WOMEN & HARMONY
These women in leadership are supporting the shift to a more conscious, harmonious & sustainable future
‘MUMS ON A MISSION’
Introducing the femalefounded app that’s tackling waste by rehoming unwanted items
WOMEN & THE POWER OF PROTEST
EARTHDAY.ORG’s Kathleen Rogers reveals how collective action can change the world
UNDERSTANDING HEART
Dr Scilla Elworthy explores the power of the heart as we navigate turbulent times
Katie Hill, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF katie@mygreenpod.com
There’s a reason why the theme for 2025’s International Women’s Day (08 March) is ‘Accelerate Action’ – and it’s a very good one.
According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress it will take until 2158 – roughly five generations from now – to reach full gender parity.
Around the world, women’s rights are being abused, threatened and violated; progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes.
The good news is that there’s a strong desire and growing momentum for change; awareness of gender injustice is on the rise, and with it the will to dismantle systemic barriers that perpetuate inequalities – from unequal pay and limited access to education to under-representation in positions of political and corporate leadership.
These injustices aren’t just about women’s rights – they’re symptoms of a deeprooted bias that reminds us our current systems, which are based on domination, extraction and profit at all costs, are outdated and unfit for purpose.
As EARTHDAY.ORG president Kathleen Rogers notes in her article on the power of protest (p6), ’International Women’s Day has always been a powerful platform for highlighting the intersection of gender equality and environmental justice.’
We know that climate change is not gender-neutral – it’s estimated that four out of five people displaced by the impacts of climate change are women and girls –yet throughout history women have also been powerful agents of change.
Now is the time to wield that power – and this issue profiles some of the inspiring women who are doing just that.
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Nearly 90% of Iceland’s female population went on strike on 24 October, 1975
On average, 76% fewer women than men work in the energy sector
! of the food produced globally is wasted - half of that happens in the home
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06 Kathleen Rogers, president of EARTHDAY.ORG, reveals why women understand the power of protest, and how collective action can change the world
08 Dr Scilla Elworthy explores the power of the heart as we navigate turbulent times
11 My Green Pod Heroes for March, plus our Top 5 Switches
12 How women in leadership are supporting the shift to a more conscious, harmonious & sustainable future
14 We celebrate three of the women supporting the transition to clean energy in a genderimbalanced power sector
15 Natural beauty expert
Janey Lee Grace celebrates women leading the clean beauty revolution
16 Learn the secrets of natural candle-making at this workshop in the heart of the Lake District
17 This female-founded app is tackling waste by rehoming unwanted items of any kind –from Bratz to bananas
18 BOSH! chefs Henry Firth & Ian Theasby share three delicious plant-based dishes that celebrate the best of spring
20 Soil Association’s Paige Tracey profiles three pioneering female farmers for International Women’s Day
21 River Cottage’s Rachel de Thample shares natural ways to improve gut health and boost your wellbeing
22 Jarvis Smith explores how female leadership could restore planetary balance
23 Take a look at the latest competition giveaways featured on mygreenpod.com!
Kathleen
action can change the
International Women’s Day, celebrated worldwide on 08 March, has been synonymous with female empowerment, action and protest for well over 100 years. But how did it all start?
Well, it’s a complicated story with a lot of twists and turns; while some historians begin in 1857, at a march by down-trodden female textile workers in New York, others are less sure. We typically date this important day back to 1909 and a meeting of the Socialist Party of America, which we know did happen in New York City.
It was from here that the idea was frst born, but the major milestone in the Day’s evolution came in 1910 at the Second International Socialist Women’s Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and ferce advocate for women’s rights, believed that a unifed day of action would help rally support for women’s suffrage and better working conditions around the world.
Zetkin’s idea was simple yet powerful: each year, on the same day, women from all countries would unite and strike, hold rallies and raise awareness about women’s issues. The goal was to push for gender equality, voting rights, better labour conditions and more.
Thanks to Zetkin’s proposal, the very frst International Women’s Day was fnally and offcially celebrated on 19 March 1911 in four nations: Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Women demanded the right to vote and stand for (and hold) public offce, while protesting against gender discrimination in employment and demanding access to education.
The movement was always closely tied to the push for better labour conditions for workingclass women.
After the Russian revolution the date would eventually settle on 08 March, and it’s been a day that has seen women across the world marching in the streets to champion gender equity and justice pretty much ever since.
In Argentina the #NiUnaMenos movement, which translates as ‘Not One Less’, kicked off on 08 March 2016, after the murder of a young woman. It saw 200,000 women out on the streets to protest against femicide and the broader culture of violence against women.
Since that landmark march, #NiUnaMenos has become a powerful network for women across Latin America, inspiring other large-scale marches, protests and legislative campaigns for women’s rights. It has pushed governments to enact stricter laws against femicide and improve the judicial responses to violence against women. Their efforts have led to policy reforms, including the introduction of more comprehensive laws for protecting women, increased funding for shelters and the establishment of emergency hotlines for victims.
In Poland, the 2016 Women’s Strike was perhaps one of the most dramatic protests ever tied to International Women’s Day. What drew women to act was a proposed bill aimed at completely banning abortion in the country.
Polish women were galvanised into organising massive protests around International Women’s Day, with thousands of women striking and marching in solidarity. Students, mothers, doctors and workers all came together to make their voices heard.
The lasting impact of these marches and demonstrations shows how a single march can transform into a global movement around a common cause to ignite change. Much like Earth Day itself, which began as a march on 22 April 1970 and grew into a global movement backed and supported by one billion people every year –many of whom who are, of course, women.
What is clear is that women are not shy about letting their feelings be known, and women have
always understood the power of protest – it is hard-wired into our DNA.
These acts of protest are more than just resistance; they are demonstrations of courage, unity and an unwavering belief that change is not just possible, but necessary.
This is as true for gender equality as it is for environmentalism, which is why International Women’s Day has always been a powerful platform for highlighting the intersection of gender equality and environmental justice.
In 2017, the Women’s Global Call for Climate Justice (WGCCJ) rallied on International Women’s Day, with women’s rights groups and environmental activists marching side by side to highlight how women are not just victims of climate change, but also vital actors in the solution. Women like Jessica Hernandez.
Imagine a world where the wisdom of Indigenous peoples is the secret sauce for saving the planet. Well, Jessica Hernandez already knows that’s the recipe for success.
Jessica is a Zapotec woman, environmental justice activist and researcher who combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern environmental science. Her mission? To show the world that Indigenous communities have been practising sustainable living for centuries – long before it became trendy to post about composting on Instagram.
Her book, Fresh Banana Leaves, dives into how traditional knowledge can – and should – be used to fx the environment.
Then there is Maggie Kuhn, an absolute legend who revolutionised the way we think about ageing, activism and green cities. When Maggie was forced to retire at the then-mandatory age of 65, she founded the Gray Panthers – a movement to fght for the rights of older adults, but that went way beyond the ‘don’t forget your meds’ chatter.
Maggie had a serious environmental vision. When she wasn’t advocating for better healthcare and social justice, Maggie was out there ensuring that ageing communities weren’t forgotten in the push for sustainability. She knew that urban spaces had to be inclusive, which means creating green spaces and sustainable infrastructure in cities that cater to all ages.
