Washing machine drums are interesting looking pieces of equipment, but what are they good for once your washing machine has spun its last cycle? Well, quite a number of things. I’ve seen them used as planters, made into gorgeous glowing… Read More »Eco-DIY: recycle a washing machine drum into a cool ottoman
Photography: woman driver by fadedmilkyway It’s official, more women than men have reduced the amount they drive in an effort to curb their carbon emissions. Research commissioned by the Environmental Transport Association has found that 16 per cent of men… Read More »Women are greener drivers than men
I’ve long been an admirer of Cynthia Korzekwa’s blog “art for housewives”. The idea behind Cynthia’s art (and blog) is the recycling of household items into art. She uses what many would consider to be rubbish to frame her work, or to inspire it, or to be the canvas for her unique paintings. All of her pieces of art have a special spirit that is carried forward from the items that they are recycled from, making them far more interesting than regularly framed art on a regular canvas.
The book
Cynthia has recently published the book, ARTE PER MASSAIE (art for housewives), in which her unmistakable illustrations are combined with handwritten text in folkloric Italian (and followed by, as Cynthia puts it: “…a less folkloric English translation.”) The book is about making art, not trash (a recurring theme in Cynthia’s work) and includes projects for recycling household rubbish into art. The book is a paperback, printed on 100% recycled paper and is available for sale via Etsy.
Read More »Art for housewives
This blog post was written by Stephen Knight, webmaster for Volunteer Latin America, an independent and ethical organisation committed to helping protect Latin America’s flora and fauna, its biodiversity, and to offering the most cost effective way to become an environmental or humanitarian volunteer in Central and South America.
Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime, a gap year abroad or just a holiday break, you can make a difference when you travel, not only for yourself but for the people and places you visit.
Being a responsible traveller means more than just offsetting your carbon emissions, it requires thought and preparation. Responsible travel is based on the principles of sustainability and it requires you to examine the environmental, social and economic dimensions of your trip. Thus, responsible travel is all about minimizing the impact of your travel and maximizing the benefits for local economies, environments and host communities.
Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller.
Give some serious thought to your packing list. Your hi-tech synthetic travel jacket might keep you snug, but is it also warming up the planet or exploiting the people you plan to visit? Your soap and shampoo may smell wonderful but are they biodegradable? Try and ensure your backpack contains as many ethical products as possible (i.e. environmentally-friendly, fair-trade, not tested on animals etc).
Travel lightly and leave any excess packaging at home (i.e. plastic wrapping) – your hosts shouldn’t have to deal with your rubbish.
Read More »Tips for travelling responsibly
Do you want to start living a greener life but don’t know where to start? There’s a lot of encouragement out there these days from councils collecting your recycling to the rising cost of energy prices. And now the guys… Read More »Win: a green start with greentomato.org
Photograph by Sister72
Valentine’s Day. It can put quite a bit of pressure on a girl (or a guy) to live up to their partner’s romantic expectations. Cards, gifts, nights out… What’s expected and what’s too much? This year, I’m going to plead “green” and make it a DIY Valentine’s Day. Nothing bought, well nothing other than some organic food, and no commercial extravaganza pandered to.
I’m not quite sure what I’ll go with on the day, but here are some of my ideas for romantic gestures that don’t cost the earth.
The Caring Gesture
Nothing says “I love you” like a cup on tea in bed in the morning. My darling is up first in the morning and so I’m hoping that I’ll be sitting up in bed drinking lovely organic rooibos tea as Valentine’s Day dawns. My romantic gesture to him will be to get up straight after my cup of tea to cook him a lovely breakfast before he heads off to work.
The Crafty Gesture
Make something yourself to really put meaning into your gift. It’s easy to stop by the shop and buy a Valentine’s card and a bunch of flowers. It takes a lot more effort to make something individual and personal for your lover. I think that this Glass Bottle Oil Lamp (full details of how to make at Instructables) would make a great gift and would look perfect on the table at our Valentine’s Day meal.
The Earthy Gesture
I always prefer a living plant to a bunch of cut flowers. Here’s an idea for giving your beloved a tiny living reminder of your love to keep on the fridge door. Make a small magnetic plant pot from an old credit card and plant it with something small, like chickweed, from your garden, or your local park. Instructables tells you how to do this.
Read More »Eco-Valentine: DIY projects for lovers