mygreenlifestyle July 2009 ecofashion chic summer collection mygreenpromotions All offers close on 31 July 2009 Win an OWL eco makeover Paddywax The Paddywax Eco Range offers a premium quality, environmentally sound alternative to the usual paraffin based candle. It features a soy wax blend with 14 entrancing, natureinspired fragrances, using natural fragrance oils ranging from the delicious Pomegranate and Currant to the inspired Sandalwood and Clover and features a 45 hour burn time. Stockists; www.paddywax.co.uk. Save money and the environment with the new OWL energy saving range. After the success of the original OWL wireless electricity monitor, there is now a whole range of energy saving devices for the home. We have the entire set to give away which includes The OWL Micro, which can save the average household up to £125 a year, the OWL USB Connect, the OWL Multiple Power Saver Strips (with a Remote Control), the OWL Battery Mains Charger and the OWL USB Charger. For more information on OWL and to order OWL products please visit: www.theowl.com Paddywax have teamed up with mygreenlifestyle to offer 10 lucky readers the chance to get their hands on one of these lovely fragrant candles absolutely free. Just email to [email protected] subject line: Paddywax Candle. Owl has teamed up with mygreenlifestyle to give readers a chance to win the whole range of products, which is worth over £100; simply email us to [email protected] subject line: Owl.... Method ­we all clean like heck and smell like heaven! Method have brought style to nontoxic, environmentally friendly homecare. Products include all purpose sprays, microfibres, gel hand washes, specialist wipes and sprays for granite, wood, glass, leather and stainless steel, bowl patrol for your loo, tub scrub, daily shower spray, tub `n' tile flushable wipes etc, and baby and kid range. Method products are available in major supermarkets, small independents and Selfridges and Whole Foods. www.methodproducts.co.uk Method earns cradle to cradle sm certification on green cleaning products and have teamed up with mygreenlifestyle to offer 4 lucky readers each the chance to win £25 worth of eco friendly household cleaners. To be in with a chance, please email [email protected] subject line: METHOD. Contents 5 16 Features 14 5 9 13 14 16 9 Regulars interiors mystyle myhealth&wellbeing food&drink outdoors myleisure eco issues mygreenwedding mygreentravel mygreendirectory 5 8 10 14 16 19 21 23 27 33 The eco conservatory ­ stuck in a property rut? Make the best of it and add value to your home Myfashion chic ­ our eco summer fashion show The best sunscreens ­ kind to your skin and protect from the sun BBQ ­ make the most of the long sunny days Self sufficiency a step too far? ­ Here's how to have the best of both worlds Welcome Well, I've been making good use of this excellent weather to do the things that just weren't possible last summer. I wish there were more hours in the day, because there's still a lot of catching up to do. My significant other and I are keen hillwalkers and for 3 years we have been planning to get to the top of Moel Siabod in Snowdonia. We haven't made it yet, but I think it has to be this year! We are about to take off to tour the near continent taking only a nylon tent and a few utensils. Yes we probably are mad, but it will be fun. I love this month's magazine. The fashion pages are so tempting, there are so many of those summer clothes I would love to own, feel free to indulge yourselves, they all have `green' credentials. If you are stuck in a property rut not being able to sell your house, don't despair. A new conservatory will help to create space, and when the time is right to sell, you'll make your home more appealing and more saleable. We've also some funky conservatory furniture for those who like something a little different. What about this for reusing we caught sight of this telephone box whilst on our travels; it is on the Llanuwchllyn recycled railway station in Wales. What a great way to create an attractive object from an obsolete piece of yesterday? Yvonne Ainsworth Editor Credits EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Yvonne Ainsworth [email protected] ACCOUNTS Patrick Ewing [email protected] DESIGN CF Graphic Design [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Dirty Nails P.H.Ewing FRONT COVER www.nomadsclothing.com The nontraditional route to furnishing your conservatory Everyday waste objects cheekily turned into stylish yet functional objects! Reestore take everyday waste objects and cheekily turn them into charming yet functional pieces of furniture and accessories. Managing Director Max McMurdo is keen to stress that environmental consideration need not compromise the aesthetics and desirability of reestore's products, in fact where possible they try to avoid traditional eco materials in favour of contemporary finishes, fabrics and above all style. Their products are created with as many eco design principles as possible, reclaimed trolleys, reject barrows, space saving hanging chairs, stools with recycling capabilities. Their waste is recycled, suppliers vetted and they only boil enough water for one cuppa at a time. www.reestore.com Julia Krantz designs From Silvia Nayla, Notting Hill destination store for contemporary Brazilian design, comes a new piece from Julia Krantz. Krantz's environmentally consciousness designs are carefully crafted from light FSC Brazilian woods, combining natural, organic materials with a modern design atheistic. www.phyllislwaters.com Loire Garden Bench Stunning country furniture from eco design house one eco home. The French countryside is dotted with falling down farm buildings built from ancient oak. This range saves their old beams and turns them into contemporary pieces of furniture full of character and history for indoor or out. Handmade to order. www.oneecohome.co.uk Can't sell but need more space? Here's a grand way to solve the problem! Alitex Conservatories combine horticultural knowledge from over 50 years of building bespoke greenhouses with the company's engineering expertise. The conservatories, made from recycled aluminium, are energy efficient designs that uniquely provide the optimum balance of heat, light and ventilation for plants, whilst meeting the living needs of people as well. Conservatories are custom made to suit the individual's living and growing needs and are available in