Her work showed that environmental sustainability isn’t just about protecting the polar bears (as much as I love polar bears!), it’s also about making sure people of all ages have access to healthy, vibrant and green communities.
These incredible women are the unsung heroes of the environmental and gender movement, and they don’t need to wear capes to prove it. Whether it’s standing up to corporations, defending communities or tackling big global issues like climate change, they’ve been leading the way – and making it clear that saving the Earth is women’s work.
While International Women’s Day is an important date to rally around to amplify women’s voices, just as Earth Day on 22 April is a way to focus minds on environmentalism, let’s be clear: women have never been shy about protesting our rights and standing up for what is right. On whatever date we choose.
Perhaps one of the best examples of this happened on 24 October 1975, when nearly 90% of the female population of Iceland went on strike and downed tools – from typewriters and telephones to mops, brushes, fshing nets, baby bottles, heavy machinery and more.
Housewives and women with paying jobs alike collectively said ‘enough’ and the country came to a complete and utter standstill.
Women were demanding equal rights, equal pay and recognition for their role in supporting and growing the Icelandic economy in what became famously known as the Women’s Day Off.
At frst men treated the strike with derision, but that didn’t last long. We heard children playing in the background while the newsreaders read the news on the radio’, Vigdis Finnbogadottir told the C. It was a great thing to listen to, knowing that the men had to take care of everything.’
In 1980, Vigdis would credit this singular but powerful day of action for putting her in offce because just fve years later, in 19 0, she would become Iceland’s and urope’s frst female president. She served for a staggering 16 years –and the men weren’t laughing any more.
This International Women’s Day, let’s plant trees in honour of these incredible women – and remember to stay loud, stay engaged and treasure the power of protest. We must never lose sight of the power of collective action; we need it now more than ever. Earth Day turns 55 this year, and we’re inviting you to make more noise with us and campaign alongside EARTHDAY.ORG for the health of the planet and all future generations.
There is, at this moment in human history, an extraordinary opportunity for human development – and that is to demonstrate, recognise and use the intelligence of the heart. While artifcial intelligence (AI) may decrease the relevance of the human brain, we know that the intelligence of the heart cannot be taught to a machine. Ponder this: can the human capacity for intuition, for example, or integrity, or compassion, be replaced by a machine?
I’m going to set out why the intelligence and capacities of the heart are the things that distinguish the human from the machine.
Heart intelligence enables the unique powers of the heart to work through courage (to take a stand that may be unpopular), self awareness (to spot
what we’re up to), empathy (to go one step beyond sympathy) and deep listening (to resolve con ict by being able to repeat back what we heard).
Is that enough How about wisdom (discovered in the depths of your heart), forgiveness (the ability to open up when you’ve been hurt), intuition (to sense what’s re uired in the moment), compassion (to understand others’ needs) and caring (for the needs of a child or the relief of the dying).
As you read these descriptions, does anything strike you about who most demonstrates these skills Perhaps your mum, your teacher, a nurse f course, all these people could be male (except your mum), but on this International Women’s Day I want to celebrate how often, every day, these qualities are exhibited by females.
Women have traditionally held the responsibility for listening to the troubles of the young – and the not so young.
Women tend to listen with care, without interrupting. Women forgive threats and taunts more easily than men. Women often intuit the needs of others before any words are spoken. Women traditionally have had the terrible job of picking up the pieces of war.
This is heart intelligence, or HI. In order to access HI, you have to be uiet, because HI is a feeling –is felt – and you need to be quiet to access it. The brain chatters away all day long, but it simply does not possess these powers, and they cannot be replaced by a machine.
All these skills and capacities are not only profoundly useful, but are now essential to human wellbeing. More so now than ever, as harshness creeps into every part of our lives, as kindness is replaced by recordings, as the human race deserts and destroys nature.
This time we’re living through may be a revolution for humanity that some people fear could destroy human civilisation – yet there may be another quite different picture of the future. And it belongs to the human heart.
While the brain fears the misinformation revolution – the chaos it can cause in our minds, and how shaky we feel when we cannot believe –the heart has a different view, and different reactions. At a physical level, when the heart is our reference, we can listen to its signals.
Here’s a tiny example: when I exaggerate or say something not truthful, my heart will twitch or churn. There will be a frisson. If I’m telling the truth, my heart is calm. At a political level, the examples are massive.
They said to Mahatma Gandhi: ‘You cannot beat the might of the British Empire with passive resistance.’ es, said his heart, we can. And they did. They said to Nelson Mandela: ‘You cannot beat Apartheid by being in prison.’ Yes, said his heart, we can. And they did.
They say to us now: ‘AI is terrifying. Human culture will be destroyed.’ Maybe, say our hearts, but we shall survive, and we shall thrive.
Those who can inspect their own minds and their thoughts, who can become quiet and thus access the power of their hearts, develop wisdom that is beyond the capacity of the brain.
How is heart intelligence developed? First you must understand what really motivates you, and what breaks your heart. You can then use that energy to learn the tools to manage the emotional effects of burnout and stress.
Deepen your listening skills to transform any argument, and use compassionate communication to resolve differences. Develop the presence to act wisely in a crisis; use your right-brain intelligence to see the full picture.
Take a stand on issues that matter to you without provoking resistance, and put yourself in service to help build a safer world.
These skills can be learned, week by week, in The Mighty Heart course (see ‘Find out more’, below), now being taught to major corporations in Europe and to troubled communities in the UK.
SURVIVAL OF THE WISEST
Some big changes are happening already; the HeartMath Institute is teaching the US Armed Forces how to build and sustain their resilience in operations around the world. Dr Rollin McCraty, research director at HeartMath, has been training
Scilla is a three-times Nobel Peace Prize nominee for 20 years’ work with Oxford Research Group to develop e ective dialogue between worldwide nuclear weapons policymakers and their critics. She founded Peace Direct in 2002 to fund, promote and learn from local peacebuilders in conflict areas, and advised Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sir Richard Branson in setting up The Elders. Scilla was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003, the Luxembourg Peace Prize in 2020 and the Goi Peace Prize in 2023. She has recently founded Plan for Peace to help prevent violent conflict and build sustainable peace, based on her latest books The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World Without War (2017), The Mighty Heart: how to transform conflict (2020), and The Mighty Heart in Action (2022).
thousands deployed to Afghanistan to utilise the heart’s unique ability to help create a state known as coherence, ‘an optimal state marked by the smooth, balanced heart rhythms needed for effective communication among people with diverse beliefs.’
As climate change accelerates, we begin to value those who understand and work with nature, those who grow plants, those able to work with the seasons and the weather.
Global companies like H&M are installing training courses to develop heart intelligence, from the boardroom to the shop oor, because they can measure its value to their employees –and their balance sheet.
Surveys are beginning to assess and re ect the heart of business, demanding a search for the real values of a business, even asking what the soul and purpose of a business is.
Overall, heart intelligence may well mean the survival of the wisest, rather than the survival of the fttest, as we look to a more peaceful future.
Find out more n Information about the Mighty Heart in Business, an eight-week programme designed by Dr Scilla Elworthy for corporate changemakers, is at mightyheart.co.uk
Introducing our spring 2025 Heroes!
