recommend your favourite walk

Got a favourite family walk that you can get to on foot or using public transport? Car Free Walks is an info site for environmentally friendly walkers. The aim is to build up a database of walks that can be reached using public transport. This will provide free information for people who want to reduce their environmental impact by using their car less frequently. The website already features over 100 car-free walks across England, Scotland and Wales, with more being added each week. Visitors to the website can search for walks near to towns or cities, by county or by the type of walk. Each walk has an outline of the route, points of interest along the way, and a map showing key points to help with navigation. The website also links to information about public transport to and from the walk. It's easy to submit your favourite car-free walk - simply register and post the details. One criterion is that it must be possible to reach the start and finish of the walk using trains or buses. The site also offers tips for car-free walking. So share your knowledge of the local countryside and help other walkers go carbon neutral!

bizarre but lovely

Needed a little afternoon pick-me-up for continued productivity and my mind had started wandering in the direction of coffee and/or chocolate (I know, I know!). Decided to do a yoga workout for half an hour instead and feel much better now. Cravings have gone as well. Anyway, just came back into the office and here on my desk is a beautiful grey feather. I am the only one here so don't know how it got there but it's good. 

have a healthy pair of lungs

With Car Free Day approaching it seems appropriate to share some of the thoughts on lung health from holistic practitioners at the Vale Practice in London. 

Breath is something we take completely for granted. Controlled by the respiratory centre of the brain, the primary role of breathing is gas exchange: our cells need oxygen and their waste product, carbon dioxide, needs to be expelled. But as we age we become less efficient at this vital function, as tension, pollution, stress and sedentary lifestyles take their toll. Here’s a guide to understanding your lungs and assisting them back to full efficiency!

Release your ribs Osteopath Julia Finlay says: ‘People get into poor breathing habits as they get older. In particular, people may become “upper rib breathers", where they use a lot of muscular effort to lift their upper chests but don't use their diaphragms properly or expand their lower rib cage. This can contribute to abdominal problems in the form of poor digestion, constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. It can even lead to hyperventilation and contribute to panic attacks.

‘To improve your breathing, concentrate first on breathing out through your mouth slowly for a count of 7 and try to relax completely while exhaling. To begin with you may find a straw helps you do this. Practice this daily for 30 breaths. As you get better at breathing out you can begin to think about breathing in through your nose, deep into your tummy - your abdomen should go out when you breathe in. At this point, you can begin to breathe in for a count of 4, making your lower ribs and tummy expand, and then out for a count of 7. Try and rest briefly between inhaling and exhaling. Practice during the day when you get the chance. As your breathing improves you should begin to feel better within yourself and cope much better with stress. You will also be breathing much more efficiently ,which will improve your energy levels.

‘If you have ever been an asthma sufferer you may find that your lungs and chest are permanently very tight. Osteopathic treatment can help reduce these side effects and may even help you reduce the need for medication in the long term. It can also help establish good breathing by removing restrictions in the body that may have given rise to these problems in the first place.’ Upper body tension can also be relieved with massage. ‘You wouldn't have thought massage would be any good for the lungs,’ says JuileAnn Gillit, massage therapist 'I mean, how do you massage a lung? It's on the inside of the thoracic cage. But in order for the lungs to expand, the thoracic cage first has to expand. Not only are there plenty of massage strokes and stretches that can effectively be applied to the muscles used both in quiet, normal breathing and forced respiration - the deep breathing associated with asthmatics or experienced after a run - but the relaxing element of most massages will also encourage overall body restoration and repair, including the lungs.’ A healthy lungful Traditional Chinese Medicine links healthy lung funciton to a strong immune system, among other things. Individuals who fall foul of frequent colds and viruses, who suffer dryness in the nasal and bronchial passages or excess mucus, could be suffering from a lung imbalance says Vale Practice acupuncturist Angelo D’Alberto. He explains: ‘Lungs get their vital force (qi) from the air we breathe and mix it with the qi our bodies take from the food we eat and then distribute it to the surface of our body - the mucus membranes and interior surfaces of our lungs. These surfaces are designed to protect us from viruses, bacteria and anything else trying to invade our bodies or attack our immune system. ‘Lung vitality shows itself in three ways: it connects directly with passages through the nose, the mucous membranes connected with the skin and also through how much mucous our bodies produce. A person with healthy lungs maintains a light, moist protective coating alongside nourished energized skin.’ Let your feelings out Emotional stress can also affect your lungs. Says Angelo: ‘Grief and sadness are directly linked to the lungs. When we suffer something sad our bodies natural reaction is to cry, which uses our lungs, expressing our emotions and letting go of them. The same with sighing, which is our way of breathing out the problem. If we hold on to our grief our lungs contract and hold on to the emotion. As the lungs suppress these emotions they cannot function normally and become congested, causing problems. Likewise with stress, where our bodies protect us by shallow breathing. The lungs are muscles which need exercise- if we stop using part of our lungs they stop working and also become blocked and congested with toxins. This is also why it is so important to live an active life - getting some form of exercise and fresh air every day - for lung vitality.’ Acupuncture is a powerful remedy for all imbalances, improving the flow of energy through your lungs and the rest of your system. Diet can also help: to promote healthy lungs include foods such as red peppers and chilli, also horseradish, cabbage, radish, garlic and turnips. Beta carotene-rich foods such as orange and green vegetables support the mucous membranes - the ultimate protective surface of the body. Green vegetables help to build up the cell walls which filter out some of the toxins and chemicals we invite into our lungs from living in polluted London! Simple, daily practices Yoga, Tai Chi and meditation have long been known to improve our lung function, as well as tone and energise the body, inside and out. The deep, restful breathing achieved through meditation or these quiet, rhythmic exercise forms has been shown to reduce anxiety, as well as improve sleep and concentration. Of course, if your daily vices include smoking there is nothing better you can do for your lungs than give it up! Hypnotherapy is one of the easiest ways to stop smoking. Says hypnotherapist Jane Crowe: ‘It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been smoking or how many. When the time is right you can take control back from the Younger You who made the choice to start smoking. A one-off two hour session will help you break the link with the past, ‘switch off’ the habit and regain control of that aspect of your behaviour. Aromatherapy aids respiration Last but not least, use the power of smell to restore your lungs. Benzoin Resin has an affinity with the lungs. Try putting a few drops into a base oil and rub into the chest, or in a bowl of hot water to inhale. It is a thick resin which clears away congestion and blockages. Eucalyptus is also great at opening the airways, especially when blocked by sinusitis or influenza. It is also antibacterial and can help fight harmful bacteria in the lungs when inhaled, as can Lavender. Rosemary also opens up the airways and calms breathing. It is especially effective in asthma attacks as a steam inhalation. It can also be made as a tea: brew some sprigs of rosemary for 10 minutes and then drink.