any colour with prices starting at £25,000. Alitex conservatories are like no other, they have the ventilation you would expect from a greenhouse combined with sophisticated heating systems to keep people warm in thewinter and cool in the summer. Visit the website www.alitex.co.uk Fair Trade The Fair Trade Furniture Company has launched a collection of contemporary furniture that is so comfortable you simply won't want to get up. The wovenframe sofas are finished with filled duck feather cushions for an extremely comfortable and relaxing experience. They are also available in a neutral coloured Fair Trade certified and organic cotton fabric. www.fairtradefurniture.co.uk Elegant Lounge Furniture Gloster's Sorrento, allinclusive collection of eleg styled dining and lounge furniture includes cushi glass table tops as standard. Completely weathe and easy to clean, Sorrento is curvaceous and su comfortable. It is handwoven and wrapped arou lightweight aluminium frames topped with showe cushions. www.gloster.com a ntly ons and rproof premely nd r proof Oak Using dryseasoned oak, Indigo furniture have created a completely unique range of oak products that look, smell and stand as proudly in the home as when it was a tree. The oak they use has been dried for 5 years, and continues to dry with character creating a totally unique piece of Indigo furniture. All their timber is sourced from sustainable forests. This means the tree used in your product has been replaced and the forest managed in a sustainable way. www.indigofurniture.co.uk rought Iron If you looking for something with that lived in look, these sturdy wrought iron tables from LASSCO (London Architectural Salvage & Supply Co) could fit the bill. www.lassco.co.uk W Try this! mystyle Funky Watering Cans We love these funky garden watering cans from the ethical online home and garden company Love Thy Space. Made from recycled iron with lead free soldering, each watering can is hand painted and comes in three designs: cow, pig and flamingo, holding around three litres of water. The cans retail at £19.50 and are available online by visiting www.lovethyspace.co.uk. Skin Secret New from the Bellingham Soap Company comes their virtually oil free all natural rejuvenating plant nutrient fluid with organic sea buckthorn, calendula, collagen and a very secret blend of essential oils. The carefully chosen ingredients protect and moisturise whilst giving a slight temporary lifting effect... this makes it the perfect under makeup base. www.bellinghamsoapcompany.co.uk £24 Green Trading GET some summer arm candy with a gorgeous collection of reusable bags, in the most delicious designs from GreenTrading.co.uk Cool Bottle Cooler Don't let the sun warm up your cool refreshments. The Soul Bottle Cooler is a perfect BBQ or picnic accessory to keep your wine cool! Ecofriendly, as are all Soul products, it is made from unbleached organic cotton. The bottle cooler is available in two designs £9.99 from www.souluk.com. Tested On Film Stars, Not On Animals Tara Smith's range of hair products are free from Parabens, artificial colouring, synthetic fragrances and animal derivatives. They have a swing tag impregnated with wild flower seeds so you can plant it and it will grow! Tested on film stars but with a realistic price tag, Tara's hair care products are available from larger Tesco stores. my eco chic Nomads Clothing www.nomadsclothing.com Eco fashion chic... with no guilty feelings We've brought together some top summer designs here. Clothes made with care and respect for the environment. Garments made using natural, organic fabrics that are fairly traded without exploitation of workers. Recycled, remade outfits avoiding landfill that are on their second or third outing. All these clothing brands have some of these credentials. Go to their websites to see how these businesses have built up a reputation for going that extra mile to create something special. eco chic Stewartand Brown www.stewartbrown.com the si:su range www.greentrading.co.uk Article 23 www.article23.com DANI ­ by Lolita Karma www.swishing.co.uk swop2shop www.swop2shop.co.uk Miksa www.ethicalheaven.com Boutique Ethique collections www.boutiqueethique.co.uk eco chic Makepiece SS09 collection www.makepiece.co.uk Frank & Faith/Roshanak Salim www.purewomenswear.co.uk Miksa www.ethicalheaven.com Nomads Clothing www.nomadsclothing.com Papillon Bleu www.papillonbleu.com Credau www.credau.com myhealth&wellbeing HAYBAND Puts Hay Fever Symptoms Under Pressure. For hay fever sufferers in the UK, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the answer in the shape of HayBand. Based on the principles of acupuncture, HayBand is a specially designed acupressure elbow band that can provide rapid, lasting and costeffective hay fever relief. Drugfree, HayBand does not cause side effects such as drowsiness associated with some hay fever medicines. It is safe for use by both adults and children. From Lloyds Pharmacy £9.99 or visit www.hayband.co.uk Spent ­ Dr Frank Lipman with Mollie Doyle. `Essential reading for anyone exhausted by modern life.' Gwyneth Paltrow Do you feel unusually tired most of the time, even after a full night's sleep? Are you losing weight? Does your mind race even when you're physically exhausted? Spent syndrome is modern exhaustion. It's how you feel when your batteries are low. It comes from eating the wrong foods, not getting enough sleep, over or underexercising, being bombarded by environmental toxins and emotional stress. In his revolutionary new book, Dr. Lipman connects the dots between this constellation of symptoms, offering a proven solution to combat this pervasive syndrome. Spent offers answers to the problem that millions of people face: how to step back and cope with the pressures of a nonstop life. Available from www.cultbeauty.co.uk Desperately seeking organ donors Today more than 9,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their life, but less than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year. Transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine. But they depend entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to make this lifesaving gift to others. Last year more than 400 people died while waiting for a transplant. One in ten people waiting for a heart transplant will die and many others will lose their lives before they even get on to the waiting list. How to become a donor: Telephone