Natural Mumma Magazine September 2018 by T5 Publications

Issue Fourteen September 2018

TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And

NMM September 2018

Never Miss A Thing... For all the best in: · ethical fashion · natural skincare and beauty · health and wellbeing · parenting and motherhood · healthy living and good eating · ecology and conservation · conscious lifestyle choices

all back issues available at Issuu Natural Mumma

Issue Five December 2017

Taking Care Of Yourself, Your Tribe And Our World

DRESS TO

IMPRESS Chic & Sustainable Partywear

Winter Holidays Unwrapped Exploring Ethical Tourism & Travel

Not Just A Pretty Face Season’s Best Eco Makeup

The Mane Event

Toxin Free Hairstyling

NMM December 2017

Issue Eight March 2018

Issue Seven February 2018

TakingCare CareOf OfYourself, Yourself,Your Your Tribe Taking And Our Our World... World... And

SPRING!

PASSION!

Getting Ready For The New Season

Gifts Of Love, Made With Feeling

Under Cover Expert Luxurious Lingerie Laid Bare

Ethically Engaged The True Cost Of Gold

Sowing Organic NMM February 2018

Digging Deep For Pesticide Free Produce

Flower Of The Frock NMM March 2018 Floral Fashion For Spring

www.naturalmumma.com 2

September 2018 NMM

Welcome To Natural Mumma Magazine Contents 4

A Dress For All Seasons How a dress design is making a truly ethical impact

Waste Not Want Not We visit our local zero waste shop, Nature’s Intention

Low Impact Beauty Buys Looking great with the minimum of packaging

Tunics With An African Tale Helping to rebuild the African garment industry

How To Take A More Mindful Approach To Zero Waste by Sian Conway of #EthicalHour

Natural Mumma’s Organic Box Challenge A no waste meal from an Eversfield grocery delivery

From The Waste Up Rachelle Strauss, driving force behind Zero Waste Week Contact: holly@naturalmumma.com Photo by Gerard Hughes

Holly wears dress by The Dorcas Dress Project. Make up by Lush and Fat And The Moon. Hair by Anita Grant.

n recognition of Zero Waste Week, we’ve been exploring ways that we can all make lasting changes to our lifestyle. Our visit to Nature’s Intentions showed us how affordable packaging free grocery shopping can be, our organic vegetable box recipe challenge got us thinking about limiting food waste and we picked up some great tips from the founder

of Zero Waste Week, Rachelle Strauss. This issue also marks the introduction of our new columnist, Sian Conway, from #EthicalHour. We’re really looking forward to the insight and passion that she will inevitably bring over the coming months. We spoke with Maria Skoyles from The Dorcas Dress Project and were delighted to discover that their dress for all seasons is not only truly sustainable but can also be beautifully elegant as illustrated in this month’s editors photo. Our product review features some fantastic beauty essentials that use recyclable and biodegradable packaging. We’ll be back next month with our ‘Built To Last’ issue focusing on denim, workwear and ethical jewellery. In the meantime, we’re adding new content to the website each week so be sure to pay that a visit. NMM September 2018

A DRESS FOR ALL

SEASONS When it comes to zero waste fashion, packaging is just part of the problem. Maria Skoyles from The Dorcas Dress Project tells us how a single dress design can make a truly ethical impact.

ell made and beautifully designed clothing is always the most sustainable option, but The Dorcas Dress Project has taken this concept one step further with their single dress design. This size-adjustable dress doesn’t just allow for fluctuations in weight but it is also suitable throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. With transparent pricing and a devotion to helping support people out of situations of hardship; the combination of durability and versatility make The Dorcas Dress a wardrobe staple for every ethically minded woman. What was the initial inspiration behind the dresses?

trend: crafting generally stopped at small textile objects like shopping bags, purses and other simple accessories. I analysed why this was the case, and wondered how we could solve some of the complex issues. I wasn’t going to able to improve electricity supplies in these remote places, or generate trade routes so haberdashery supplies could be more accessible. Neither was I going to be able to gift new complex sewing machinery to speed production up. What I could do though was design a garment that could be made with the resources and facilities at hand. I wasn’t sure how but I do love to solve a problem!

