tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/The dilemmas of a mum trying to be greener in a modern worldMokoFeed2009-11-11T13:05:39+01:00tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2008-10-07:/2008/10/07/recession-and-a-green-christmas-4832504/greenmum2008-10-07T08:53:20+02:002008-10-07T08:53:20+02:00 <p>I'm afraid I don't really blog any more - only because other peoples blogs were so interesting I kept having to read them and then blogging became such a time consuming activity I had to stop.</p> <p>Obviously I still do 'green' things if I can - making everything as energy efficient as possible has meant I have used less energy compared to the same quarter in previous years for the last 2 years, and British Gas apologised when it threatened to increase my direct debit because I had such a large credit. I have just declared our car off the road to see if we can live without it (although initially this was because of a stupid error I made to do with the registration!)</p> <p>I had some ideas of some ways to make Christmas a bit greener. They are not 'Greenpeace' ideas, and may not be the 'greenest you can get' but I am sure they are start.<br> Make at least 1 present (cookies for colleagues, a cake for your child's teacher?)<br> Buy at least 1 present you wouldn't otherwise buy from your local shops - especially a bookshop or independent retailer.<br> Get at least 1 present second hand (or free, from Freecycle)(an antique?)<br> Try and buy a local service, or tickets for a show rather than a consumer item - or food which can be eaten and leaves less to go to landfill after the festivities are over.<br> If you make a list for others, try and include a charity item, and if you can't bear not to have all the gifts yourself, an item from a charity - Oxfam have stores and World Wildlife Fund amongst a host of others have websites.</p> <p>Would it be too much of an economic disaster if Tesco made a billion less profit this year?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2008/10/07/recession-and-a-green-christmas-4832504/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-07-01:/2007/07/01/nuts_to_the_washing~2552387/greenmum2007-07-01T14:46:29+02:002007-07-01T14:46:29+02:00 <p>Just a quick blog between rainstorms to say I'm trying Soapnuts to do the family wash. I don't know if they'll be any good and I'm sure they are only environmentally friendly if they avoid being a mass market product (whereupon no doubt large areas of India would be cleared to grow the trees, and it would get air freighted all over the place etc etc), but I shall give them a try. They came with a free 'laundry ball', which you don't add soap too. I've wanted to try these, but don't want to shell out thrity odd quid for something I don't think really works, so I'll give this one a try! I am hoping a combination of Fairy, Soap Nuts and this laundry ball (where you don't need the rinse cycle because there is no soap as such) keep our stuff nice and clean!</p> <p>Quick, a dry spell..need to get outside. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/07/01/nuts_to_the_washing~2552387/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-06-15:/2007/06/15/ouch~2459844/greenmum2007-06-15T19:46:19+02:002007-06-15T19:46:19+02:00 <p>I had an 'allotment' accident this week - a piece of wire from a cage speared my thunb between the nail and thumb. OUCH! I think it tried to swell under the nail because it hurt like hell all night, so off I went to our Practice nurse at the Docs (who is so lovely). She gave me a tetanus jab, organised some anti-b's and dressed it, so apart from looking really stupid, it feels better now! She did advise me not to go off to Scout Camp to help put up tents, but I really wanted to see the camp (as it is my little Cubs 1st time), find out where it was and what it was like etc that I went against her advise and hammered a few pegs in with a very large mallet (luckily on target!). <img src="/img/smilies/graybigeek.gif" alt="88|" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'm glad I went - he's gone off now, SO excited (he's only been in the cubs about 3 weeks..) and I'm sure he'll have a fantastic time. His little brother will miss him though, I may have to put the play tent up so he can 'camp' in there. I did point out to him that he couldn't go and stay as it was such a long way to toddle into my bed at 3:00am!<img src="/img/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" alt=";D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I am really fearful about the allotment and everything getting blight. I shall be gutted. I'm planning a big day tomorrow (when husband gets back from making Scout Camp breakfast). </p> <p>I fear for my green credentials at the moment and I'm even too ashamed to admit it to you lot.. Husband has bought a big plasma screen for the club, </p> <p>but worse than that I need to strip years of paint from our club (metal) windows and bought some stuff that strips about 150 layers at once, read the instructions and am now too scared to use it <img src="/img/smilies/grayconfused.gif" alt=":??:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>but WORSE THAN THAT I have some weedkiller at the club that I desperately need to use on the gravel paths. I can't pull up the weeds (I've tried that) and the area is too big to keep it under control.</p> <p>I seem to have really nasty chemicals everywhere I turn - een ants in our place shout 'na na nana na' until I spray them with something so toxic that fish get up a petition against it..</p> <p>The only good thing is that in my spec for refurbishing the Rugby changing rooms I have got them to quote for a low energy lighting solution and valves that turn on the extractor when it is needed and lights that turn on when someone enters the room (and off again when it is empty). In changing rooms no-one ever turns the light off.</p> <p>Got to go get little one into bed.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/06/15/ouch~2459844/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-06-06:/2007/06/06/oh_ho_ho~2406392/greenmum2007-06-06T19:10:46+02:002007-06-06T19:10:46+02:00 <p>My 8 year old son wants to enter his school talent competition. I suggested he told jokes - does anyone know any (suitable) jokes??</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/06/06/oh_ho_ho~2406392/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-06-04:/2007/06/04/bighted~2395403/greenmum2007-06-04T21:50:07+02:002007-06-04T21:53:38+02:00 <p>I was puzzled about my potatoes yesterday so I cut off some leaves and took them round to the guys who know what they are talking about (and manage the committee) and they confirmed Blight. Oh No!</p> <p>Its only on the earlies but could spread to the maincrop potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines - and I only put those in on Saturday <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0">.</p> <p>I cut off the tops of the earlies (luckily they are Swift - very earlies - so should be ready). In fact I dug up 3 plants today, and although they obviously could have produced a few more pots, those 3 plants are already a better size and quality than any of my crop last year, so I think we'll be OK for new potatoes.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I grow earlies and lates, not 2nd earlies because we can't eat them that fast!</p> <p>The allotment guys did a tour aronud the plots yesterday and lots of plots have got blight, I went off to buy some spray and sprayed the crops I've got left, and when I got back, all other potatoes on the site were tinged blueish with the spray. Seems word got around - hopefully faster than the blight.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_neutral.gif" alt=":|" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'll be SO dissappointed if my tomatoes get it because I lavish them with lots of love and attention. I've got sweet peppers to plant next week, and they can get it too.