Tips for a Waste Free Christmas

Happy New Year !

Well it is nearly 2015 and as we are enjoying a beautiful crisp winter day I went on a long walk and thought about my New Year's Resolutions.

At this time of year the amount of waste everywhere depresses me. In an attempt to reduce my home's contribution to the waste mountain I've been doing a few things I'd like to share with you.

1. During the year I buy lovely vintage table cloths and napkins from Charity Shops and wash and iron these so I have plenty for Christmas and I never have to buy paper napkins or cloths.

2. I grow my own tree.You can buy tiny Norway Spruces from Duchy Nurseries in Lostwithiel for about 50p.Buy 5 and plant them on your allotment or in a large container then you'll always have a tree for Christmas.

As you know that your tree hasn't been sprayed with any nasty chemicals you can use a sprig to make a lovely Christmas flavoured Vodka! Simply add a fresh sprig of Norway spruce to a small bottle of Vodka and leave for at least 2 weeks.

3.Use fabrics to wrap presents! Collect nice pieces of cotton fabric during the year and at Christmas wash and iron then before wrapping around your gifts and tying with ribbons.
The fabric can be re-sued indefinitely.

4.Make decorations! A lovely tutorial for origami stars which you can make from printed papers. Great fun for older children.
http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/5-pointed-origami-star.html

5. Some odours at Christmas time are very welcome but some are not! Please don't reach for a chemical 'air freshner' to cover up smells. This article explains just how harmful chemical sprays such as Febreze can be. Instead use natural essential oils mixed and dabbed onto a cotton ribbon or cord which you leave on a radiator or top of Aga.

http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/febreze.html

BBC Radio 4 - In Denial - Climate on the Couch

BBC Radio 4 - In Denial - Climate on the Couch



This addresses many issues around Climate Change and why so many of us chose to ignore the facts!It's 30 mins long.

The downfall of the plastic bag: A global picture : TreeHugger

The downfall of the plastic bag: A global picture : TreeHugger

Tiny Forest Home Made of Reclaimed Materials

Tiny Forest Home Made of Reclaimed Materials

Do Something Fantastic Cut the Plastic ! coming soon to Waitrose

We will soon be in the Waitrose store at Carkeel ( 12th May - 19th May) with our display boards and car stickers hopefully we'll be able to inspire shoppers to cut down on the plastic they use.

Say Hi if you see us and remember your bags!

Ideally we'd like to see shoppers bring their own bags rather than accept the supermarket bags and also to cut down on plastic packaging.

 

Lets stop This!

And This

 

If you have any ideas to Cut the Plastic please do email us; info@seasaltash.org.uk and we'll post them here!

 

BBC iWonder - Could you cut your energy bills by a third?

BBC iWonder - Could you cut your energy bills by a third?

Trip to Bodmin Recycling Center

On Tuesday 22nd April at 2pm -meet outside Leisure Center in Saltash.Please email us you'd like to come and discover the latest news on recycling in Cornwall.

Last Week in Victoria Gardens

We have been busy!

Do go and have a look at our new sign in the gardens and our Key hole bed which is full of lovely Bee friendly plants.

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Lucas deserves a medal, not a criminal record, for opposing fracking | Ken Livingstone | Comment is free | theguardian.com

Caroline Lucas deserves a medal, not a criminal record, for opposing fracking | Ken Livingstone | Comment is free | theguardian.com

Ways to Save Money & Time | Love Food Hate Waste

Ways to Save Money & Time | Love Food Hate Waste

(1) My Plastic-free Life facebook page

(1) My Plastic-free Life

Chasing Ice 5th March 7.15pm Guildhall Saltash

What to do with your plastic!

I personally found the film TRASHED a bit too short on solutions on how we can help by not putting plastic into landfill or incinerators.

I thought of some ideas and and quickly blogging them this morning.

1.First make some doorstops using unwanted clothes or curtain fabric -Find a stone or rock that will fit into the doorstop and after washing wrap it in plastic -use food packaging or plastic bags cut up to stuff the doorstop before sewing up -you can make these in any shape you like but here is a very easy shape that anyone can make!

