Happy Earth Day 2022!
Where do I begin with my thoughts and feelings about Earth Day?
If you haven’t gathered already from my products and illustration content, I’m a big Earth lover. It’s the only place we have to call home, and whilst we can explore planets far away for us to colonise, why not invest all that money (and there is A LOT of it for space exploration) into trying to make our home safer and more habitable? ‘Invest in our Planet’ is the key message from Earth Day’s official site.
Where do I begin with my thoughts and feelings about Earth Day?
If you haven’t gathered already from my products and illustration content, I’m a big Earth lover. It’s the only place we have to call home, and whilst we can explore planets far away for us to colonise, why not invest all that money (and there is A LOT of it for space exploration) into trying to make our home safer and more habitable? ‘Invest in our Planet’ is the key message from Earth Day’s official site.
Invest your time, your thoughts, your current resources, and whatever finances you can.
Invest in solar power.
Invest in an electric car, if that’s something you can afford to do.
Invest in a compost bin
Invest in some child friendly books to start a conversation with your children. They’re the ones who will live with the decisions we make today.
Invest in a reusable bag.
Invest in saving water.
Invest in saving electricity.
Invest in that bike that’s stuck in the shed.
Invest in a new bank account that doesn’t fund fossil fuels.
Invest in books that can educate us and help us become aware of what we need to do to change.
There are so many big and little ways for us to make a change which don’t need to leave us bankrupt. Below i’ve shared my own 5 small steps we can take today to start making an impact, no matter how small.
There are so many inspirational people as well who are putting in the hard work to help us all make more conscious decisions for our planets survival. Below is by no means a comprehensive or finished list, but these are people who I’ve either bought from or worked with who are great leaders in making change happen:
Fashion
Good on You app - an excellent app to quickly check how ethical and eco friendly a brand is. The app will also offer suggestions for better brands to purchase from.
Aja Barber - an incredible ‘writer, stylist and consultant whose work deals with the intersections of sustainability and the fashion landscape’. Follow her Instagram for insightful and eye opening posts.
Ford & Guy - Not only is Suzie an incredible seamstress, but she has also compiled the most amazing directory of Mindful Makers (I’m kindly included, thank you!) so you don’t have to do the hard work for searching for more conscious creators.
Grocery Shopping
Shop Zero Nottingham - An incredible zero waste shop in the heart of Nottingham offering refills as well as personal care, gift ware and other eco friendly products. All products can be delivered too!
The Good Weigh - Another local zero waste shop to us based in Lady Bay, Nottingham which also offers some plastic free fruit and vegetables.
Wearth London - Fantastic zero waste site which not only offers refills but also has a massive selection of eco friendly products.
The Good Club - A subscription based zero waste site which has been on my radar for a while but I havn’t yet tried - if you have please let me know how you get on!
Oddbox - Our favourite fruit and veg delivery box, filled with items saved from landfill as they were rejected due to their size/appearance/quality. Every box includes a handy info sheet of how much water, CO2 and food was saved and even has some delicious recipe ideas to help give some inspiration for your rescued veg.
Communities
Mother’s CAN - Find a local group of mother’s who are concerned about climate change and want to make a difference. A fantastic way to get involved in activism and meet other like minded people.
Mum’s Go Green - Another mum focussed eco group, but I am a mum so that’s what I gravitate to! I LOVE this facebook group - no question is ever treated silly and no one is ever demonised for their choices. Just an amazingly supportive community of mums trying to make the right choices for their families and the planet. A lot of businesses and tips are shared to making greener choices, a perfect place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed by it all.
Extinction Rebellion - If you want a larger and more well known community then Extinction Rebellion is probably the one that springs to mind. You can find a local group and events for you to partake in and there is also a wealth of information on the website.
I could go on and on, the topic is huge, vast and never ending, but I would love to hear from you lovely lot. What are your top eco friendly tips, and do you have any accounts/businesses/websites that you’ve discovered which you’d love to share?
Drop them in the comments below or feel free to ping me an email. I’m by no means perfect when it comes to a more sustainable and zero waste lifestyle, but I’m trying and that’s all any of us can do.
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” Anne Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef
Have a wonderful Earth Day and Friday!
Deborah x
Eco Friendly Craft Fair Essentials
Craft Market season is fast approaching, which means it’s time for me to dig out my trusty checklist and start planning stock!
As well as ensuring I have everything I need for my stall such as a float, packaging, bags, stationery, business cards etc I always plan what I’m going to take with me for the day.
Craft Market season is fast approaching, which means it’s time for me to dig out my trusty checklist and start planning stock!
As well as ensuring I have everything I need for my stall such as a float, packaging, bags, stationery, business cards etc I always plan what I’m going to take with me for the day.
The biggest thing I see when working markets is the amount of rubbish left over, not only by visitors but by stallholders themselves. Plastic water bottles, non-recyclable coffee cups, and food wrappings to name but a few! Obviously we know the impact plastic has on our environment, but needless to say it doesn’t look great either to visit a market and see rubbish everywhere.
So I thought I’d share these essentials that I pack with me for every market I work to help reduce my environmental impact and save a few pounds in the process!