</p> <p>Sigh.</p> <p>My autumn planted garlic has got rust as well, so they'll have to come up too. Lots of plots have that as well - I thought I might escape things doing the rounds as my plot is on the end and sandwiched between an overgrown plot with plumb trees and on one side and more trees on the other.</p> <p>The other weird thing was that I turned up on Thursday evening to find big footprints though my sweetcorn patch. Where could they have possibly been going - hedge at end, trees/brambles and stinging nettles either side ??? I don't lock my shed, and don't leave anything interesting in it. Who knows.</p> <p>The local infants are coming back for a look around the plot - I hope there is still something left standing. They planted onions last time they were there, and they are still upright and green. ((cross fingers)).</p> <p>I don't blog as often as I used to, I'm outside a lot 'tending to things'. I guess it will quieten down and I'll get back to recycling and light bulbs. I have taken my eye off the ball, I forgot there was no choir at school today so they had to call me to collect my eldest, and then I forgot the time for cubs and he was half an hour early. Poor Soul!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>And I'm getting my little one christened. I wanted to use the club for the party afterwards, but husband vetoed it because there is football outside, so I'm having it here. I've got 6 days to try and get the place looking like we live in a lovely family home, not the disgusting mess it really is. I've moved a few tons to the loft so far, washed all the sofa covers and shampooed 1 carpet.</p> <p>I really hope its a nice day (the garden is fine..)</p> <p>See ya<img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/06/04/bighted~2395403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-24:/2007/05/24/yip_eh_de_doo_dah~2328223/greenmum2007-05-24T20:00:31+02:002007-05-24T20:01:30+02:00 <p>Well, it all worked out well today. All my hard work. </p> <p>Little one and I went to the allotment and got our first punnet full of strawberries - Fantastic!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I've been digging and digging lately, and made a few last minute alterations to the plan, and I've got SO many things to plant - tomatoes (plum, normal and cherry), aubergine, broccolli, sweet peppers, chilli peppers, sweetcorn, melon, courgettes, pumpkin (I planted butternut squash seeds straight in), cabbages (red and white), purple sprouting broccolli, onions (froms seed) leeks plus herbs - coriander parsley and basil. Thats just the stuff I started off in the shed first - oh and cucumber that have now grown so huge in the shed, and are growing what look like massive cucumbers, so they can stay there.</p> <p>My husband doesn't know it yet, but I need all day Saturday so he'll have to entertain the kids.. (they can do boy things like go to the golf range, kick a ball in the park, watch sport on TV and fight over the remote..)<img src="/img/smilies/graysleep.gif" alt=":zz:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>He'll get the hang of it - I'll look after them for the whole of half term next week.</p> <p>I'll let you know if the strawbs were tasty.<img src="/img/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" alt=";D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/24/yip_eh_de_doo_dah~2328223/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-21:/2007/05/21/a_mucky_blog~2309600/greenmum2007-05-21T18:06:25+02:002007-05-21T18:06:25+02:00 <p>Apart from grass cuttings and veggie peelings I also put (among some other things..) tea bags and eggshells, hoover dust, and shredded paper (just try and steal my identity from in the composter - Huh<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">) into my garden compost.</p> <p>However there comes a time when there must be some compost in there to get out - and I need something to earth up my potatoes (as I planted them a little too close together and its hard to get earth from between the rows..<img src="/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" class="middle" border="0">) so I tackled the garden compost.</p> <p>I did this last year - so I remembered to put an old plastic sheet in front of it. Its one of those 'cone' composters. It does have a small hatch in the bottom, but that is impossible to remove compost from, so we pulled off the cone and put it in a new position. Then I tried to get the uncomposted stuff off the top and put it back in, and then get the good stuff from the bottom and put it on my plastic sheet to have a close look and make sure its not full of undecomposed food, then bag it up and take it away.</p> <p>It sounds easy doesn't it - but I seem to then get surrounded by compost - some OK and some not, all really heavy and difficult to work, so I sorted it out and got the good stuff on the plastic sheet to dry off a bit.</p> <p>All in all I was up to my elbows in muck but when I mixed it with some potting compost it was Fantastic!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> I put some over the top of my garden pots - I'm sure it will be nutritious and help keep the water in and the rest is now at the allotment, ready to be mixed and put onto my spuds.</p> <p>My husband came over while I was there digging up a bed on Saturday and asked me why everyone elses potatoes were better than mine. <img src="/img/smilies/grayuhoh.gif" alt="U-(" class="middle" border="0"> - probably because they spend all day there on a Sunday and I get 3 hours over the weekend!</p> <p>This is the month I need to put in extra hours so I can keep up with the game. I have so much in my shed ready to plant I can't wait to get them out there. I don't want to put too much out before the end of the month in case it doesn't survive and if it is too wet the slugs get it - they've demolished 1 runner bean and have started on number 2 (despite my beer trap, horse hair and sawdust around it and some slug pellets hiding under the edge of the path!</p> <p>My eldest is going to cubs tonight, so I can have an hour and a half while he's there to help those spuds!</p> <p>Have a good week. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/21/a_mucky_blog~2309600/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-14:/2007/05/14/don_t_ditch_the_dyson~2268101/greenmum2007-05-14T15:41:41+02:002007-05-14T15:41:41+02:00 <p>The other week I took my Dyson to the repair shop as the filter collects with dust and it doesn't hoover as it should. They looked at me a bit strangely, but a couple of days later I collected it (at a cost of £50ish) and found it had needed 1 hours work and 2 new filters (I had already changed the filters..). You've done what I did, I mentioned. No, they explained, we cleaned it all out thoroughly as well. So home it came.</p> <p>Has the service made a difference? - I should say so. It could suck the skin off a sausage now. Fantastic. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> In fact once the nozzle is on the floor, it is quite hard to move it about and I daren't use it near any flimsy rugs in case they disappear up the tube. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>You can buy a new hoover for £50, but my renovated one is so much better than that. I believe Dysons keep the repair shops in business (my Dyson is 8 years old) and that's fine by me - I would hate my local shops to go out of business.</p> <p>My little one had a tummy bug at the weekend <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0">. He missed out on a weekend of 'Fetes'. Around here schools and scouts have most of the Fete business, and we had one on Saturday and one on Sunday (which we thought was going to get drowned out, but didn't). My eldest got recruited into Cubs, so he's very excited and I offloaded my spare seedling plants to the plant stall, and then took back those they couldn't sell and freecycled them to local allotments where they are trying to raise £30,000 to repair buildings on their site - so my extra seeds helped some good causes. I don't grow extra seedling plants on purpose, I just vastly underestimated the number that would grow, and I hate throwing them away.