gorgeous clothes for kids

We have just received some samples from Frugi's beautiful new Autumn/Winter collection and the quality is remarkable. The organic cotton that they use for all of their yummy items is so soft to the touch and the fabric is thick, hardwearing and perfect for autumnal days. We love the berry and earth inspired colour pallet including green tea, apple and blackberry hues. The lined cargo trousers, which cost £27 are a real find being both super soft and comfy, yet v. practical for romping in the woods and exploring. Another favourite is the reversible snuggle fleece in choc chip and tulip wood. Oh, and Frugi do lovely items for babies too. Plus if you are after a bargain, they have a sale of all their summer items at the moment, up to 70% off!

seasonal celebrations

Next Tuesday we celebrate Mabon, the Autumn Equinox - a time of balance and the transition from the light half to the dark half of the year. We will begin our journey to winter, as the nights draw in, the leaves change colour and animals prepare for hibernation or migration. This is the final harvest, a chance to gather apples, grapes, blackberries and hops and in that sense it is a celebration focused on feasting and community as well as preserving and preparing for the winter months ahead. As the wheel of the year turns we are reminded of the need for fallow periods, for times of rest and regeneration. We need this space in order to fully learn from and embrace life's lessons. Here are some of the ways in which you can mark this occasion:

• Take some time out alone to meditate on the year so far - where you have come from and the journey that you have travelled over the spring and summer months. Celebrate your achievements.

• Gather your family together for a seasonal Mabon meal - using home or locally grown produce to create simple, nourishing fare.

• Go foraging for wild food such as blackberries and mushrooms. Take an expert or a field guide with you when fungi foraging. 

• Create a seasonal tableaux for a windowsill or tabletop, focusing on the delights of this time of year - use branches with colourful leaves, berries, teasels, nuts etc set in a vase against a backdrop of rich coloured material. Populate the area with gnomes or fairy folk for a magical scene!

• Mabon is also about death and loss as the earth turns fallow and the leaves drop from the trees. Take time to talk about those you have lost and what they meant to you. Celebrate their lives.

Equinox blessings to all.

local food facts

Saturday sees the start of British Food Fortnight from 20th to 5th Oct. In celebration of local food here are a few juicy facts:

1. There are more than 2000 varieties of apple grown in Britain.

2. Britain's seasonal climate produces one of the greatest varieties of vegetables in the world and each season's crop gives us all the nutrients, minerals and trace elements that our bodies need at particular times of the year.

3. There are 350 types of potato grown in the UK, each with its own unique taste, texture and flavour

4. There are now over 500 regular farmer's markets around the country, where you can buy food direct from the producers and often from within a 30 mile radius.

It's a good time of year for British food - the harvest brings lots of producers and consumers together for food festivals up and down the country. Check out what's happening near you.

car free day

Next Monday, 22nd September, it's World Car Free Day and motorists are encouraged to leave their cars at home in favour of bikes, trains, buses and feet. The event focuses on alternatives to car travel and the need for more and better public transport and pedestrianised areas. According to the ETA, 37% of British drivers feel that there is no practical alternative to driving whilst another 11% have already taken steps to reduce their mileage due to financial and environmental concerns. Other studies show that nearly two thirds of us find traffic in cities unbearable with suggestions ranging from increased public transport in city and suburban environments to a complete ban on car traffic in city centres on certain days of the week. Meanwhile the number of cars on the roads and the amount of urban traffic is steadily increasing, adversely affecting the wellbeing of city and town dwellers, with increase in noise, pollution and stress. However, on Monday we can make a positive change and choose an alternative method of transport. Over 4 million of us commute a distance of less than 3 miles by car every day. Let's get creative; pull out those bikes, dust off those walking boots or get on the bus for an altogether different experience! 

In Brighton on Sunday (always have to be a little bit different those Brighton folk eh?) people will be invited to take to the streets for dancing, music, activities and entertainment, organised by Transition Brighton and Hove. Visitors can hop on a rickshaw for a free ride, create artworks by cycling through paint, picnic in the street or go on a health walk through the city centre. Sound too cool to be true - it's not, and there's loads more stuff planned too.

Leytonstone have adopted the same approach and are planning a car-free extravaganza on Sunday with Geno Washington and Ram Jam band rocking the streets, along with a french market and a chance to try out all kinds of weird and wonderful two wheeled contraptions.

Fancy a free massage? Head to Camden tomorrow for Car Free Friday where you'll find green police on stilts, friendly folk giving away pedometers, the Bike Doctor on hand for cycling advice and maintenance and the chance of a free commuter massage.  

On Monday, you can bike for your breakfast at the BlendaVenda stall in Hounslow. Cyclists can use pedal power to create a free smoothie or flex their vocal cords as well as their leg muscles on a bike powered karaoke unit. Lots of free green transport guides and advice on hand too.

Meanwhile in Devon, prizes of £50 worth of vouchers are being offered for the most creative method of travelling to work. Last year, the prize was won by Mark Bailey who used a mini canoe, mini bicycle and the bus to commute to work.

In Harrogate, travellers on 24th Sept will be offered a free day's bus pass to encourage citizens to see how the service has improved recently. At 11am Toddle Through Town is for all those parents and toddlers who want to get involved. There will also be free rickshaw rides and a community bike ride through the town at 5pm.