1 / Tuppaware Snacks
I love snacks. And I love packing myself my own little trail mix of nuts, seeds and raisins. Genuinely keeps me going for longer, and I like that I can choose which nuts I want to put into it compared to shop bought versions (goodbye walnuts!). Should I feel extra naughty some chocolate drops or yoghurt covered raisins sneak in too … but best of all are these cute little food storage clip lid pots that are perfect for all my snacking needs! They came in a pack with other different sized pots, so you can use the others for your lunch, or granola and yoghurt, or apple slices….did I mention I like snacks? And should you wish to keep your plastic footprint at an even lower rate, find your nearest zero waste shop and have your snacks filled into your tuppaware without any packaging - I love to visit Shop Zero Nottingham, they have the most delicious chocolate covered almonds!
2 / Bamboo Cutlery Roll
This has been a life saver for many a reason! For the homemade pasta I’ve brought with me, or the off the cuff cake purchase I’ve made that I want to slice up and share, I’ve used every piece in this set, bar the chopsticks (it’s my mission to use these next just to say I did!). I love that it also comes with a bamboo straw, because as awesome as it is that some places offer paper straws they disintegrate in a matter of minutes, and no one wants soggy paper in their lemonade. When I get home I then wash the cutlery in the sink and the roll goes straight in the washing machine (I can guarantee there will be left over food trapped in it…). Not a piece of plastic cutlery used, and it looks cute too! This particular set was purchased through Amazon but there’s nothing to stop you taking your own cutlery from home wrapped in a tea towel.
3 / Backpack
This backpack has been my staple wardrobe piece since I bought it 3 years ago and it’s travelled far and wide with me! I love that it zips open all the way round so I can pack as much as I can in, with pockets on the sides for water bottles.
4 / Water Bottle
If there is one swap you ever do, it’s to ditch the single use plastic water bottles and invest in a decent refillable water bottle. I’ve had many different ones over the years, from glass (bad idea) to BPA plastic (always go for BPA free!) but I have to say this metal one by Smash Enterprises has been my best ever purchase. A great seal, with a carry handle on the lid, my water stays so nice and cold for a long time! I couldn’t find this exact one online as I purchased it years ago from good old Homesense, but genuinely you can’t go in any homeware shop without seeing an array of amazing water bottles in all different colours, sizes, and styles. Most cafes and restaurants are happy to refill your bottle for you, but the Refill App is perfect when you’re in a city you don’t know and you need to find somewhere refill friendly.
5 / Bamboo Lunch Box
I love this bamboo lunch box from John Lewis and Partners - It’s the perfect size for sandwiches, homemade pesto pasta, rice cakes, you name it. Although it does have a silicone band to keep the lid on (so it isn’t the most eco friendly product) it’s definitely better than buying lunch from a supermarket packaged in 100% plastic that can’t be recycled. And let’s face it, you save so much more money bringing your own lunch. (N.B this particular lunch box is no longer for sale, but we also use these Elephant Box stainless steel boxes and they are AMAZING.)
6 / Collapsible Travel Cup
We have some gorgeous travel cups that we use regularly (big shout out to Keep Cup!) but this collapsible version by Stojo is perfect for working markets. As it can collapse, it doesn’t take up as much space in your bag as normal bamboo or glass travel cups, which is a lifesaver when you have so much to take with you! You simply pull it open, slip the heat protection sleeve round it, and you’re good to go. Oh, and they come in loads of lovely colours too!
What ways do you reduce your environmental footprint when you’re travelling or working away from home? I’d love to hear your ideas and tips so feel free to drop them in the comments section below!
Eat Kind Tea Towels
Well, as the young and trendy say nowadays, it’s been a minute hasn’t it?!
It’s been 8 Months since my last blog post, and suffice to say it’s been pretty busy!
Unfortunately my Eat Kind Kickstarter was a nonstarter, however I wasn’t going to let that stop me.
Brand new to my Etsy Shop - Eat Kind Tea Towels
Well, as the young and trendy say nowadays, it’s been a minute hasn’t it?!
It’s been 8 Months since my last blog post, and suffice to say it’s been pretty busy!
Unfortunately my Eat Kind Kickstarter was a nonstarter, however I wasn’t going to let that stop me.
The shopping planners have been so well received, and I’ve loved seeing how everyones been using them to plan their meals and reduce their waste. So I decided to try and make another element of the Kickstarter come to life and those were the tea towels!
My Eat Kind tea towels are neutral, making them a perfect accessory for any kitchen style.
Still in keeping with my environmentally friendly theme, I was so pleased to find a tea towel printer here in the UK. Seeing the design come to life on the fabric, when it had always lived on my iPad (where I had created it), was such a lovely moment. After all it’s been stuck in the digital format for nearly a year.
Close up of the print detail.
This collection has really been born from my love of not only cooking, but the environment as well. ‘Eat Kind’ is not just about being Vegetarian or Vegan - it’s about making conscious decisions about what food you choose, and being aware of where it’s come from, what impact it makes to our planet, and consequently what changes we can make to help care for it.
Full design of my new tea towels.
Currently available through my Etsy shop, I’ll be seeing how well these new designs work with the hope of bringing them to my online shop and eventually wholesale.
In the meantime, you can purchase them HERE.
As always I would love to hear your feedback! Let me know what you think of my new product via the comments below.