The project all started when I was asked to write an assignment about social transformation. I explored how others had used sewing to help build and development community wealth, both here in the UK as well as in less economically developed countries in Africa. There was a

Having a dress that can be worn through all seasons of life (including pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight changes) is truly sustainable. In what ways have you made sure that the dress will not only last but is versatile enough to facilitate this?

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The dress is made to a quality finish, our beneficiaries usually use french seams which make the dress hardwearing and the bias binding means all the raw edges of the fabric are concealed. I used my industrial grading knowledge to apply the pleats and folds and utilised the cowl neckline feature to accommodate a variety of bust shapes: the cowl can either be worn open, smoothing a fuller bust or gathered which adds shape. We’re very careful to consider fabric pattern and colour in a way that has lasting appeal. We don’t intentionally follow trends. Our aim is to provide garments that are timeless and celebrate the region they were made in. One

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example is our black linen dresses: a timeless black number with a little bit of British heritage in the hidden Liberty print around the neckline to celebrate the dress was locally made. What packaging is used with the dress? As little as possible! We have a card printed swing ticket to communicate our story and how to put the dress on. If we’re posting the dresses directly to customers then it makes sense to keep the packaging as light and slim as possible. We try to reuse old packaging as much as possible. Can you tell us more about the makers of these dresses and how this project has improved their quality of life? We are a registered UK charity, the beneficiaries who make our dresses have to be from a

September 2018 NMM

situation of poverty. Their poverty might be due to the region in which they live or difficulties they have had to face like domestic abuse. We provide skills training, equipment and pastoral care that helps them grow in confidence. Do you have a favourite dress in the range? Oh, that’s a really hard one! We’re about to take the project to Nigeria which is a big first for our fledging charity. As part of the planning and preparation for this we bought some West African waxed cotton. I was surprised to find that Nigerians generally import their waxed cotton from Holland so it made sense on a project management level but also a carbon milage level to buy some starter fabric here in the UK and take it out with us. We’ve made samples of the dresses (do explore our shop!) and I particularly like the dress made in the waxed

cotton circle print: it’s fun! I’d accessorise it with a turquoise top in the autumn but it would also look great with the black boots, tights and merino top I rely on in the winter. What ways have you discovered to accessorise the dresses and make them more versatile? The sleeveless nature of the dress lends itself perfectly to hot weather, especially as we often make dresses in 100 per cent cotton or linen. Having said that I love accessorising mine with bright coloured T-shirts. And as I mentioned above I have a staple long sleeved black merino top, black tights and knee boots that I wear a lot in the winter. I have a variety of colourful print skirts to add to the look and the Dorcas Dresses are perfect alternatives. Do you have plans for other shapes of dress in the future?

Yes, but not imminently. I work as a freelance product developer and I’ve seen the financial difficulty that expanding too quickly has on new brands. One area I can see this style of dress having value is within the school uniform market, but we’d need to do a lot of research and product refinement to make sure we had a suitable garment for the market. What advice do you have for our readers on leading a more ethical and environmental lifestyle? Don’t permit yourself to impulse buy. Use what you have as much as you can. Wear it out. Mend it. And when you realise you do need to buy something, do it with a whole lot of thought. I also like the idea of having “buying buddies” who challenge our purchases. I noticed that you are fundraising for a trip to Nigeria, what will you be doing there? Yes, we’re really excited, we’ve been fundraising for the last few months and just been awarded a charitable trust fund, taking our total to £2400. This is enough to run the bones of the trip but we’d really like to flesh it out with additional equipment and some accommodation for me. We’d love to increase the sales of the waxed

cotton Africa prints as all the money received from these sales go directly into the fundraising pot. I’ll be teaching a group of women how to make the dresses, improving their sewing skills. These women live in poverty, often as single mums or widows, supporting their family with no government benefits system. They barely get by on seasonal harvesting jobs, which is such a waste of the skills they learnt at school. We’ve found two local boutiques in the region who are keen to stock the dresses and sell them at a locally sensitive price, in balance with their local economy. If you are interested there is more information about how we price our dresses here. All the dresses are available to purchase at The Dorcas Dress Project shop at www. dorcasdressproject.org Look out for their new Autumn dresses as well as the Harris tweed dress which is a really special run with hand finishing that celebrates our British heritage. You can stay in touch with The Dorcas story via their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ DorcasDressProject

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Natural Mumma Loves... Atlas & Ortus

Bamboo Toothbrush Soap & Shampoo Bars Bamboo toothbrush which can be composted in a commercial compost bin and will safely decompose within six months. The shampoo bars are formulated with moisturizing and nourishing Coconut milk and Shea shampoo, and are paraben and cruelty free.