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>A couple of weeks ago I couldn't dig because it was so sunny and the ground was too hard. Now its too wet.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Have a good week. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/14/don_t_ditch_the_dyson~2268101/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-11:/2007/05/11/nitting~2252757/greenmum2007-05-11T18:00:56+02:002007-05-11T18:00:56+02:00 <p>When I was at school we had ladies come round and check our hair for nits (Nitty Nora we called them). I would have been devastated if they had found any in my hair, and luckily they didn't. I guess if they had I guess we would have done something about it pronto.</p> <p>These days Nitty Nora has retired and Nits are all around! In every school newsletter we get warnings and have 'bug buster' days. It doesn't work.</p> <p>Last Friday my little one got sent home from the childminders because she said she saw one in his hair. How bad did I feel?? I felt like the worst mother in the world - and now my childminder knows it too! - I feel like I'm classed in the same group as the mothers who buy their kids something from the sweetshop for their breakfast on their way into school in the morning.<img src="/img/smilies/graycry.gif" alt=":`(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I did think we were winning the latest Nit war. I don't use chemical shampoos though - not really for chemical reasons (although that too) but because I've done it in the past and it doesn't work. And they REALLY smell - and very worst of all, my kids might let a nit jump into MY hair and there is NO WAY I'm going to smell like that all day. Not unless I didn't see anyone until it had worn off and for a couple of extra days for good measure.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>We have a comb for upstairs and one for downstairs and we comb in the bath and we comb before school (and I comb in secret while I wash my hair - just in case).</p> <p>My sister has just lent us her 'electronic' comb. You can set it on 'sense a nit' mode, comb it through and it stops making a noise when it meets one. Then you can set it on 'Zap A Nit' mode and it makes a satisfying Zap when it gets one.</p> <p>I thought this was a great idea and contacted the manufacturers with a view to selling it via schools (this is the way lots of things get sold now, with a donation to the school 'friends' group for each one sold). They seemed quite keen - it works well in the States apparantly. They haven't contacted me with a price yet though, so maybe they're not interested.</p> <p>In the meantime, I am only going out in my dark glasses and big scarf, so no-one knows its me - that BAD MOTHER - and making my little one wear a hat at all times..</p> <p>Have a nice weekend.<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/11/nitting~2252757/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-07:/2007/05/07/rain_at_last~2228982/greenmum2007-05-07T21:22:16+02:002007-05-07T21:22:16+02:00 <p>I'm really sorry if rain spoilt your bank holiday, or if you've had more rain recently than you know what to do with, but I spent 3 hours on my allotment this morning, trying to break up what seemed like concrete blocks. We had a downpour (the first for weeks, it seems) this afternoon so I popped back this evening and broke up all the lumps in a jiffy. Lovely!</p> <p>My 2 biggest boys went to see Spiderman this afternoon (they thought it was about half an hour too long) leaving me and little one to play footie in the living room, clean the house and make Sunday Dinner for us and my sisters' family, so we weren't really disturbed by the rain.</p> <p>The allotment has SO much to do on it - I've spent about 7 hours there sorting out my 'beans bed' and digging another area for parsnips and carrots. True to form I think the first sowing of parsnips have failed, although carrots are doing better under the polytunnel.</p> <p>The childrens beds are a bit weedy as well, so they got sorted out, with Mare's Tail duly dug out/hoed off. There's be a lot of that this summer.</p> <p>Because of the rain I could pile some more earth on my spuds as well - as the earth between the rows had been too hard to pile up on them.</p> <p>I've just got to dig the brassica bed, cougettes/pumpkin bed, Tomato bed and make sure the area for cabbages/caulis is OK to plant them out in a few weeks. And then I have to find some space for all the winter veg & onions I have growing slowly but surely in the greenhouse.</p> <p>A couple of weeks ago I dug in a green manure I had planted over the winter. I want to put sweetcorn/aubergine and maybe try a cucumber in this area, so I hope it has rotted down. I've never planted green manure before so we'll see how it goes.</p> <p>My husband thinks I'm spending too much time there. There is loads and loads to do at this time of year and I did take on an extra bit next door that takes a lot of time, but it is wonderfully peaceful and a definite unwind zone.</p> <p>Back to the trials and tribulations of the new Astro tomorrow.</p> <p>Have a good week.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif" alt="B)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/07/rain_at_last~2228982/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-05-02:/2007/05/02/to_spray_or_to_dig~2197981/greenmum2007-05-02T17:43:54+02:002007-05-02T17:43:54+02:00 <p>I thought I'd get a quick blog in while the kids are <del>running riot</del> playing nicely.</p> <p>There are lots of newcomers (like me) on the allotments. We are all ready to 'go organic' and beat the bugs by companion planting and encouraging ladybirds and other natural methods.</p> <p>Then, like me they discover that their plot is full of 'mare's tail' (also called Horse Tail on our site). It grows on long roots deep underground, is tough and (so it seems) impossible to get rid of.</p> <p>Last year I dug the plot over. Then I dug it again before I planted anything. I thought I would live with it - but you can't grow carrots or parsnips or salad alongside it, and you can weed around broccilli and sweetcorn, but it was almost impossible around the bushy tomatoes and peas.</p> <p>I dug it again and again (that did kind of work round the beans, but you get a lot of digging space to work with), I set fire to it with my 'weed wand' I tried hard not to let it spread - but every week the same patches had come up with vigour and it seemed futile.</p> <p>So I decided to spray it (with whatever that stuff is that only affects the plant sprayed and not the soil). The areas I sprayed late last year are much better, so its only the tomato and brocolli and sweetcorn areas that are really bad, plus the new bit (which also has added interest in bindweed and couch grass!)</p> <p>The other allotmenteers are slowly coming to the same idea - battle with fields of weed all summer or clear the plot first and then live the dream.</p> <p>If I can upload it, I'll post a picture!</p> <p>Have a nice evening.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/05/02/to_spray_or_to_dig~2197981/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-30:/2007/04/30/make_do_and_mend~2186513/greenmum2007-04-30T17:48:37+02:002007-04-30T17:48:37+02:00 <p>I was going to blog about cleaning chemicals today - and the fact that I can't get my loos clean and free of limescale unless I douse them in 'limelight' every once in a while. People more environmentally friendly than myself will tell you that white vinegar and baking powder will clean almost anything, and they do make a very satisfying noise, but they really don't do the job.