How Supporting Local Businesses Helps the Environment and Your Community
If I need a part to fix my van, there are two ways I can get it. I can order it online, wait for it to arrive, and hope that…
How to Avoid Greenwashing and Spot the Brands That Are Faking It
Products claiming to save the planet line the shelves. Eco. Sustainable. Carbon neutral. Ethically made. Greenwash, greenwash, everywhere. Look closer. Behind those claims is a troubling lack of transparency, consistency,…
Community Supported Agriculture in the UK and How to Join a CSA Scheme
Is there life beyond the supermarket when it comes to shopping for veg? Can we source really fresh food without plastic packaging, dubious transport miles and the detachment that supermarket…
Sustainable Living With Kids and Making It Work Without Making It Miserable
Going green when you’ve got kids doesn’t mean transforming your house into an eco monastery or dedicating your Saturday mornings to lecturing your six year old about carbon footprints and…
Seasonal Eating in the UK and What’s Actually Available Month by Month
Seasonal eating sounds easy until you try and work out what you should actually be eating. Looking at peppers shipped from Israel and pineapples from Ghana in a British supermarket,…
The Benefits of Sustainable Living and What You Actually Gain Besides a Clear Conscience
You’ll see loads of articles online telling you how living sustainably will make you feel good about yourself. Well that’s great, but also doesn’t really help if you’re sat there…
Minimalism and Sustainability and Whether Owning Less Really Helps the Planet
I’ve seen minimalism touted as the solution to all environmental problems lately. Buy less stuff, lower impact, case closed. It makes sense too – fewer possessions means fewer goods being…
The Problem With Food Miles and Why Distance Isn’t the Whole Story
Food miles are the sustainability obsession we all think we know about. Add up how far your avocado flew, feel guilty about the lamb from New Zealand, buy local where…
The Best Paint Finishes and Techniques for Upcycled Furniture
When I first moved into my house six years ago I started upcycling furniture because buying everything new was expensive and would have resulted in every room furnished from the…
Farmers Markets and How to Make Them Work With a Normal Weekly Budget
Forgive my bluntness, but farmers markets aren’t for everyone. They’re expensive weekend outings for middle-class people with time to kill. If that sounds rude let me clarify: they’re not *entirely*…
Sustainable Living in a Rented Property and What You Can Change Without a Landlord’s Permission
Renting. It’s practically another word for “having terrible energy efficiency”. Okay, maybe we’re exaggerating slightly. After all, nearly half of all private rental homes in England do currently have an…
Growing Your Own Food and the Easiest Things to Start With in a UK Garden
Digging, planting seeds and nurturing plants until you can eat food you grew yourself is rewarding on a level beyond just “I did this”. Beyond the warm fuzzies feels good…
The Complete Guide to Starting a Sustainable Lifestyle in the UK
TL;DR: New here? Start here >> Stop worrying about what you can’t change. Instead, take three high-impact actions: measure your household food waste for two weeks (average families throw away…
The Complete Guide to Buying Local and Supporting Your Community
TL;DR: Three Simple Steps > There are three simple steps to start buying local. The steps expand on this guide. > > 1. Map your current weekly spend on food…
How to Start Composting at Home and the Setup That Works for Any Space
There’s something quietly pleasing about transforming yesterday’s vegetable peelings into dark crumbly soil that makes other things grow. I started composting thirty years ago, before it got trendy and everyone…