The dream gave Chan San-feng an insight about the practicality of yielding, pliability and softness. He translated these insights into many of the postures and movements that are common in Tai Chi today, such as White Crane spreads its Wings, Snake creeps down, and Wave Hands like Clouds.
To achieve balance in life, behaving in an ethical way should be both part of our core ideology and an area of constant exploration and discovery. What do we mean by being ethical? Firstly, it must be said that ethical living is not about imposing a list of do’s and don’ts on the way we live but more a series of guidelines around which we can explore how we can act and interact with our world in a way that causes the least harm to ourselves, the people around us, and our environment. At Tai Chi Nation™ this is part of our core ideology. An awareness of our aspirations to cultivate these qualities helps us live and operate in a way that is compassionate, generous, forgiving and tolerant. Living in this way brings joy, peace of mind and a sense of abundance, leaving fewer residues of regret, guilt and anger in our hearts and minds.
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Tai Chi Lady © microimages - Fotolia.com
Underlying ethical principles
‘The movements and principles of Tai Chi teach us how to live more in harmony with ourselves, those around us and our environment’
Practicing Tai Chi in the West
What a class in Tai Chi involves
There a many different approaches to the practice of Tai Chi but the underlying principles are universal. In China, different schools of Tai Chi, developed over centuries by accomplished practitioners, were handed down to family and committed disciples. This maintained the purity of the practice but also resulted in the essence only passing to favoured students. The best-known styles of Tai Chi today are Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun, named after the founder family member who devised the particular style. In the West, we are fortunate to we live in a time when the teachings of Tai Chi are readily available. The down side of this is that the quality of Tai Chi being offered is mixed. The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain is a good starting point in your search for a teacher but you should consider the following: • Does the teacher support the cultivation of your own personal understanding of Tai Chi, or does the class involve a list of do’s and don’ts and an emphasis on what you are doing wrong? • Which school does the teacher identify with and do they work within a clear set of guidelines? • Does the teacher themselves have a teacher? They should have practiced under the direction of a recognisable school or teacher for at least 3 years. • How open is the teacher about sharing their personal understandings? • Is attendance at the class leading to a growing sense of openness, ease and well-being?
Classes can take many different forms but at Tai Chi Nation™ we offer a basic introduction together with a more in-depth form of Yang style Tai Chi as devised by Master Chen Man-ch’ing and taught by one of his senior students Master Huang Xingian. A typical class firstly involves a set of simple warming-up exercises, not that different from any bodywork class. The main body of the class then comprises three elements of equal importance: Loosening exercises – 5 exercises devised to relax, release and stretch muscles and to bring the mind into a calm state. This helps deepen awareness of bodily processes, draining tension and teaching the body to move in a smooth, rhythmical fashion. Tai Chi form – 37 postures or movements practiced in a particular sequence. This aspect is a form of meditation within movement, a series of movements performed in a slow, harmonised and relaxed way. Push-hands practice – A set of partner exercises or sequences devised to practice the art of extending awareness to others and cultivating sensitivity, and to explore how we can put Tai Chi principles into practice in our interactions with others.
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Possible benefits Regular sustained practice of Tai Chi can: • Improve posture and reduce stress and tension • Improve vascular and lymphatic drainage • Aid blood circulation November / December 2008
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• • • • •
Gently mobilize stiff joints and strengthen muscles and tendons Deepen breathing and balance blood pressure Improve balance and co-ordination and increase control and awareness Gradually build up strength and stamina Improve the immune system
Ethical foundations The ethical guidelines that we use at Tai Chi Nation™ come from the Buddhist tradition. This is because Buddhist guidelines are easily understood and closely related to the Taoist ethical framework of acknowledging the interconnectedness of all things, practicing moderation, developing an attitude that honours the great mystery of life, and cultivating humility. The Buddhist guidelines are: 1. Not to engage in harmful activity This helps us explore our behaviours, thoughts and actions to cause the least harm to self and other. On a basic level it means not to kill or cause harm to any living being, including ourselves. It also means not being exploitative and taking account of others needs and expectations in our decisions. 2. Not to engage in speech that is exaggerated, dishonest, harsh, divisive, or idle chatter. This means not to tell lies or half-truths. It’s also about cultivating conscious and clear communication together with qualities of heart and mind that lead to well being, such as those of loving kindness and honesty, as the basis of our speech. 3. Not to take what is not freely offered Meaning not to steal or take what is not yours. It also implies clarity and honesty around issues of money. In respect to our environmental it means to behave in a way that does not take from Mother Nature and to interact with our environment in a way that causes minimum impact. 4. To be aware of the suffering that may be caused by misuse of sensuality/sexuality We often believe that getting more will make us happy, yet our experience is often the opposite – the simple things in life give us the most pleasure, like good friends and loving relationships. An ethical life would encourage an exploration as to how we can be happy with less and live a life of moderation. In Tai Chi practice, students are encouraged to limit the extent of individual movements, so that no excessive strain is felt. Over time, persistence in practice without straining or forcing allows us to reach the full natural extent of a movement and helps cultivate patience. In these conditions, the mind tends to quieten and become more peaceful, and the body softer and more flexible.
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5. To be aware of the impact of ‘intoxicants’ on our awareness and clarity of mind. If we are committed to deepening our awareness and bringing the life-enhancing benefits of Tai Chi into our lives, we must be sensitive around use of substances that may cloud our minds and cause harm to our bodies. Through the practice of Tai Chi, our bodies become increasingly sensitive and our minds deepen. After a time, our bodies simply don’t crave these things in the same way and we feel more nourished by things that are genuinely good for us. The intention of these guidelines is to support the cultivation of the qualities of heart and mind that are at the heart of our practice. These qualities include: truthfulness and honesty; appropriate behaviour to any given circumstance; integrity in dealing with money matters; even handedness; compassion; openness to receiving feedback; and recognition of the interconnectedness of all of life.
Tai Chi as a moving meditation As a general rule, while performing movements in the practice of Tai Chi, one is encouraged to maintain tranquillity of mind. This is done by focusing not on external movements of the body but on the subtle bodily sensations that arise in the body as a result of movement. During practice, the natural tendency of an untrained mind is to wander off to more external experiences. Noticing this movement of mind, one is encouraged to bring the attention back to bodily sensations. Over time, a sense of inner peace and a calming of the mind will naturally arise. As the mind calms and the body relaxes into the postures of Tai Chi practice, our mental mood becomes more tranquil and we can experience a sense of peacefulness and effortlessness. These mental qualities cultivated through Tai Chi practice are an invaluable resource for living a healthy, happy, and balanced life.