Coffee Cup This lightweight, Barista friendly cup is standard takeaway size (12oz). Made from high quality glass with a silcone thermal sleeve, it is dishwasher safe. No more disposable coffee cups. Looks good, does good.

Stainless Steel Bottles Left. Lightweight, high quality stainless steel with a 500ml capacity. Vacuum insulated so retains temperature for both hot and cold liquids for hours. No more plastic bottles.

Lunch Tins Stainless steel square tiffin box, perfect for packed lunches. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re off up a mountain for a hike, or eating at your desk. Double decker box - food remains fresh and odour-free - and includes an extra shelf. A total of three compartments to keep your food separated. They are also travel friendly with easy snap-on clips that keep the lid fastened. Dimensions: 15cm x 15cm x 8.5cm

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https://atlasandortus.co.uk

BeeBee Wraps

Shocked by the amount of single-use plastic being consumed, the founder of BeeBee Wraps became aware of the idea that people have used beeswax coated cotton to preserve food for centuries. BeeBee Wraps are made from organic cotton, local beeswax, natural tree resin and organic jojoba oil, all of which will break down on your compost heap and return to nature without a trace.

https://beebeewraps.com

BeeBee Wraps are ethical and sustainable from cotton grower through to production. Their business reflects BeeBee Wrapsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; credentials by paying their staff at least the Living Wage, supporting our bee populations by actively working alongside the beekeeping communities to perpetuate the pollinating population and strive to reach zero waste and low impact in everything they do.

Read more about these zero waste brands on the Natural Mumma blog www.naturalmumma.com NMM September 2018

September 2018 NMM

WASTE

NOT WANT NOT

We took a visit to our closest zero waste shop, Nature’s Intention, to talk to founder Emily Attwell about how her passion for a packaging free lifestyle has led to an exciting business venture.

hether you are a hardened zero waste shopper or it’s your first time, the process is effortlessly simple. Customers can either buy mason jars or bottles from the shop, use the paper bags provided or bring in their own pots. Emily even has a jar donation system where customers can gift old jam jars which she will then sterilise and pass on to customers free of charge. Customers measure and label what they choose, but Emily and her partner Phil are on hand to help out when needed. Emily isn’t simply a businesswoman who has caught the zero waste trend as it peaks. She is a practising vegan, with a true passion for living a more

ecological life. She avidly reads, researches and questions which means she can offer a wealth of friendly advice to her curious customers. In the time we spent in the shop we witnessed a number of warm exchanges and Emily’s genuine desire to help her customers was evident. With a background in PR, Emily was working for a distribution company when she learnt the true impact of plastic packaging. Her own eco journey took her to the zero waste shops of Totnes (Earth. Food. Love) and she was soon inspired to bring the concept back home while making it her own. Aside from the well stocked shelves, high ceiling and light airy NMM September 2018

feel, one of the main things that stood out was how reasonably priced everything was. Emily states that this is due in part to the lack of packaging but also the fact that there is no branding and everything is bought in bulk. She has connected with Phillipa Gilfillan at Worcester’s Pack It In zero waste shop (opening later in the month) so that they can buy wholesale together, as well as sharing support and tips. This sense of community is not unusual amongst zero waste shop owners. Even the labels are a result of Emily’s passion for recycling as she uses the cardboard packaging that the food arrives in and handwrites everything. She has also reclaimed some beautiful carts that are from her grandad’s shop. Her grandfather is a farmer and has owned a number of shops, Emily speaks of the moment that he arrived at her opening as being very emotional. The shop has only been open six weeks but is already well stocked and thriving. Starting with 140

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products they now boast 220, and are always keen to receive suggestions from customers. A young man enquired after dried mango while we were there and the suggestion immediately went onto Emily’s list. Emily is always looking to expand the stock and will soon be adding mouthwash tablets, toothpaste and deodorant to the list. She chooses products that she truly believes in. For instance, she can give you her opinion on all of the natural deodorant brands

and why she arrived on her chosen brand. This adds to the appeal of the shop, as customers can benefit from her wisdom and insight. Emily also offers a recipe of the week, based on her own love of vegan cookery. This is displayed on the wall of the shop as well as her facebook page. Her intention is to eventually only stock UK grown produce with as much as possible being locally sourced. She already offers local flour and tea and is even offering a tea tasting event so that

“My main mission when starting this business was to give people that opportunity to live a more sustainable life without burning a hole in their pocket - which seems to be the general attitude toward a zero waste lifestyle. I also wanted everything I stock to be Organic, fair trade and UK grown/made - which I’ve already taken steps towards, but there is still a long way to go.”