Have fun!!

sorry to tempt you...

Thought I should let you know about some great offers from ethical companies that we have in the current edition of The Green Parent:

10% off at The Organic Baby Boutique - code: GP08

10% off at Dam Tam organic clothing for kids - code: GP1008

20% off Denes Natural pet food - code: TGP001

15% off fairtrade toys and bags at Fair Connections 

10% of ethical toys at Laughing Bear - code GRE10

5% off gorgeous traditional and ethical playthings at Ninny Noodle Noo - code: greenparent

10% off wonderful Storybox magazines for children - code LtUK9WT6qk

10% off all ethical products for babies and children at Babipur - code: GP811

10% off all innovative products at Ecoutlet - code: green10

20% off all Tattybumpkin togs - code: GPAUT - they even do adult stuff now too!

10% off baby signing kit - code Green

10% off soft snuggly baby carrier - code: Green Parent

15% off beautiful ethical furniture at Myakka - code GRPT88

Enjoy!!

oooh new book!

I am very excited indeed - the new book from Ben Law, The Woodland Year has just dropped into my lap, from the lovely folk at Permanent Publications. Billed as Britain's greatest living woodsman, Ben Law brings us tempting recipes including Prickly Nut Wood Soup (ingredients sourced from around Ben's home), coppice crafts such as beautiful willow fencing and inspiring photography in this month by month guide to life in the woods. Ben built his own house in Prickly Nut Wood in Lodsworth West Sussex and makes his living from working on the land. In The Woodland Year he shares this knowledge and experience both through personal stories and practical advice, recipes and species information. I feel like disappearing into the woods myself for the day to digest some of this sumptuous tome but have work to do so this indulgence must wait 'til later.

tell us what you think

We love to hear from our readers about what they like about the magazine, what they'd like to see more of, what they don't like etc. so that we can continue to improve. You can let us know your thoughts and be in with the chance of winning a lovely set of fabulous Badger Balms. Simply fill in the form on our website and send back to us with your comments. We look forward to hearing from you!

good news for green homes

The Roundhouse near Brithdir Mawr community in Pembrokeshire, Wales has finally been granted planning permission after years of battling with the authorities. This is one of the greenest buildings in the UK. Built in 1997 by Tony Wrench and Jane Faith, it is perfectly camouflaged within its natural surroundings in the woods on the edge of ecological community Brithdir Mawr, which I visited in May this year. It is a magical spot and I am so pleased to be able to report that this beautiful dwelling is allowed to stay. It is a real inspiration and Tony and Jane welcome around two groups a week to visit the site and learn more about how to build roundhouses and live in harmony with Mother Earth. 

a beautiful start

I try to take a walk every morning as it really sets me up for the day ahead. If I have managed an hour of solitude striding through the gorgeous Sussex countryside I know I am going to be more productive at work, more effective at home and a calmer, more playful mother with my children. This morning I slipped out of the house before anyone else was awake and walked until I came to my favourite spot. Just down a country lane, between two huge gnarled oak trees is an old wooden gate leading into a field. The field is backed by trees on the cusp of changing colour and I feel completely alone and at peace here. I like to climb up onto the gate and watch the sun rise over the hills. This morning the sun was almost orange as it rose and the moon was still full, transparent and silver, behind me. I sat on the gate, watched rabbits bounce across the field and as I breathed in and exhaled, it was as though I was breathing in union with Source. After a while I felt ready to come home and embrace the day ahead and the tumbling, excitable children that light up my day and leave me feeling exhausted by bedtime. Onwards.... 

tribute to a big guy

One of the most sterling members of our team, the big guy who would sit up all night with Jez during deadline, hour after hour, keeping him awake and his lap warm, and still be ready for a walk in the woods at dawn, died this weekend. We think that he was hit by a car in the small hours of Saturday morning, on one of the quietest roads in East Sussex. Tony is already sorely missed - although a wild and independent spirit, he used to take up residence every night at the end of the bed, revealing the softer side of his nature. Here he is curled up in a box one night keeping Jez company as he worked late. I feel like we've lost more than a pet and I just can't believe he's gone...

moneymakers

While we were away our local town launched its own currency - the Lewes pound. This currency is bought and spent locally to benefit the local economy and can be used in any shops that carry the Lewes pound sign, which is most of the independent shops in the town, including all the traders at the monthly farmer's market, the fabulous herbal dispensary and eco store, Barefoot Herbs, and organic cotton clothing pioneers Gossypium. Within a few days almost all the 10,000 notes printed have sold out and local brewery Harveys have created a special brew to celebrate, called appropriately Quids In. Organised by a team from the local Transition Town group, the Lewes Pound is expected to have far reaching benefits; including economic, social and environmental. In supporting local businesses and goods we can start to reduce the need for transport and minimise our carbon footprint. Socially this new currency is expected to increase customer loyalty, encourage stronger links between customer and shopkeeper and support people looking for new ways to make a sustainable living. Elsewhere in the UK, the Totnes pound is now in its third phase of development and indeed Rob Hopkins, who launched the new currency in Devon, was also responsible for guiding the Lewes currency into being, alongside the New Economics Foundation. 

trees glorious trees!

We went to the Weald Woodfair this weekend, which was great, not least because I LOVE trees. As always there was a good community spirit and some fab stuff going on especially for families such as creating your own tree spirits, bushcraft skills, cooking prehistoric style and making apple bird feeders. There was also a space for budding potters to create their own pots, plaques etc and have them fired on site as iron age people would have done. We ate acorn flour patties sweetened with blackberries and elderberries and tried roasted crab apple. Alongside all this activity was another element to the event with a field of incredibly talented craftspeople selling their wares from huge oak tables to beautiful; bowls crafted from a single piece of wood. And Ben Law was there too; home building, woodland dwelling guru - unfortunately I didn't get to speak with him but met lots of other passionate people, leaving me feeling inspired and excited about the autumn months and forging a deeper connection with the earth.

spread the love

Just had to post a quick one on this new adventure story and interactive pack produced by Splodge Publishing. It's a magical story with a powerful message and comes with a range of beautiful tactile gifts such as feathers and a rainstick to help children explore each of their their senses. Our young testers were delighted by the inclusion of a liquorice stick to taste and a read-along CD. Oh, and to celebrate the launch they are offering a weekend for a family at a Bushcraft camp next year to the winner of a nature poetry competition. All in all an unusual and beautiful gift for young and old alike - anyone looking to find and ignite their spark!

where have we been?