Andrew Broadhead has been practicing Tai Chi for over 20 years and teaching for the last 5 years. He has trained with many internationally renowned practitioners from all the different traditions. He is the Financial Director of Tai Chi Nation™ and co-founder of the Big Qi Festival. Tai Chi Nation™ offers a variety of courses, retreats and holidays, as well as a unique range of limited edition designer t-shirts made from organic cotton or sustainable bamboo. To find our more visit www.taichination.com
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Review of
Toothpaste An increasing number of us are becoming conscious of what we put into and onto our bodies, choosing organic and natural food and skincare products. But what about those that we use everyday in our dental care routines? There has been much debate around the safety of using fluoride and the many other chemical ingredients that can be found in conventional dental products. Natural and organic ingredients are a great alternative and a variety of dental care products using these natural ingredients are now widely available. Start by taking a look at these fantastic toothpastes.
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Lavera Basis Sensitiv Toothpaste
JASON Powersmile
Sarakan Toothpaste
Fluoride free toothpaste with propolis and organic echinacea extract. Contains calcium carbonate and silicic acid to aid plaque removal, while sea salt and minerals help maintain a healthy bacterial flora. Free from SLS, synthetic preservatives, colourants and fragrances. BDIH certified.
Silica, bamboo powder and calcium, whiten and polish teeth, while bacteria fighting perilla seed extract promotes healthy teeth and gums and peppermint essential oils provide fresh flavouring. Nonfluoride, chalk free, no SLS, artificial preservatives, colours or flavourings.
With extract of the toothbrush tree (Salvadora Persica), a traditional shrub with antiseptic properties. Flavoured with natural peppermint, clove and geranium. Contains no added fluoride, SLS, preservatives, added sugar, artificial colourings or preservatives. BDHF approved and Vegan.
This 75ml tube is £2.75 Available from: www.lavera.co.uk Tel: 01557 870 567
This 170g tube is £4.95 Available from: Health and natural food stores Tel: 08450 725 825
This 50ml tube is £2.05 Available from: Holland & Barrett and health food stores nationwide
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Brushing Teeth © diego cervo - Fotolia.com
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Dead Sea Spa Magik Fresh’n White Travel Set
WalaVita Mint and Neem Toothpaste
Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel
All in one travel set with fold up toothbrush and 15ml tube of Fresh’n White, a 3-in-1 mineralrich clear liquid containing pure Dead Sea minerals that cleanse teeth and kill bacteria that cause bad breath, while the stain-removing properties promote natural white teeth. Paraben free.
Contains salt, china clay and plant-derived silica, ensuring teeth are thoroughly cleaned. Witch hazel, antibacterial neem leaf, peppermint and chamomile combat inflammation and help to strengthen gums. Free from added fluorides, synthetic colours, fragrances and preservatives. BDIH certified.
Mild gel with gentle, soothing calendula and non-abrasive silica, great for milk teeth. Lightly flavoured with essential oils, including fennel. Free from synthetic detergents, foam boosters, optical brighteners and other artificial additives. Contains no added fluoride and is suitable for vegans.
This 15ml set is £3.50 Available from: Debenhams, Holland & Barrett Tel: 01580 211 055
This 75ml tube is £6.00 Available nationwide from: Dr. Hauschka stockists Tel: 01386 792 642
This 50ml tube is £2.50 Available online from: www.weleda.co.uk Tel: 0115 944 8222
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FREE Dead Sea Spa Magik Skincare When you subscribe to
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Get 6 issues for the price of 5! Dead Sea Spa Magik is delighted to offer in conjunction with Ethical Living our Mild Exfoliant (75ml) and Delicate Boosting Mask (75ml). Feel the benefits of a mineral rich, deep cleansing spa facial... in the comfort of your own bathroom. Dead Sea Spa Magik was one of the first skincare product ranges to recognise that natural compounds from sea-water can be utilised to reconstitute lost elements in our bodies, and the holistic effect of Dead Sea Minerals on the body and skin results in a healthy, glowing complexion and relaxed state of mind. The minerals deep cleanse your skin, drawing out impurities, deeply hydrating and leaving you looking radiant. Mild Exfoliant gently removes dead skin cells to clear and revitalise the complexion, whilst brightening and invigorating the skin. Exfoliating will help prevent and combat spots and blackheads. Delicate Boosting Mask is an instant skin booster that nourishes, invigorates and revitalises. A creamy mask which contains pure Dead Sea Mud in a gentle formulation and shows immediate and remarkable results.
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1 Arcus Merino Hooded Full Zip Sweatshirt and Bise Vest Hooded top in green, made from high quality, soft, comfortable merino, to keep you warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm. Vest in black made from recycled weatherproof polyester outer with super light insulation, packs into its own pocket. Sweatshirt £90.00, Vest £65.00 available from Finisterre www.finisterreuk.com Tel: 01872 554 481 2 Merino Punked Top and Long Johns In faded red, made from 100% merino wool for body temperature control and with anti-microbial properties that dispel odours and dirt. Machine washable and can be worn as traditional base layers or as everyday items. Top £50.00 and Long Johns £50.00 available from Howies www.howies.co.uk Tel: 01239 614 122
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Active and eco
Whether your favourite way to keep in shape is jogging in the park, trekking up windy mountains, kicking a ball around or de-stressing in a Tai Chi class, you’ll want to make sure that you’re comfortable while you do it. Now you can and you can look good too! Take a look at our favourite organic, fair trade and eco-friendly sportswear, to have you glowing on the inside and out.