Next Month In

Natural Mumma BUILT TO

customers can offer their opinion on teas and influence which flavours she chooses to stock. What really stood out for us from our visit was how much cheaper it was to buy food this way and how it allows greater flexibility when you can choose the exact quantity that you need. Having Emily on board to offer advice and tips means that you’ll get far more out of a trip to Nature’s Intentions than some kitchen cupboard and green lifestyle essentials.

LAST

Truly sustainable fashion, ethical denim, workwear, Fair Trade jewellery and conflict free diamonds, ageless skincare, longwear makeup... NATURAL MUMMA MAGAZINE ISSUE 15 AVAILABLE FROM 5 OCTOBER 2018 Natural Mumma Magazine September 2018

NMM Team Editor: Holly Daffurn

holly@naturalmumma.com

Creative: Gerard Hughes mail@gerardhughes.co.uk

Cover Image by Gerard Hughes www.naturalmumma.com Natural Mumma Magazine

is produced by T5 Publications. Contents may not be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all information contained in this magazine is accurate but the publishers can accept no responsibiilty for effects arising therefrom. All rights reserved. We receive compensation for all products featured on the ‘Natural Mumma Loves...’ pages as well as several of the other brands mentioned in the magazine. We only work with companies whose ethos reflects the intention of this publication. All of the written content is copyright Natural Mumma Magazine (unless stated otherwise) and full rights to this material belongs to Natural Mumma Magazine (or any other named authors).

NMM September 2018

Low Impact Beauty

Our pick of the best beauty products with an eye on easily recy

Beeutiful Honey Lip Balm, Foot Balm and Honey Soap

Bloomtown The Meadow Sugar Scrub

The Lip Balm has a delicate but delicious scent and is packed full of nourishing ingredients. The Foot Balm benefits from both antiseptic and awakening properties and has a fresh, zingy fragrance. The soap supports British beekeepers, is formed from 100 per cent natural ingredients and has a warm, comforting aroma.

Lavender and Rose Geranium form the core of this relaxing and nurturing body scrub. The exfoliating action envigorates while sloughing off dead skin cells. Moisturising coconut, mango butter and Vitamin E feed the skin and the addition of essential oils make this a treatment that soothes and calms.

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Fat and the Moon Eye Coal and Lip & Cheek Stain

This mineral based eye coal is beautifully creamy and easy to apply. Whether you are looking for a dash of definition or an intense dramatic look, this product has great staying power. The Lip and Cheek Stain gives a dewy, natural looking flush to the cheeks and a soft, hydrating colour to the lips.

y Buys

yclable packaging

White Witch Regenerating Skin Balm and Deep Cleanse Face Mask The Skin Balm is effective on all skin ailments, as it heals, nourishes, protects and moisturises. The Face Mask smells divine, draws out impurities and leaves your skin feeling fabulous. You can even request that you receive your products without the outer cardboard packaging, saving money and adding to your zero waste shopping experience.

Lush Glow Stick Highlighter in Peacock

Available for this month only, these limited edition solid highlighters brighten Neom and condition the skin. This alluring shade adds a Mist, Balm &shimmer Pulse Point subtleHand holographic and Theperfect mood forlifting is lifting mist your with look mandarinworn and mint divine, when sweptsmells across the the hand balm an uplifting browbone. Thisoffers playful product scent and rich is available in moisturisation 5 colours andand is the pulse pointand energises. fully vegan crueltyA truly free. holistic approach to beauty.