the hotline number, 0300 123 23 23 or you can register on this website; www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_ to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp Swine Flu ­ hand sanitiser recipe. To help prevent the spread of flu viruses Julie of Potions and Possibilities advises the use of a hand sanitiser to cleanse your hands and to prevent germs from spreading. To make your own credit crunch hand sanitiser, mix 100ml of vodka (try Lidl for quality at a low price) and add 10ml of premium quality Tea Tree and 25ml of water. Store in a handy spray bottle, or soak cotton wool pads and carry them around in a waterproof container. The essential oils mentioned above are available for purchase at www.potions.co.uk Carrying the card is a great start, but to be a registered organ donor you need to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Baring all to the sun without protection is foolhardy, we all know that, but what toxins are in the lotions that are intended to protect our skin? We have sourced some sunscreens that have been formulated with natural ingredients, without the added nasties. Yaoh Organic Hemp Seed Oil Sun Block combines the natural protective, moisturising and rejuvenating qualities of organic hemp seed oil with the most effective sunblocks to produce a safe and protective lotion that is crueltyfree, free from parabens, harmful substances and unnecessary chemical additives. Available in 2 factors, SPF 30 and SPF 15, both offer UVA and UVB protection, from independent health stores nationwide. www.yaoh.co.uk lavera Sun sensitiv range from lavera natural cosmetics. lavera's Sun range is pursefriendly and offers SPF's 10, 15 and 20, as well as products specifically formulated for babies, children and sensitive skin. After sun and self tanning lotions complete the range. www.lavera.co.uk Natural products JASON natural products and skin care range has strived to produce only pure, carefully balanced products that contain the highest quality, naturally sourced ingredients, known to be skin compatible and proven effective. JASON natural products contain the finest foodgrade, natural, organic and nutritional ingredients that deliver topical benefits to the hair and skin. Available www.biggreensmile.com The Ultimate Summer Bodyguard Yin Yang PHAmino Gold Defence Lotion Fortified with Wheat Germ Oil, rich in the amino acid Methionine, known to help combat the effects of radiation, ideal for natural protection from the sun. Price: £16.00 Stockists: Revital Ltd, Victoria Health, ABC Pharmacy, Advanced Nutrition, Ainsworths Homoeopathic Pharmacy and Dennis Gore Chemists. mmer Su Sheepdrove's BBQ hampers `from the box to the coals'. Sheepdrove Organic Farm has launched a range of barbeque meat hampers which takes the leg work out of buying and preparing your alfresco summer BBQs. Sheepdrove Hampers really do deliver a great variety of quality meats of generous proportions, reared on the award winning farm under the highest levels of animal welfare. Small family Price: £22.00 (per hamper) · Chicken Drumsticks · Beef Burgers · Marinated Lamb Kebabs · BBQ Steaks · Pack of 6 Pork Sausages · Organic Tomato Sauce Growing family Price: £30.00 (per hamper) · Chicken Drumsticks · Beef Burgers · Pork and Apple Burgers · Marinated Lamb Kebabs · Marinated Pork Kebabs · BBQ Steaks · Pack of 6 Pork Sausages · Organic Tomato Sauce The hampers are delivered nationwide, direct to customers. www.sheepdrove.co.uk d chefs have ter butcher an e "Our mas to produce th ked together wor burgers and ixture of cuts, perfect m d together e flavours blen sausages. Th prepared ly and the pre superb s a quick e meat ensure nature of th rbeque." and simple ba Compliment your BBQ with some of the best refreshing organic cider and fruit juices money can buy. Heron Valley Organic are a family business and believe in only putting the best whole organic fruit in their drinks. No concentrates, water or sugars find their way into their juices, only ever whole organic apples, hand washed and pressed, before being bottled by hand and pasteurised. www.heronvalley.co.uk Hillfarm Oils champions British extra virgin rapeseed oil, and challenges consumers to `swap the olive' Hillfarm extra virgin rapeseed oil is a delicious, non GM culinary oil, containing more vitamin E, 11x more natural Omega 3 than olive oil, and the lowest saturated fat content of any other oil on the market. Delicious for all round oil for dressings, baking, roasting and stir frying. Why go to the Mediterranean and back when you can taste the goodness of a British Omega lower fat alternative right here on your own doorstep. Stockists include: Waitrose selected Sainsbury's and Tesco's, Asda (East Anglia), Morrisons (Norfolk), local farm shops and Deli's throughout the UK. For more please visit www.hillfarmoils.com Candela Portable Lights You won't realise how useful and fun these little lights are until you've charged them up and they're ready to go. Once charged they'll conserve their energy for you to use when you need it and because they're portable you can take them anywhere. Available from www.loveeco.co.uk Scorching Barbeque Tips from Love Food Hate Waste Knowing how much food to cook for a crowd, and storing leftovers, can be tricky. Did you know that we throw away 1.2 million sausages and over 2 million bread rolls every day? Both of which make ideal barbeque grub. Unsure of how much to cook? Why not try Love Food Hate Waste's perfect portion online calculator at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ perfect_portions? Living... The Good Life It's been a few years since Tom and Barbara Good embarked upon a life of self sufficiency. It seemed rather novel at the time, Tom Good having come to the conclusion there was more to life than slogging himself to death for his employer, a number of people identified with him and set off in the same direction. That was over thirty years ago, and here we are again. These days it's more a desire to be aware of what we're eating as well as reducing our carbon footprint. For some who are victims of the recession, a way to provide food for the table. The Urban Farmer's Handbook Paul Peacock ­ The Urban Farmer's Handbook, believes that in time the nations farming industry will not be able to sustain its growing population and we will have to be responsible for the food we eat, thought provoking stuff, but he has a point. Paul's