|
Picnic Idea's |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
30/06/2008 17:03
|
|
|
Aaaaargh I just wrote my whole blog and then somehow wiped it by mistake. So lets start all over again, I was going to tell you about alternatives to plastic for picnics which seemed to be a nice summery thing to talk about. It is suggested in some quarters that too much plastic is not a good thing and some of the idea's are quite good I thought. I have added my own comments as well.
1. Plastic water bottles.
The Alternative: Stainless steel water bottles. A flask would keep cold drinks cold.
2. Plastic drinking straws.
The Alternative: Danny Seo offers an interesting idea for alternatives to throw-away drinking straws in his book Simply Green Parties.
He suggests you use Twizzler candy–long strands of licorice that are
hollow inside–as straws by snipping the ends. You can serve them in
glasses, and kids can drink their beverages a ...
|
 |
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
The British Retail Consortium |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
29/06/2008 15:13
|
|
|
We enjoyed the drinks get together which launched the Achfary show last night and there were some fascinating things for sale there I particularly liked some rugs/wall hangings made from recycled clothes. Sunday seems to come round so quickly signalling another week having gone by, is it an age thing?
Anyway I wanted to share with you some fascinating blogs today about high street retailers and comments from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
"BRC members take their
responsibility for the welfare of their own and their suppliers’
workers very seriously, especially with regard to the use of child and
forced labour".
The reality is that if brands had been taking these matters
seriously for the past ten years then a lot more would have changed.
The BRC also stated that - It's a myth that UK retailers source from exploitative, badly ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
Wash your floor the environmentally friendly way |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
28/06/2008 13:36
|
|
|
A very wet day here and I got a good soaking when I took the dogs out this morning. I have been working on my next article all afternoon and still have quite a bit to do to finish it. It's going to be about ethical shopping. I've had to stop for now we are having an early meal as we are off to the pre show drinks at Achfary.
I found another recipe for a wash for the floor today which I thought you might be interested in so here it is -
This formula is completely safe for the environment, smells
delicious, and really works. And the secret ingredient makes it fun to
make and use.
INGREDIENTS
1/8 cup liquid soap or detergent
1/4 to 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1/2 cup strong peppermint herb tea (peppermint adds antibacterial qualities)
1. Combine ingredients in a pail or bucket.
2. Swirl the wash around until it is sudsy, then proceed to mop as no ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
Achfary Craft Show and Hair removal ! |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
27/06/2008 14:18
|
|
|
Just got back from Achfary and delivering clothes etc for the show. I was having a look at some of the other exhibits they were really unusual and interesting. From clocks made from driftwood to rag rugs made from recycled clothing and some beautiful hats made to measure. I'm looking forward to the preview tomorrow evening when we are invited for wine and nibbles prior to the opening. So if anybody reading this is within travelling distance do go and visit there will be tea and cakes and it opens on Sunday 29th June.
Change of subject here but thought you might like to see the picture of Shula from yesterdays walk. Sorry just realised she does tend to blend into the burn a bit!
At this time of year people start going on holida ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
I'm not a Paper Cup |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
26/06/2008 16:35
|
|
|
We just got back from a long walk in the hills (you must wonder if I ever do anything else) it was a new place and we were exploring,I took a couple of pictures. Shula in the burn as ever! Its amazing when you get into the hills how they open out and the whole scene is so different to what you see from the car. We feel very lucky to be living in such a beautiful place.
Having said that it amazes me how many people simply throw cans, bottles and paper cups away when they are walking in these beautiful places. I just cannot equate enjoying the beauty and walking with throwing rubbish around to despoil the countryside. On this theme I have been reading a blog about paper cups which are disposed of in the UK alone.
An astounding 18.25 million takeaway paper cups are
handed out by Starbucks alone every year - but due to their wax
coating, they cannot be recycled and so end up on UK landfills. "We
get throu ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
Mugabe and his effect on Zimbabwe |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
25/06/2008 16:41
|
|
|
Not much chance of trying out my weed killer recipe today it hasn't stopped raining all day and the river looks very different from yesterdays photograph. I have been planning for a show at Achfary for next week and writing out a list of what I am taking. Achfary is a really pretty village west of here and the show is going to be open all week.
Driving home from doing the shopping I was listening to a discussion about Zimbabwe and whether it should be boycotted by British business. There were some very interesting comments from Peter Hains MP and a representative from Tesco who are just one of several supermarkets that import things like french beans. They say that they have had a long term relationship with their supplier and it would cause additional hardship to workers if they ceased trading with them . Given what I have been reading about the major supermarket chains this sounds a little hollow.Tesco and its major supermarket rivals have faced criticism for abusing
their monopoly posit ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
|
Checkout Web Mums |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
23/06/2008 16:04
|
|
|
I always seem to start my blog by talking about the weather and today is no exception! It was quite sunny this morning so I decided to take the dogs to Balblair which is a lodge and estate quite near us there is a good walk there which is quite challenging (mostly uphill) and it all helps with burning the calories. When we got there it started to drizzle, the countryside looks beautiful at the moment so green with ferns but the broome is still out along with foxgloves ranging from white to almost purple and some early heather as well. After a short while the sun came out and there was a glorious blue sky. In the end we went through sunshine and showers about half a dozen times until we got right up to the top of the hill when it poured down. Ah well you can't win them all!
I had planned to get some strawberries from a croft nearby but when we called in nobody was home the srawberries were in punnets in the small shed they use along with a cash box unfortunately I had no change so I took my ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
Homemade skincare |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
22/06/2008 15:41
|
|
|
What a day its cold, wet and windy and apart from going to church this morning we have been vegetating indoors with the woodstove alight. But I have got some baking done so we won't starve! The MOD last night was good fun lots of very talented children playing fiddles and accordions it was foot tapping stuff.
I have been reading about 'green' beauty tips and recipes for skincare you can make yourself. There are numerous natural skin care recipes that can be made at home
using products you already have on hand with or without the use of
essential oils.
Tea tree oil is one of the best essential oils to have
on hand if you are using essential oils in natural skincare recipes for
their medicinal properties because it has antibacterial and antiviral
qualities. Tea tree essential oil is also easily absorbed by the skin.
An easy pH restorative peel can be made with the pulp from one tomato,
one package of unflavored gelatin and one tablespoon of orange juice.
Simply he ...
|
|
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|
|
Organic Box Schemes |
|
Linda's Highland Blog
|
By Linda on
21/06/2008 15:11
|
|
|
It was such a beautiful morning I took the dogs to Loch Fleet which is one of our favourite places. The weather forecast said it would rain later so it was the best part of the day. They both got filthy with mud/sand but had a lovely time. A friend and I are going to the MOD (no I don't know what that stands for) tonight. Folk come from all over the Highlands and Islands to compete playing fiddles, pipes and accordions there are lots of childrens classes, and its a good night. It is organised by a friend in the village and is apparently getting bigger every year. An event for all the family.
I got my Soil Association newslettter this week and was interested to see the results of an investigation into organic box schemes.
• Survey finds organic food in UK is excessively packaged
• Box schemes and farmers’ markets sell less packaged, cheaper organic produce
|
|
Comments (0)
|
More...
|
|