new ways to see cosmetics how to create different outf its with the same item discover a the cafe where to eat only organic
Contents
p. 4 HOMEMADE BEAUTY an alternative to mainstream cosmetics p. 5 THE ABERDONIAN RUNNER tips for newbies who like outdoor activities p. 6 LOCAL GEMS two markets of Aberdeen p. 8 GROW YOUR OWN an introduction to gardening p. 9 MATCH THE SHIRT a green approach to fashion p. 10 A STORY ABOUT... FOOD what is behind the new organic cafe in town
HOMEMADE beauty It is not a secret that cosmetic producers use chemicals such as parabens, formaldehyde, petroleum jelly and synthetic fragrances. However, not many people know how dangerous they are for our health. It is not about getting obsessed with every product we are in contact with, but to make some savvy choices that can just prevent - you never know. For instance, you could start questioning about skincare: the body absorbs the 60% of what is rub onto it. There are many brands that sell chemical-free products but it is quite easy to produce them at home. Facial creams don’t require a big effort and are quite inexpensive too. With the price of an average jar at the shop you can make three times the amount of cream. The basic ingredients, those that have the right texture and moisturizing properties,
are shea butter and bees wax. Depending on the type of the skin, other ingredients are added. For example, a dry skin would need more oils, such as jojoba, almond and coco
endless kinds of essential oils and green tea could do as well. The process is not hard at all: you just need to melt the ingredients together trying to obtain a proper texture. They
nut. For greasy skin, an aloe vera gel is ideal. Other than that, you can add any sort of flavour you want! There are
are going to last for ages: all of them can stay in your cupboard for more than three months.
The Aberdonian runner
New to Aberdeen? Check out these places to practice the most ecological sport!
The beach
Hazlehead Park It is located in the area of the same name in the West End of the town. It extends over 180 hectares, you’ll have to run a lot to see it all! There are wide open spaces as well as tiny paths like in the picture above.
Peculiarities: • there is a 500 metres runtrack where you can test yourself. • you can dare walking into its maze. • you’ll probably need to get the bus to reach it.
Aberdeen is famous for its 5 miles long sandy beach and the promenade. Every Aberdonian loves it and hangs out there now and then to enjoy the fun park and the numerous restaurants. It is very popular among runners too. The stunning view of the Northern Sea is particularly enjoyable during those rare sunny days but unfortunately you won’t be able to escape from the wind. It is Aberdeen: it’s always windy. Come here prepared with a turtleneck hoodie and a hair band to protect your ears. You can choose to run onto the tarmac or be hardcore and go on the sand! You will get fit muscles and strong ankles: ligaments benefit from uneven surfaces. The fresh air full of iodine will keep your lungs healthy too.
Situated in the very centre, it is quite small compared to other parks in town: it is only one hectare wide. However, it has a number of positive characteristics: first of all, it is so central that either you live or work in the surroundings, it’s really easy to reach. Secondly, it spreads through different levels so you can get more than the usual flat run - steps, slopes and so on. Last but not least, it is under the ground line (it used to be a small river valley until the amphiteathre was formed after the demolition of Denburn Terrace) so it is not as windy as it is in many other places in town.
Union Terrace Gardens
LOCAL A different way to go shopping is local markets, where craftmakers, artists and farmers sell their products. Big chains are not always a good choice when you look for something special - maybe a gift for a loved one? Also, they are environmentally friendly: the products have not had a long journey and the
ABERDEEN MINISTRY OF CRAFTS
Aberdeen Ministry of Craft takes place the first Saturday of every month at the Methodist Church in Crown Terrace. Here you will find handmade jewellery and pottery along with second hand clothes.
GEMS packaging is at its minimum. You can ask any question to your seller since he or she has probably imagined and created that product from the very beginning and supporting them means implementing local economy. There are quite a few around the town, normally once per month in the city centre. March Hare Market is hosted in Boys Brigade in Crimon Place on a monthly basis. Here you will find farm products, handmade stationery and jewellery and second hand accessories.
MARCH HARE MARKET
grow your own Have you ever thought about being the producer of your own veggies? It is the most eco-friendly and inexpensive way to get food on the table. The environmental impact will be at its minimum – unless you are miles away from your allotment. But still, that would be a shorter journey comparing to the supermarket products! You won’t need any packaging other than carrier bags or crates and you can even choose whether to make it completely organic or not, maybe adding a hint of pesticides when you have enough of insects or some fertilizer when that one doesn’t really want to grow. It’s also huge
savings for your pocket: for instance, with £1.50 you could either grow 6.6 pounds of tomatoes at home or buy 1 pound at the shop. And it tastes much better! There are many ways to get an allotment for this purpose. With online communities such as Landshare, you can find someone willing to share his or her piece of land. It can be a one-to-one deal or many acres shared by a number of people. Another option is to join a community garden. The Robert Gordon University students’ union has an allotment in Garthdee that people can look after and eventually get
the products from. You don’t get your piece of land but everyone takes care of every crop – it is a bit easier: to keep up with an individual space it would be necessary to come every other day. It is active since last March and it has produced many vegetables and berries. It is now facing its first winter and the keepers are expecting peas and spinach. There is a greenhouse where tomatoes, chilli and herbs are grown. While during the summer it is a larger responsibility, during the winter it is mostly about digging out dead crops and taking care of the greenhouse.