</p> <p>And then my ceramic hob cracked. Really cracked - in a number if places at the same time, and ruining my plans for tea (which involved pasta). We'll have to get another one rather urgently, or it will cold meat and salad for the rest of the week.</p> <p>I was off to my (not so local) shops today anyway, to buy veggies and meat and take my dyson to be mended (its not that it doesn't hoover, it just doesn't hoover very well).</p> <p>I also went to collect a Sony CD player and amplifier belonging to the club which had been in for repair. We often get asked if we have a CD player, sometimes people like them for functions. I took them in on Thursday and the chap rang me and said the amp was OK to fix but the CD needed a new laser (or whatever) and he could only use a Sony original, which would cost about £50 (before labour) and I could buy a cheap DVD for that.</p> <p>However, a cheap DVD is just that - it won't produce music through our speakers and amp. Also, it may well break down and then I'd have to buy another cheap player, whereas if I get the original one fixed it will be as good as new, with new Sony parts, and last much longer, and produce better sound. So against the chaps advice, I got it fixed (although he did see my point about having a better quality product at the end of it all).</p> <p>There is no fixing the hob though. Luckily it is not attached to the oven & grill, but will cost around £300 to replace.</p> <p>Now where's that insurance policy??<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/30/make_do_and_mend~2186513/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-25:/2007/04/25/how_can_they_do_it_in_cardiff~2160748/greenmum2007-04-25T20:02:11+02:002007-04-30T17:33:21+02:00 <p>Over Easter we went to visit my Mother in law who lives just outside Cardiff. She is a keen recycler, e-bayer, car booter and they seem to recycle everything in their doorstep collections there.</p> <p>Tetra Packs, plastic everythings (meat trays, bottle tops), silver foil - all stuff we can't recycle with our doorstep collections can go in hers. She rarely has to put her bin out. </p> <p>I didn't even think you could recycle plastic bottle tops.</p> <p>How can they do it and Surrey can't<img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>My house, shed and garden are filling up with seedlings. I've stopped sewing them into seed trays because I get far too many and I hate throwing solid little pants out. I want 4 plumb tomato plants (so I'll pant 6 out, just in case 2 don't make it..) and I've got about 30. Oops. Its a similar situation with sage plants - loads of them.</p> <p>I think I'll give the extra to the local school fair. I'm running off little labels for the front of the pot to say what it it and how to plant it out etc. Hopefully they'll make some money out of it.</p> <p>Otherwise I'll be overrun with plum tomatoes, coriander and thyme<img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/25/how_can_they_do_it_in_cardiff~2160748/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-23:/2007/04/23/my_1st_trade~2147856/greenmum2007-04-23T18:33:44+02:002007-04-23T18:33:44+02:00 <p>I mentioned the other day that I was a member of a 'trading group' - Kutlets - where you add things you can do to a directory and can use other members services.</p> <p>Well, my Bay Tree went to a seasoned 'Kutlet' member for their sustainable garden, which is good. I delivered it and got 5 'beaks' (virtual currency) in return, which makes me overdrawn by only 3 beaks (it costs 8 beaks to join per year).</p> <p>You don't have to have a credit of beaks, ever really. When questioned the FAQ's tell me that as many people leave the group with credits than are overdrawn, and that it evens itself out. It does make the incentive a bit less though - maybe people won't let you have services if you have a huge 'overdraft' of beaks.</p> <p>I did ask what kind of transactions take place - a lot of allotment produce gets traded, which is a great idea as I am hoping to have some extra later in the year (my greengrocer mentioned this earlier - I told him I'd still drop by for bananas and oranges!<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>However I have found someone who gives maths tuition - and I want my eldest to get some extra tuition because he has just dropped down a group - and I think it is lack of confidence rather than anything else. I don't want him to have a down on maths at age 8. I wonder if the tutor will be happy to work for beaks -he says he would-. Maybe I can supply his veggies and salad over the summer<img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I also want to find someone with a van who can make the odd local collection, then I can freecycle larger items. I keep telling my husband we need to swap his Ford Fiesta for a van but he is right in saying we don't need to really. If I can 'Trade' the odd van journey, that would be really worthwile.<img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I will be well overdrawn on 'Beaks' then - I'll have to sell my stuff (Fantastic Scrumptious Catering Size Carrot Cake (home grown carrots and all) with more vigour - what do you think? <img src="/img/smilies/graybigrazz.gif" alt=":P" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/23/my_1st_trade~2147856/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-20:/2007/04/20/drip_drip_drip_little_april_showers~2128929/greenmum2007-04-20T18:53:51+02:002007-04-20T18:53:51+02:00 <p>Well, hardly - I don't think we've had a drop of rain this month yet, and I really need to dig a couple of beds on the allotment, which would be SO much easier if there was some rain!</p> <p>The seeds in the shed are coming along nicely though and gradually moving indoors as I run out of space! I don't have a seed bed (yet) on the allotment, so I plant almost everything in seed trays or pots and then (having hardened them off) plant them outside. Brussel Sprouts don't really like this and are wilting, so I potted them on into deeper pots to see if this helps <img src="/img/smilies/grayconfused.gif" alt=":??:" class="middle" border="0"> I know that starting seedlings off in trays or pots is a beginner thing, but then I am a beginner really. My soil is good, but does get a hard crust if it is dry for even a short period of time, so I always think seeds will have a hard time pushing through. (Weeds seem to manage it, of course<img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0">)</p> <p>That seems to be the case with the peas I planted a while ago - or possibly I put them in at the wrong depth because only 1 has sprouted<img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0">. I planted another lot which haven't sprouted (yet) but covered them in potting compost so they could push their little shoots through more easily. (Ahh). I dig in compost and sand for the carrots too. So few came up with the earlier sowings last year that I planted this years under a poly tunnel. They have done a lot better and don't seem to mind the heat in the tunnel. I'm hoping it will confuse the carrot fly that got into some of my crop last year.</p> <p>I got one of those gardening books for Christmas which gives all kinds of tips. A carrot fly tip was to put in bits of mirror amongst the carrot rows. Apparantly the female carrot fly likes to tbe the only one on the patch, so she buzzes up and down warding off the others. If she keeps seeing another carrot fly (ie herself in the mirror) she will buzz herself off into the ground and not ruin my carrots. As I have got a non-polytunnel section of carrots to pant as well, I've got an old mirror to break up and I shall give it a try! I'll let you know. <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Maybe it will rain soon, replenish my water butt and assist my digging.<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/20/drip_drip_drip_little_april_showers~2128929/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-19:/2007/04/19/beaks~2119491/greenmum2007-04-19T09:26:26+02:002007-04-19T18:37:23+02:00 <p>There is another 'green' group I am a member of that I haven't mentioned yet. It might be too wierd<img src="/img/smilies/graybigeek.gif" alt="88|" class="middle" border="0"> I joined in January and nothing has happened yet.