We’ve picked these products because we believe they are all best in their class for people and the planet. They represent simple, sustainable switches that will help to keep you, your home and the planet healthy –without compromising on performance!
View all our Heroes at mygreenpod.com/heroes
& DRINK
DANDY’S RAW CHOC
These raw and organic chocolate bars are made using Mother Earth’s rich bounty. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ dandys-raw-choc
TAMBIA COFFEE
Single-origin specialty coffee from family-owned farms in Colombia, grown, harvested and processed entirely on site for full traceability. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ tambia-coffee
HEALTH & BEAUTY
HAOMA ORGANIC DEODORANT
Stay active and fresh all day – the natural way– with this organic spray deodorant from Haoma. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ haoma-organic-deodorant
THE CONSCIOUS WAY
PET DOG WASH
Introducing the first UK-made organic shampoo for dogs. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ the-conscious-way-pet-dog-wash
9TREES TREE GIFT
Mark any special occasion with this gift of a tree and a wooden decoration from 9Trees CIC. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ 9trees-tree-gift
GOOD ENERGY TARIFF
Help power a cleaner, greener future for everyone with a renewable energy tariff from Good Energy. mygreenpod.com/heroes/ good-energy-tariff
1
Try Tabitha James Kraan’s Clean Shampoo – a truly organic shampoo with a completely natural preservative system –for a luxe wash with a mesmerising scent. @tabithajkpro mygreenpod.com/heroes/ tabitha-james-kraanclean-shampoo
2
Vintage Roots sources organic wines from the finest regions and vineyards. Try the Organic Everyday selection of six – three white and three red – for a superb introduction to exceptional organic wines. @VintageRootsLtd mygreenpod.com/heroes/ vintage-roots-organic-everyday
3
Want to go organic without ramping up your packaging footprint? Zero Waste Bulk Foods is the UK’s only Soil Association Organic certified zero waste store. @zwbfood mygreenpod.com/heroes/ zero-waste-bulk-foods
4
Apeal World ACV is a greattasting organic drink with functional benefits –and a delicious way to get your daily dose of apple cider vinegar (ACV).
#ApealWorld mygreenpod.com/heroes/ apeal-world-acv
5
If you want to switch to organic skincare, look no further. Terre Verdi’s NeroliPom Moisturiser is the UK’s first water-based face moisturiser to achieve COSMOS Organic certification. @terreverdi mygreenpod.com/heroes/ terre-verdi-nerolipommoisturiser
Rather than focusing on the climate, nature, mental health and biodiversity crises in isolation, a new organisation is encouraging us all to embrace this moment as an opportunity to evolve.
Spearheaded by female minority founders Michelle Narciso and Maria Alphonse, OMMM produces spiritual and eco events, corporate wellness retreats, immersive multimedia content and 1:1 wellness sessions. The goal is to hold a holistic vision of interconnected wellbeing, and create spaces for communities to come together in conscious evolution.
OMMM has appointed a number of ‘OMMMbassadors’ to lead and facilitate this shift in consciousness; they represent a network for change, sharing the message that healing ourselves and healing the Earth are not separate but one.
To mark International Women’s Day (08 March), we spoke to four female OMMMbassadors about the change they want to see, the role women will play – and how we might get there.
Michelle Narciso, co-founder and CEO of OMMM, notes that women have always played a vital role in shaping a more conscious and sustainable world. ‘Their natural ability to bring empathy, collaboration and intuition into leadership makes women powerful forces for change’, she says. ’Compassion, adaptability and inclusivity aren’t just strengths; they’re foundational to a society where sustainability is not only about the environment but also about emotional, mental and social wellbeing. By valuing these qualities, we begin to shift from a paradigm of dominance and extraction to one of care and regeneration.’
For Michelle, this shift is already unfolding; in regenerative agriculture, mindful leadership and sustainable entrepreneurship, women are demonstrating how conscious decision-making can drive meaningful transformation.
Yet this isn’t just about recognising women’s contributions; Michelle sees both divine masculine and feminine energies as essential to a healthy and truly balanced society. The feminine nurtures, envisions and heals while the masculine builds, protects and directs. When we embrace and integrate both, Michelle believes we will move towards a new paradigm of leadership – one that values presence over power, purpose over proft and wholeness over division. Action is guided by intuition, strength is softened by compassion and leadership is informed by wisdom as much as by strategy. This is the essence of true sustainability: a model that nurtures both people and the planet in an interconnected way.
‘True leadership isn’t about hierarchy but about integrity, inclusivity and shared purpose’, Michelle explains. ‘It’s about creating systems that honour diversity, where every voice has a role in shaping the future. Women are already modelling this kind of leadership – one that prioritises long-term vision, cooperation and wisdom over short-term gains.’
We won’t move in this direction without taking intentional steps; women must be given access to opportunities, mentorship and leadership roles and we must replace outdated systems that no longer serve collective wellbeing with models that encourage collaboration, shared purpose and deep connection. ‘It requires each of us to play our part’, Michelle says; ‘amplifying women’s voices, advocating for equity and making daily choices that align with a more conscious way of living.’
Outside OMMM, co-founder Maria is a mother, wife, community builder, wellness advocate and guide for conscious living. ‘My broader goal is to bring light into the world, to promote kindness and restore harmony’, Maria shares – ‘within ourselves, our communities and in relationship with nature.’
Maria had three home births and is a strong advocate for conscious birth. ‘I believe deeply in the power of women, the wisdom of our bodies and birth as an incredibly transformative and empowering experience’, she tells us. ‘When approached with reverence and intention, birth can have a tremendously positive impact on both mother and baby and, therefore, humanity.’
For Maria, the shift we are experiencing now calls for the feminine voice – a voice that nurtures, heals, unites, restores and leads from the heart. ‘Women naturally understand the rhythms of life, the importance of balance and the power of community’, she says, ‘which serve to lead the shift towards a more conscious world – one where sustainability is not just a policy but a way of being.’
Societies that overvalue power, competition and control can cause imbalances that lead to burnout, disconnection and environmental destruction. In contrast, when feminine leadership is embraced decision-making becomes more holistic, communities become stronger and solutions are rooted in care rather than conquest.
‘It’s not about replacing one energy with another, but about restoring a much-needed equilibrium’, Maria explains. She believes this shift is already happening, led by those who dare to walk with both strength and grace. ‘Women across the world are embodying their power, from grassroots
environmental activists to corporate wellness leaders’, she says. ‘They are healing ancestral wounds, reviving lost traditions, expressing their wants and needs and fnding ways to share their wisdom. Women are proving that true change happens not through domination, but through connection, care and collective action.’
For Maria the deeper transformation comes when individuals choose to live with awareness, courage and love. ‘We need to remember who we are beyond societal expectations’, Maria says, ‘and that true change starts with healing – the wounds we carry, the narratives we’ve been told and the ways we’ve been conditioned to separate rather than unite.’
‘The world is shifting, and we have a choice’, Maria continues; ‘to continue the path of disconnection or to step into a new way of being, one that honours the interconnectedness and sacredness of life in all its forms. The answers are already within us; we just need to listen. When we heal ourselves, we heal the world.’
‘When the female stands confidently in her true nature it will be the dawning of a new era.’