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3 Etobicoke Jacket in sunburst yellow !00% recycled polyester shell and lining with microfibre fill for maximum warmth and minimum weight. Cinch cord at hem and elasticated cuffs for snug fit. £105.00 available from Finisterre www.finisterreuk.com Tel: 01872 554 481
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4 Anni Zip Hoodie In emerald with hidden pocket in neck, 2 zipped side vent pockets and with drawstring closure hood, made from 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton. £50.00 available from THTC www.thtc.co.uk Tel: 08456 044 367 5 Goalkeepers Gloves and Ethletic Team Football. Both hand stitched and Fairtrade. Gloves, with tough padded inner and Velcro fastening. Size 5 football with FSC label, fully compliant to official standards. Gloves £12.50, Football £13.90 available from Fair Deal Trading www.fairdealtrading.com 6 Tracy Black Trainer Vegan ladies trainer in a smart sneaker style with two Velcro closures. No animal ingredients, harsh chemicals or sweat workforces. £38.00 available from Bourgeois Boheme www.bboheme.com Tel: 020 8878 8388 7 Isabella Track Pants Loose fit, with flattering curved back seam detail, 2 side pockets, deep elasticated waistband and drawcord hems. £50.00 available from THTC www.thtc.co.uk Tel: 08456 044 367 8 W’s Active Sport High Impact Bra Light, comfortable and recyclable, pullon style with seamless double-layer for full support and non-slip racerback. 90% polyester (35% recycled), 10% spandex. £35.00 available from Patagonia www.patagonia.com Tel: 0800 026 00 55 9 Go With The Flow T-Shirt Sustainable bamboo and organic cotton mix t-shirt with limited edition design inspired by classic images of Tai Chi. £19.99 available from Tai Chi Nation www.taichination.com Tel: 08452 572 142 Make a positive difference
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Bumble Socks Fine knit, naturally breathable and anti-microbial, in aqua and purple made from 100% superfine Italian wool. £20.00
Red Slipper Socks 100% organic wool children’s red slipper socks, with spotty non-slip soles, ideal for slippery floors. £6.00
Bamboo Socks Pack Pack of 5 soft, breathable and naturally anti-bacterial socks. Made from 78% bamboo, 20% cotton and 2% nylon. £15.00
Available from: www.howies.co.uk Tel: 01239 614 122
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Available from: www.bambooclothing.co.uk Tel: 020 8940 3958
Thigh Highs Ultra soft, sexy thigh highs by g=9.8, made from recycled white pine tree pruning with temperature regulating and shape holding qualities. £14.95
Baby Flower Tights Made from 98% super soft, extra fine organic cotton and 2% elastane, with hand-stitched flat seams at toes for comfort. £9.95
Footless tights Versatile organic cotton tights leggings in black by Sternlein. A great fashion look worn with dresses, skirts, shorts or for exercise. £19.50
Available from: www.bynature.co.uk Tel: 020 8488 3556
Available from: www.naturalcollection.com Tel: 08453 677 001
Available from: www.fashion-conscience.com Tel: 020 7737 7632
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Socks and hosiery
Alpaca Socks Made from 60% undyed UK alpaca, 25% blue face Leicester wool and 15% nylon, fine, light yet cosy and warm wool in natural colours. £17.90 available from Greenfibres
Hemp Sports Socks Braintree sports socks in cream, made from 55% hemp, 40% cotton and 5% spandex, with strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties for healthy feet. £4.00
Christmas Socks Funky, fun and colourfully designed socks in chunky hand-knitted sheep’s wool for extra warm toes. Made to fair trade standards in Nepal. One size. £20.00
Available from: www.greenfibres.com Tel: 08453 303 440
Available from: www.sativabags.com Tel: 08454 300 701
Available from: www.peopletree.co.uk Tel: 08454 504 595
Fashion Colours Tights In the season’s hot colours, aubergine, burgundy or chocolate, 93% organic cotton and 7% cotton coated lycra for optimum fit. £17.95
Ajour Lace Tights Attractive patterned tights in black made from 98% organic cotton with 2% cotton coated lycra for ultimate comfort and support. £17.90
Opaque Tights Long lasting, organic cotton tights with 7% elastane added to them for sag free, comfort fit. Available in 4 colours and sizes. £17.95
Available from: www.spiritofnature.co.uk Tel: 08707 259 885
Available from: www.greenfibres.com Tel: 08453 303 440
Available from: www.spiritofnature.co.uk Tel: 08707 259 885
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Fruits and Nuts
Apples, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Pears, Pomegranates, Quinces, Sloes, Walnuts
Vegetables Fish and Seafood
Clams, Cockles, Crab, Cuttlefish, Haddock, Mackerel, Mussels, Red Mullet, Sea Bass,
Artichoke, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Celeriac, Kale, Leeks, Parsnips, Pumpkin, Squashes, Swede, Turnips
Meat
Duck, Goose, Grouse, Partridge, Pheasant 42
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Cranberries © Kati Molin Walnut © Ewa Brozek Parsnips © chickenstore Beetroot © Daniel Chadwick Red Rish © Chef Mackerel © Richard Griffin
What’s in Season
Chicken legs © Eldin Muratovic Green Swirl © OnFocus All at Fotolia.com
November/December
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These tasty recipes are from the Vegetarian Society’s two newly created menus for this year’s Christmas festivities. Each menu uses similar ingredients such as chestnuts, leeks, oranges and raspberries, and are packed with gorgeous flavours. The Novice menu is aimed at first time veggies or individuals who don’t want to spend too much time in the
kitchen and includes a fabulously tangy leek and ginger soup. For the creative, the Nouvelle menu (created by the Cordon Vert cookery school) starts with crunchy leek and chestnut purses, followed by a main of carrot and cashew bare flan. Then, if you have room, round off with a scoop of raspberry, marzipan and brandy ice cream with lemon palmiers.
Vegetarian Christmas Feast
Holly © claireliz at Fotolia.com
Make your Christmas ethical with these delicious vegetarian recipes
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Leek and Chestnut Purses with Ginger and Red Pepper Relish Serves 4 Ingredients for the Purses: 2-2½ tbsp Olive Oil 100g Leeks – trimmed and finely chopped 50g Arborio Risotto Rice 30ml Dry White Vegetarian Wine 325-375ml Light Vegetable Stock 60g Chestnuts – roughly chopped 2 tbsp Soya Cream 300g Filo Pastry – cut into 24 x 12cm squares (ready-made frozen pastry defrosted to packet advice)
For the Relish: 1 Red Pepper – large 2tsp Fresh Ginger – finely grated 1 pinch Caster Sugar – to taste
Method:
For the Garnish: Pre-heat oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas Mark 6. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a medium sized saucepan and lightly fry the leeks until soft and golden. Stir in the rice, coat well. Add the wine, bring to the boil. Add 175ml warm stock, enough to cover rice. Cover the pan and simmer on a low heat until liquid is absorbed.