</p> <p>Its a 'Local Exchange Network Scheme' <a href="http://www.letslinkuk.net/index.htm">(LETS)</a> and instead of money you trade skills for a 'virtual' currency (Beaks in our local group). You list your skills in a directory and people can call on your services if they need them. Your account (in Beaks) also gets listed. As it costs 8 beaks to join, I still have a deficit, but some people are hundreds of beaks in credit, so I guess their services are much more in demand than mine.</p> <p>I offer Cake making, Small Business Marketing advice and I also offer the club room during the week in exchange for 'Beaks'. As no-one has approached me for anything I am thinking the service is very under-used (or just my services..<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0">. I say no-one aproached me, in fact the committee did, to ask if I'd join and maybe help them with some marketing. I would be happy to do that, but they start their meetings just as I'm putting the children to bed and they meet across town, so it woiuld be almost impossible for me to get there.</p> <p>They also have a 'marketplace' where you can sell 'things' for beaks so I thought I'd claw back some of my deficit by advertising a Bay tree I have got for a couple of beaks. I can't really understand the point of the market place (when you have Freecycle) but I think it all needs to get going somehow.</p> <p>You can sell things that cost you money for 'part money part beaks' and I thought it would be wonderful for people to share resources (like use of a shredder or van for instance). I think lots of allotment stuff gets traded.</p> <p>I'll see if there is any interest in the Bay tree<img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/19/beaks~2119491/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/its_potty_time~2079954/greenmum2007-04-12T18:55:44+02:002007-04-12T19:17:28+02:00 <p>You probably don't remember 'Potty Time' - which I'm sure was with that bloke from the advert where he stood next to a mirrored glass window and put out 1 arm and 1 leg to look as though he was doing it with limbs on both sides (you probably had to be there..)- the ad was for a chain of shops.</p> <p>Anyway, don't mind me, I'm in mourning for 'Life on Mars'.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":'(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>But none of this is related to todays blog which is about potting - potting up seeds to be exact. Sometimes, (not) very occasionally, I completely misjudge how many seeds will grow big and stong in their trays end as I hate throwing them away, I pot them all on anyway.</p> <p>Also, as I'm a beginner, I tend to start as much off as possible in trays and pots and then move it to the allotment later, as I've had so many disasters when I've sown them directly.</p> <p>Some plants aren't keen on being moved, so I pot them on (or sow them in) biodegradable pots and then just plant the whole thing. This doesn't always work better - but I keep trying. The problem is, I hate buying disposable stuff, its such a waste. I make some pots from loo roll holders - my leeks did well in these last year. They're deep, which is good for leeks.</p> <p>But other stuff needs bigger pots, so last year I found a website that gives instructions for how to make a pot out of a piece of newspaper (very Blue Peter). It works really well - you don't need that 'paper pot maker' gizmo I've seen for sale around the place, or jars, tape, staples or anything like that. Just a piece of newspaper.<img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'd forgotten how to do it this afternoon when I wanted to repot something, so I had to find a new site with instructions. This one was much better than last years, so I've included a link for anyone who wants to give <a href="http://www.geocities.com/newspaperpots/">origami newspaper biodegradable pots</a> a go!</p> <p>I might rush out and take a picture as well.<img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/464/1323464_b8a2bf28ee_s.jpeg" alt="Paper pots April 07" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>Bye</p> <p>(Michael Bentine did Potty Time, I remember now. I might have spelt it incorrectly, but I was just a kid then!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0">) If anyone knows the shops being advertised (were they 'White Goods' shops like Currys?) please enlighten me!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>CIVIC!! 'Lets all go to Civic, Lets all go to Civic, the friendly store, that gives you more'<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> The Old Brain hasn't completely given up the ghost then!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/its_potty_time~2079954/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-06:/2007/04/06/the_annual_shed_spring_clean~2045634/greenmum2007-04-06T19:28:32+02:002007-04-06T19:28:32+02:00 <p>What a busy day! My husband and I got in the thick of things and spring cleaned the shed! This may not sound like a big task, but our shed is quite large and 'multifunctional', ie not only do I keep all sorts of rubbish in it, plus kids outdoor toys, the buggy (I have a 3-wheeler to take the little one to the allotment in the hope he'll fall asleep in it..), my husband keeps half of B&Q in it as well (when I say half, I mean he has the whole of B&Q but all containers are only half full..<img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0">) and (most importantly, of course) I use it for sowing my seedlings and potting them on - the shed has a clear roof so is a bit greenhouse-like.</p> <p>This time of year I need all the space for my seeds - they take over the little lean-to greenhouse, shed space and all my window ledges. My husband has been spending all the time since last years clear out adding half cut bits of wood, paint tins, tools with no use etc etc to the shed by (it would appear) lobbing them into the back.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Anyway, the kids thought it was going to be a bit boring until we got the whole shed out onto the garden and it suddenly became a big adventure.</p> <p>I freecycled as much as possible as we went on in the hope that things would get collected during the day, but the only thing collected was a bottle of bonsai food. The only problem with freecycling is arranging a time for collection, but my front door is recessed slightly, so I put small items on the bottle recycling bin so people can just drive past and collect them when they like. I have to say it means I freecycle a lot more as I don't have to be here.</p> <p>On the subject of freecycling, we have made the bar bigger at the club, but I have run out of money to buy furniture so we try to freecycle all the cane furniture that comes up and have created a 'conservatory effect' in one section of the bar. The furniture is light, free and we can freecycle it on when we can afford something else - Wonderful!</p> <p>If I was analysing the effects of freecycle, I don't think there are any downsides, possibly around here you have to be pretty quick off the mark to get things! If you're giving stuff away (which I mainly am) its only making arrangeents for collection that get a bit tedious - and now I can leave stuff outside, its great'<br> It would get a 'Best Buy Gold Star!'<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif" alt="B)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/06/the_annual_shed_spring_clean~2045634/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-05:/2007/04/05/a_review~2036727/greenmum2007-04-05T09:18:00+02:002007-04-05T09:18:00+02:00 <p>The good thing about this blog is that I need green ideas to blog about, so it does motivate me to DO things, instead of just intending to do them!