We decided to take a last minute, spontaneous holiday to the Isle of Wight for a few blustery days in a 1950s caravan and it was very lovely, most relaxing and refreshing. On arrival we discovered not only a seriously cool caravan complete with retro boardgames, rock n' roll tunes and all the little cubbyholes to explore but the owner Helen had laid out scones, jam and Babycham for us to enjoy - who'd have thought how yum that was! We even enjoyed a bit of heady autumnal sunshine whilst playing on the beach at Alum Bay on our last day. One of the highlights, after a day exploring Blackgang Chine, which hasn't changed since my childhood (yay!) was dinner at a cafe on the beach at St. Helen's at sunset - we felt very blessed. Other discoveries included The Garlic Farm - one of my favourite foods and a whole farm and shop devoted to it. Godshill Organics is a huge exciting organic shop on the edge of heaving tourist village Godshill. And Ventnor Botanic Garden is beautiful, well kept and home to a few red squirrels. It was also a breath of fresh free air after a mistaken trip to The Needles Pleasure Park - money making machine extraordinare. All in all - v restorative and good to back in the Green Parent office with a new issue out this week!

foodie news

This weekend promises to be a food lovers paradise with the Soil Association's Organic Food Festival taking over Bristol's waterside from 6-7th September. With tastings, talks, cookery demonstrations to inspire parents, children are also well catered for with a giant cardboard structure from cardboard toys folks, Paperpod, in the gardening area, a food trail, more tasting and cookery workshops. Elsewhere London Vegan Festival will take over Kensington Town Hall on Sunday and visitors can expect to learn how a vegan diet can reduce harmful emissions that affect climate change. Younger visitors will be treated to storytelling, puppet shows and workshops. On Monday a lecture held by Compassion in World Farming is taking place at Savoy Place in London about the impact of meat production and consumption on our planet. Given by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and joint winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, this looks to be a fascinating talk with discussion welcomed afterwards.

moon time

Well, I just got sent a femmecup in the post this morning - thanks to their PR people! I am intrigued - it is almost identical to my beloved mooncup but a smaller version. The press info that comes with this silicone menstrual cup says that we use 3 billion disposable sanitary protection items a year in the UK. And of course these are flushed away, adding to marine pollution or dumped in landfill sites. Choosing reusable products like a menstrual cup, sea sponges or washable pads means pretty much zero waste; a mooncup lasts for ten years, the femmecup lasts for five. Femmecup's website is all yoga and ladies drinking wine, with lots of information including the fact that women have been using this sort of protection since 1896. In addition to switching to reusable products I recommend keeping a moon diary as well; recording your cycle helps you to get in touch with your body and provides a useful indicator of health and wellbeing. I like to mark moods on mine as well so that I have a better idea of what sort of frame of mind I'll be in on any given day. Then I can organise parties/meetings/duvet days accordingly!

bad month for bugs

Apparently all this rain hasn't been much fun for the insect population of our fair isles either, with low numbers of dragonflies, hoverflies, ladybirds, bees and moths recorded during August this year. Cold blooded creatures need the warmth of the sun to raise their body temperature and allow their muscles to work. A cold wet day means that they are unable to function properly and a succession of days like this can prove fatal. This also means that fewer flowers are being pollinated resulting in a smaller harvest. According to the Met Office the rain is unlikely to let up for the next few days. But plans for a wild event at Notcutts Garden Centre in Norwich, Norfolk are set to go ahead this weekend where families can meet the crew from conservation charity, Buglife, and find out more about wildlife gardening to benefit bugs. Those who can't make it might like to try these downloadable bug activities instead.

ethical living made easy

Just wanted to put up a quick post on Living Ethically who have just revamped their information portal on all things green and ethical. They have pages of articles and a shopping directory stuffed with companies offering ethical goodies. There's also a whole range of special offers with many online retailers offering a 10-% discount to new customers through the site.

ethical clothes shopping

I have just discovered this new ethical clothing shop based in Farnham in Surrey, called Purity and they have a fabulous sale on at the moment. Many items like this gorgeous dress (in organic cotton voile and dyed with vegetable dyes £28) have been reduced by 50% - wow! They also have great reductions on their organic children's clothing ranges too. If you live near Farnham you can pop in to the shop at 20 Downing Street to check out their new autumn collection and maybe pick up a bargain or two while you're there. 

new challenge

We are officially in the middle of National Lunchbox Week so I have decided make this week's challenge about packed lunches. A standard lunchbox these days contains heaps of waste as every item tends to be individually wrapped from tetrapak juice cartons to plastic an foil wrapped bars. In fact, estimates show that each child generates nearly 70lbs of waste a year. Multiply that by the number of us eating packed lunches around the country every day and that's a lot of rubbish. But there is a way to change this and to pack delicious lunches that don't require any packaging. Enter Mrs Green of My Zero Waste and the US based WasteFreeLunches pioneers. I have ideas for a number of other ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint at lunchtime. Why not try one, two, or all of these over the next week to make your family's lunches a more virtuous version of their former self.

1) Switch to a reusable bottle and fill with cold water from the tap, or occasionally some locally grown juice or cordial. You can even make your own though I haven't found a way to do this yet without using sugar.

2) Ditch cling film, aluminium foil and waxed paper and instead get creative. Reuse the bags from inside cereal packs as sandwich bags. Use a yoghurt pot or margarine tub as a pot for pasta or rice salads. 