Sew your own pyramid doorstop  - Better Homes and Gardens - Yahoo!7

If you want to use up even more plastic what about making a pouf!!! Simply fill the fabric/knitted pouf with all of your unwanted plastic- this will take a considerable amount believe me.









2. Leave your plastic at the shop- if we all did this we would be forcing shops to change how they sell stuff.It costs them money to 'dispose' of rubbish.

Take your own bags AND a flat bottomed shopping basket or box.If you do this you can use plastic bottles/large food containers to divide up space and then fill these with the loose veg you have removed packaging from.This is a very posh version which I have blogged the link to.

3.Instead of buying cosmetics/toothpaste etc. in plastic tubes make your own! Use a basic recipie for face cream/cleanser and add drops of essential oils that suit your skin type and age; I like frankensense which is pricey but will last at least a year.

It is possible to buy good creams and lotions in glass jars but one thing I cannot find is toothpaste so here is a recipe to make your own!

Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste Ingredients:

• 5 parts Calcium powder or Calcium Magnesium Powder
• 1 part Diatomaceous Earth (optional- contains trace minerals and silica. UPDATE: A reader noted that DE can be abrasive and is not needed with the baking soda, so if you don’t have DE… no worries!)
• 2 parts Baking Soda
• 3 parts Xylitol Powder- This ingredient is not completely necessary, but just keeps it from tasting bitter.
• 3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture
• Optional ingredients: Essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon, and orange are all good), Grapefruit Seed Extract, Myrrh and Trace Minerals

[Note: To keep things simple, I just use a teaspoon or tablespoon, depending on the size batch I'm making, so the above recipe would read 5 TBSP calcium powder, 2 TBSP Baking Soda, etc.]

2. Add Coconut Oil one part at a time until you get desired consistency.

3. Add any optional ingredients, including Essential Oils for flavor (my favorite is Peppermint Orange)

4. Store in small container like 1/2 pint glass jar. To use, either dip clean toothbrush into it, or use Popsicle stick or spoon to put on toothbrush. I’ve also thought of storing in a plastic bag with a corner cut off to be able to squeeze like toothpaste, but haven’t tried it yet

Homemade Laundry Detergent - The Original and Best Recipe

Homemade Laundry Detergent - The Original and Best Recipe



try making your own soap powder - I used 'fairy soap' or even supermarket soap.

Purse Organizer Insert With Adjustable Dividers | Free Pattern & Tutorial at CraftPassion.com - Part 2

Purse Organizer Insert With Adjustable Dividers | Free Pattern & Tutorial at CraftPassion.com - Part 2

Cut fossil fuel subsidies, not foreign aid, for flood victims relief | Campaigns by You

Cut fossil fuel subsidies, not foreign aid, for flood victims relief | Campaigns by You

Cut fossil fuel subsidies, not foreign aid, for flood victims relief | Campaigns by You

Cut fossil fuel subsidies, not foreign aid, for flood victims relief | Campaigns by You

This is what Climate change means FOR US!!! Its not happening in Africa or some far-flung island its in Somerset

Since the storms struck a month ago, there have been fears that floods would inundate septic tanks and sewerage systems.

Farmer James Winslade, 40, whose 790 acres have been underwater since New Year’s Day, described the squalor.

“We’ve got 95 per cent of the farm under water, ranging from 2ft to 10ft deep. The wind’s behind the water and we’ve got waves crashing in.

 

 

 

“Two sewerage farms and all the septic tanks from the villages have flooded. We’ve got raw sewerage and syringes and tampons, you name it, washing up against the house.

 

“We can’t let the children out anymore because of the smell and the contamination.”

Mr Sadler, a member of campaign group Flooding on the Levels Action Group (Flag), said he now overlooks a lake where his garden used to be.

 

from express newspaper

What if we change - documentary on ecosystem restoration

Sometimes we need hope!

TRASHED trailer (2012) - Environmental documentary with Jeremy Irons

Trashed

Come and see Trashed a new film with Jeremy Irons

12th February 7.15pm at THE SALTASH GUILDHALL, FORE STREET SALTASH,CORNWALL - contributions welcome on door