Glue the two pieces together

There is no easy guide to saving the world, but here are some ideas to start recognising the damage we cause to the vanishing world of nature. Reimagine your garden: Many gardens look “green”. However, look a little closer and most are ecologicallysterile deserts which provide very little food or benefit to local birds, small animals and insect-life. A good place to start is to buy a copy of Charles and Julia Botha’s book Bring Nature Back To Your Garden. (To order, contact Marylynn Grant on 082 663 8266 or email nflora@mweb.co.za. Some of the ideas in this book may challenge your comfort zone, but start slowly and gradually. Reduce water waste: The biggest water-guzzler in your home is the toilet. In most households, 35% of the water bill gets flushed down the loo daily.

Don’t waste expensive tap water on topping up your pool. Rather buy a detachable length of PVC gutter pipe and hook this up to a gutter down-pipe to catch rain water off your roof. Install a JoJo tank to catch more rain to water the garden during dry months. Reduce your electricity footprint: Consider installing a solar-powered-geyser the next time your electric geyser bursts. Solar systems are getting cheaper as more people make the choice to switch over to greener power. Ditch the air-conditioner and open the doors and windows when it gets hot. The inconvenient truth is that we have to find ways to fly less, drive less and buy less while we navigate back to a less glamorous but more environmentally-sustainable future. Tony Carnie

Tel: 033 341 5044/000 162 Masukwana Street, Pietermaritzburg @Midmedic midlandsmedicalcentre www.midlandsmedicalcentre.co.za

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