3) Choose fruit with its own natural wrapping that is unlikely to get damaged in a lunch box, like apples, pears and plums. Or knit some wrap! Squishable berries, grapes etc can be stored in a washable container. 

4) There have been warnings about hazardous levels of lead in children's vinyl lunchbags (the soft plasticy character type bags). Avoid these and opt for a tupperware box, ice cream carton or sturdy paper bag instead, which can be used again. I love the tiffin tins that some specialist stores sell - they make great lunchboxes. Alternatively check out these new Laptop Lunchboxes which provide all the containers, some with lids so extra packaging is not necessary.

5) Avoid individually wrapped items and opt for bulk items such as dried fruit, nuts and crisps. Decant a small amount into reusable pots each day for lunch. This helps to save money too, especially if you eschew things like those little children's snack bars and make your own. I'll post a recipe later.

So go forth and green up those lunchboxes! Let us know how you get on and please share ideas for greening up your lunchtime meals.

A greener London

According to a report in the Indy today, Boris Johnson has plans for a greener, cleaner London. He has launched a strategy to help the capital cope with climate change, which includes urban greening - more green spaces, tree planting and green roofs, addressing water loss by reducing pipe leakage and encouraging homes to become more water efficient and designing new buildings and adapting existing ones to reduce need for air conditioning. Johnson said that quality of life in the capital could be seriously threatened by climate change, especially extreme weather conditions bringing the increased risk of flooding. I recently read Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd, insightful and timely fiction for teens on how climate change might affect London. In the book the Thames barrier can't cope with the pressure of freak weather conditions and London floods leading to devastating circumstances. Despite this, it is an uplifting tale with a strong community thread running throughout the book. Worth a read even if your teenage years are but a distant memory.

new moon in virgo

Well, since I completely missed posting about the last full moon on 16th August - because I was out having fun and meeting new people, in the true spirit of Aquarius - I figured I'd post about the New Moon tomorrow in good time. Both the Sun and the New Moon will be in Virgo meaning that it will be a good time to get things in order, complete unfinished projects and nourish the body since Virgo energies involve purification and whole body health. As Virgo is an Earth sign we can also benefit from forging greater connections to the earth at this time. This can be through practical activities such as gardening, harvesting or putting some time and energy into your local environment, or perhaps connecting on a spiritual level. I like going moon walking, laying still on the forest floor and blessing the trees around me to help me feel more connected to the earth. Am looking forward to some serious sorting out over the coming days. Certainly our office could do with a good ol' sort out after completing our October edition, which went to press this week. There's piles of proofs, books and paperwork everywhere but next week we'll be back to a clear organised base again on our crazy bi-monthly cycle - fingers crossed!

heartening news

According to a new study nearly half of Australia is untouched by man. 40% of the land or 1.1 million sq. miles (equivalent to twelve times the size of mainland Britain) make up one of the largest pristine areas of wilderness left in the world, alongside the Amazon and Antarctica. The edges of this area are predominantly peopled by Aboriginal communities who have managed to stem the growth of plants brought by colonial settlers, such as mimosa, in order to allow native species to thrive. However the report also highlights the high rates of extinction of endemic species in Australia and hence the Pew Environment Group and The Nature Conservancy have joined forces to protect this wilderness and the wildlife that it supports. Let's hope it's not a case of Whitey thinking he fix everything by waltzing in, conducting a survey and hammering in a few signs. I know I'm a cynic - I try not to be.

colour in wallpaper

This is a bit of frivolous one but I couldn't resist after receiving a sheet of this colour your own recycled wallpaper this morning. Introduced to me by the lovely folk at Papergrain, Nineteen Seventy Three also offer a range of post consumer waste cards, postcards and giftwrap. In fact, Furochic is a new alternative to wrapping paper - reusable material gift wrap that requires no selotape and comes in a range of gorgeous big, bold floral designs. I fancy papering a wall with the Jon Burgerman wallpaper and having a family and friends colour-off but know only too well what happens when I introduce my kids to a labouriously papered wall - out come the fingernails and the malicious intent. They can't help picking at it. We're sticking with paints for now...

week four challenge

This week it's all about compost. Composting is one of the simplest ways of reducing your household waste and improving your garden's output. What a serendipitous circle - you can throw less rubbish into landfill and grow fatter, juicier tomatoes into the bargain. So here are a few ideas to get started with:

1. Get a bucket (preferably one with a lid) and start throwing your veg peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells and torn up junk mail inside. When full empty into a compost bin in the garden. You can make your own or buy one from a garden centre.

2. Find out whether your local council has any great offers on compost bins at the moment. Mine was half price (I think - it was actually a Christmas present from my beloved, deposited on the doorstep with him inside)

3. As a end-of-the-summer-holidays project try making a worm farm. These are easy to make and introduce the concept of composting in such a visual and captivating way.

4. Make a leaf litter bin ready for the autumn. Hammer five 4ft poles into the ground, wrap chicken wire round the outside and you have a bin to collect leaves in. After 1 to 2 years this will have decomposed into a good addition to your homemade compost.

5. Make a batch of homemade fertilizer with some nettles or comfrey. Put on some gloves and fill a bucket up to the brim with nettles or comfrey leaves. Cover with water and leave to infuse for a week or two, by which time it should be humming. Dilute one part fertilizer brew to 15 parts water and use to feed your tomatoes, sweetcorn, apple trees etc. A little treat for the plants, which might encourage the fruits to grow just a little bit juicier before harvest.

Hope you enjoy getting busy in the garden this week!

environmental photography

Photography is a powerful medium through which to raise awareness of environmental issues. Images can speak directly to our soul, replacing reams of text that might not have as great an impact. Which is why I am excited about the Environmental Photographer of the Year awards that have just been unveiled. The award winning entries for the category Changing Climates show clearly the impact that global warming is having on our world and depict climate change as a human rights issue, which I think is an important distinction. It's not just about the devastation of plants and wildlife; we are all connected and human populations are already being affected. This beautiful picture of a woman and her child in Abhijit Nandi, India is the winner of the Quality of Life category. From 17th Sept to 11th Oct, visitors to the Art Pavilion at Mile End Ecology Park, London can view an exhibition of some of the entries.

new challenge!!