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Where Does It Come From?’s new crowdfunder allows you to take part in an amazing journey to help rebuild the African garment industry

here Does It Come From? is a clothing brand that tells the stories behind their clothes. They operate transparently so that you can discover exactly who is making their garments and how they are doing it. The brand partners with social enterprises and uses eco-friendly and zero-waste techniques so that their products are fair to workers and kind to the planet. Everything comes with a code on the label so that you can build a deeper connection - to inspire you to love your clothes more and build your own stories around them! Since 2013 Where Does It Come From? has worked with social enterprises in India to create basics for all the family - shirts, scarves and children’s clothing - using environment friendly

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processes and benefiting hundreds of marginalised workers. Harnessing traditional skills such as hand weaving and block printing, they’ve created beautiful, unique garments that look and feel fantastic, and do good at the same time. The exciting news is that Where Does It Come From? is now widening its impact into Africa – creating a range of African inspired designs that tell their creation story. The brand is partnering with a charity, Proudly Made in Africa, and two social enterprises working in the region. The first production will be stylish tunics – a real statement piece and versatile wardrobe basic. As part of their strong zero-waste philosophy they’ll be using the offcuts to make other accessories

too - pocket squares for men and hair scrunchies. Organic, Rain Fed Cotton from Uganda Cotton has become known as the ‘dirty, thirsty crop’ because of the toxic chemicals and huge amounts of water used in its mass production. The cotton being used to create these tunics is organic which means that there are no harmful pesticides used. It’s also kinder to our skin and to the workers and environment. This organic cotton is produced in regions of Uganda with enough rain to water several crops per year – countering the ‘thirsty crop’ issue naturally and ensuring no precious water is wasted! The crops are ecologically farmed and harvested by hand which

TUNICS WITH AN AFRICAN

is beneficial to the land and ensures that only the cotton is picked so the land is not depleted of nutrients. Crop rotation also protects and improves the fruitfulness of the land. Rebuilding the African Garment Industry Much of the African garment industry has already been hit hard by war and mass migration. It’s now facing the challenge of cheap imports from Asia, who copy traditional tribal designs using non-environment friendly Asian cotton and mass factory production. This has caused African factory closures, job losses and led to small independent farmers losing their livelihoods. Where Does It Come From? has

partnered with the Malawi based social enterprise Mayamiko. Set up in 2008 it trains local impoverished people with business skills to enable them to create and sustain livelihoods and communities. Skills that are supported include tailoring, beekeeping and selling solar lights. Mayamiko also has its own fashion label, using these skills to create beautiful and ethical clothing. Be Part of the Journey To make this happen Where Does It Come From? is running a crowdfund. This means that you will have the opportunity to pre-order from the first run of the new garments (at discounted prices!) or make a donation. This

Photo Cotonea

Photo Mayamiko

TALE

way of funding means they pay the farmers and garment makers before starting the production. It’s better than borrowing, plus it means that you can keep up to date with what’s happening, all the way through production. Pledging means that you will part of an incredible journey to create eco-friendly and zero waste clothing and support livelihoods of farmers and artisans in Africa. Plus you get a beautiful, ethical garment with its story! Find out more about the project at www.wheredoesitcomefrom. co.uk/crowdfunding

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“If you ever think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito” African proverb

How to take a more mindful approach to

by Sian Conway, Founder #EthicalHour

ZERO WASTE D

o you ever wonder if you can actually make a difference? Everywhere you look you see causes you care about and things you want to change, but your heart still sinks when you turn on the 6 o’clock news and see the state of the world. Every week you put the recycling out and part of you wonders if you’re doing enough. Then campaigns like Plastic Free July and Zero Waste Week come around and it’s hard to stop the imposter syndrome sneaking in as you scroll through Instagram and see bloggers fit a whole year of waste into an on-trend mason jar. This is the darker side of ethical living that we don’t often talk about. The majority of people say that minimising their impact on the environment is important to them, but more than a quarter admit to exaggerating their environmental credentials to alleviate their “green guilt”. In the ethical community, we’re driven by our values. We’re all trying to align our lifestyle to what we believe is right or wrong, but because we’re often working in a world of black and white views and strong opinions, we forget that ethical living and sustainability is complicated and comes in a hundred