book shows how we can grow our own food on very little space, and how if we have a little land or an allotment we can become quite self sufficient. His book is very informative on the day to day running of an urban garden to a smallholding with livestock. The Good Life Press Ltd £14.99 Self Sufficientish Weekend If you would you like to know more about being a bit more selfsufficient in an urban setting, discover how to forage for `wild' food, find free fuel, light a camp fire, like to know more about what food is worth growing in your garden, small space, or window box. Or discover how to make a little, of anything, go a long way, make less feel like more and still enjoy life, then join Dave and Andy Hamilton, and the Lower Shaw Farm Team, on 31 ­ 2 August at Lower Shaw Farm, Swindon, Wiltshire Tel: 01793 771080 or vist www.lowershawfarm.co.uk. £120 Adult, Child £75. An ecoliving guide for the 21st centruy In The Self Sufficientish Bible, Andy & Dave Hamilton talk of taking the `middle path', between the pure rural idyll and modern hitech consumerism. "We all have a choice and it's perfectly possible to lead a more environmentally friendly, more ethical and more self sufficient life without leaving the modern world behind entirely" As selfsufficientish consumers, before they buy they ask themselves; do I really need this? Can I get it free or second hand? Is it locally produced? Is it organic? Is it Fairtrade? Then it's all down to making choices. Their book The Self Sufficientish Bible, covers everything from making a patchwork quilt, an eco home makeover to making jam from the fruit you have grown. www.selfsufficientish.com Published Hodder & Stoughton £30 Hodder & Stoughton £30 Just remember... It's important to understand before you go out and buy that pig and those chickens just how time consuming this way of life is. Yes there is nothing to beat milking your own goat, collecting eggs, eating the most organic fresh food, it all sounds very idyllic, but it requires hard work and total commitment. If you decide you'd like to take a holiday, get away from it all, it's not that simple. You can't put a pig in the kennels. And then there are the neighbours, if you have them, they can make it difficult for you if you don't consider them. Check out legislation on livestock, there are some limitations. You do need to read up before you dive in. Having said all that, it is hugely rewarding way of life! On the allotment Harvesting Garlic with Dirty Nails This week check your garlic to see if it`s ready for harvesting. Yellowing tops indicate ripening bulbs underground and are the cue for lifting. Insert a fork to the full length of its tines (or prongs) and lever upwards to expose the aromatic bulbs. These can be laid out on dry ground in the sunshine for a week or two to completely ripen off, or tied in bunches of halfadozen or so plants and hung up in a covered airy place. I prefer to season my garlic this way because then I don't have to worry about whether or not it is going to rain. Also the sight of shallots, Radar onions and garlic hanging under the shed eaves is enormously pleasing. They represent some of the first crops to be harvested and brought into store. Working with Nature Having staved off a blackfly attack on my springsown broad beans in early June by pinching out the tender growing tips, I am unconcerned by a return in force of the tiny sapsucking insect pests. There is no need to take action against them for now. The broads have podded up nicely lower down so no damage will be done to these. Allowing blackfly to remain on a crop where they can effect no harm is advantageous. Not only does it keep them off other susceptible veggies nearby but their natural enemies such as ladybirds and lacewings can have a good old feast and increase their numbers accordingly. This helps to maintain a well balanced predator / prey relationship in the garden. How to Grow Your Own Food by Dirty Nails is available from bookshops and www.dirtynails.co.uk priced £10.99. Copyright, Joe Hashman June 2009 Salad producers are going back to nature to keep harmful pests off their crops by bulk buying ladybirds and other creepy crawlies. Producers are releasing the insects into their glasshouses as natural alternatives to harsh chemical sprays. The insects, which include ladybird larvae and wasps, eat pests such as greenfly, whitefly and mealy bug. The new approach is delivering tomatoes, peppers and even strawberries and raspberries without the need for chemicals. Pick Your Own ­ but carefully! It's the time to get out in the fields and pick a punnet or two of your favourite fruit. It' a great feeling when there's an abundance of fruit and vegetables, to gather up as much as you can carry, and then when you get home wonder what on earth you are going to do with it all. Then you goto the local supermarket and find to your horror the fruit is cheaper there. There are a number of things to consider here. Firstly where the supermarket fruit originated you may discover it has been sourced locally so the fruit you have so conscientiously picked is no fresher, nor local, than your supermarkets', and it's more expensive. Supermarkets have enormous bargaining power, they source locally and offer great deals. The other important thing to consider is is the fruit organic? PYO fruit farms have a small season, they need to maximise the full potential of their produce by using pesticides. PYO farms are also closely situated to farms that spray pesticides on crops and as we all know it is taken on the wind, so be aware. But then if you enjoy a day out in the fields, like to hand select your produce and would prefer to support your local PYO farm, then it's a no brainer. Quick n' easy Strawberry Jam Visit this web site to find out where the nearest PYO organic farm is in your area. www.wellbeingdirectory .co.uk/id308.html Rowse Honey steps up the campaign to `save our honey bees' by giving away free wildflower seeds! With the continuing decline in honey bee populations and the creature's vital importance to pollinate the food which we eat, Rowse Honey is giving away free wildflower seeds on Rowse Blossom Honey jars to help attract honey bees into the nation's gardens. To receive a free packet of bee friendly seeds, simply buy a delicious promotional jar of Rowse Blossom Honey to obtain a unique online code. Log onto www. rowsehoney.co.uk/ seeds and Rowse will do the rest! Makes