OMMMBASSADOR AND YOGINI OF THE SARASWATI LINEAGE
As a spiritual mentor, author and founder of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum, Sister Jenna’s life’s work revolves around uplifting individuals through meditation, self-inquiry and spiritual wisdom. Beyond her role with OMMM, she hosts The Next Normal, a daily show that brings deep conversations on mindfulness, leadership and the evolving consciousness of humanity.
Sister Jenna’s broader goal is to help shape a world where inner peace translates into outer harmony – where individuals are not only awakened to their highest potential but also live and lead with integrity, love and a deep sense of service.
‘I deeply wish for souls to be connected to the Divine intimately – not religiously, just intimately’,
Sister Jenna shares, ‘where one’s inner being is governed by a loving, respected space.’
For Sister Jenna, women are at the forefront of the shift towards a more conscious and sustainable way of life. ‘Their innate ability to nurture, create and heal is essential in guiding humanity towards a future where balance and respect for all life forms are central’, she tells us. ‘Women have long carried the wisdom of interconnectedness, understanding that our relationship with nature, each other and the Divine is deeply intertwined.’
Sister Jenna’s mother, Sister Gita, fought throughout her life to empower everyone in her presence. ‘Despite being orphaned at seven, she has been a beacon of light – as a mother, mentor and coming from broken pieces’, Sister
Jenna shares. ‘She was a healer of souls, and she worked quietly yet powerfully in the Brahma Kumaris community and the world at large.’
For Sister Jenna, a world that thrives is one where we integrate the strength of the masculine with the wisdom of the feminine, which is indispensable in healing divisions and building a compassionate society. If we are to achieve this vision, we must begin by transforming our consciousness; ‘Change starts with individuals who are willing to question outdated beliefs and cultivate a mindset of respect and inclusivity’, Sister Jenna says. ‘We need to raise our children – both boys and girls – to honour both strength and sensitivity. In addition to systemic change, we need a spiritual shift – a collective awakening to the truth that when a part of society is suppressed, the whole suffers.’
In this sense, a more balanced world begins with balanced individuals. Meditation, self-inquiry and inner peace are not luxuries but necessities for shaping a world in which both men and women can thrive. ‘This International Women’s Day, let us step into action’, Sister Jenna says. ‘Let us build a world that truly re ects the harmony, wisdom and love that the soul of a woman brings.’
ogini Jaima is an initiated ogini of the Saraswati lineage, one of the oldest teaching lineages of the Vedic sciences in India. She is also a consciousness coach, master teacher of yoga, co-founder of My Temple, wellness expert and co-founder and creator of InspireLiving.co, which shares the teaching and practices of Yoga and Ayurveda at no cost so everyone can access these invaluable sciences.
The goal is to give all people the opportunity to experience their innate power to live in a state of balance within themselves, which results in good health, balanced emotions, a positive outlook, better relationships and improved happiness.
‘This state of being changes the quality of one’s life’, Jaima explains, ‘opening the doors to higher perception and the experience of universal love, where you feel connected and care for all beings and Mother Earth.’
Jaima believes women have a role in the shift to a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle because the female framework is so highly charged with spiritual awareness. ‘The external expressions you fnd in a girl or woman from their love for beauty, tenderness, sympathy and understanding are all expressions of an inner state’, Jaima explains. ‘This indicates the inner awareness is very receptive. The female’s natural alchemy creates a deeper awareness of subtler realms and happenings. This natural intuition gives females the understanding and foresight to organically create harmony, teach balance and promote the welfare of all beings. When the female stands confdently in her true nature it will be the dawning of a new era. With awareness and receptivity we can change the world.’
Find out more
n Information about other OMMMbassadors and how to join the OMMM community is at ommmpresents.com
We celebrate three of the women supporting the transition to clean energy in a gender-imbalanced power sector
Energy is a vital resource we all use, and the industry should be representative of the broad spectrum of people who depend on it. But it isn’t. In fact, the sector is woefully gender imbalanced according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), on average 76% fewer women than men work in the energy industry.
Yet many women play an important part in the energy transition below are three of the women who are helping to power the shift to clean energy in their roles with Good nergy, a My Green Pod Hero and renewable energy pioneer. Their unique career journeys reveal the many skills required for the shift to clean power, and the different paths to exciting and rewarding careers in this male-dominated sector.
GEMMA EAGLE- BRUCE: From forensic science to energy optimisation
Gemma Eagle-Bruce has a vital technical role at Good Energy. As the Head of Energy Optimisation, she oversees the team responsible for ensuring the power produced by the company’s renewable generators is matched with what its customers use.
What Gemma doesn’t know about energy probably isn’t worth knowing –yet she didn’t initially envision a career in the energy industry.
With a background in chemistry and forensic analysis, Gemma originally aimed to become a forensic scientist. However, a temporary job as a uoting analyst at a large electricity generation company sparked her interest in the energy sector. ‘I found the industry fascinating, with so much to learn’, Gemma recalls.
Gemma’s journey took her onward to roles as a trader and optimiser at two different energy suppliers, where she gained experience and seniority. Despite her success, Gemma struggled with imposter syndrome, doubting her ability to manage different teams. It was through the Women’s Utility Network (WUN) mentoring programme that she gained the confdence to apply for her current role.
LOUBEAU: From molecular biology to finance
ike Gemma, ictoria oubeau had her sights set on a career in science long before she entered the energy industry, with aspirations of curing diseases through studying molecular biology. However, the reality of lab work led Victoria to pivot to accountancy. ‘It’s a typical accountant’s opening story – I wasn’t sure what to do’, Victoria admits. Studying for an accounting ualifcation while working allowed her to explore various business roles.
Victoria worked in consultancies, energy and the U I before her career took her to Good Energy. Each role was an adventure, driven by her curiosity and a network of friends and colleagues. In her position as Head of Services Finance at Good Energy, Victoria enjoys ‘getting under the bonnet of how we make proft, balanced with caring for our customers and investing in our people.’
Victoria’s journey has allowed her to balance career, family, health and caring. She emphasises the importance of taking chances, being oneself and fnding a supportive team. Most of my highlights have been when I said yes to something following a gut reaction’, she re ects.
LISA ALDRIDGE: Perseverance and passion in human resources
Lisa Aldridge discovered her passion for human resources during her undergraduate degree in psychology. Breaking into the industry without prior experience was a challenge, but perseverance paid off.
Lisa’s early career involved roles in aerospace and healthcare companies, where she gained a broad range of HR experience. ‘For me, having all the right ualifcations and experience meant I would never be inhibited’, Lisa explains.
Lisa’s journey led her to a major global pharmaceutical company, where
she handled acquisitions, divestitures and engagement across EMEA. Despite a long commute, the experience was invaluable.
At Good Energy, Lisa oversees the company’s people team, helping to create an internal culture that attracts and retains great talent – re ected in the company’s ‘World Class Employer’ rating by est Companies.
As Head of People Lisa has thrived –supported by her manager and her own tenacity.
e ecting on her journey, she emphasises the importance of self driven growth and fnding a company aligned with one’s values.
‘My journey was self-driven, particularly in the early stages of my career. Never sitting still and constantly hungry for development and self-growth’, she notes.
Gemma, Lisa and Victoria’s stories highlight several common themes which frequently come up for women working in a sector where they are under-represented, as they are in energy.