September 2018 NMM

different shades. Unfortunately, doing the “right thing” often means compromising one value for another – which is why my advice to anyone starting their journey is to get really clear on which values matter most to you. That doesn’t mean you should feel guilty for caring less about the others, it’s just that everyone is different and has different personal priorities, needs and even limitations. It’s easier to step away from Instagram comparison and green guilt when you’re clear about what’s really important to you and you soon start to realise how quickly even the smallest changes add up. Simply by carrying a reusable water bottle and coffee cup, the average consumer saves 1460 disposable plastic cups and bottles per year! The idea of going ‘zero waste’, if only for a week, might have got you feeling overwhelmed. It’s not surprising when you consider that the average UK household

produces more than a tonne of waste every year, and each year we produce around 3 per cent more waste than the year before. It’s important to remember that ‘zero waste’ and ‘plastic free’ are aspirations. Bold statements designed to get us to break our usual habits and rethink our waste. You don’t have to do it all at once. We can’t let the big vision overwhelm us so much that we don’t take any action. You may never get your annual household waste down to a mason jar - and that’s ok. Maybe all you do this week is get yourself a reusable water bottle - that’s still over a 1,000 bottles you’ve stopped from entering the ocean. Maybe you’ve got your milk in a glass bottle from the local dairy - that’s a whole lot less plastic and one very grateful farmer. Start where you are, do what you can and don’t forget to stop and feel the joy as you watch your positive impact grow. Twitter: @EthicalHour and @SianEConway Instagram: @EthicalHour

Natural Mumma Loves...

Nurture Collective

Nurture Collective is a curated marketplace of sustainable and ethical children’s clothing brands, aged newborn to 12 years. Founder, Miriam Pierre was inspired to start the company when struggling to make conscious choices as a new mother. They are on a mission to help parents to make more conscious choices when it comes to their children’s clothing! #wearenurturers Please use code WELCOME15 for 15 per cent off your first order. www.nurturecollective.co.uk

The Berry Berry The Berry Berry is an ethical fashion brand in the UK who handcraft unique eco-friendly upcycled handbags, clutch bags and purses. They use textile offcuts and upcycled magazines, catalogues and wrapping papers for making their bags. They are made by mums from Slovakia and Romania, who are supporting their families with an extra income by making these great upcycled bags and purses. Their aim is to create and deliver the best eco-friendly handbags, uphold ethical and slow fashion practices and help the planet by reducing textile and paper waste. You can discover their products through Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ TheBerryBerry Visit their newly launched Kickstarter page to support this wonderful enterprise and get hold of one of their beautiful bags.

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What Was In The Box...? â&#x20AC;&#x153;...an easy convenient way to enjoy seasonal, organic produce...â&#x20AC;?

Organic chicken mini breast fillets Wild mackerel Organic purple carrots 1 pot organic natural yoghurt 1l organic jersey whole milk Organic runner beans Organic leeks Organic heirloom tomatoes 1 tin organic cherry tomatoes Organic brown rice spaghetti (We allowed ourselves some storeroom staples in herbs and spices, bread, butter, plain flour, garlic, some fresh lemon juice and seasoning) www.eversfieldorganic.co.uk

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Natural Mumma’s Organic Box Challenge I

n the spirit of Zero Waste Week, we decided to challenge ourselves to create a delicious, family meal that made use of every single ingredient in an organic grocery box. Many people sign up to organic box schemes because it is an easy, convenient way to enjoy seasonal, organic produce but also because it reduces food packaging. But we discovered that many people are put off the concept because they feel like they might not use all of the ingredients – resulting in greater food waste. By creating a meal that used every ingredient in a box, we’d be able to show that with a little imagination you can make good use of everything that you are sent. Eversfield Organic joined us in our challenge and sent us through a box of produce. We knew we were getting a meat item, a fish item, a variety of vegetables and

some store cupboard essentials, but had no idea what to expect until we opened the box. One of the benefits of enjoying an organic grocery box is that it allows you to try new foods and enjoy products that you may not usually buy. Eversfield included purple carrots in our box, something that none of us had ever tried before. As brands such as Eversfield are now stocking more than simply fruit and vegetables, placing orders through them is a convenient way to stock your cupboards. For eco conscious shoppers, you could complete your whole weekly shop between an order from an organic box scheme and shopping in a zero waste shop. If you haven’t tried an organic box scheme before, then Organic September is the perfect time to give it a go. NMM September 2018

he challenge meant we had to use ingredients in a way that we wouldn’t usually. Adding leeks to the sauce added flavour, while opting for Jersey milk meant a creamier finish. Spaghetti isn’t always the most photogenic ingredient, but forming it into nests gave it a more appealing aesthetic as well as making it more interesting as a meal. In my experience, rice and gluten free pasta have a tendency to go a little mushy but by baking the pasta it added a welcome crispness. This approach also meant we had a limited flavour palette, which meant the taste of the meat and vegetables had the space to cut through. The chicken was especially delicious, even before it hit the sauce – just roasted in olive oil and lightly seasoned it had a fantastic flavour.