approx 3 jars 1kg/2lb strawberries, hulled 1kg granulated sugar The juice and zest of 1 lemon n Place the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest into a saucepan. n Simmer very gently over a low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and boil rapidly for 10 minutes. n Do the wrinkle test, don't be afraid to continue to boil if the jam has not set. n Remove it from the heat and leave in the pan for 10 minutes to ensure even distribution of fruit and juice. n Spoon into sterilised jars, seal and allow to cool. Store in the fridge or a cool place. myleisure A Great Day Out in the Heart of England Courses at Ryton include `Permaculture for Beginners', Thursday 30th July 2009. To secure a place, telephone our bookings team on: (024) 7621 7717, or further details on any course, visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk Xero Designer Electric Scooters ­ zero road tax, zero parking charges, zero congestion charge! XERO's new fleet of designer scooters provide an affordable yet green solution to inner city transportation, as not only do electric vehicles significantly reduce CO2 emissions but also do not produce urban air or noise pollution. Exempt from road tax, congestion charges and parking charges (throughout most of cities), the XERO fleet of bikes are as hassle free as they are economical. Running 50 miles with a speed of 30mph on the XERO eScooter, the electricity charges for XERO bikes equate to as little as 1p per mile. The XERO eScooter Hybrid model is selfcharging, using both the engine and electric motor from 518mph, and then recharging the battery on speeds over 18mph. This gives the benefits of a lower emission vehicle, with the advantages of a longerrange motorcycle. Prices start from £1,499. www.xeroelectricvehicles.com Don't let baby hold you back... SnugBaby lets you carryon regardless SnugBaby's carrier collection, includes seven stunning new designs, and exudes luxury whilst promoting the benefits of attachment parenting. Each SnugBaby baby carrier is reversible and comes in an eclectic mix of contemporary designs. For easy transportation and storage, the carrier comes in a coordinating tote bag. The carrier allows for multiple carrying positions; on the front, back and hip and a selfadjusting seat, assuring baby's comfort and safety. Retails £63.99 from www.snugbaby.co.uk Set in the Warwickshire countryside Garden Organic Ryton was recently voted 3rd Best Garden to Visit in the Central England region in a nationwide Gardeners' World poll. This makes it Number 1 garden to visit in the Midlands! There is something for everyone at Garden Organic Ryton in its delightful setting in the Heart of England. Gardeners, lovers of good food, shoppers, children and those simply looking for a relaxing day out will want to visit Ryton time and time again! It 's all in the bottle! Hydropol THE HYDROPOL a reusable filtered water bottle that makes tap water taste as good as bottled water. If you love drinking water at work but hate the chlorine taste of your tap water, or the plasticky taste of the standard water bottles, this is for you. Fillable straight from any tap or water cooler, it's all natural filter removes chlorine, odours and any waterborn solids, leaving just the clean, pure taste of fresh water every sip. It's also 100% safe with an allnatural filter and no nasty BPA chemicals. Made from 35% recycled plastic and made in the UK. The self sealing valve gives you an instant fast flow with no contact...just point and squeeze. www.greenstamp.co.uk Belu Belu is an environmentally friendly bottled company and works on the premise of donating 100% profits to charity. It has set up and funded numerous clean water projects abroad in India, Mali, Madagascar and Bangladesh as well as the latest project in Rajasthan, which involves rebuilding a 400 year old dam that will create a rainwater reservoir providing water to a community of over 13,874 people. Belu has developed the first biodegradable bottle, and the company, the product and the production chain are all 100% carbon neutral. www.belu.org Free Watercare Pack from Ecover International songstress Natalie Imbruglia has joined forces with Ecover, to create a compelling video that explores the environmental importance of the global water cycle. The short film explains how our actions in the UK can impact on the rest of the world and is packed with useful tips from Natalie on how to reduce water consumption. The film supports Ecover's unique partnership with international charity, WaterAid which provides sustainable and ongoing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to the people in Ethiopia. To help you do your bit Ecover is offering a free hippo water saver for your toilet as well as tips on how to save water and reduce water pollution. Simply visit www.ecoverwateraid.com/natalie The Italian Connection This fairytale castle located in the Florentine hills far away from the madding crowd is beautifully located. Access to the castello is down a long and winding road through the woodlands which surround it. Beautifully tucked away with outstanding views the castello offers its clients the space for enjoying al fresco ceremonies and dining, and in case of bad weather promises not to let them down by the interiors. They suggest the ceremony is held on the lawn and the welcome cocktails on the terrace in the garden. Romantic dinner in the Courtyard with candles and torches all around. During the evening, guests can stroll around the Courtyard, the drawingrooms with its original furniture, frescoes and armoury with antique arms. After dinner and dancing in the garden, one can visit the terrace with a stupendous view over Florence... www.italianconnection.co.uk www.weddingsmadeinitaly.co.uk mygreenwedding magazine 2009 `Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Lifechanging......? For couples who want their wedding to make a lasting impression, UNICEF UK's Big Day List offers a wedding list with a difference: the gift of life to the world's most vulnerable children. Make your big day lifechanging for children and families worldwide, with UNICEF UK's Big Day List Too many toasters? Plenty of pans? How about polio vaccines for 100 children instead? For many couples, choosing a wedding list when they already have everything they need is just another unwanted stress in the lead up to the big day. But, UNICEF UK's Big Day List offers the