Confdence, often bolstered by mentorship and self re ection, plays a crucial role in overcoming imposter syndrome and seizing new opportunities. Perseverance and a willingness to take on diverse roles and challenges are essential for growth and success. Having a supportive network, whether through mentors, managers or colleagues, is also invaluable.
These women demonstrate the many career paths in the energy transition. As they continue to lead, they pave the way for others to make their mark in the industry – so one day soon it should better re ect the society it serves.
On International Women’s Day (08 March), we’re reminded of the profound impact women have made in shaping industries, particularly in the clean beauty and wellness space. In sectors ranging from organic skincare to holistic therapies and coaching, U trailblazers are redefning what it means to nurture beauty and wellness sustainably.
One of the brightest stars in clean beauty is Louise Allen, founder of Rhythm of Beauty. This modern-day alchemist blends ancient wisdom with contemporary wellness; Louise crafts botanical skincare and wellness rituals that harmonise with the natural rhythms of the body and the seasons.
The wellness industry is enriched by women like Katrina Evans, the founder of Divine Health and Wellness. Katrina is a holistic therapist based in Middlesex, who empowers her clients through tailored wellness solutions. Her practice blends holistic therapies with an emphasis on mental and physical harmony.
Another trailblazer is Jo Permaul of Wellness Professionals at Work, who is inspiring therapists to take their work to new heights through coaching. Jo’s focus is on guiding wellness practitioners to incorporate coaching into their skillsets. Her leadership demonstrates the ripple effect of empowering women in one sphere to elevate others, making her a beacon of inspiration for those in the wellness industry.
At the heart of the clean beauty movement are products that align with the values of transparency, sustainability and effcacy, produced by companies that operate consciously.
Jayn Sterland, the managing director of Weleda UK, is a prominent fgure in the natural beauty industry, recognised for her leadership and advocacy for sustainable practices. Her in uence is highlighted by her consistent top rankings in
CLOCKWISE
Jo Permaul, Wellness Professionals at Work; Katrina Evans, Divine Health and Wellness; Tabitha James Kraan; Louise Allen, Rhythm of Beauty; Jayn Sterland, Weleda UK; the iconic Weleda Skin Food
the ‘Who’s Who in Natural Beauty’ list, where she has secured the number-one spot multiple times.
Weleda’s product range re ects a commitment to holistic wellness and natural ingredients. Founded on anthroposophic principles, the company offers a variety of skincare and wellness products designed to support the body’s natural rhythms. Its many formulations feature plant-rich essentials aimed at providing hydration and promoting skin health.
I love the Skin Food line, renowned for its nourishing properties and plant-rich essentials aimed at providing hydration and promoting skin health. Skin Food has been around since 1926; today it’s a cult favourite for makeup artists, models and celebrities.
Rhythm of Beauty has gorgeous skincare crafted to harmonise the mind, body and spirit, embodying the synergy between nature and wellbeing. Each product is infused with potent botanical extracts, handpicked for their therapeutic properties and seasonal alignment. The range – from luxurious face serums to restorative elixirs – is rooted in holistic principles.
Founded by Rebecca Martin in the heart of Wales, Conscious Skincare is dedicated to creating award-winning, ethically crafted products that are kind to the planet and your skin. Each formulation is thoughtfully made using organic, sustainably sourced ingredients, free from harmful chemicals and unnecessary additives. Conscious Skincare has a strong commitment to eco-friendly practices, including recyclable packaging and cruelty-free testing.
Another leading light is Tabitha James Kraan, known for her outstanding organic haircare products. Developed with a focus on organic and sustainable ingredients, these products aim to nurture hair naturally while reducing exposure to synthetic chemicals. Each formula is crafted to support the scalp’s natural balance, enhance hair’s vitality and protect its structure, promoting long-term health.
International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to recognise the women leading with purpose and reshaping industries for the better. As we celebrate these leaders, we’re reminded of the importance of supporting brands and individuals who prioritise ethical and sustainable practices.
Find out more n Discover more natural beauty tips from Janey at imperfectlynatural.com
Learn the secrets of natural candle-making in the heart of the Lake District
Ever wondered what it takes to craft natural products from local and sustainable ingredients? Now there’s a way to fnd out – and it’s not as complicated as you might think.
My Green Pod Hero Pure Lakes has curated an immersive and completely accessible experience that shares the secrets behind how its beautiful natural candles are made, plus how to harness the power of therapeutic essential oils for a healthy and happy home.
‘There are many different elements that determine the ‘health’ of your candle’, reveals Pure akes co director Claire Mc eever. Most candles are made using paraffn, which can have a negative impact on air quality; soy candles are a healthier option but have been linked to deforestation. The choice of wick can also affect a candle’s emissions.’
In contrast, Pure Lakes candles contain a simple combination of coconut butter and rapeseed oil, and are only fragranced with pure essential oils. We are so proud of what we do that we love to show people around and demonstrate that natural skincare can be affordable and accessible to all’, Claire says.
Claire and her husband, Gareth, were customers of Pure Lakes and huge fans of its ethos and sustainable principles; they bought the business in 2016 and have since grown the team, expanded the range and built bespoke head uarters.
I am from a small village in the ake District’, Claire shares. ‘It was my ambition to have our business relocated there to help with employment, grow the economy and keep the village a living, breathing community. ur village and its surroundings have so much to offer but often get overlooked by the more well known sites. The ake District needs to remain a living, breathing place and can only do so if jobs are available, businesses are growing and communities are thriving.’
Everything at Pure Lakes is made by hand, and the workshops were launched in 2024 as a way to share the company’s craftsmanship and knowledge in a transparent and accessible way. isitors can have the complete experience of making something from scratch which is uni ue to them’, Claire tells us.
While many Pure akes products can take all day to make, candle making is relatively simple and the fnal product has a defnite wow’ factor. The workshops aren’t suitable for children, but all adults are welcome – as well as 16 year olds accompanied by an adult.
During the workshop, guests will learn all about essential oils – their therapeutic benefts, the different notes and how the proportions of each note affect the smell of the fnal blend. ’As you enter the room, you will be greeted with comfortable sofas, a small library of books to relax with and original prints on the wall of my grandmother’s artwork’, Claire shares. She painted botanicals which complement our work perfectly. nce
the workshop has started, you will smell and learn about the different properties of over 60 essential oils. ou will go on to make your own bespoke blend; the art of blending is tricky, but you will be given the knowledge to create your own and learn more in general about how we do things at Pure Lakes and the natural ingredients we use.’
Afterwards guests will make their own 200g candle from scratch, which will contain their own unique blend of essential oils. Their achievements will be rewarded and celebrated with locally roasted coffee and cake from a nearby artisan bakery.
Much of the workshop content is educational, and many people surprise themselves by choosing oils they normally wouldn’t, challenging themselves to get out of their comfort zone and be bold with new smells. I enjoy showing visitors new smells they would never have experienced before’, Claire tells us, but the main takeaway from the classes has been laughs – we all have lots of fun!’
Claire and Gareth have allowed the workshops to grow organically, through word of mouth and reviews, and are delighted’ with how well they are going.
We are hoping to open up the workshops to more businesses and group parties this year’, Claire tells us – and if last year’s success is anything to go by, the workshops will continue to be a raging success.