It's World Water Week this week so I figured it would be a good time to turn my attention to the way we use water in our homes. We often take this essential resource for granted and can be very wasteful in our use of it, so I want to look at a few simple changes that we can make that might get us thinking about water's true value. Here are the week's challenges:

• If you have a conventional toilet (not a low flush or an ultra efficient loo) pop a brick or a hippo in your cistern. This will save around 3 litres per flush.

• Take the Aussie attitude to waste and follow the 'if it's yellow, it's mellow' rule. You could even put a little sign on your loo to explain this to guests!

• Ditch bottled water - globally we drink over 150 billion litres a year! In the US 86% of plastic water bottles end up in landfill. The remainder were incinerated, causing toxic off gassing or sent to China for recycling. Buying water like this costs up to 12,000 times the cost of tap water and according to Gomestic, around 40% of bottled water originates from our ordinary tap water supply. Fill a glass or plastic bottle with water when travelling and water plants with any that is left over at the end of the day.

• If you don't have one already, buy a small washing up bowl to fir inside your sink - this can save several litres per washing up session. It is also useful to have in the sink to collect the excess when you run the tap to get cold water. Use it to water plants.

• Get a water butt to collect rainwater and if you already have one, install another. You are sure to accrue plenty of rainwater at the moment, which will come in useful if we have an Indian summer. Fingers crossed!

Let's get saving!

week two challenge update

Transport has been on my mind over the last week following the challenges that I set. We changed travel plans for a journey and we all bundled in the back of a friend's van rather than driving to a party at the weekend. I found a brilliant bus timetable which centres around a large map of the downs and all the places that you can visit, such as the Long Man of Wilmington and gorgeous woodland - Abbotts Wood, using local bus services and trains. We can also get to my favourite crystal shop with a short walk and a hop across a field - hurrah! We went on lots of bike rides last week, mainly locally - the kids are getting so confident on their bikes now. On one ride we cycled to a local village and found a rope swing behind the church, which made a fun rest stop. On the way home from that ride, we sang the whole journey and the hills suddenly didn't seem nearly so challenging. I signed up to Flight Pledge last year and we haven't flown for several years, but have taken holidays by train and car instead. I haven't yet discovered how much it costs to drive a mile but Chris Goodall, author of How to Live a Low Carbon Life, a fabulous sourcebook of crunchy figures and insightful comment says that it costs on average £0.10 a mile to make a car journey. I would like to work out how much it costs taking into account the road tax, insurance and initial cost of the car so will get back to you on that one. Out of curiosity I have been looking at the G Wiz electric car - apparently they cost £0.017p a mile to run and owners also don't have to pay tax. It does cost £6,999 to buy new though. Am going to ask the neighbours how they feel about car sharing too. New challenges will be posted later...

gorgeous new book

The Tree Council are publishing a book to celebrate 10 years of their seed gathering season events. Featuring 80 native and ornamental species, Trees and How to Grow Them gives growing tips and tree trivia as well as lovely colour images of each tree. Find out how to grow a tree from seed, what it's like being a tree warden and lots of facts and figures like where the oldest tree in the world is situated (it's a bristlecone pine, thought to be 4,600 years old, located in the White Mountains of eastern California) and the number of tree species in the world (around 100,000) Wowzer - I love trees. Some of my other favourite books about trees are: The Secret Life of Trees: How they live and why they matter by Colin Tudge, A tree in your pocket by Jacqueline Paterson, Myths of the Sacred Tree by Moyra Caldecott and the Healing Energies of Trees by P. Bouchardon. 

week two challenge

Well here it is folks - how to green up your travel arrangements, save money and have fun into the bargain. Try these five simple steps this week:

• Make a note of all your regular journeys and replace one journey this week with a different mode of transport - think bikes, buses, trams or shanks pony.

• Find a bus timetable for your local area and see what exotic locations you could visit!

• Go for a bike ride. If you haven't got a bike, borrow or hire one. Check out Sustrans for ideas of local cycle routes, including off-road trails.

• Calculate how much it costs to drive a mile in the car. 

• Sign up to flight pledge. You can choose from options such as not taking leisure flights or not flying except in emergencies.

I'll let you know how we get on with these in the office a bit later in the week!

press coverage!

We're featured in the Irish Times in an article about green parenting after I did an interview with Sheila Wayman a couple of weeks ago. Also there's a piece in the South Wales Echo today in response to the report that I wrote a month or so ago about how you can save £3000 in the first year of your baby's life. We will be publishing an article in the December edition of The Green Parent about how to go green and save money.

week one: challenge update

Well, the assistants in the fridge shop clearly think that I am a loon. So what if a fiver can be pulled out of the fridge door - have I checked the temperature? Uh no - how do I do that? Apparently if "the temperature of the item retains a suitable temperature inside the unit, it is fair to say that the item is in perfect working order." They actually said that! Sales-speak gives me uncontrollable giggles so we didn't get much further than that. Back to the drawing board on that one. But, the corners of the mini ice box are stuffed with bits of paper and bubblewrap and I have hardly opened the fridge at all this week, preferring to eat fab food made by my mother-in-law and have a sneaky lunch out with my aunt. Am sure I have done other virtuous things too to counteract the vast quantities of chocolate consumed in the office this week prior to deadline, but they are alluding me. This weeks challenges will be posted up later - all to do with getting from A to B in the greenest possible way. Exciting - non?

hot day in office

Wow - its been baking here today. Luckily I only had a half day in the office as it gets a bit close working on a computer in the heat. This morning we had friends over and we went on a treasure hunt, which turned into a bit of a litter pick, due to a bunch of concerned kids. On the way home, laden with crisp packets, bottles and cans, I overheard my eldest and her friend talking about polar bears. Her friend claimed that we're killing them with all our litter (according to a TV programme she'd seen). I was surprised at how eloquently my daughter explained that that is an indirect result, the more immediate one being the threat to British wildlife. Although we do talk about global environmental issues, we tend to focus more on what's happening at home and in our community so it's good to know that she has managed to fit her views into a wider context as well. For us, so much of our home educating experiences centre round conversations. We always eat together, at least once a day, and a lot of family conversations take place round the table after dinner. Our youngest is intrigued by economics and how small scale independents compete with the multinationals. A wee socialist in the making? We have been talking around the subject of the Nestlé boycott and artificial milk marketing in the developing world. I am trying to present just the facts to ensure that they can make up their own minds - sometimes not so easy to avoid a biased opinion. 