Match the shirt Ecological fashion is notoriously more expensive, but as students there are other ways to be trendy and respect the environment too. While Primark and its cheap products are still attractive, you could think twice before buying something new and look at your closet differently. Have you ever realised how many interesting matches you can sort out with your old, boring clothes? You will be surprised! It’s enough to have some basic elements to combine with more peculiar items. So there we go: the same plain black shirt mixed in three different outfits for different moments of the day.
At uni
Facing a lot of lectures today? Be comfy with some skinny jeans, a cardigan and sneakers. If you want to make it more fancy, tuck your shirt into the trousers and add a simple leather belt. And if you really want to be the brightest of the class, wear a basic necklace that will make your easy outfit shine!
At the pub Chill dinner with friends? A plain black skirt and warm suede shoes will do. Match with a patterned blazer to give a sophisticated hint to your outfit! P.S. yeah, it’s the same necklace as before. Basic accessories are such a good investment!
Try a long skirt for a big night out! You can go dark and misterious with a black one or impress everyone with a bright green! Match with some ostentatious jewellery (here a super coloured flowery necklace) and mid-heeled boots to look underground and to save your feet from too much dancing!
At the club
Once upon a time, more specificly one year ago, a quaint tiny cafe opened in Thistle Street. It is called Food Story and it is about three stories: the people, the planet and, as you might expect, the food. It is a place for everyone: families, friends, lovers, clerks in lunch break. All the tables are close to each other to create a familiar atmosphere. “One day, when we had opened since a couple of weeks, it was quite a busy moment”, says Sandy McKinnon, one of the two managers that built this place from an empty room,
“So we had to ask people to sit in the same tables, otherwise they wouldn’t have had a seat. See that table by the window, the big one? There were two old ladies on a side, a family with kids on the other and two men in suits in between and they all started chatting. We involuntarily managed to get a bunch of completely different people together.” There is a piano right in the middle of the room that everyone can play. “I love when someone just sits there and improvises. It used to be my grandad’s, it reminds me of old times.” It is environmentally-friendly: almost all the furniture is second-hand or is made with old unused objects (the tables were doors!), the packaging is made with recycled materials and a lot of attention is made with waste. “We only buy a certain amount of food per day, only what we are sure we are going to actually sell. That’s why very often we run out of stock and we can’t satisfy all the requests of our customers. We’d rather say we don’t have that particular sandwich anymore than have
tons of leftovers at the end of the day.” However, mostly it is all about food. The idea is to serve high-quality healthy food. All the ingredients are organic, whether local or fairtrade. Eggs, sausages, bacon and milk are from Ellon while veggies come from Stonehaven. Coffee, cocoa and sugar are non-processed and come from verified sources. Choices are made carefully: for instance,
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tuna is not served since it’s not fished in the Northern Sea. The taste is very important. “We serve organic veggies because they have such nice colours and a sensational taste”, says McKinnon, “and obviously they are much healthier. We chose to go organic for two reasons: the nutritional values and the taste. We noticed, though, that with organic food you tend to get less for more money.
y about..
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For example, the organic milk costs double the price of the normal one. But we do try to make organic food as affordable as possible.” It is not just a growing trend; in the past years, people have realised how important it is to eat healthy. We kind of hit the ground in Aberdeen - we are the first ones to be known with an organic cooking style. But many other places are changing their menus as I have seen. I believe Aberdeen is a good place to invest in this field. It’s a good effort, but it’s our philosophy. Our story.”
Editor’s tips: where to go organic food shopping in town • • • • • • • •
Grampian Health Store, 34 Market Street. Nature’s Larder, 60 Holburn Street. Holland and Barrett, St Nicholas Centre. Holland and Barrett, Trinity Centre. NutriCentre, in Tesco at Laurel Drive, Danestone. Lembas Organics, Stonehaven - they provide home delivery. The Allottment Market Stall, in Duthie Park: works only during summer months - they sell the products of this garden. VegBag, an initiative of RGU Go Green: fortnightly, the university staff get veggies from a local farm and sell them to students.