Find out more
n View workshop dates and book your place, or buy a gift voucher, at purelakes.co.uk/pages/experiences
CLOCKWISE
Claire McKeever mixing essential oils to create a perfect blend; the Pure Lakes candle-making workshops are accessible and educational; visitors learn all about the properties of different essential oils and come away with a candle that is unique to them
Find out why Pure Lakes is a My Green Pod Hero at mygreenpod.com
This female-founded app is tackling waste by rehoming unwanted items of any kind – from Bratz to bananas
Olio, the female-founded sharing app for local communities, was created in 2015 by Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One. It began life as an app to fght food waste, but today Olio helps to tackle waste in a broader sense: it connects users with the people who would value things that they no longer need.
As self-declared ‘mums on a mission’, Tessa and Saasha set out with a clear, shared purpose; their commitment to tackling waste means they’re now in a position to look back on a successful 10 years as champions of female-founded businesses.
DREAMING BIG
Tessa grew up on a dairy farm in Yorkshire, where there was always work to be done. ‘Feeding cows, mucking out stalls, moving stock – late into the evening, 365 days a year’, she remembers. ‘That’s the level of graft it takes to produce the food we eat – and that’s why I believe so strongly that food should be eaten, not thrown away.’
For Tessa, the lightbulb moment came when she was moving house. ‘We’d tried to get through everything in the fridge, but we still had six sweet potatoes, a whole white cabbage and a few pots of yoghurt’, she remembers. ‘I set off knocking on doors around the neighbourhood, newborn and toddler in tow, thinking this is crazy. There must be an easier way to share surplus food.’ And so the concept for Olio was born.
A few months later Tessa shared her vision with Saasha, whose eyes lit up. ‘I’m passionate about the food industry’, Saasha shares. ‘As a teenager I
launched dozens of my own little businesses, and I always dreamed of becoming a real entrepreneur. When Tessa told me about her genius idea for a food sharing app, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It took us an hour to choose the name and make our plan. We dream big and move fast at Olio.’
‘We knew we had to make it happen’, Tessa adds. ‘We had to do something about the fact that onethird of food produced globally is wasted – and half of that happens in the home.’
For the prototype, Tessa and Saasha started small. 12 people from a single neighbourhood were put in a WhatsApp chat and invited to offer out any food that would otherwise have gone unused.
At frst nothing happened – then suddenly, someone posted half a bag of shallots. Those shallots became a catalyst for a urry of posts. It seemed that once people started sharing they just couldn’t stop. In the feedback group two weeks later, the response was unanimous: ‘You have to build this app’.
Today, millions of people use Olio to share not just food, but anything around the house that isn’t getting the use or love it deserves – from kitchen items to kids’ clothes, dog toys, wellies and dolls.
‘I learned early on that one person’s trash is truly another’s treasure’, Saasha says. ‘I’m the daughter of Iowa hippy entrepreneurs – hence the unusual last name. We were a big, relatively poor family and I spent much of my childhood following my mom around on salvage missions. We rescued
what others had discarded – wood from abandoned houses, plants left in dumpsters, aluminium soda cans (worth 5¢ a pop!). Waste wasn’t an option.’
The Olio app is based on the philosophy that Saasha grew up with: something that’s useless to you could be exactly what a neighbour down the road has been searching for. And it very often is: the app that originally served a few postcodes in North London now has 8 million global users.
Olio represents the belief that we all have the power to do something small to bring about meaningful change for our communities and the planet. That’s why lio isn’t just an app fghting waste – it’s a movement for optimism. It’s beautiful to think it all began with one mum’s refusal to throw away a cabbage, some yoghurt and a bunch of sweet potatoes.
Following their experience founding Olio, Tessa and Saasha are now helping to boost the visibility of women entrepreneurs as passionate advocates for female-founded businesses. Tessa and Saasha have raised nearly $50m for Olio during two rounds of funding and won numerous awards for their work; Tessa was named Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman of the Year in 2023. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this great team.
Find out more
n Download Olio from the App Store or Google Play and start a sharing revolution with your community
BOSH! chefs Henry Firth & Ian Theasby share three delicious plant-based dishes that celebrate the best of spring
Spring is a time of renewal and fresh beginnings, and there’s no better way to welcome the season than with vibrant, plant-based recipes that highlight the best of nature’s bounty.
In this collection, we’ve crafted three delicious dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients available during March and April.
Each recipe is designed to showcase the fresh, bright avours of spring while keeping things simple and accessible.
These recipes embody BOSH!’s mission to make plant-based eating easy, delicious and fuss free. There are no complicated ingredients or lengthy preparation times, making these recipes perfect for anyone looking to enjoy more plants on their plate this spring.
Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or simply looking to add more vegetables to your meals, these dishes provide a fantastic way to celebrate the season with bold, fresh avours.
Find out more
n For more plant-based recipe inspiration, head over to bosh.tv
Garden peas, fresh basil and zesty lemon deliver a punch of green goodness in every bite. Serves 4.
INGREDIENTS
n 400g quality spaghetti
n 200g garden peas
n 30g bunch of basil
n 100g pine nuts
n 20g nutritional yeast (‘nooch’)
n 50ml olive oil
n Juice of 1 lemon
n Salt & pepper to taste
Before you start:
Kettle boiled / Food processor / High-sided frying pan / Large saucepan
Cook the peas: Pour the peas into a saucepan, cover with boiling water and simmer over medium heat until tender. Drain the peas with a colander, shaking o any excess water.
Prepare the pasta:
Boil a large pot of water over high heat. Add a big pinch of salt and pasta to the water and simmer for 9 -11 minutes until cooked.
Prepare the pesto: Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice into the food processor, catching any pips in your free hand. Add the peas, basil, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, olive oil and a big pinch of salt and pepper to the food processor.
Blitz into a smooth pesto, saving some nutritional yeast, pine nuts and a few basil leaves for garnish.
Blend and serve: Drain the pasta, reserving about 100ml of pasta water, and tip it back into the cooking pot. Add the pesto to the pasta and fold it in, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Sprinkle over the reserved nutritional yeast, basil, pine nuts and a little salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
A satisfying mix of crispy potatoes, refreshing cucumber and a rich sesame dressing – a perfect light lunch or side dish at a spring gathering. Serves 4 as a side.
For the potatoes:
n 1kg baby potatoes
n 2 tbsp olive oil
n 4 spring onions
n 1 cucumber
n 15g fresh coriander
n 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
n 2 tbsp crispy chilli oil
For the Sesame Mayo Dressing:
n 2 tbsp tahini
n 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
n 1 tbsp white miso paste
n 100g vegan mayo
n 1 lime
n 3 tbsp water
Before you start:
Oven or air fryer at 220°C / 1 baking tray lined with baking paper and lightly oiled / Saucepan
METHOD
Prepare the potatoes:
Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender, depending on the size of the potatoes. A fork should pierce through easily. Drain
the potatoes and leave them to steam dry in the colander for 5 minutes.
Roast the potatoes:
Transfer the potatoes to the baking tray and use a fork or the bottom of a heavy glass to lightly crush them without completely breaking them. Drizzle with the olive oil and roast for 30 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping halfway through. If using an air fryer, cook for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
Make the sesame mayo dressing:
In a small bowl, zest and juice the lime. Add the tahini, sesame oil, miso, mayo and water, and whisk to combine.