A new daily ritual is the bike ride after dinner - tonight we discovered a magical oak wood and went off-roading - feels very liberating to be able to cover such distances and explore our surroundings in a completely different way. Vive le velo!!

recycled bikes in waltham

As a relatively new cycling convert, all things two wheeled make me very excited right now so when I heard about this I had to drop a quick post. On the third and fourth Saturday of every month - ie) 16th and 23rd August - residents of Waltham Forest in London, E10, can pick up a recycled bike for as little as £20. Visitors can also learn a bit of basic bike maintenance and those with unwanted bikes can donate them to a new home. 

fridge news

So I pulled the note right out of the door with no trouble whatsoever. Yep, my energy efficient A rated fridge (with a little icebox at the top - my children are deprived of ice cream and burgers and all other frozen stuff) that I only bought several years ago is not so clean and green after all. I have emailed the manufacturers and the place I got it (Currys - whisper) to find out whether I need to replace the seals or they need to buck their ideas up. 

Apparently the coils have been recently dusted by the man of the house and I have yet to stuff the ice box with paper but will do so tomorrow to reduce energy needed to keep it cool in there. As for finding a cool spot for my fridge it already sits in the best (and only) possible space, temperature -wise. And I promise not to leave the fridge door open, staring at the contents, desperately hoping for a wisp of inspiration when 6 o clock rolls around. Anyone else up for this sorting-your-fridge-out mission? The first step in taking positive action to reduce your family's carbon emissions. It'll be fun, I promise!   

go fly a kite

An experiment at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has revealed the great power behind flying kites - enough to generate electricity for ten family homes. The kite was tethered to a generator and managed to produce 10 kilowatts of power. Leading the study, Wubbo Ockels, sustainable engineering professor, inspired by the great power of hurricanes viewed from space as an astronaut, sees kites as an exciting possibility in developing wind energy. They are able to reach much higher altitudes than turbines, where the wind power is greater. Ken Caldeira, climate scientist at the Department of Global Ecology has found that wind contains around 100 times the amount of energy that we need, but that most of it is up high, out of reach of current windmills and turbines. Others are in agreement that this could be a valuable source of renewable energy, cheap, easy to harness and really quite magical too.

organic milk squeeze

According to a report in the Indy today dairy farmers are the latest to feel the credit crunch and are abandoning organic practices in favour of cheaper cattle food and higher yields. Cost of organic feed has gone up by as much as 80% in some cases (some of it is flown in from China!!?) and the 36p per litre of organic milk received by the farmer now leaves him out of pocket. Farmers need prices to increase by at least 4p but the competitive nature of the nation's supermarkets makes that unlikely. I like the novel solution from a group of organic dairy farmers from around Britain who practice tai chi with their cows (in the same field rather than encouraging the cows to join in - apparently the milk has increased levels of wellbeing), who have launched a site called Chakra Checkout. Choose organic milk rather than a fizzy drink for example to help balance your Sahasrara or crown chakra, the solar plexus will benefit from more healthy foods so carrots are a good choice to increase personal power, sensitivity and joy while the heart chakra, Anahata is more in alignment when you choose items that are kinder to animals and people, like fair trade products. I am not an advocate of the dairy industry, preferring to drink nut, seed or soya milk instead but those green consumers who do drink organic milk would be best off buying from local farmers or through local shops. 

nut muffins

Ooh I love baking - even if my approach is usually a bit haphazard. I like to make things up according to what I flavours I fancy. Here is a sugar-free muffin recipe, adapted from a recipe by Tanya Barnard in How it All Vegan, which is really tasty and avoids that terrible nosedive that you can get from sugary snacks. Would like to be able to make a wheat-free alternative - haven't had much success with wheat-free flours, apart from using home ground nut flour in raw recipes which is delicious. 

150g flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarb

1/2 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp maple syrup or agave

2 tbsp psyllium husks in 4 tbsp water (If you can't find this at a health food shop, you can use a mashed banana instead)

150ml soya or nut milk soured with 3/4 tsp vinegar

4 tbsp oil

75g crushed macadamias

Sift flour, baking powder, bicarb and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add rest of the ingredients and mix until just mixed. Spoon into muffin tins or paper cake cases and bake for 15-20 mins at 200ºC, 400ºF or GM6. 

Like to load up the oven when I cook to increase the energy efficiency of this incredibly power-hungry appliance so made a courgette, pea and basil tart (most ingredients from the garden - thanks Mum for the courgette plant!) and some crunchy roast potatoes and beetroot at the same time. 

Have now finished work for the afternoon and am off on a bike ride with my two gorgeous girls. Yay!

five things you can do

Here are five simple things to do that will help to reduce carbon emissions: 

They are not very glamourous but will probably save you money as well as reducing your impact on the environment.

• Try and keep your fridge and freezer full (but not overcrowded) as this will use less electricity - fill space in the freezer with scrunched up paper or bubble wrap to stop warm air creeping in when the door is opened.

• Place a fiver on the seal of your fridge door and shut the door. If you can remove the money the seals on your fridge need replacing - cool air can escape through the gap and energy is wasted.

• Check the condenser coil on the back of your fridge - dusty or dirty ones waste energy. Give the coils a little tlc and you'll make your fridge more efficient.

• Obvious one this - but we have all lingered in front of the fridge trying to work out what to make for tea - keep the door shut and only open for very brief periods.

• Keep your fridge somewhere cool - if possible locate it out of direct sunlight and not near an oven or boiler, where it will have to work twice as hard. 