</p> <p>As a quarter of a year has gone by since I started blogging about green things that affect our family, I thought I'd review it, so I've parked the children in front of the TV, like the wonderful mother I am<img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> and will start with food shopping and milk.</p> <p>This time last year I ordered my weeks shopping from Tesco, who deliver on a Tuesday. The new resolution was go get milk and juice delivered and buy meat from the local butcher and buy veggies (those I am not growing on the allotment) from the local greengrocer. I have to do this while travelling to the club where I work (although I mainly work from home) as its on the way. I then order loo rolls, washing powder, tins of tomatoes etc from Tesco every fortnight.</p> <p>The advantages have been huge:<br> The meat is 100 (at least) times better. All my family have commented on it (except the little one who is only 2). The butchers know where the meat comes from and it is superb!<br> Using Tescos every other week has cut the carrier bag consumption by more than half.<br> Milk - apart from the recyclable milk cartons, my other big waste product was tetra pak cartons from the gallons of juice we seem to get through. The milkman has pretty much eliminated these.</p> <p>There are some disadvantages:<br> It is more expensive (about £10 per week)<br> The children don't like the apple jiuce from the milkman, so I switched to orange and buy some apple juice from Waitrose (when we're getting little one's cookie after tumble tots!). There is some advantage in we can get 'pressed' apple juice instead of concentrate, but it does create tetra pak waste that (in my area anyway) you can't recycle.<br> Milk and juice comes in pint bottles, whereas we used to buy a 4 pint and 2 pint carton. When milk/juice arrives (every other day) it takes up loads of space in my fridge, for about 24 hours until we drink most of it. What I could do with are some 2 pint fridge door jugs. In glass, not plastic. I do have litre one which is quite useful, but as we all know 'a litre of water is a pint and three quarters' so not that great for saving space.</p> <p>I'm sticking with it though, the reduction in waste, increase in quality of food, shopping is more friendly and supporting local small businesses. </p> <p>Overall a 'highly recommended'<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/05/a_review~2036727/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-04-02:/2007/04/02/quick_update~2021418/greenmum2007-04-02T19:14:21+02:002007-04-02T19:14:21+02:00 <p>I haven't been blogging much lately. Since January I have been trying to get the club together for the 'Annual Hockey Dinner'. It was said that the club could not be good enough to host the dinner - too run down/cold etc etc so I PROMISED it would be lovely. I made curtains, bought fairy lights to go across the beams, created a trophy cabinet from the TV cabinet, husband made radiator covers, coverted the bar from a big room with a huge bar and not much space to stand and drink, to a big room with a smaller bar and lots of space to sit/stand, and a 'snug'. I bought new dining tables, tablecloths. On a tiny tiny budget we got a fantastic effect and the Hockey lot added final details - balloons and candles (in club colours) on the tables, lillies and lollies in the ladies loo (that went down well!).<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif" alt="B)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Anyway - the culmination of all this effort was on Saturday, and I was a real punter as husband plays Hockey for the club.</p> <p>And it went well, REALLY well, and people I spoke to loved it. And I did have a hangover Sunday (which was unfortunate because we had all 14 of my family for Sunday lunch for my Eldest's birthday) and my husband had a HUGE hangover (which was doubly unfortunate because he was doing the cooking)..</p> <p>And now I need to sleep for about a year!<img src="/img/smilies/graysleep.gif" alt=":zz:" class="middle" border="0"> (But I can't because its the school holidays)</p> <p>And Harry Potter went down well as well. Phew!<img src="/img/smilies/graybigrazz.gif" alt=":P" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'll post a photo when I get hold of one because I'm proud of the achievement! don't ask me to make any more curtains though because I'm fed up with them now<img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/04/02/quick_update~2021418/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-25:/2007/03/25/not_a_blog_today~1974618/greenmum2007-03-25T21:16:30+02:002007-03-25T21:16:30+02:00 <p><em>I am taking an unusual diversion today. Please don't be offended I've posted this. If you are offended, visit one of your blogging friends asap and forget about it!</em></p> <p>My sisters Jo and Louise are walking the 'Moonwalk' - a 26 mile walk 'overnight' and have set up a sponsorship page.</p> <p>If you can spare a £ or two they would be really grateful.</p> <p>I have included some details below and the link to their Sponsorship Site <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/louiseandjo"><strong>Justgiving.com</strong></a>: </p> <blockquote><p> Walk the Walk is a breast cancer charity (see <a href="http://www.walkthewalk.org">www.walkthewalk.org</a> for more information). They aim to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and care. They do this by organising these various challenges in the UK and abroad, including the London Moonwalk which is a 26 mile marathon walk taking place overnight (!) on May 19th 2007.</p></blockquote> <p>Thanks</p> <p>Greenmum</p> <p>ps. I am feeling a tad guilty they are doing it and I'm not, so I'll try and help them raise some money instead.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/25/not_a_blog_today~1974618/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-21:/2007/03/21/sewing_the_threads_of_success~1948073/greenmum2007-03-21T18:34:39+01:002007-03-21T18:34:39+01:00 <p>I find it really hard to think up titles (as you can probably tell).</p> <p>I'm sick of sewing now. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"> I've made 4 sets of curtains and now my husband has built a 'bench' in the newly renovated bar, and it saves over £160 if I create the cushions, so I bought some lovely material on e-bay and got back to the drawing board (sewing machine).</p> <p>I'm not great at sewing, but I try (a similar scenario to cooking really - I follow instructions from a book) but I want the new bar to have nice furniture - I can't afford to buy any, I can't even give away the stuff I've got so it does make sense to make my existing furniture better.</p> <p>I can't wait until its finished though!<img src="/img/smilies/graysmilewinkgrin.gif" alt=";D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I thought my 'practical side' was a result of running a business that doesn't quite generate the income necessary to do the repair work it needs - but I remembered I once (only once) won a school prize and got to choose some book vouchers. I found the book the other day - its called 'make do and mend'. I must have been weird then too!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/21/sewing_the_threads_of_success~1948073/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-19:/2007/03/19/what_do_you_call_a_schoolboy_wizard_with~1934936/greenmum2007-03-19T20:03:48+01:002007-03-19T20:03:48+01:00 <p>Hairy Spotter. Yes I know its rubbish, but I made it up.<br> I haven't got time to blog any more because on Sunday I have to entertain 12 Seven year old boys with 'making snitches and wands' Magic Spells, Potions (involving Red cabbage), and other Harry Potter Stuff.</p> <p>So I'm revising. Just off to make a potion.