Prepare the salad:
Slice the cucumber in half lengthways and scoop out the watery flesh with a spoon (only if very watery). Roughly chop into half moons. Finely chop the spring onions and pick the coriander leaves. Place the potatoes in a large bowl with the cucumber, spring onions and coriander leaves. Add the sesame mayo and toss together to coat. Transfer to a serving platter and scatter over the sesame seeds. Drizzle over the chilli oil to serve.
Leeks, courgettes and cavolo nero blended into a velvety, nutrient-packed soup topped with crispy tofu for added texture. Serves 4.
INGREDIENTS
For the soup:
n 2 leeks
n 2 celery stalks
n 2 medium courgettes
n 4 cloves of garlic
n 15g fresh ginger
n 2 green chillies
n 500ml vegetable stock
n 400g tin of full-fat coconut milk
n 200g spinach (fresh or frozen)
n 200g cavolo nero
For the Crispy Tofu topper:
n 1 block (about 300g) firm tofu
n 1 tsp ground ginger
n ½ tsp garlic powder
n ½ tsp salt
n 1 tbsp olive oil
To serve: Coconut milk or coconut yoghurt
Before you start:
Soup pot / Box grater / Baking tray lined with parchment / High-speed blender or stick blender
METHOD
Prepare the vegetables:
Roughly chop the leeks, celery and courgettes. Peel and finely slice the garlic and ginger. Deseed and chop the green chillies.
Cook the soup:
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the celery and a big pinch of salt. Cook for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies, and cook for 1 minute to release the delicious aromas. Tip in the courgettes, stir well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the liquids:
Pour in the coconut milk, reserving a couple of spoonfuls for topping the soup. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a
simmer. Cover with a lid and let the soup bubble for 6-8 minutes, until the courgettes are soft.
Prepare the tofu topping:
While the soup is simmering, grate the tofu using the large holes on your box grater. Toss the tofu in the ground ginger, garlic powder and salt, then drizzle over 1 tbsp olive oil. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread the marinated tofu evenly on the tray. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. The tofu is ready when it is golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Finish the soup and serve:
Add the spinach and cavolo nero to the soup and allow them to wilt in the heat. Using a highspeed blender or stick blender, blitz the soup until smooth and velvety. Taste and season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired. Ladle into soup bowls, top with coconut yoghurt or a drizzle of coconut milk and the crispy tofu topper.
Soil Association’s Paige Tracey profiles three pioneering female farmers for International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day we want to shine a light on some of the pioneering women making a change – from the ground up! – in the world of farming and growing. These women work across all farming sectors but always in harmony with nature, following organic and agroecological principles and as part of a team. What a journey it has been.
Find out more
n Information about how Soil Association works with farmers and growers is at soilassociation.org/farmers-growers
ADELE JARRETT-KERR , Soul Farm
Adele Jarrett-Kerr is co-founder and social impact director at Soul Farm in Truro, Cornwall. The farm’s name is inspired by Caribbean soul food, which feeds the soul as well as the body. The goal is for food to be nourishing and comforting while at the same time connecting people to what they are eating – and the land it is grown on.
This sums up the ethos at Soul Farm perfectly. Adele, a native of Trinidad, and her husband Laurence want to make good food accessible to all, and restore local people’s relationship with the land. The farm grows vegetables by following agroecological principles and no dig methods.
Soul Food is centred around food justice, and is now run as a Community eneft Society. Its Solidarity Fundraiser aims to get more vegetables into the hands of those who can’t afford them through donations, match funding and subsidies for veg boxes for low-income households. The fundraiser’s current goal is to gift 30 food boxes a week to local, low-income houses. Produce from Soul Farm is also donated to local food banks.
Alongside running the farm’s social impact, Adele is also a freelance writer and the communications and events manager for Community Supported Agriculture’s UK network.
HOLT, Pigment Organic Dyes
After working with adults with additional needs across Devon and Shropshire, Sophie set up Pigment Organic Dyes, a social enterprise under the Baddaford Farm Collective run by Riverford’s Geetie and Guy Singh-Watson. Sophie aims to provide not only a therapeutic environment, but also an employment opportunity for those who are often excluded from work.
The high-quality dyes, dye kits and dyed fabric produced by Pigment are supplied to artists, dyers and the wider textiles industry. All the plants from which the dyes are extracted are grown organically, proving it is possible to celebrate neurodiversity and help all adults reach their full potential while regenerating and protecting our natural resources.
The Baddaford Farm Collective’s aim is to make a small part of the world more like the world we want to live in, and Pigment is paving the way for more inclusive organic and regenerative practices.
Sophie does note that female farmers are ‘constantly being required to prove their knowledge and ability’ in relation to their male counterparts, which requires a lot of energy – on top of the energy they are already investing in farming and growing.
JUDITH FREANE , Brown Cow Organics
Judith began her organic journey following the BSE scare in the 1990s, as she felt producing food organically, with no artifcial pesticides or herbicides, was the only way to ensure a safer future for food and farming.
Judith’s passion for farming is in her blood; she began working with her father and his dairy herd on Perridge Farm in the late the late ‘90s, and eventually took over. Today, Judith’s Guernsey cows are all direct descendants of the original herd put together by her father in 1957.
A fellow foodie, Judith’s husband Clive was brought in on the operation, and Brown Cow Organics expanded into an award-winning 480-acre site with its own yoghurt processor, organic butchery and offces.
Some 30 years later, Judith sees the amazing benefts of organic farming daily. The farm’s soil is rich in worm and microbial activity and the felds are alive with the activity of foxes, badgers and rare bats, the humming of bees and butter ies and a diverse array of bird life including fnches, herons, woodpeckers and kingfshers at their stream.
The cows feast mostly on the abundant fresh grass in the Mendips and the dairy products are rich in omega 3, selenium and zinc, demonstrating how nutrition is built from the ground up.
History is repeating itself as Judith’s youngest daughter, Naomi, has decided to return to the fold and get involved in running the farm. For its third generation, the farm will again be taken on by a brilliant and pioneering woman.
‘What I love the most about farming is getting muddy. I like feeling like I’m playing at work, in fact playing at life, which is what farming feels like. Nature balances me out, making the rest of life a lot easier. Being an organic farmer in particular sits nicely within my own values. Trust the process. Work with natural processes, not against them.’
The word ‘microbiome’ is now part of everyday language, popping up on supermarket shelves and in ads tempting us to buy products to transform our health.
The reason the microbiome has become a hot topic is its connection to health. Since the 1950s rates of allergies, autoimmune disorders, cancers and chronic diseases have increased dramatically, in line with the introduction of chemicals in farming and processed foods.
We’ve moved further away from nature; at the same time the rise of technology, which draws us to screens rather than outdoor activities, has worsened our health. Our bodies can no longer keep up with these changes.
The Human Microbiome Project was launched in 2007 with an aim of helping us to understand how the bacteria in our guts affect our health. One key discovery is the in uence of bacteria on our entire system, including the brain.
Surprisingly, there’s also a link between soil and gut health: healthy soil leads to a healthy gut, which in turn nourishes the mind.