Tangy Leek and Ginger Soup Serves 4 Ingredients: 2 Gurnard Fillets – approx 100g each 2 tbsp Chilli Jam 450g Leeks – about 2 medium sized 25g Soya Margarine 2 Garlic Cloves – small, peeled and crushed 100g Potato – peeled and diced 600ml Vegetable Stock – light coloured 5-7 tbsp Ginger Wine – according to taste 6 tbsp Soya Cream Salt and Pepper – to taste Paprika – to garnish
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Add 175ml of warm stock and the chestnuts, bring to the boil. Cover the pan and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the rice is just cooked (add extra stock if it starts to stick to the pan). Stir in the cream and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside until needed. Using the remaining oil, lightly brush one filo square, place another one on top to form an eight pointed star and brush the tips lightly. Place 2 tsp of the mixture in the middle and pull up the edges of the pastry to form a purse. Repeat until you have 12. Place on a baking tray in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until golden. For the Relish: Roast the pepper (about ½ hour), remove seeds and skin, chop roughly (you may use one ready roasted from a jar instead if you wish). Mix the pepper with ginger and sugar, blend well. For a finer sauce, add a little water and put mixture through a sieve. Serve a good tablespoon of relish with each portion of purses. © Sarah Kearns 2008, created for Cordon Vert
Method: Remove any tough outer leaves from the leeks and top and tail. Leave as much dark green as possible. Cut horizontally into thin slices, rinse well. Melt the margarine and gently sauté the leeks for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and sauté for a further 30 seconds. Add the potato and stock. Bring to the boil then simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 4tbsp of ginger wine and the soya cream. Liquidize until smooth, adding more ginger wine and seasoning if needed at the end. Return to the saucepan and gently heat without boiling, stirring all the time. Serve garnished with a sprinkling of paprika. © Marise Maddison 2008, for The Vegetarian Society
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Carrot and Cashew Bare Flan Tart on Hot Puy Lentil and Dill Salad Serves 4
Ingredients: 500g Carrots – peeled and cut into small pieces 110g Onion – peeled 220g Cashew Nuts – finely ground 125g White Breadcrumbs 7 tbsp Fresh Dill – chopped 3½ tbsp Vegetable Oil 150g Puy Dried Lentils – washed 3 Oranges – large, juicy 12 Cardamom Pods – split down one side but not opened 2-3 Garlic Cloves – crushed 2½ tsp Pomegranate Molasses Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper – to taste Dill – to garnish Pomegranate Seeds – to garnish
Method: For the Flan: Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Blend the carrots and onions until very fine. Put into a bowl with the nuts, crumbs and 4 tbsp of dill, together with seasoning. Mix well until the mixture is moist and clumping together. Grease and line two 20cm sandwich tins with baking paper. Divide the carrot mixture equally between the tins and press down well. Brush generously with oil – 1½ tbsp for each tin. Bake for about 35 minutes. It should be firm and quite crispy on top. Let it stand for 5 minutes then turn out onto a flat surface to serve. For the Lentil and Dill Salad: Put lentils in a saucepan, add peel of half an orange and 6 cardamom pods. Cover with boiling water and add salt. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 15 – 20 minutes until ‘al dente’. Combine crushed garlic, 3 tbsp orange juice, 1 tsp of the pomegranate molasses, 3 tbsp chopped dill and ½ tbsp vegetable oil. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. When the lentils are cooked, remove the cardamom pods and orange peel, drain well and mix immediately with the dressing. Put to one side. For the Sauce: Grate the zest from 1 orange and put into a small saucepan. Juice all remaining oranges and add to the pan, together with the remaining 6 cardamom pods, 1½ tsp pomegranate molasses and water. Bring to the boil then simmer until the mixture has reduced by about two thirds. Remove from the heat. It should thicken to a thick, runny consistency. To Serve: Cut each circle of carrot and cashew into 8 wedges. Top each mound of lentils with 4 overlapping wedges of carrot and cashew, crispy side up. Drizzle the plate with the orange and cardamom sauce and garnish with dill and pomegranate seeds. © Marise Maddison 2008, created for Cordon Vert
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Raspberry, Marzipan and Brandy Ice Cream with Lemon Palmiers Serves 4
Ingredients for the Ice Cream: 60g Cashew Nuts – very finely ground 200g Raspberries – frozen 250ml Soya Custard 4 tbsp Brandy – 40% proof 100ml Soya Cream 60g White Caster Sugar 70g White Marzipan
Ingredients for the Palmiers: 100g White Granulated Sugar ½ Lemon – very finely grated, zest only 185g Puff Pastry – ready rolled
Method: For the Ice Cream: Put the ground cashews, 100g raspberries (leave remainder to defrost in fridge), soya custard, brandy, soya cream and caster sugar into a liquidizer and blend. Add a few cubes of marzipan at a time and blend. Pass the ice cream mixture through a sieve and put into an ice cream maker or a freezable container. Freeze the mixture; it will remain a little soft ready for serving. For the Palmiers: Set aside 2 tbsp sugar. Evenly mix the remaining sugar and lemon zest. Generously sprinkle the work surface with some of the lemon sugar and place the pastry onto it.
Place cut side down on the lined baking tray, spacing well apart. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, then turn over and cook for a further 5 minutes, until both sides are golden.
Sprinkle more lemon sugar over half of the pastry, then fold in the other half to form a rough square. Gently press the pastry to help seal in the sugar.
Place on a wire rack to cool. Serve two palmiers per portion with two scoops of ice cream and garnish with the remaining raspberries and their juice.
Sprinkle with more sugar and fold the pastry, this time the other way to form a rectangle. Roll out the pastry to make a long rectangle, about 25cm x 10cm. With the long edge towards you, fold each side to the centre. Without turning the pastry, fold the sides again into the centre. Now fold in half from right to left, so that the two halves of folded pastry are on top of each other. Wrap in cling film and put in fridge for about ½ hour. Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Unwrap the chilled pastry, cut a very thin slice from each end and discard. Cut into 1cm slices, 8 in all. Carefully roll each slice in the remaining sugar.
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© Marise Maddison 2008, for Cordon Vert.
The Vegetarian Societies two menus ‘Novice and Nouvelle’ are available as recipe cards, readers can get hold of them by calling 0161 925 2000. Grassingtons – official sponsor of the Vegetarian Society’s Christmas Campaign 2008. To find out more about The Vegetarian Society or to learn about the Cordon Vert cookery school visit: www.vegsoc.org
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Refreshment Christmas Cosmo (Serves 1)
Ingredients:
A sophisticated cosmopolitan with a warming winter twist
50mls* of Utkins UK 5 Organic Vodka 25mls of Cointreau (or similar dry orange liqueur) 50mls of Organic Apple Juice 1 handful of Cranberries 1 pinch of Cinnamon Powder * 25ml is roughly equal to one egg cup
How to make your very own Christmas Cosmo: 1� Place the cranberries and cinnamon powder into the bottom of a cocktail shaker or similar receptacle. 2�
Crush the ingredients together with the end of a rolling pin – make sure all of the juice has been extracted from the cranberries.
3� Add the vodka, Cointreau and apple juice and stir well to mix the ingredients. 4� Fill the shaker with ice cubes, close the lid and shake firmly for about ten seconds. 5�
Strain the drink into a martini glass – for best results strain the drink through a fine sieve or tea strainer before serving to remove the pieces of fruit and broken ice.
6� Fill up the glass with ginger ale 7� Garnish with fresh cranberries Bartender’s Tip: If you find it a little sour, just crush some sugar with the cinnamon and cranberries before you add the rest of the ingredients.
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Herbal teas Gaia’s Organic Kombucha Infusion of green tea, black tea, organic Kombucha culture of live beneficial bacteria and raw cane sugar which is broken down into probiotic acids, B vitamins and minerals, protecting the digestive and immune systems.
Clearspring Sencha Green Tea Organic tea with a light, refreshing taste, grown near Kyoto using traditional approaches, including steaming and rolling leaves to ensure green leaf colour, fresh flavour, and boosting antioxidant levels.
Pukka Herbs Revitalise Tea A warming blend of cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Organically grown to fair trade standards, contains elderflowers and liquorice root, which can help clear congestion, green tea and spearmint leaf to give a boost.
Available from: www.gokombucha.com Tel: 020 8385 8055
Available from: www.clearspring.co.uk Tel: 020 8749 1781
Available from: www.pukkaherbs.co.uk Tel: 08453 751 744
Zara’s Herbal Tea Blood cleanser that strengthens the immune system. Contains the whole tree of life (roots, bark, stems, flowers and leaves) and the rare herb African bush willow, brewed in line with ancient tradition. Vegan and gluten free.
