Welcome to the Green Matters. To get regular updates on the latest news, my compost bin antics or great offers on sustainable products, please visit the blog.

Green Matters and Sustainable living is about living in a way that does not have a negative impact upon the lives of others, this includes all living things, people all around the world and future generations.

We can’t all live in the super-eco houses that have become such popular viewing on our televisions these days. Most of us have somewhat more modest means and without subsidy of some sort, most green technology is beyond the income of the average household. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t take steps to reduce our waste, our carbon emissions and reduce our water footprints.

‘We are the makers of our own state and…individuals who realize the fact need not, ought not, to wait for collective action.‘ Mahatma Gandhi,

There are lots of ideas here, which will cost you nothing, why not find out about clothes swapping parties or for eco-kids toy libraries, and check out our fantastic cardboard playhouses for truly sustainable play. After all, our children are who we need to bequeath a sustainable future to.

As an individual, you can only achieve so much of course, but you don’t have to be a drop in the ocean you can get involved with on-line organisations such as www.350.org or even check out your local transition town movement, where people work together to make whole communities more resilient to future shocks.

I am no eco-saint believe me, sins range from buying strawberries from Egypt in the middle of January to driving pathetically short distances in the car and continually forgetting to take reusable bags when we go shopping. I’ve done much better I’m glad to report, since starting the sustainable living project, apart from the very occasional carrier bag incident. But from a personal perspective life has become more interesting, more fun and more rewarding.

Wherever you live, even a small urban flat with no garden, it is still possible to grow herbs and bee-friendly flowers in a window box. Maybe you could have an allotment or take up Guerrilla Gardening.

Cleaning a house with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, is easy, check out all the latest eco-friendly cleaning products. We can all reduce, reuse, and recycle. Where there are consumer choices to be made, hopefully, they would be thoughtful ones, like buying from ethically sound fashion retailers such as People Tree. Most of us could be more careful with water and electricity consumption, and maybe switch to a green energy company. I really hope you like some of the ideas and suggestions here, I love feedback so please feel free to leave comments. I always reply to them and love to help where expertise allows.