While watching her husband muck out the goat pens on her farm, Shann Jones, founder of Chuckling Goat kefr, made a vital connection between soil and gut health. She observed how microbes break down waste, transforming it into energy – a process she describes as ‘close to magic’. ‘Every ecosystem follows the same rules: feed it, love it, don’t poison it’, Shann shares.
Just like our bodies, food grown in healthy soil has a stronger immune system. When we consume food from soil that’s rich in microbes, those organisms take root in us, boosting our own immunity.
At River Cottage, every class begins with a visit to the garden to gather herbs, vegetables and wild foods. This hands-on experience is integral to the River Cottage ethos, where the motto SLOW (seasonal, local, organic and wild) guides everything we do. As we get our hands dirty, we not only connect with nature but also give our microbiomes a boost.
River Cottage’s Rachel de Thample shares natural ways to improve gut health and boost your wellbeing
Eddie Bailey, a specialist at RhizoPhyllia, shared a striking fact at the Soil Association AGM: plants spend about 40% of their energy connecting with microorganisms.
At River Cottage, I introduced Eddie to a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeasts), a culture used for fermenting tea. It’s packed with benefcial microbes. When you add it to tea, the bacteria feed off the sugar and multiply with each passing day. With every sip of kombucha, you’re nourishing your gut microbiome. After the workshop, Eddie shared a microscopic image of my kombucha SCOBY, revealing the invisible world of benefcial bacteria. This image underscored why our microbiomes are struggling.
Much of the food we eat is lifeless: grown in soil that kills microbes and processed until it’s devoid of vitality. As Dr Chris Van Tulleken explores in
Growing food in healthy, chemical-free soil is one of the best ways to support your gut health. By growing your own produce, you enjoy fresh, nutrient-rich food, while the gardening process introduces benefcial microbes into your body. If home gardening isn’t an option, support local farms that use organic and sustainable practices. Check out the River Cottage Get Growing Course for a great introduction to growing your own.
Fermented foods are another excellent way to boost your microbiome. For example, you can make sauerkraut by shredding cabbage, adding salt (2% per 100g) and fermenting it for two weeks. The bacteria multiply, making the cabbage more nutritious – in fact, fermented cabbage has up to 50% more vitamin C than raw cabbage. The fermentation process also breaks down complex sugars to make the cabbage easier to digest.
Wild plants have deeper roots and absorb more benefcial bacteria and nutrients from the soil. The Wildbiome Project, led by forager Monica Wilde, shows that eating wild foods positively impacts the microbiome.
Today most food comes wrapped in plastic, and many of us get our nature from a screen. The simple solution for our bodies and minds is to return to nature. It’s easy, and it’s free!
Rachel is an award-winning author who has worked in food, health and sustainability for more than 20 years. She the author of seven published books including the River Cottage Fermentation Handbook , which won a Guild of Food Writer’s Award, best-selling Tonics & Teas and Winter Wellness: Nourishing recipes to keep you healthy when it’s cold Her latest tome is the River Cottage Bees & Honey Handbook (Bloomsbury, March 2025).
Ultra-Processed People, this lack of life in our food makes it harder for our bodies to thrive.
The solution to improving gut health is simple. Michael Pollan sums it up concisely in his book Food Rules: ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’ When you eat plants grown in healthy soil, you don’t need to overeat to feel satisfed. ne summer, Eddie Bailey compared two cobs of sweetcorn: one homegrown and one from the supermarket. Using a Brix scale, which measures plant nutrients, Bailey’s homegrown corn scored 18%, while the supermarket variety barely hit 7.5%.
ailey recalled, I couldn’t fnish the homegrown cob – it was so sweet and packed with phytonutrients. My gut bacteria were saying, ‘That’s all you need’.’ He pointed out that food stripped of nutrients leaves our microbiomes hungry for the essential vitamins and minerals they need.
Find out more n Discover and book the latest courses with River Cottage at rivercottage.net/courses
Imagine a gender-equal world – a world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Born a man and living as a male in a world where manmade laws are driving us to mass extinction, a world that encourages the same patriarchal system that got us into the critical mess we are in today, I’m trying my hardest to honour the feminine imbalance as much as possible.
I don’t like polarisation, but I wholeheartedly believe that if there were more women leaders the world would be a very different place.
The women in my life – my wife, colleagues and friends –all seem to operate from a balanced perspective, one that includes the fner ualities in life like love, kindness, compassion, gratitude, harmony, trust and truth. I’ve only been able to learn this qualities and attributes from the beautiful women around me (thank you).
Women, it seems to me, are the greatest teachers for this wild and somewhat crazy time we live in – when we most need to break free from the old constructs and pillars of society and, with some haste, merge into a ow of spiralling feminine principles that will underwrite the new paradigm when this one inevitably implodes.
I’m absolutely sure that if the women I respect in my life had the wealth and in uence of the chest pumping silverback gorillas leading the world today – the likes of Trump, Musk, Gates, Bezos and company – the top priority would be to use this power to bring equality, unity and fairness into the world. It would be to ensure that resources were used to solve, fx, restore and regenerate our planet so our children and future generations would get to enjoy this experience to their fullest capacity.
What we are currently seeing from the male leaders is personal empire and wealth building: space rockets to colonise Mars and tech and AI to take over the planet.
What will happen to us all when 0 of jobs are flled by robots and AI, a prediction for 2030? What do you think the silverbacks will have us doing then? What might the world be like if we continue to throw our energy away to this pack of gorillas? Honestly, I don’t know – but things don’t look good, do they?!
What I do know is this: if the men in our world chose to support female friends – to get into positions to make different local and global decisions and to be equally valued for their greatness –this would be the best and most productive use of our energy and resources.
Women, it seems to me, are the greatest teachers for this wild and somewhat crazy time we live in – when we most need to break free from the old constructs and pillars of society and, with some haste, merge into a flow of spiralling feminine principles that will underwrite the new paradigm when this one inevitably implodes.
Our feminine creators have a crucial role to play in the creation of a new world – a world we desperately want, right now and for the future, but that can only be realised if we initiate and accelerate a shift back to balance.
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues that continue to impact the advancement of women. The day belongs to all who care about equality.
Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to forge gender parity. All IWD activity is valid, that’s what makes IWD so inclusive. Together, we can all help to accelerate action towards gender equality.
We’ve got our hands on a bunch of prizes from fantastic companies that are doing things di!erently. We love them all and we want to give you a chance to get to know them, too – so we’re running these competitions so you can have a go and see for yourself!
We’ve handpicked a selection of green pearls – including a guide from Lonely Planet’s new ‘Best Bike Rides’ series to a candle-making workshop in the heart of the stunning Lake District –all to get you out and about and add a spring to your step this March. Good luck!
To enter and view any Ts & Cs, visit mygreenpod.com
Four lucky readers will unlock the secrets of essential oils as they learn to create their very own blend, then infuse it into a natural soy wax candle at this workshop in the Lakes.
Deadline for entries: 05.06.25
This is your chance to discover Britain’s diverse landscapes via easy-to-follow trails for cyclists and E-bike riders of all levels. Whether you have a couple of hours or a full day, this guide will let you see Britain through a new lens – from the wildlife-rich riversides in the South Downs to Yorkshire’s rugged moors and coastal paths.
Deadline for entries: 05.06.25