So, I'm off to shut some money in the fridge, raid the craft box for bubble wrap to stuff in the freezer and dust off my coils.

Next week we'll take a look at transport and ways in which we can all cut carbon (and save a few pennies). 

100 months...

According to new research published recently by the New Economics Foundation we have just 100 months left before greenhouse gases reach tipping point. That's eight years and four months to solve the pressing problem of climate change. One hundred months is a dark count down calendar launched this week. At last count we have 2,950 days to go. The Green New Deal, a group, which includes Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth and Colin Hines of Greenpeace have joined forces to tackle the nasty trident of accelerating climate change, the credit crunch and escalating fuel prices. They believe that action is necessary at local, national and global levels and have the following recommendations:

• huge investment in renewables

• creation of 'green collar' jobs

• building relationships between environmentalists, industry and agriculture.

That doesn't sound very accessible to me so I thought we could put together a short list of maybe five actions to take, to work towards a low carbon society. Then each week we'll post them up here and we can all get handwashing our dirty socks and making solar ovens together. Well, obviously not together but in our own little corners of the world and hopefully sharing with our families and friends until we are a majority of gorgeous greenies with slightly grubby socks and a penchant for sun-cooked food. If you have any blindingly good ideas or quite smart ones, let me know and I'll add them to next week's list. First list coming up soon...

climate camp

Peaceful protest at Kingsnorth power station, Kent officially started today. Kicking off a week of workshops, speakers and meetings protesters began arriving on Thursday night to take part in The Camp for Climate Action (CCA). This is a place for anyone who wants to take action on climate change; for anyone who's worried that the small steps that they are taking aren't enough to affect real change. Visitors who want to get involved are invited to come along and either camp for the week or join in for an hour's workshop. The site at Kingsnorth has been chosen to try and stop the building of new coal fired power stations. Plans are afoot to build a new power station which will emit between 6 and 8 million tonnes of CO2 every year. And that's just the beginning - six other coal power stations are planned around the country, which collectively would emit 50 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Burning coal is responsible for around one quarter of our global carbon dioxide emissions. One of the aims of the camp is to discuss alternatives ways to live on our planet whilst leaving fossil fuels (coal and oil) in the ground. Whilst the phase 'clean coal' is touted by energy companies, it is unfortunately an oxymoron - new coal fired power stations ARE slightly more energy efficient than the old ones, but the bottom line is still the quarter of global emissions caused by burning coal. CCA are keen to highlight the alternatives in the form of renewables and in fact solar panels have already sprung up to heat showers at the camp and windmills are planned to power computers, necessary for some of the workshops. The workshop programme is especially impressive boasting speakers such as George Monbiot and Caroline Lucas and hands on sessions such as how to bake a vegan cake. A children's tent with activities and fun is on offer for the whole week and families are always welcome, although there is some concern over police response to the camp, so many parents may feel unsafe about involving their children in the event. It all looks really exciting nevertheless - a self sustainable world growing in a field in Kent, complete with kitchen serving three delicious meals a day - and a chance to meet likeminded folk and work on solutions for the future.

kids encouraged to go wild

According to research by BBC Wildlife Magazine children prefer playing on the computer to playing in the countryside. The study which invited 700 school children to identify common native species and then quizzed the children on what their do in their spare time found that just half could identify a bluebell or a blue tit and 11% never visited the countryside. I was rather heartened by the findings that 78% of the children involved were allowed to play out on their own and that 79% had enjoyed an afternoon spent picking blackberries. But I am aware that many of the experiences that our children's generation has with nature can be sterile, contrived and not very wild at all. Which is why we have commissioned the wonderful Marina Robb, to write in our next issue about bringing our children back home to nature. She runs wilderness workshops for teens and is extremely well placed to write about the increasing disconnection from the natural world and how we can find our way back there. Dr. Martin Maudsley, the Outdoor Play Development Officer for Playwork Partnerships at the University of Gloucestershire (wonder what the plaque on his office door reads) has some good ideas too:

• Look for access to wild natural spaces for children - school grounds, community gardens, parks and reserves. 

• Help maintain and protect local wild spaces.

• Give children uninterrupted free time to explore these spaces.

• Let places go wild. Create areas of mud and dirt for digging and playing with mud.

• Be prepared and kit your children out with waterproofs and wellies etc.

Look out for the next issue of The Green Parent, on sale next month, for more ideas.

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new moon in leo

At 10:14 yesterday we entered the new moon in Leo. This is a time for big creativity, playfulness, passion and joy. It is a time for allowing your light to shine. Leo is a fire sign so this period can be great for connecting to your own inner fire, your passions, the things that drive you. On a physical level lighting a fire with friends or candle rituals can have extra potency around this time, feeling especially magical. The power of Leo can also have the effect of jolting you out of your daily life and encouraging you to take a leap of faith or to create a new path driven by your passions. Enjoy this fiery period and do share how it's affecting you here. For me the New Moon is the time when I feel I can really start to affect change and get any stagnant energies in my home (in particular) moving again. This period often heralds trips to the charity shop laden with boxes and a renewed interest in cleaning (noticeably absent the rest of the month).

harvest festivities

It's Lughnasadh or Lammas, the Pagan celebration of the harvest. I am planning a few crafty activities so I thought I'd share them. Traditionally our ancestors would have made corn dollies at this time to represent the Goddess, honour the crops and protect their home during the winter months. We have made these for years with varying degrees of success - often I am left struggling to make something recognisable with a pile of wheat sheaves whilst everyone else has moved onto more engaging activities. Such as eating. Bread was baked from the first harvest of the corn and lammas literally translates as loaf mass. So there'll be wafts of fresh bread aroma filling the kitchen, unfortunately not using the first corn harvest as we have none to gather. The bread will be part of a harvest feast, featuring those veggies that the chickens have left well alone - so lots of carrots and beans, a few peas and tomatoes and some edible flowers such as calendula and nasturtium. Oops, gotta go, will post more later...