bride and groom the chance to cut the clutter and dedicate their wedding list to helping vulnerable children around the world. The list is easy to set up online and the bride and groom can choose the gift items they want to include. For each gift purchased the happy couple receive either an eGreeting or a greeting card with a photograph, description and personalised message to mark the occasion. For more information, or to set up your own Big Day List go to; www.unicef.org.uk/bigdaylist Caroline and Matthew's `Green Day' `I wanted my wedding day to be as ethical as possible without sacrificing any of the glamour' says newlywed Caroline Flint. Matthew has the same values as me, so he was also keen to have an ethical wedding,' she says. Her ethical checklist included homemade wedding invitations on recycled paper, a chiffon dress made by a local dressmaker, a tiara made by a local artist, homemade jewellery, a wedding menu which included locally sourced food and of course Fairtrade drinks. At her wedding, guests enjoyed Fairtrade wine, coffee and tea. Her bouquet had Fairtrade red roses from Kenya, bought from her local Waitrose. These were mixed with white roses from her garden and other locally sourced flowers. Her wedding list also included Fairtrade bed linen and bathroom sundries. `The catering company were more than happy to serve Fairtrade tea and coffee. In fact, they switched to Fairtrade after our wedding.' Caroline says her wedding day was as special and ethical as she had hoped. It was my day and not about spending lots of money or exploiting people from developing countries. I could never have worn a shopbought dress, which might have been made in a sweatshop that used child labour The whole wedding came to £10,000 without any of the glamour being lost. Everything from food, drinks, my dress and the flowers were unique and beautiful. And it feels great that I was also doing my bit to save the planet and help other people.' Vintage Wedding Dresses The Vintage Wedding Dress Company presents a unique collection of stunning vintage pieces. A rare and diverse selection of gorgeous gowns and accessories, from Victorian right through to the early 1970s, is brought together at our private Central London showroom. All dresses are beautifully cleaned and restored and can be tailored for you to a couture finish. For those who want to wear something completely original on their big day, The Vintage Wedding Dress Company is the perfect answer www.vwdc.co.uk Cheers! Cap Classique Avondale Brut 100% Chardonnay ­ the perfect way to celebrate a wedding. UK Newcomers Venter Fine Wines offer a range of Biologic and Organic Wines ideal for summer. Handpicked by Venter Fine Wines for their pioneering methods, Avondale was one of the first producers in South Africa to obtain certified Biodiversity status. "Avondale has ensured that its BioLOGIC approach to grapegrowing has made the necessary changes in directing the soils towards their most natural condition possible," says Johnathan Grieve, owner of Avondale. This wine is alive with flavours of lemon, apple pie and biscuit, with a touch of honey. The taste is dry and complex and the Brut can be drank now or left to lie down for up to 5 years. For more information www.venterfinewines.co.uk Collect your own designer jewels from the beach and turn them into tiaras! St Austell designer Sarah Drew works in mostly recycled materials such as beach objects seaglass, driftwood, seaplastic and seastring) and antique brooches and crystals. She combines these with sterling silver, handmade chain and semiprecious stones to make unique, contemporary jewellery. Bridal tiaras are made with vintage brooches and crystals, brides can incorporate a piece of jewellery from their family, for `something old' a real personal connection for their wedding day. Rose Petal Wedding Album What a lovely way to keep those special wedding pictures. The Rose Album from Lily&Lime is scattered with rose petals and presented in a recycled cotton box. Each Album contains recycled acidfree cotton paper with natural acid free interleaves. Website: www.lilyandlime.co.uk Bring a bucket collect materials from the beach in the morning and make them up into contemporary jewellery in the afternoon. Sarah's Recycled Jewellery Workshops are from as little as £38 visit: www.sarahdrew.com mygreenweddingdirectory www.venterfinewines.co.uk Venter Fine Wines, South African specialist fine wine retailer are now available from: www.venterfinewines.co.uk. Venter Fine Wines bring to the UK market a range of thus far unavailable gems. They offer a range of Biologic and Organic Wines ideal for summer and celebrations. Handpicked by Venter Fine Wines for their pioneering methods, Avondale was one of the first producers in South Africa to obtain certified Biodiversity status. A perfect way to toast the Bride & Groom! Personal Wedding List service, for Wedding Gifts to Treasure Luxury organic cotton bed linen collections and beautifully crafted bedspread and cushion covers visit www.foufurnishings.com furnishings ® petal confetti GreenKnickers have created these wedding knickers to seal the deal! Tiarastore stocks a wide range of beautiful 100% natural biodegradable delphinium petal confetti grown on a local Shropshire farm. www.tiarastore.co.uk Ochre & Ocre now have a unique collection of traditional British cut flower bouquets. They have teamed up with Charlie Ryrie, based near the Welsh Borders. Charlie grows seasonal flowers without using any chemicals. Every bouquet is unique, containing a wide variety of seasonal home grown flowers. www.ochreandocre.com With an OLD bow made from reclaimed rags, a NEW pair of organic silky hemp briefs, a jewellery clasp to attach something BORROWED and a BLUE bouquet of roses, this lucky lingerie is all you need on your big day. www.greenknickers.org www.greenunion.co.uk The aim of Organic Buffet is to provide good quality food not expensive, or complicated just wholesome, tasty and fresh. More people are attracted by the idea of having a green, ethical, organic caterer supplying great food at a reasonable price. Crockery, cutlery, glasses, linen, tea & coffee service, waiting staff, tables, chairs, marquees, bands, theme parties decorations can be provided. Organic buffet is registered to the foodservice and organic catering code of practice of the Soil Association. For example of menus go to: www.organicbuffet.co.uk Fresh