Essential Trading Hibiscus Tea 100% organic and biodynamic demeter™ accredited, grown, processed and packed to fair trade standards on a single farm in Egypt, where hibiscus, which contains antioxidants and has many health benefits, is considered a national drink.
Dragonfly Organic Rooibos tea Caffeine free redbush tea sourced directly from local, small scale producers in South Africa with Fairtrade certification. Renowned for its unique health benefits and antioxidant properties valued for fresh glowing skin, it is harvested by hand and cured naturally in the sun.
Available from: www.grammasintl.com Tel: 020 8470 8751
Available from: www.essential-trading.co.uk Tel: 0117 958 3550
Available from: www.dragonfly-teas.com
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The Green Family
Baby Sling Carrier Kari-me wraparound baby carrier, made in the UK from stretchy machine-washable fabric that wraps and ties around mother and baby. Suitable from birth to 33lb. £41.00
Shoulder Bag Stylish dark brown bag made from sustainably tapped rubber. Strong and weatherproof. Comes with discounts in many ethical shops. H37cm x 50cm. £35.99
Spa Body Make Over Kit Total Spa, paraben free Dead Sea mineral skincare set with certified organic ingredients. Products for face, body and hair. £36.00
Available online from: www.littlepossums.com
Available online from: www.bagsofchange.com
Available online from: www.shopforspa.com Tel: 01580 211 055
Date Clusters A 5kg box of freshly harvested, organic, fair trade date clusters directly from the farmer. A unique gift for date lovers. £33.00
Jointed Cockerel Wooden, hand carved, and painted cockerel jointed at the wings, hips and knees. Made to fair trade standards. Size 20cm (35cm extended). £15.00
Innocent Smooth Angel Bag Unscented Shave Oil with pump, award winning Angel Butter foot cream and 100% natural Angel Facial Scrub. Suitable for eczema, psoriasis and sensitive skin. £23.99
Available online from: www.datecampaign.com Tel: 08455 279 666
Available online from: www.artes-mundi.co.uk Tel: 01353 740 586
Available online from: www.innocentoils.com Tel: 01473 622 816
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Pine Branch © Fantasista Presents © Carola All at Fotolia.com
Yummy Mummies
Gift Guide Dedicated Daddies
European Wine Selection Six bottles (three white and three red) of organic wine from France, Spain and Italy specially selected by award winning organic wine specialist, Vintage Roots. £36.00
Solar Shaver Solar Powered Electric Shaver, available at Ethical Superstore, slim enough to pack in a toilet bag and compact so not to take up space. Includes beard trimmer. £24.95
Paper Potter A great little eco product which turns strips of old newspaper into biodegradable planting pots for seedlings. Made using 100% FSC certified wood. £9.95
Available online from: www.vintageroots.co.uk Tel: 0800 980 4992
Available online from: www.moreeco.com
Available online from: www.ecoutlet.co.uk Tel: 020 7272 7233
Solar DAB Radio Roberts SolarDAB’s low power consumption allows the battery to power the radio for up to 27 hours. Can also run on batteries or mains. Available in 5 colours. £79.95
Case of Organic Ale Any 12 bottles of organic ale by independent brewery Black Isle. Don’t forget the Yellowhammer ‘Best Beer’ at the Soil Association 2008 Organic Food Awards. £31.95
The Organic Collection Traditional organic biscuits, cakes and sweets make mouth-watering gifts. Nougat or turron, cookies in lemon and almond, French Petite Beurre Panettone or a Stollen.
Available online from: www.ethicalsuperstore.com Tel: 08450 099 016
Available online from: www.blackislebrewery.com Tel: 01463 811 871
Available online from: www.goodnessdirect.co.uk Tel: 08718 716 611
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Paint Your Own T-Shirt Pack Activity pack with 100% organic cotton t-shirt, 4 water-based textile paints, 2 paintbrushes and 1 apron made from recycled juice packs by a women’s co-operative. £19.99
Create-it Monster Fingers Kit Kids can assemble their monster fingers and set off to scare. Felt, glue, googly eyes, instructions, colouring sheet and canvas bag. Makes 3 finger puppets. £5.99
Solar Powered Helicopter Kit Construct a wooden helicopter with moving blades powered by its own integrated solar panel. Made from laser cut plywood for easy, no glue assembly. £13.00
Available online from: www.ecoutlet.co.uk Tel: 020 7272 7233
Available online from: www.purves.co.uk Tel: 020 8893 4000
Available online from: www.nhm.ac.uk/buyonline Tel: 020 7942 5494
Recycled Tire Reindeer Swing Comfortable, strong swing, sculptured from a recycled tyre, includes rope and instructions. Can be hung from a branch or climbing frame. For children aged 3+. £70.00
Cardboard Aeroplane Easy to assemble. To re-use, re-flat pack and fold away. Made in the UK from recycled card this eco friendly toy is great for play both indoors and out. 134 x 78 x 25 cm. £21.95
Aromaplay Set Comes with dough cutters and five aromaplay dough’s enriched with organic essential oils that have been selected to be kind to children and effective mood enhancers. £9.95.
Available online from: www.henandhammock.co.uk Tel: 01844 217 060
Available online from: www.ecocentric.co.uk Tel: 020 7739 3888
Available online from: www.littlenaturalcompany.com Tel: 01590 643 800
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Caring Kids
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WIN A DIY CHRISTMAS HAMPER FROM GOODNESS DIRECT Ethical Living has teamed up with GoodnessDirect to offer one lucky reader the chance to win DIY hamper voucher worth ÂŁ50. Prize includes: Choose Fairtrade, organic and eco-friendly goodies from the pre-selected ethical products on the goodnessdirect.co.uk hamper pages. You hand pick what goes into your fantastic Christmas hamper. GoodnessDirect deliver it ready gift wrapped complete with gift card and your message. Entry details: To enter the prize draw simply send your name, address and email to GoodnessDirect Competition, Ethical Living, PO Box 282, Stamford, PE9 9BW or by email to goodness@ethical-living.org Terms and conditions: This offer applies to UK residents only. The closing date for entries is 5th December 2008. Entries received after this date will not be eligible. No cash equivalent or alternative product can be redeemed. Entrants details will be sent to GoodnessDirect. Entrants will receive a catalogue or newsletter from GoodnessDirect.
WIN MEMBERSHIP OF THE NATURE DETECTIVES CLUB Write to Ethical Living for your chance to win membership to the Woodland Trust Nature Detectives CLUB. Prize includes: Each child receives a special welcome pack full of stimulating and exciting things to do and a further two seasonal activity packs with materials and ideas to encourage them to get out, get active and have fun! The Nature Detectives Club is a wonderful way for children to learn about native woodland and its wildlife. CLUB members also have the option of receiving an exciting weekly email challenge.