September 2018 NMM

We enjoyed creating a meal using ingredients that we wouldn’t usually opt for. For instance, the tinned cherry tomatoes added a wonderful sweetness to the sauce. We paused before mushing the tomatoes down into a paste as it seemed a shame for them to lose their shape, but the resulting sauce was delicious. If you try an organic box scheme, you wouldn’t realistically use every single ingredient in one meal. However, our challenge proved to us that this way of shopping doesn’t have to be limiting. It will open your horizons, challenge how you cook and encourage you to try new things. Throw in the additional benefits of organic produce and limited packaging and you have a truly healthy way to enjoy food.

#organicseptember If you are interested in organic produce then you might like to get involved with #organicseptember - it’s an inspiring time in foodie circles with the likes of the Soil Association and Organic Trade Board playing active roles. It’s a great time to challenge yourself to go organic for the month, or simply try to incorporate more organic ingredients into your meals. Track the hashtag to find recipes, tips and inspiration. You may even like to choose to share some of your own creations too. There are plenty of resources on the Soil Association website, if you’d like to learn more.

Natural Mumma YouTube Channel You can find this recipe and plenty more on the Natural Mumma YouTube channel www.youtube.com/naturalmumma

www.soilassociation.org NMM September 2018

FROM THE

WASTE UP

We spoke with Rachelle Strauss, the driving force behind Zero Waste Week, to find out why changes need to happen immediately and how best to implement them. Zero Waste Week was founded in 2008, what prompted you to start it? My motivation came from experiencing, first hand, the devastating floods at Boscastle in 2004. I was on holiday with my family when, after torrential rainfall, two rivers burst their banks at the same time as the tide came in. This resulted in ten feet of flood water pouring through the village washing away livelihoods, possessions and the bridge out of the village. A hundred people had to be airlifted to safety, and, as I was standing with my daughter in my arms, wondering whether I’d ever see my husband alive again my thought was “everything I’ve been reading about climate change is happening - not in 100 years time, but right now!” Whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter, what matters is that seeds were sown for me to be part of the solution. I started to blog about our zero waste lifestyle as a family and little did I realise that within three months I’d have 80,000 people per month visiting the site. In the September I held my own zero waste week and asked readers to join in. A hundred people said yes.

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There has been a real resurgence in ecological awareness of late. What can we do to keep this momentum going? What is left to be done?

Of course not, there is always more we can do, but rather than focus on what isn’t being done – which can feel overwhelming – I like to look at what we are doing.

It’s wonderful to see some of these issues becoming mainstream at last. I’m certain Blue Planet has had a lot of persuasion in bringing the issues of our over consumption of plastics to the school run and water cooler. What we need now is to keep pressure and awareness up and it’s happening with Government tackling plastic pollution, coffee shop chains offering discounts for using your own cup and pub chains banning straws. We need campaigns Zero Waste Week – on the ground, online and in the media; waste and sustainability need to be top of the agenda. Magazines like yours are helping people live ethically and there is a growing movement as people become aware of the issues we are facing and want to be part of the solution.

Do you have any shocking facts that would convert people to a less wasteful lifestyle?

Do you feel like enough is being done to lessen the impact of waste?

I’ve recently written a piece called 14 ways plastic is harming us and the planet and there were some pretty shocking stats in there. For example, The United Nations Ocean Conference estimated there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050. By 2050, 99 per cent of all the seabirds on the planet will have consumed plastic in some form. And some estimates say the sea now contains 51 trillion microplastic particles – 500 times more than stars in our galaxy. But there have been a couple of things I’ve said to people over the past decade that have really helped them stop and think. The first is that if I tell you a disposable nappy will remain in landfill for 500 years, it doesn’t have much of an impact. But if I tell you that if Henry VIII had been in disposables, they’d still