</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/19/what_do_you_call_a_schoolboy_wizard_with~1934936/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-14:/2007/03/14/harry_potter_party~1906136/greenmum2007-03-14T22:10:43+01:002007-03-14T22:13:33+01:00 <p>At the club I have been devising 'party packages' to try and give 'little Ethylene' (or whoever) a 1st birthday party to remember (!!). </p> <p>We have parties for all ages now, baby tunnels, bouncy castles, entertainer, football and go-karts. </p> <p>Obviously we can't charge less than £150 - mainly because our club needs new furniture desperately but also because if we're not as expensive as everyone else local parents will assume we're rubbish.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Now the only age range we can't really find a party for is the older teens 14-18. Currently we won't let them hold parties because they just drink as much as possible from the offie before they arrive and then run riot, but I thought they might enjoy a 'murder mystery' party, so I looked them up on the net. Now you can pay £400+ for some actors to come round or you can buy one off the net, which looked quite interesting.</p> <p>The other thing of course is that I myself would never pay that much to entertain loads of kids for a couple of hours (that is so untrue actually, because last year my eldest had a 'Mad Science' party, which cost lots but they did love it<img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0">) anyway, as I'm still a bit stoney broke I'm trying to find something cheaper, and as I was surfing about for some murder mysteries that didn't really involve much murder or sex or violence (for our younger teens) I found a 'Do It Yourself Harry Potter party'.</p> <p>My eldest is just about to turn 8 and can now read well enough, and has the patience to get through a HP book, so imagine his delight when I found this party. 20 quid later I have downloaded the instructions and I've printed the 'Hogwart Ticket' invitations and am learning how to run the 'potions class' and the 'spells class'. Its all a bit scary really.</p> <p>In my youth my dad made up parties - we had an 'Its a Knockout' party which seemed to involve running though soapy paddling pools and sliding buckets of water down a pole, or an Orienteering party (you couldn't possibly run a party today where you let children out of your sight..) or just party games - musical bumps, musical statues, pass the parcel. We didn't have the 'party bag' competition amongst parents either, just cake as I remember.</p> <p>Well, we'll see if I can manage to be a Hogwarts professor for an hour or so. Who knows if it goes well, I could ask the internet lady if I could license it and sell it at the club for £150 a throw.<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> A girl's got to pay those bills.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/14/harry_potter_party~1906136/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-12:/2007/03/12/a_political_blog_but_there_might_not_be_~1893981/greenmum2007-03-12T22:57:35+01:002007-03-12T22:58:25+01:00 <p>Now apart from 'Green Dilemmas' a huge barrier to everything green is commerce. Now I am an entrepreneur, so I'm not opposed to business in the slightest. What worries me is the pressure on companies to make billions of dollars profit, and the best way to do this is by creating a lot of repeat business - by inventing and selling disposable stuff, or stuff you really don't need, all of which has a huge impact on the environment. There is also the ethics involved in persuading people to buy all this trash.</p> <p>Our club manager came to us from a drinking club he worked at. It is a non-profit making organisation and people pay a membership fee to go along and drink. They are popular and have big buying power, which means that members drinks are very cheap.</p> <p>Now, I presume the people who run it get paid adequately, and obviously others get paid too, but they are so successful that they have trouble spending all the profits. Now this, as ideas go, it great. The club is maintained to extremely high standards. The prices are low to members, staff get good remuneration. What more do you need??</p> <p>I am about to join a 'garden club' which I think has the same ethos. It doesn't make a profit, it just gets in gardening stuff at a huge discount to members.</p> <p>I'm not a communist by any stretch of the imagination - don't forget I'm an entrepreneur - but I think there are other ways apart from the Multi National Billions of Dollars Profit make money at anyones expense corporations we know and love currently.</p> <p>Maybe we should 'think local and act global' and think outside the box!</p> <p>That'll be a cardboard box not a plastic box. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/a_political_blog_but_there_might_not_be_~1893981/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-11:/2007/03/11/children_on_the_allotment~1887624/greenmum2007-03-11T21:38:55+01:002007-03-11T21:38:55+01:00 <p>I have a new space on the allotment - I took over some of next doors, as they were about to get evicted but they wrote and asked if someone could share, and I wanted a bit of space for Apple trees and...lots of digging later...</p> <p>I asked my eldest son (aged 7) and my nephew (aged 6) if they would like a little patch each to sow some stuff, so we took our string and marked where the new beds should go. I am going to sow a grassy path down the sides, one so its easier for the children to sow and pick stuff and secondly so I have less digging to do!</p> <p>While they were all away watching the match, I prepared the path area and then the elder 2 plus 2 little brothers came back to plant the grass seed, water it, plant some onions and sunflowers. Obviously everyone wanted to be the first to water, and rake and plant. I was in charge of gardening stuff while my brother in law tried to make sure they weren't taking each others eyes out with the rake. Apart from my little one (who I think was tired & hungry and cried all the time) the kids really had fun. I hope their stuff grows (if not, I'll replant it on the QT). We'll find some more things to plant.</p> <p>I really wanted to do some compost re-ordering - turning it and moving out about and finding if any had composted and putting it back on the beds. It's heavy and I did manage to rope in my husband for the 45 minutes he had before the match started. And they drew the match so they've all got to sit through another <img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I am hoping one advantage of being the only girl in a family of boys is that I get some quiet time while they are watching matches or playing sport. It might make up for some of the mounds of dirty underwear I get to pick off the floor - or any of the other millions of things they seem to think belongs there. Its hard to tell people off for being untidy when they haven't even noticed! Actually - its not really.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif" alt="B)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I hope your week goes well. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/11/children_on_the_allotment~1887624/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-09:/2007/03/09/climate_change_programme~1876915/greenmum2007-03-09T21:22:56+01:002007-03-09T21:22:56+01:00 <p>Oops, forgot. I watched that Climate Change The Great Myth (or whatever it was called) last night. It doesn't really affect me though - I've been recycling and putting in energy efficient bulbs way before the idea of Carbon Emmissions and Climate Change came along.</p> <p>It is because I love this country and don't want it covered in landfill sites. I don't want our countryside to be covered in huge motorways to ease congestion when we could zip up and down by Rail and I don't want us to use up our reserves of coal, oil and natural gas or rely on politically unstable geographic nations for our fuel supplies.