Entry details: All you have to do is tell us about your kids favourite eco-activity. Write to Nature Detectives Competition, Ethical Living, PO Box 282, Stamford, PE9 9BW or email to woodland@ethical-living.org. Our 5 favourite letters will win membership. Terms and conditions: This offer applies to UK residents only. The closing date for entries is 31st December 2008. Entries received after this date will not be eligible. No cash equivalent or alternative product can be redeemed.
Pine Branch © Fantasista Presents © Carola All at Fotolia.com
Green Teens
Weleda Bath Gift Set Organic bath milk with lavender essential oils (200ml) and Iris soap (100g) with pure vegetable oils and biodynamic iris extract. Suitable for Vegans. £12.95
Cosmetics Case For fashion conscious teens, TING’s unique zip top, recycled seatbelt, cosmetic bag in hot pink. Also available in floral black. £14.00
Funky Slippers Felt slippers handmade and hand packaged in UK. Each formed from a single piece of felt. Choose your own style or design. Available in all sizes and over 30 colours. £14.95
Available online from: www.weleda.co.uk Tel: 0115 944 8222
Available online from: www.ecobtq.com Tel: 07966 369 499
Available online from: www.wetfeltingcompany.org.uk Tel: 01822 841 636
Wind-up Torch Bike Lights Battery free with an LED lifetime of 50,000 hrs, eco friendly lights requiring no bulbs. Gives 50 mins shine for head and tail light combined or 5 hrs flashing. £14.99
Raw Chocolate Starter Kit If chocolate is passion, this CHOC Chick kit is the first step to making raw chocolates. Ingredients for around 80 chocolates as well as a recipe book. £20.00
Hydro Car Kit Fun education science kit, quick to assemble and can run on hydrogen fuel cells, 100% clean fuel. Just add water, charge and watch it go, even drives round obstacles! £59.00
Available online from: www.ecoutlet.co.uk Tel: 020 7272 7233
Available online from: www.chocchick.com Tel: 07753 719 123
Available online from: www.ecocentric.co.uk Tel: 020 7739 3888
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Titanic Spa, Huddersfield
Eco-Spa Experience Luxurious eco-spas can soothe away your stresses and strains without worrying about the environment.
Rog n er B a dB lum
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f you want to get away from it all and enjoy a bit of luxury pampering and indulgence, you won’t want to be worrying about what effect it’s all having on the environment. Step in eco-spa’s, who are offering the whole package and showing a real concern for the environment, so you don’t have to.
The Relaxation Centre, Bristol The Relaxation Centre knows a thing or two about tranquillity. Here you’ll find no noisy swimming pool or fitness equipment buzzing and wheezing away, just peace, quiet and plenty of space and opportunity to chill out and put the world on hold. Tucked away in a quiet street in the heart of Bristol, this small, friendly day spa is an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling city, where you can leave behind the stresses and strains of everyday life. Outside there is a delightful, lush garden, which is the location for the hot tub, cold plunge pool and barrel sauna, and where the vegetation provides private areas where you can enjoy your own space. Heading back inside, you’ll find the facilities include steam room, sauna and spa pool. There’s also a fabulous floatation room, allowing you the experience of weightlessness by floating in a pool of warm salty water and the chance for your mind to freely roam and forget about the stresses of daily life. Fluffy towels are provided and robes can be hired. The centre also offers a variety of holistic treatments, from shiatsu to reflexology, or you can try acupuncture or one of the excellent massages for extra indulgence. A busy schedule of workshops and classes is also on offer, including yoga, pilates and meditation. If all that sounds a bit tiring, head up to the top floor lounge, where there is plenty of space to sit back, relax, drink tea, eat cakes and catch up with a read or even take a snooze.
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Rogner Bad Blumau, Austria
There’s no membership fee and the centre is open seven days a week until 10pm. Women only and couples only sessions are available on many days.
then cooled by a series of experiences, designed to open the pores and induce deep relaxation.
Rogner Bad Blumau, Austria Titanic Spa, Huddersfield Uniquely designed within a traditional textile mill, secluded on the edge of the Pennines, Titanic is probably not the first place you would expect to find an environmentally friendly spa. This intimate day spa is making an enormous effort to tackle its environmental impact. The spa’s own borehole (the original water source for the mill), provides pure Yorkshire drinking water, as well as water for the showers and pool. Electricity is supplied by photovoltaic panels on the roof, topped up by a renewable supplier and a biomass generator burns wood chippings from waste or sustainable sources for heating. The Titanic Mill management company is working together with energy consultants with the aim of making the whole mill carbon neutral. Titanic offers a 15m chlorine-free, salt regulated swimming pool with bubbling hydrozone, poolside steam and sauna rooms, relaxation area and gymnasium. A range of treatments and therapies with a holistic approach are on offer and promise to go beyond the organic philosophy, working in natural synergy with skin, body and mind. You can indulge with an illuminating facial or massage, try out reflexology or reiki, step into the aromatherapy room or immerse yourself in an ocean wrap. Also on offer is the Mud Chamber where organic mud is applied to the skin to exfoliate and nourish. For an extra special treat, you can enjoy the sensory journey of the Heat Experience based on the ritual of bathing where the body is heated and
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Inspired by well-known Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose biomorphic work has been compared to Gaudí’s, the Rogner Bad Blumau property is a Seussian wonderland of green (as in eco) roofs, spires, and brightly painted facades. This welcoming yet luxurious spa and resort creates a wonderful scene where grass grows on the roof and trees grow through the buildings. The hub is the central, circular spa known for its milk, saffron, and honey treatments. There is an enormous sauna area, featuring a Finnish outdoor sauna, Roman sweat room, Turkish steam bath, Biosanarium, aroma chamber, jet pool and cold water pool, along with sunbathing island and lounging galleries. Baths, mud and algae packs, massages, acupuncture, reflexology and many other treatments are also on offer to invigorate you. Water for the restorative treatments comes from the Vulkania curative spring; known as the warmest and most highly mineralized source in the region, the water self-purifies through its high carbon-dioxide content. Hundertwasser believed in ‘life in harmony with nature’, so electricity and heat for the spa is derived from the same healing waters, using geothermal technology. A portion of each night’s stay is donated to a World Wildlife Fund project to protect almost 100,000 acres of Amazonian rainforest.