NMM September 2018

be in landfill now, and that helps everyone understand the scale of the problem. The other thing I remind people, when they go to throw something away, is that there’s no such place as away. It’s always somewhere else – a landfill site, an incinerator, the bottom of the ocean, an animal’s stomach, or it’s the piece of litter you see on your way home. Also, I invite people to change the word ‘leftovers’ to ‘ingredients’ – it helps to reduce food waste, which is currently costing the average family £60 per month. Finally, I remind people how powerful they are. Every time you buy something you vote with your money. What are you saying yes to with your next pound? What advice can you give to people who are new to waste avoidance? What do think are the easiest initial steps? It’s important to treat this journey as a marathon, not a sprint. When my family and I accumulated just one bin of landfill for the entire year, it took us 18 months of putting new habits in place to get there. So start small – take a waste

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audit for a week and look at everything you’re throwing ‘away’. Most of us think we’re not throwing anything out, but the reality can be different. Then consider what you can divert from landfill – the easiest solution is to recycle at your kerbside. You have to put the rubbish out anyway, so it’s no different to separate it into various waste streams. The next month choose one thing that you regularly buy which you could swap for a reusable alternative – cloths for kitchen towel, reusable menstrual products or a safety razor, for example. See where you can incorporate a trip to a local recycling centre with a trip you’re already making. Sign up for a veg box scheme to reduce packaging, and start using a refillable water bottle. I would urge people to give home composting a try too! Most of these things will save you money too – it’s a win-win. It’s important to move back up the waste hierarchy – reduce, reuse, recycle are in that order for a reason. Recycling is an excellent place to start, but eventually we need to look at our buying habits. Aside from Zero Waste Week itself,

how can people get involved with the campaign throughout the year? Throughout the year I’m updating my blog, sending out newsletters and you’ll find an active and friendly community in my Facebook group. I’m also on twitter most days. In your life how do you choose to avoid waste? It’s about asking yourself before you reach the checkout – what am I going to do with this product or packaging once I’ve finished using it. That way you don’t come home with a problem and you make conscious decisions. But for me, this isn’t a deprivation lifestyle. It’s not about going without. We do what we can and do what we are prepared to do. Like many of your readers, I’m a busy person juggling home life, work, children and business so I do what I can, with the products and facilities that are available to me and I try not to worry too much about the rest! One of the most important things for me is separating wants and needs. So often we buy things on impulse

and by avoiding that, it can reduce our waste considerably. And, food waste is often one of the biggest areas of waste in a household. So each morning I take a quick fridge inventory and plan meals around the things that need using up. I also use my fridge ‘upside down’ – in that the salad drawers house things that don’t really go off such as sauces and dressings. The top shelf is where everything that needs using up is put, with a note saying ‘Eat Me First!’. This avoids out of sight, out of mind, where you inevitably end up with a slimy bag of salad at the back of the drawer! Could you share some great practical waste avoidance tips that you’ve learnt from the Zero Waste Week community? One person has a CORN night – Clear Out Refrigerator Now! I’ve adopted that myself once a week and it’s a great way to use up all the leftovers. I’m really inspired by people who are creative with a needle and thread- something I’m sadly lacking. But I’ve seen people make pan scourers by using up old nets that citrus fruits come in or turn

jeans into bags or sheets into skirts – it’s incredible! There are also those who make food from scratch such as yoghurt in a slow cooker, pasta and even crisps and fried banana skins! What zero waste products or services are currently lacking? I’d like to change four things: First, to have all recycling the same across the country – same facilities, same colour bins – it would make my job of advising people so much easier! Next I’d like to see legislation bought in that, if a consumer can’t easily recycle or compost packaging, manufacturers shouldn’t be allowed to sell it. Third, let’s have more bulk buy stores (and areas in supermarkets) where people can take their own containers, bottles and bags for refills. Finally, let’s ban built in obsolescence once and for all!

you’ll find me helping individuals, businesses and organisations implement a successful zero waste strategy of their own. Through resources and consulting, I share priceless information they won’t find anywhere else, simpleto-follow guidelines that get amazing results and they’ll get full support, not only to start a Zero Waste strategy but to achieve all their goals. I’ve also got this crazy idea of offering a short course for householders to reduce their waste once and for all. As for Zero Waste Week itself, well, let’s get that trending all week long, the lead story in all the mainstream media publications and a selfie from the Queen showing her support, shall we? www.zerowasteweek.co.uk

What is next for your campaign? From the feedback I receive about the campaign, it’s clear many people want to reduce their waste but don’t know how or don’t have the time to research. So

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September 2018 NMM