from Paddywax comes these mini candles as fragrant flavours for an eco sensitive wedding. They travel neatly in their tins and can be used as part of the table decorations, or presents for guests. www.paddywax.com Mini Candles Present Aid... is a thoughtful alternative to traditional wedding gifts and makes a meaningful impact to others around the world. To discover how Present Aid works and to register: www.presentaid.org mygreenwedding To advertise in the magazine or on our website please click here for our media pack Mourne Mountains N. Ireland mygreentravel brochure 2009 And now for something completely different... Horse power propels FAMILIA ZUCCARDI into the vintage age. If you happen to be in Argentina why not give this a try. A fleet of immaculately restored classic cars from Britain and the United States now offer tourists a novel new wine experience. Thirsty motorists can choose to be chauffeured around the award winning Organic Zuccardi Estate Vineyards in a range of vintage and antique automobiles, all lovingly restored, some dating back to the late 1920s. The twohour programme includes three `Sip Stop's en route through the Zuccardi estate, stopping beside the very vines from which the Zuccardis' awardwinning wines originate. The journey and tasting takes around two hours and is followed by a tour of the winery, after which visitors can enjoy a picnic in the Zuccardi's garden, or meal in the winery's own gourmet restaurant La Casa Del Visitante. The Zuccardi Visitor Centre is situated in the heart of the Maipu vineyards, east of Mendoza City. Visitors can also take a cycle ride through the vineyards, have a guided tour or take to the skies by hot air balloon. To book directly, please visit www.familiazuccardi.com Farm Camping in Cottage Style Tents Feather Down Farms are smallscale, working farms that offer cottagestyle tents with "traditional interiors" including feather beds, woodburning stoves and flushing toilets. A far cry from a rustic tent, the spacious accommodation features master and bunk bedrooms along with an extra canopy bed sleeping up to 6 in all. There is no electricity in Feather Down tents, but oil lamps and candles are provided for lighting and hot showers are available nearby. Children can get cosy with the barnyard creatures, and a farm store provides locally grown produce and necessities. Guests can also gather fresh eggs in the farm's henhouse each morning. UK rental prices begin at £195 for a 3night midweek stay, including firewood or coal for the stove. Bicycle rentals are also available. Website: www.featherdownfarm.co.uk Spotted by: James Cohen for www.springwise.com Wild Rose Escapes organise specialised holidays! They can create exactly what you want from your Highland stay by helping you to experience and enjoy the best of the dramatic Highland landscape. If you have a group of between 410 people and know what you would like then let them know. You can combine as much or as little as you want from a wide range of activities, including: l Hill Walking with a local guide l Kayaking with a local guide l Yoga with an experienced teacher l Holistic Massage l Wild Food Foraging and Cookery (depending on season) l Bird Watching Walks with a specialised guide l Dry Stone Walling with a local Waller l Felting Workshop with a local artist. Breakfast, a picnic lunch and dinner, according to your requirements are provided. Picnic baskets include homemade breads, cheese, eggs, pies, soups, cakes etc! Delicious suppers range from game stew to fish pie. For more details visit; www.organicholidays.co.uk Green Award Winner Graig Wen Dolgellau Situated overlooking the breathtaking Mawddach Estuary Graig Wen is making sure that it develops in a way that enhances rather than detracts from its location. Graig Wen consists of a B&B, campsite, yurts and holiday cottages. The yurts were made by a local company from ash felled on the site and are entirely lit by solar or windup lights. The site has been relandscaped with the planting of 200 native trees of local provenance, and a `wild bank' with butterfly and bee attracting plants. Campers are encouraged to use firewood felled within the woodland management scheme, reducing the impact of dead wood removal from the woodland floor. Vehicular access to the camping fields is restricted to maintain the tranquillity of environmentally sensitive areas and reduced rates are offered to those arriving without a car. Graig Wen also has a comprehensive recycling system, and a Tree Bog composting toilet for use by campers. www.craigwen.co.uk Rediscover the precious knowledge of our grandparents on the Soil Association Organic Farm Courses. Supported by the Daylesford Foundation, 300 Organic Farm Schools offer handson courses in growing your own food, rearing animals, cooking and rural crafts. Participants will learn practical skills direct from organic farmers, growers and producers with personal experience. Courses include beekeeping, chicken keeping, vegetable growing, cider making, bread baking, willow weaving, hedge laying and many others. The Soil Association hopes to reach over 3,000 individuals from young families and gardening newbies, to allotmenteers and wannabe smallholders encouraging a reconnection of urban and rural. Whether you want to take that step towards making your life more sustainable, learn how to live closer to the land, or get inspired and try something out as a possible career option, the Organic Farm School has the right course for you. Each course is an enjoyable day out on an organic farm and a chance to experience the rich satisfaction of country life. For a course near you visit; www.soilassociation.org/organicfarmschool © Daylesford Organic Hebog House ...in the heart of Snowdonia, in the village of Beddgelert North Wales Hebog House is a spacious Scandinavian Style house in a quiet peaceful location right on the edge of the village. It has a 4 Star Accreditation with the Welsh Tourist Board, and the accommodation is situated over 4 floors. The large sitting room has a wood burning stove, and glazed patio doors looking out up to Moel Hebog (hawk mountain). Open plan dining room, fully fitted kitchen and utility room. There are three double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a patio garden. Beddgelert is in a conservation area surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in Britain. For availability and rates: www.holidaylettings.co.uk/26159 