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Ethical
Mumpreneurs
S
tarting a family is always a life-changing experience but for a growing number of women the birth of a baby also delivers a new business idea. Suddenly the planet seems as fragile as those tiny little fingers clenching around your thumb. You realise you need to reduce your baby’s carbon footprint, even before they’ve started walking. Just what kind of a world are your children going to inherit? It’s not just the baby who sees the world with new eyes. Of course, this sudden desire to take care of mother earth all comes in addition to the usual conundrums of how to take care of children and earn a living at the same time. The nine to
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five office job with half an hour commute each way in the car may have seemed outdated before children, but it now feels positively primeval. With escalating child care costs and soaring petrol prices, the chance to work from home suddenly appears as a magical solution, which is another reason why so many mums are becoming entrepreneurs. Mother of three, Mairi Rivers, set up her business, Pogglers, designing and making organic cotton toys and dressing up clothes, as something she could fit around the children after her husband’s job took the family to Switzerland. ‘When I started Pogglers my youngest was not yet
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a year old so I had to be doing something that didn’t take me out of the house too much,’ she says. ‘I have a sculpture degree and have always been creative, enjoying sewing, doing crafts with the children, and making presents instead of buying them if possible. I made some dolls for my daughters when my youngest was born and really enjoyed the process, and was quite shocked how much similar dolls cost in the shops. I also found it very difficult to find natural toys or ones made from organic materials, and almost all the dressing up clothes I could find were based on Disney characters. So I thought it would be nice to have more natural toys on the Subscribe at www.ethical-living.org
Mum and Daughter © Yuri Arcurs at Fotolia.com
With a young family to look after and concerns about kind of world your children will inherit, working from home and for an ethical company can seem like a magical solution. Which is why, says Nicky Solloway, so many ethical mums are doing it for themselves.
market and more toys that let children’s imaginations wander rather than being constrained to playing a Disney princess. Also, so many of the toys in shops are plastic and made in huge factories in China, and we, as the consumers, are so far removed from the production line that we really have no idea, and no way of finding out, how the toys are made and under what conditions.’
Flexible hours? Amazingly, Mairi also finds the time to home educate her two older girls, aged six and four, though she admits that most of her work has to be done in the middle of the night. Make a positive difference
‘I’ve found that I just can’t do any sewing when the children are around as needles invariably get lost and pins scattered over the floor, so I’ve stopped trying. Instead I work when they are in bed or at the weekend when my husband can occupy them. This means that I don’t have much spare time. But hopefully that will change as they get older and have a bit more self control around sharp things! It sometimes seems like I don’t have a moment to myself, but it makes it all worthwhile when I get lovely e-mails from satisfied customers.’ More and more women are becoming their own bosses. According to the Office for National Statistics over half a
million women in the UK are selfemployed full time and slightly more (530,000) run their own part-time business. This is a growing trend over the last couple of years, helped no doubt by easier access to broadband and the latest wireless technology. Caitlin Castillo went into business with a friend to import eco-friendly and compostable nappies from Germany. The impetus was her one-year-old son’s eczema, which was made worse by the bleaching agents and chemical gels in regular disposable nappies. Once she’d discovered Moltex Öko, an ecofriendly nappy that was free from chlorine, perfume and other toxic residues, she set up a green
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Do your research Caitlin, who is expecting her third child at Christmas, now runs the business from her home in Costa Rica, Central America, where she moved with her husband and children in 2006. She advises other mums hoping to set up an eco business to research the market thoroughly. ‘I just thought, well, if I want to buy these nappies then other people should too. I knew there was a market for this. But now there is so much more out there, you have to be careful.’ Setting up on your own is a risky business, which is why
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care is taken over the clothes,’ says Hannah. ‘ I love the fact there’s a family cooperative in Sri Lanka, it’s fairly traded, it’s eco friendly and for all those reasons I wanted to buy into the business.’
Reaping the rewards Being a successful work at home mum requires time and dedication. It isn’t as simple as rocking the baby bouncer with one foot while typing away on the keyboard. Yet, for those who can work during school hours, pay some childcare, or work in the evenings, the rewards are numerous. From being able to pick the children up from school to never missing a nativity play, you can organise your own time. Plus you can afford to live a much greener lifestyle. So, if that means doing some gardening during a quiet period, taking a yoga class in the middle of the day, or knocking up a couple of loaves of bread while you’re waiting for a phone call, it’s up to you. You’re the boss.
Friendly franchise Former Economics and Business secondary school teacher, Hannah Wright, 29 decided to take on a Tatty Bumpkin franchise because she could fit it in around looking after her children. ‘I was giving so much of myself to teaching, there wasn’t much left for everyone else and I desperately wanted to spend more time with my daughter Romilly. Then I got pregnant again and I decided the time had come to have a complete career change,’ she says. The franchise costs £7,500 plus VAT, which includes two days teacher training, two days of business training, a selection of clothes and materials, plus a website. ‘A lot of thought has gone into the classes which appealed to me educationally, and so much
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Useful contacts: Business Link Tel: 08456 009 006 www.businesslink.gov.uk Offers an in-depth business start up guide with plenty of practical hints and tips to setting up your own business. www.direct.gov.uk The official UK Government website for citizens has a childcare section which lists local nursery and pre-school options. www.mumsclub.co.uk Has a good forum for networking with other mums who are also working from home.
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Mum and sleeping girl © Yuri Arcurs at Fotolia.com
business with a friend to share her knowledge with other mums. ‘For me it was just fantastic,’ says Caitlin. ‘My first son didn’t go into child care until he was two and a half, when I got busier and I needed to focus. To begin with I was selling the nappies to nurseries and I worked in a crèche as well, so he just came with me.’ Since its humble beginnings in 2001, Naturebotts.co.uk has grown steadily and now sells a full range of eco-baby products, from skincare to eco trainer pants and washable swim nappies.
some people feel safer taking on a franchise. The opportunities are endless, including running music and movement classes, children’s parties and teaching languages. Tatty Bumpkin, for example, is now offering franchises to run yoga-inspired movement and music classes, plus the sale of fairly traded clothes, many in organic cotton or sustainable bamboo.
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November / December 2008
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Books Trust Unwrapped: A Story of Ethics, Integrity and Chocolate
Trust Unwrapped ISBN: 978 0955802409 Paperback, £12.99 Fresh Publishing, 1st edition Tel: 01920 822 220 www.trustunwrapped.com
Dan Collins and David Thompson
Trust Unwrapped is a business book with a difference. Using an innovative format, the right hand pages of the book tell the story of corporate go-getter Laura Anderson, whose attempt to launch a reasonably priced, competitive and ethical chocolate bar leads her on a personal journey to find the value of trust and integrity in both her personal relationships and career. Each left hand page supports the story with quotes, case studies, statistics and research to illustrate the lessons that Laura learns. This story challenges the reader to re-examine the concept of trust. Dan Collins and David Thompson force us to ask some interesting questions about taking someone at their word, despite the risks involved, and demonstrate how a small concept like trust can make a huge difference to your business, family and self.
Why Should I Bother About The Planet? Susan Meredith
Why Should I Bother About The Planet? ISBN: 978 0746089170 Paperback, £6.99 Usborne Publishing, London Tel: 020 7430 2800 www.usborne.co.uk
A little book with some big questions, Why Should I Bother About The Planet is aimed at children aged 8+ years. An information guide to one of the hottest topics around, this illustrated book tells in the simplest terms what’s gone wrong with the planet and what needs to be done. Providing information on subjects such as climate change, renewable energy, recycling, organic farming and disappearing forests and tips on how to help, this book clearly demonstrates that children are never too young to learn about the issues facing us today and how to start doing their bit. Printed on FSC approved paper, Why Should I Bother About The Planet? not only informs readers about the world and mans’ effect on it, but also offers suggestions on small differences that we can all make to reverse some of the damage. 20p from every copy sold is donated to Friends of the Earth.
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Course Real Food, Slow Food: Championing Sustainable Food
Real Food, Slow Food Schumacher Collage, Totnes 17-21 November 2008 ÂŁ700.00 inc. accom and food Tel: 01803 865 934 www.schumachercollege.org.uk
Schumacher College
This course brings together two champions of real food, focusing on the art of baking real bread and link this with a discussion on the ways our food system needs to be changed. Andrew Whitley will teach bread-making skills and explore the ways in which a return to small-scale production would be beneficial. Carlo Petrini will look at broader food production issues within the context of the aims of the Slow Food movement. The course is intended for people who want to gain hands-on experience, with a world expert, of how to bake real bread, and have the opportunity to discuss in depth the components of a sustainable food system. Schumacher College is proud of its homemade and wholesome food. On this course, participants explore these areas in an exceptional way.
Website
For further information and to sign up visit www.icount.org.uk
www.icount.org.uk
I Count is the campaign of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, the ever growing coalition of more than 80 organisations working for a safer, fairer world. Launched with a hugely successful event in November 2006, which saw 25,000 people packed into Trafalgar Square, the campaign has grown to incorporate over 190,000 people and is supported by celebrities such as Razorlight, KT Tunstall and Sarah Beeny. The campaign asks that if you care, count, and aims to inspire people across the UK to take action, join their voice to thousands of others and make their voice, and actions, count. Sign up by entering your name, email and postcode and you can begin adding your voice. There are ideas and tips for lots of easy things that you can pledge to do, including taking your holiday close to home, giving someone a lift, switching to green energy or writing to the PM about Kingsnorth. Add your actions to the I Count map and you can see how many others are joining in too.
Make aa positive positive difference difference Make
November // December December 2008 2008 November
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November / December 2008
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Market Place
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November / December 2008
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Ethical Advice In this column our ethical agony aunt, Sarah Callard, answers your ethical dilemmas. From where to holiday to whether it’s better to hand wash your dishes or use a dishwasher, Sarah finds out the most environmentally friendly and ethical options.
Sarah Callard has been writing about natural lifestyles for over 10 years. She is a columnist for the Saturday Telegraph magazine and the author of Green Living. If you have an ethical question that you would like Sarah to answer, please email us at advice@ethical-living.org
???? ????? Q. I would like to prepare an
ethical Christmas dinner for my family this year. What are the most ethical foods to eat and where should I buy them?
A. These days it is possible to
eat ethically even on Christmas day. However, you may be faced with tougher decisions than you expected because to be really ethical you’d have to forsake the turkey and have a vegetarian feast. The livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions than transport, with almost a fifth of climate-changing greenhouse gases coming from livestock production and the growing of their feed crops. For a veggie alternative try Redwood Foods’ Vegideli Turkey Style Roast with Cranberry and Wild Rice Stuffing. If you can’t bear the idea of Christmas day without a turkey, there are other options. Do the
Useful websites: www.village-bakery.com www.tropicalwholefoods.co.uk www.divinechocolate.com www.redwoodfoods.co.uk www.vintageroots.co.uk www.vinceremos.co.uk
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right thing by reducing your overall meat consumption throughout the year and make sure that if you buy a turkey it’s an organic one, and local if possible. Organic turkeys have longer lives, are given organic feed and are allowed to roam around freely. Buying a locally reared bird, will cut back on emissions caused by cheap, imported birds from Thailand or Brazil.
Cut back on food miles The average Christmas meal travels an estimated 49,000 miles and releases around 37kg of carbon emissions. Going organic also helps to reduce your Christmas carbon footprint since it typically uses 27% less energy than non-organic agriculture. Get your sprouts and carrots from your local veg box supplier or farmer’s market. This will reduce food miles, cut carbon emissions, support the local economy and help the environment all at the same time. Eating fresh, organic vegetables will also protect your family from pesticide residues used in conventional farming and provide a nutrient-rich meal. If you’ve got the time and inclination, try making your own Christmas pudding with Fairtrade and organic dried fruit and nuts. Cooking with Fairtrade ingredients means your Christmas dinner
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is helping some of the poorest communities in the world, like the mountain fruits farmers in the Karakoram Mountains in Northern Pakistan, who produce Tropical Wholefood’s dried apricots. If you can’t manage making your own, visit your local independent retailer and buy an organic one. The Village Bakery makes a range of Fairtrade and organic puddings, cakes and mince pies. Finish with some delicious Fairtrade, organic truffles from Booja Booja and scatter some Fairtrade chocolate Gold Coins from Divine Chocolate around the table for people to chomp on. All of this delicious food needs to be washed down with something, so why not choose from a growing selection of organic and Fairtrade wines? Vinceremos and Vintage Roots have a wide selection of organic, biodynamic, vegan and Fairtrade wines to choose from. Coffee and mince pies will round things off nicely but make sure you offer a choice of Fairtrade and organic coffees and teas. This will support producers like the Cecovasa cooperative in Peru who supply coffee from the Lake Titicaca region. Buying Fairtrade coffee ensures smallholder farmers earn enough money to cover their production costs and provide a sustainable livelihood.
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On sale 29 December
Drums © Vladimir Mucibabic - Fotolia.com Knitting © vekha - Fotolia.com
In the next issue January / February 2009 Green ‘I Do’s’ Weddings don’t have to cost the earth. Celebrate in eco-chic style
Fashion The latest organic and fair trade catwalk collections
Swapping Spree Want a new outfit but don’t want to splash out? Find out how you can with our guide to clothes swaps
Family The low-down on the future of education with eco-schools
Home and Garden Heading off to the bottom of the garden in search of eco-sheds Health and Beauty Get your health regime off to a flying start with our 1-week kick start plan Food and Drink Delicious seasonal and organic recipes, plus healthy snacking
Travel Luxury romantic breaks with a heart Finance and Work Want to save the planet but still need to make a living? We take a look an eco-friendly jobs
Ethical Living Issue 9 November / December 2008
Ethical Sportswear
Issue 9 November / December 2008 £3.00 Make a positive difference
Plus cool socks and hosiery
Eco-Spa Experience Indulgence at Europe’s best spas
Christmas Veggie Feast
WIN A £50 DIY Christmas hamper
Tea-time: Our favourite teas
Plus
• Zero Waste • Eco-heating • Herbal Tea • Family Gift Guide • Veg Box Review • Backyard Wildlife • Tai Chi • Toothpaste
Ethical Publishing