</p> <p>The good thing about the climate change thing being on the global agenda is that we might harness the sun for energy and if the 3rd world can use it while they are developing they won't be dependent on the oil producing nations (like we are). Generally, they get a lot of sun. I'm sure there's much more to that than I understand.</p> <p>Oh, I think carbon offsetting is another load of <img src="/img/smilies/icon_censored.gif" alt=">:XX" class="middle" border="0">ocks. Creating carbon emmissions won't be reduced just because you're rich enough to supply energy efficient light bulbs to people in Jamaica. Reducing them is better - 1 foreign holiday every so often and visit places nearer to home - there are some great places to visit - and some are just like abroad (well, you can't understand what anyone is saying<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Rant Over, Feel better now, Bye again.. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/09/climate_change_programme~1876915/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-09:/2007/03/09/its_curtains_again~1876827/greenmum2007-03-09T21:06:33+01:002007-03-09T21:09:14+01:00 <p>My working week is a bit strange - I work 3 days from 9:00-3:00 (term times only) and on Tuesday I update all the admin<img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0">, on wednesday I try and move the business forward a bit (without spending any money..) like printing posters and e-mailing the council to use the sports pitches, and the school co-ordinators to use the new astro (when its laid) and buying lights and ballons and helium so when people hire the hall they can hire our decorations as well (we want to reduce the price of the hall so it is booked every saturday but not lose income from people who would be quite happy to pay the original amount!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">) and writing the history of the club for the local residents association newsletter<img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0">, anyway, stuff. </p> <p>(BTW if you're reading this and you have small children I have advertised on a new website called whatson4littleones.(something) maybe co.uk? I don't know how well its used but it might be useful if you and your little one are stuck for something to do!</p> <p>Back to the story - Friday I do kind of 'projects' - at the start of the season I got my steam cleaner out and steam cleaned the ladies loos (they needed it..our last club manager wasn't big on cleaning so it all needs to come up to scratch, with Ladies loos top priority) and currently we are renovating the clubroom and bar - unfortunately I have run out of money just as we need flooring - any suggestions<img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"> (sawdust??)</p> <p>So today I was finishing the last pair of curtains - pair number 4 (phew!). It has been quite nice though, sitting in my dining room, listening to all kinds of CD's I never usually hear, The Verve and Texas were on todays playlist. I'm not the greatest seamstress - probably the same category as my cooking and gardening - enthusiastic but not talented. I always follow instructions to the letter to avoid disasters.</p> <p>I've been making them on Fridays (give or take a few for half term, extra work etc) since January and I think I'll quite miss it. Especially as the next project is renovating the old chairs (I can't afford new furniture for the bar either) and I'll have to do that at the club. Then the outside and painting..no fave CD's to enjoy then though.</p> <p>Anyway, I'm quite proud of the curtains and I'll miss the music.</p> <p>Have a nice weekend<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/09/its_curtains_again~1876827/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-08:/2007/03/08/oh_what_a_bueatiful~1870144/greenmum2007-03-08T18:24:29+01:002007-03-08T20:12:34+01:00 <p>You can't tell me there's anything better - the first sunny warm(ish) day of Spring. I can open all my windows (further!) and then I can feel the very strong lure of the allotment..</p> <p>Growing your own stuff is fantastic. If I only had a small patio I think I would still grow a 'minarette' apple tree (although you usually need 2 to pollinate) and some strawberries, coriander and parsley. I have mint too, but I don't know why because we never use it. If I had space I would grow a courgette plant. 2 plants kept us in weekly courgettes all summer (with a couple over for friends). They just need a bit of space and a lot of water.</p> <p>This year I'm getting more adventurous on the allotment. Last years successes were runner beans, cherry tomatoes (a bit too sucessful, those), rocket salad, radishes, sweetcorn, broccolli, strawberries (seem to never have enough of these so I've trebled the bed), and pumpkin. Oh and chilli peppers.</p> <p>The OK's were potatoes, carrots, lettuces, garlic, brussels and rhubarb (which we don't eat!) and cabbages - the ones that grew were delicious!</p> <p>Abject failures were parnsips and raspberries and spring onions and peas really (needed about 50 times the amount - we got enough to out in one pasta dish for the childrens tea!</p> <p>Anyway, I have resolved to try harder with these and this years new raspberry canes look OK so far. I also want more things we eat on a weekly basis - cauliflowers, aubergine (together with the courgettes because I love ratatouille..), cucumbers.</p> <p>Plus a whole load of stuff I can't remember.</p> <p>I think today was the PERFECT allotment day - ground is easy to dig, weather warm but not hot. Fantastic.<img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/08/oh_what_a_bueatiful~1870144/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:greenmum.blog.co.uk,2007-03-06:/2007/03/06/bulbs~1858473/greenmum2007-03-06T19:25:10+01:002007-03-06T19:25:10+01:00 <p>I watched a TV programme yesterday about a newsnight reporter who tried to reduce his carbon footprint by 20%. </p> <p>He gave up his car, went on holiday by train, got draught excluders and changed his light bulbs. The car bit is a bit scary - but they got on so well without it that at the end of the experiment (1 year) they gave it to a friend (who said he'd lend it back for any odd journeys)</p> <p>The biggest way to reduce your 'leccie bill, cut your carbon footprint - whatever - is to change your bulbs and improve your insulation. And it all makes your energy bill cheaper, so probably worth doing even if you think climate change is a load of tosh - although I do think that using up the earths resources more slowly is another good reason to do all this stuff - lets turn all our oil into cheap plastic stuff, make it disposable and chuck it in a landfill - what a good idea!</p> <p>But anyways, I'm gradually changing lights in my house, and the club I run, to energy efficient - and my electricity bill has come down (hoorah!). At the club last week the electricity company wrote to me to say that my direct debit of £444 per month was going up to £649. You've SO got to be kidding. Anyway, I rang to say that my statement showed I only owed £403 (and that was before this months DD) so they admitted they had made a mistake and reduced it to £437. Anyway - its a big chunk of money and until they make energy efficient floodlights<img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> I can only chink bits off!</p> <p>I'm just having a ramble. I buy my bulbs from Lyco.co.uk who deliver next day and can change most lights it seems so they're worth a plug. You can't currently use energy efficient lights with dimmers, but I believe that is about to change.</p> <p>So guys change a bulb today and make a difference!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>PS. The thing the reporter couldn't change on a permanent basis was flying, although they said they'd cut down.</p> <p>pps. My husband recorded an programme about allotments too, I love mine as much as all the people on the programme. Sad innit?<img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://greenmum.blog.co.uk/2007/03/06/bulbs~1858473/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>