Hebog House is getting an eco makeover! How are we going to do this? Well it's an ongoing project. The walls have been injected with cavity wall insulation, and double glazed units have been fitted to all window and doors. A Deva's Str3am kitchen mixer tap with a flow regulator, and a built in water filter has been installed. This removes chlorine and other impurities such as lead, copper and aluminium, whilst leaving the essential beneficial minerals and fluorides.www.devatap.com We have used NaturePaint paint for painting the interior of Hebog House because it is a safe natural ecological interior paint that comes in powder packs. Naturepaint contains Zero VOCs and toxins. www.naturepaint.com mygreentravel The Granary, Aunby, Lincolnshire The Granary near Stamford is a spectacular loft style holiday cottage created from an ancient building (parts of which are believed to be 900 years old). The owners have implemented eco friendly products and systems, from the wild flower meadow they have planted outside to the paint inside, the light bulbs and the cleaning products. For details visit www.aunby.co.uk director y Hebog House... in the heart of Snowdonia. A three bedroomed house in the village of Beddgelert, North Wales. www.holidaylettings.co.uk/26159 From Cotswold Outdoor comes The Rolls Royce' of Tepees The Outwell Indian Lake Tepee (£649) which, at three metres high, has plenty of room for all the family. visit; www.cotswoldoutdoor.com Long Hot Summer Days Sun, Sea and Sand can be tough on your skin... Lavera Travel Set includes four mini products from the Faces Organic Wild Rose Dry and Demanding system to cleanse, tone, moisturise and nourish your skin, and keep it looking good till you get home. www.lavera.co.uk. Sarah Smith's Fairtrade Luxury Quilted Blankets and shoppers are perfect for summer days spent relaxing in the garden or for picnics by the seaside. Available in a variety of mix and match sunny colours. Visit: www.sarahsmith.co.uk Heading for your favourite beach? Is the bathing water clean? Europeans have beautiful beaches and bathing areas at their disposal and many will be looking forward to cooling down by the water. Check out the quality of the bathing water at your favourite beach by visiting; www.eea.europa. eu/themes/water/statusandmonitoring/stateofbathingwater1 Fishmore Hall... Snowdonia Society an environmental charity encourages local youngsters and youth groups to come along and get involved in their free fun days. Bea Kelsall says youngsters are missing out. To get more info on the scheme call Bea on 01690 720287, or visit www.snowdoniasociety.org.uk Fishmore Hall, is a luxury boutique hotel located on the edge of the foodie hot spot of Ludlow, Shropshire. Fishmore has 15 individually designed bedrooms and a fine dining restaurant which was been awarded 2 AA rosettes. The hotel caters for a localtarian lifestyle, and Head chef David Jaram sources his produce from local suppliers to offer an array of menus including the daily market lunch menu, which contains only locally sourced produce. For full details please visit www.fishmorehall.co.uk www.organicholidays.co.uk mygreentravel To advertise in the magazine or on our website please click here for our media pack DIY In next month's mygreenlifestyle Fruit Solar Panels Eco diy for the novice how to skills to cut down on those costs Reaping the fruits how to use up all that produce Late getaways mygreentravel Solar panels ­ what are the benefits Bloomin' London Underground Stunning images of the biggest ever Underground in Bloom, Mayor of London and BBC 2 Gardener's World Joe Swift toast the handiwork of Tube's green fingered staff. Many of these green spaces are some of London's best kept secrets as they are not accessible to the public for safety reasons, and are home to over 1,000 different animal and plant species. The work of staff is beyond the call of duty, and helps to create a more colourful and pleasant station environment, which can benefit passengers while protecting and maintaining the variety of wildlife and plants on the Tube for the benefit of London as a whole. mygreenlifestyle Ladybird Tower with Free Ladybird Food/Attractant A natural habitat for ladybirds which will help you reduce chemical use in the garden. Free food & Attracting Wildlife Poster Guide! Reduced to £14.99 available from www.mygreenerfamily.com "chicest recycling event in the UK" returns to London on 25th July at Adam Street Club. online shopping centre Boiler manufacturer Baxi, has launched Baxi EnergyHub for energy conscious visitors to find out how they can lower household heating bills and reduce their carbon footprints. www.baxienerngyhub.com Buy My Wardrobe www.biggreensmile.com Designer labels, twenty vetted "Wardrobe Mistresses" will sell the fabulous contents of their wardrobes while celebrity stylists and makeup artists will offer half hour personal consultations to guests. Entrance tickets start at £5. VIP tickets cost £20 and include champagne, goody bags and early previews. All tickets should be booked online at www.buymywardrobe.com www.ecoutlet.co.uk www.ecotopia.co.uk www.energysavingtrust.org The BioRegional Charcoal Company, work with a network of charcoal suppliers from woodlands up and down the UK, who produce their FSC certified HomeGrown charcoal and supply direct to them. 90% of the UK's charcoal is imported which contributes to the destruction of habitat and the loss of tropical rainforest. For a proper green grillin' you need charcoal that lights easily with no chemicals, then burns hot and long and leaves your food untainted, is ready to cook in 15 minutes and burns hotter for longer a little goes a long way. BioRegional encourages wildlife, improves woodland management, supports local employment and traditional industry and reduces transport CO2 by up to 85% compared to imported charcoals. www.bioregionalhomegrown.co.uk BioRegional Charcoal CFGraphic Design & Print Magazines l Brochures l POS l Leaflets Posters l Media Advertisements l Packaging Tel: 01572 757315 Mobile: 07790 122863 Email: [email protected] mygreenlifestyle To advertise in the magazine or on our website please click here for our media pack mygreenlifestyle.co.uk mygreenlifestyle magazine [email protected] next issue ­ August 2009

You need to upgrade your Flash Player
Viewing this eBook requires Adobe Flash Player version 8 or above.
Click below to download the latest version: