Sticky post

We’re taking a break

Emma and I are taking a break from our regular monthly posting. But never fear, Tim is here…! 🙂

During this pause, do visit #LetPompeyBreathe where local activist Tim Sheerman-Chase writes passionately and informatively about the air pollution public health crisis in Portsmouth.

Visit: https://greenpompey.org.uk/let-pompey-breathe/

#LetPompeyBreathe

Image by Kathleen Port from Pixabay
Written by Tamara, a Green Hairy Feminist

One woman’s Lonely Road to a Bright green future

The Shades of Green team are always keen to increase the diversity of our viewpoints on the blog, so this post is brought to you by Sabrina, who talks about how being eco can be tough when it seems like you’re fighting against the rest of your household (and how she does it anyway).

Kermit, sans guitar. (It’ll make sense in the next paragraph)

I’ll be the first to admit that going green is no easy feat. Especially when you’re the only one in your household who is taking being more eco-friendly seriously.

I’m still living with my parents in my early thirties (groan) and for the past year, my mum’s youngest brother and his teenage daughter have been living with us…the latter of whom I have to reluctantly share a room with.

As you can imagine, with a busy household comes a lot of laundry. So much in fact, that our washer is on several times a day. Where I can, I try to re-wear clothes for at least a couple of days and I never put a load of washing in just for my own clothing, I always squeeze it in with other family members’ laundry to conserve water usage. Thankfully with the recent heatwave, our washing line has seen a lot of action. There’s nothing better than line-dried clothes and that fresh smell.  For indoor drying when the weather isn’t so great, my parents are quick to resort to using the dryer. We currently don’t have the space for a clothes horse so to avoid using the dryer as much as I can, I have resorted to drying my clothes draped over the back of the dining room chairs.

You spin me right round, baby right round

Clothes that I don’t wear anymore, or those that have become a bit on the tight side, will always be washed, bagged and donated to local charity shops. The same goes for possessions that I no longer use. Encouraging my parents to do the same usually goes in one ear and out of the other. Every time we have a clear out, my mum would rather just bag everything and take it to our local tip.

For a house of four adults and a teenager, grocery shopping can be a nightmare. Not only is our food bill on the expensive side, but the consumption and waste of the food we buy is pretty high. I have no qualms about buying cheaper items, produce and groceries with less packaging and going for more eco-friendly products and brands, but as my parents do the shopping for everyone, I rarely get the chance to implement this full time. My income isn’t great at the moment and there is limited storage space in our kitchen so purchasing groceries for my sole use isn’t really an option at the moment.

Oh, that’s a lot of sorting to do

I have, however, nominated myself as the recycling sorter for our kerbside bins. I’m pretty strict about what can, and can’t go in each bin. I’m quick to call my family members out if they don’t follow my instructions and I’ve been known to dig through the waste bin in the kitchen to salvage recyclable items. [Ed: Emma and Tamara can relate to this so hard.]

The only major issue in my green journey is that I drive a car rather than opting to use public transport. Initially I chose to learn to drive to gain a bit more freedom and have the option to go where I want, when I want without relying on others.

Dream Car

Nowadays, my car acts more like my mobility aid. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a couple of years ago, a condition which causes widespread pain and fatigue, among many other symptoms. I struggle to walk about often, I can’t stand for extended periods of time, and even sitting in the same position for a while can be super uncomfortable for me so I can’t use public transport for long distances. My car enables me to get from place to place quicker, and it means I’m in control of when I need to stop and take breaks. When my finances improve, I am considering looking at getting an eco-friendlier car, most likely an electric-powered one.

My journey to living greener is still in its early stages, I have a long way to go and a lot to learn but I’m determined to continue my journey…and hopefully convince my family members to follow suit. That may take a lot of persuading though.

21 ways to go plastic-free in 2021

Plastic Free July is just around the corner. It is basically as it sounds – a global campaign that encourages us to reduce our plastic consumption during the month of July. It is an opportunity to reassess what we bring into our homes and who we give our money to. Consumer power, y’all! It’s a real thing!

But where to begin? Never fear, for I, Tamara, am here with a random assortment of quick and easy tricks and tips that I use in my daily life. So have a browse and pick one or two of your favourites to try on your low-waste, plastic-free journey. Remember, we need lots of people making small positive changes. Changing up just one thing in your daily life makes a difference. It’s all about progress not perfection.

Let me mention, there are no sponsors or affiliate links in my recommendations – just companies and brands that I use personally. As always, do your research and ensure the companies you give your money to are the ones that share your values and priorities, which may be different from mine.

Photo by Elli from Pexels

Sustenance

  1. Whenever you venture outside, carry a reusable bag with you. I love my bag-in-a-bags and like a girl scout, I am always prepared!
  2. Locate and use your local greengrocers. I shop at Portsmouth Fruit and Flower on Milton Market and the majority of their fresh produce is plastic-free, they also provide paper bags instead of plastic and since the pandemic, they also do home delivery!
  3. Try a fruit and veg box. My favourites are Wayside Organics and Riverford.
  4. Refill your pantry staples. We are so lucky in Portsmouth to have the Package Free Larder, Herbies and Wild Thyme Wholefoods who all offer refills on food staples like rice, pasta, cocoa, as well as beauty and cleaning products like hand sanitizer and liquid shampoo.
  5. Reuse glass containers – they are perfect for refills as I mentioned above and they definitely can have a cool Instagramy vibe, if that’s your jam.
  6. Buy multi-pack cans of fizzy pop instead of plastic bottles, ideally in cardboard packaging rather than being wrapped in plastic. Or try cordial in a glass bottle to pimp up your water, The same goes for beers and other multipack drinks – avoid the 6-pack plastic rings. The turtles will thank you. And perhaps try buying your booze from a local independent like The Beer Musketeer, the Portsmouth Distillery and the Southsea Deli.
Photo Credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection

Social

  1. Buy refiills of hand sanitizer. I get my hand santizer, which is made by The Portsmouth Distillery, at Herbies. Supporting local business and all that jazz.
  2. Get yourself reusable and washable face masks. Or if you are handy, why not make your own. I have multiple masks purchased from local black business Sistah Mandy and a few more which were a Which? Best Buy.
  3. Make your own hot beverages at home to take out, in an insulated reusable cup/ bottle. I love love LOVE my Chilly’s bottle. #notsponsored
  4. Say no to straws when ordering drinks out and carry you own reusable straws. They come in different materials like stainless steel, bamboo and silicone. And you also get a cute teeny weeny straw cleaner which is just a delight in the horror that is doing the dishes.
Photo Credit: The Gender Spectrum Collection

Lookin’ Goood

  1. Do you or someone you know have long hair? Do they use hair ties to contain their bounteous locks? Get some plastic-free hair ties made from cotton and natural rubber. It may be a small thing (literally) but worth it for the obscure green kudos points!
  2. Read the labels on your clothes and aim for sustainable, plastic free brands and second hand. Two brands I trust are Rapanui, based across the water on Isle of Wight, and People Tree.
  3. Naked toilet paper. No plastic, no packaging. For a deep dive into my toilet paper adventures, check out my post here and Emma’s post here on reuseable family cloths – a toilet paper alternative.
  4. Try low-waste bathroom products like solid soaps (my go-to is Faith in Nature naked soaps from Wild Thyme ), refill products like shower gel, shampoo etc, and deodorant creams in tins or glass jars.
Photo by Kelly Lacy from Pexels

Homey Vibes

  1. Next time you are wrapping a gift, try paper sticky tape. Plastic sticky tape, who dat?
  2. Use washable reusable cleaning cloths instead of disposable wipes.
  3. Refill cleaning products instead of buying new products. Wild Thyme, Herbies and the Package Free Larder all offer refills.
  4. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. They make the dining experience super fancy!
  5. If you have a pet in your life, try sourcing pet food in cans. Tins and cans have a higher recycling value while low-grade plastic is extremely low-value and that is assuming recycling facilities for mixed plastics even exist in your local area.
Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

Consumer Tips $$

  1. Repair items whenever possible. Don’t know how? Vist to Pompey’s Repair Cafe which has recently reopened after a year and more of covid-19 lock downs.
  2. Limit online purchases wherever possible and try to support sustainable, local online brands. Request no plastic packaging for online orders and actively support local traders like Pigeon Books and online shops like Plastic Freedom that aim for low-waste packaging.

Let me know in the Comments section below what you’ll be doing this Plastic Free July. Be it small or be it big, it be something

Written by Tamara, a Green Hairy Feminist

How I’m staying (Mostly) green without losing my mind

Welcome to the May 2021 blog post where there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m (Emma) due for my second vaccine in just two weeks and then I can go to restaurants or the cinema or on holiday in the UK. To make the most of this brief break in my depression, I thought I’d let you in on my green plans for the rest of the year.

Flight-free 2021

Now, given that it’s nearly June and most countries that I would want to go to require a negative coronavirus test and isolation on arrival, I still won’t be travelling. As someone who works from home, I couldn’t care less about isolating when returning to the UK, but I’m not spending all that money to sit in a hotel room in Gran Canaria.

My plan is for a UK-based holiday next month and then, hopefully, a trip by ferry to one of the Channel Islands or the Eurostar to France. The chances are that my next flight will be to the US in 2022.

An all-electric home and solar panels

Okay, this is the major one. We already get our power from renewable sources and frack-free gas, but my parents have been floating around the idea of solar panels for a while. However, my parents are now getting information about changing our gas central heating to an all-electric one, which will mean that our home will entirely be powered by renewables (even some that we got ourselves) and removing all dependence on fossil fuels. Mum also hopes it will cut our water bill because it won’t need water running through the radiators.

There are a lot of things to consider. For one thing, in the case of a power cut, we’d lose heating and the ability to cook as well. Luckily, we live in an area where lengthy power cuts are rare, so we’ve pretty much decided that the benefits outweigh the risks. For another, it’s a major undertaking. The price doesn’t appear to be that much in terms of house maintenance costs – between £5,000 and £10,000 for our 4-bed house – but the installation involves having the boiler decommissioned, all existing radiators and pipes removed, as well as an electricity check, before the installation of the electric radiators.

Now, this is the subject of a future blog post, but I wanted to give you all the information I have right now.

Continuing my existing green lifestyle

One of the most important things to do if we want to make the world a greener place is to continue with the things that we are already doing. For me, that’s walking to most places (until I feel comfortable enough to get on the bus again), eating vegetarian (and vegan where I can), reducing what I buy (especially new), and recycling everything I can through the kerbside scheme, Terracycle, and various banks across the city.

Daring to Dream Green in 2021

Portsmouth residents will be going to the polls on Thursday 6th May. One-third of local council seats will be up for re-election, one in each of the 14 wards. You can find out what ward you live in here and who your current councillors are here.

If you live, work or study in Portsmouth and are eligible, we hope you have registered to vote! And we, Tamara and Emma, hope you will choose to vote Green.

For it is you, Dear Reader, who can help bring our first Green Councillor into the city. Each of the Green candidates we present to you below believe passionately in a greener, cleaner and fairer Portsmouth. We are all local Portsmouth Green Party members, volunteers and activists. We are not career politicians but normal people trying to do our part to make Portsmouth a better place to live, who choose to step forward and put our names on the ballot paper because we want to speak truth to power.

Now, it’s over to you… and to get you started here are 3 quick and easy peasy steps you can take today:

3 Quick and Easy Peasy Steps To Get a Green Councillor in Portsmouth:

  1. Vote Green at the local election this May 6th and check out your 2021 Green Pompey candidates below.
  2. Display a Green Party poster in your window: email to get your poster.
  3. Join The Green Party: visit https://join.greenparty.org.uk/ to become a member of the national Green Party and automatically become a member of your local Portsmouth Green Party.

Meet The Dream Green Pompey Team 🙂

Tim Sheerman-Chase, Copnor

Tim is a local resident and has been an active campaigner in Portsmouth for the last few years, with his ancestral routes tracing back to nearby Emsworth. 

Tim works as a software contractor and AI specialist. In his career, he has been involved in problem solving and delivery of solutions in complex research and engineering projects. His understanding of evidence based policy is needed to address the significant challenges we face.

After seeing worrying signs of environmental and social break down, Tim decided to get involved in politics and local campaigns. He has had a long interest in environmental issues and civil rights. Tim currently specializes in air quality and sustainable transport issues. He has volunteered with Portsmouth Foodcycle and Fratton Big Local to help support the local community.

We need to abandon old dogmatic solutions in favour of sustainable and accountable systems. Of particular concern in Portsmouth is the level of traffic, which causes parking problems, delays, pollution and climate change. I will fight for more investment in cycling, walking and public transport, as well as requiring development schemes to put these priorities at their centre. Green spaces need to be introduced around the city to improve well being. The city also needs to improve its recycling rates, which are among the worst in the country.

I am an air quality campaigner and regular blogger on the #LetPompeyBreathe campaign.

Email: tim [at] portsmouth [dot] greenparty [dot] org [dot] uk
Twitter: @GreenTimSC

Sarah Gilbert, Milton

This past year has clearly highlighted the importance of a strong community and better investment in local government. As a Milton resident for 20 years, I am concerned about air pollution levels, lack of affordable housing, recycling rates and the protection of our green spaces. We need to improve public transport and establish much safer walking and cycling routes in the area. A cleaner, greener environment will help to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

There are some significant planned developments in this area, including new housing at the St James’s Hospital site, a new leisure centre at Bransbury Park and the Aquind interconnector cable. Residents’ views on these projects must be heard and full consideration given to the environmental impact and the needs of the community. I am committed to helping Portsmouth achieve a more sustainable future.

Tamara Groen, Central Southsea

As the Green Party Candidate for the Central Southsea ward, I am standing for a change in the status quo. A strong believer in social justice and equality, I do not claim to know everything about local government but I am persistent, tenacious and will fight your corner to the end. My key concerns are Portsmouth’s dangerous air quality, low recycling rates, unsafe roads for cyclists and the lack of resources and support for those experiencing homelessness. I will also tackle the daily frustrations around parking, dog poo, litter and anti-social behaviour.

I am not a career politician but instead someone who has lived in Portsmouth for over fifteen years who is tired of the toxic atmosphere within our city council. As your Green Councillor, I want to enhance and improve all of our cities’ wonderful qualities.

Menno Groen, Eastney and Craneswater

The past year has been incredibly difficult for so many of us, with many people struggling to make ends meet and mental health suffering due to stress and isolation. It has been more clear than ever that Portsmouth urgently needs to tackle the poor air quality in the city, to improve residents’ health and reduce pressure on the NHS.

I use my bicycle for most of my journeys, and Portsmouth is great to get around without using a car, but much more needs to be done to ensure that people can walk, cycle or use public transport easily, and safely. We need a city-wide strategy for transport that includes first-class provisions for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as affordable and reliable public transport.

As we slowly come out of lockedown, we have an opportunity to improve the way we do things and build a greener future. A Green recovery means proper action on climate change and the ecological emergency, and an equal society.

As a Green Party Councillor, I will push for sustainable policies to make our great city a better place to live – for everyone.

Bob Simmonds, Baffins

Imagine living in a city with clean air, quieter roads and with affordable and accessible transport links. This could happen in Portsmouth, not easily or quickly, but with imagination and effort. The Green Party has well researched policies on this, and many other issues which would improve our lives now, and more importantly the lives of future generations.

More immediately I would like to see increased recycling of materials. If plastic recycling bins were as widespread as bottle banks it could lead to a huge change. Finally, in Baffins we are fortunate in having a good deal of green space. I would like to see that developed throughout Portsmouth, eventually to create green pathways through the city.

Elliott Lee, St Thomas

Hey, I’m Elliott and I am your Green Party candidate for the St Thomas Ward. I am a young adult and am Visually Impaired. I am a Student and activist. I have experience in the health and social care sector as well as in the charity sector. I stand as a Green Party candidate here as someone who has been disillusioned by the inaction of other parties and past administrations to tackle the very apparent inequalities all around us.

As a young person with a disability, I am constantly experiencing the inaccessibility of our community and the wider city, made worse by some of the current administrations’ policies. An accessible city is a city for us all. Which, as a young person, is why I can not sit by and watch on at the lack of care taken towards our green spaces and coastal areas.

Ian McCulloch, St Jude

We need a political system that puts the public first, and an economy that gives everyone their fair share. We need a planet protected from the threat of climate change now and for the generations to come. That’s the world we want to create and I believe we have the means to do it.

The challenges faced by the people of Portsmouth include homelessness, poor air quality, unaffordable housing and a critically underfunded NHS.

By building more social rented homes and bringing abandoned buildings back into use we can ensure that everyone has a secure and affordable place to live. Ending the creeping privatisation of the NHS and repealing the Health and Social Care Act will help us to restore a publicly funded, publicly provided health service free at the point of use. A rent cap, longer tenancies and licensing landlords will provide greater protection for renters. UK standards on air pollution are out of date, we need to implement charges for the most polluting vehicles, and support a more cycling- and walking-friendly city.

By investing in renewable energy and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we can build a stable and sustainable society that protects our planet from climate change.

Emma Murphy, Hilsea

Hi, I’m Emma and I’m the Green Party Candidate for Hilsea. I’ve lived in Portsmouth my whole life, so I’ve seen many citizens who are frustrated with the lack of sustainability and environmental protections in the city. This includes my dad, who lobbied for a recycling scheme in his office and had to complete the task on his own, after hours, for no extra pay for well over ten years. He’s an inspiration and there are many unsung heroes in our city who are doing the same.

Things have gotten better in many ways since the mid-2000s, but we still have a long way to go. If elected to the city council, I would champion a cleaner city with better recycling, a stringent air quality action plan, and better facilities for the people of Portsmouth.

The people of Portsmouth deserve a cleaner, greener city and a Green Councillor would go a long way to making that a reality.

Ken Hawkins, Fratton

I have been a Portsmouth resident for more than fifty years, during that time I have served the people of Portsmouth as a JP and school governor so I believe I am a strong candidate to become a Councillor for the Fratton ward. During my life in Portsmouth, I have helped raise three daughters. I have attended Portsmouth University – twice. I have been an active volunteer I am currently treasurer of the local hospital radio, and I also have my own music show.

I strongly support efforts to improve Portsmouth’s air quality and as a Councillor, I would promote the use of cycling and would actively work toward taking buses back into public ownership and the introduction of electric power buses. There is also a need to make Fratton and Portsmouth more greener to help achieve this I would campaign for more trees to planted and more wilding of Fratton’s open spaces i.e Kingston park and St Marys church. Also, I would like to provide Fratton residents with wildflower seeds for their gardens.

I would work with the police to improve the safety of Fratton’s streets with better lighting and with an increased number of police officers on the street. To help with the increase in fly-tipping I would have an increase the number of communal bins.

Duncan Robinson, Nelson

I am a candidate who lives and works in Nelson ward and am the only candidate in the ward to have signed the South East Climate Alliance ABCD pledge.

My prime concern is to ensure that air pollution in Portsmouth is reduced by tackling traffic congestion by seeking to increase the public transport infrastructure. I will also seek to increase the size of the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone in line with residents wishes as well as promoting cycling within the city.

I also wish to increase the proportion of recycled waste by in Portsmouth at the earliest opportunity by rolling out food waste collection across the city and increasing what can be collected in our green recycling bins.

In addition, I seek to oppose the Tipner West development as it destroys 43.5 hectares of wildlife feeding grounds and a site of special scientific interest as well as adding untold amounts of pollution to our waterfront city.

As a veteran, I aim to provide a voice for veterans on Portsmouth City Council and aim to work with the Royal Navy to further reduce the impact of ships and personnel travelling on our city’s environment without impinging on operational capability.


And finally Dear Reader, should you like to find out more about Portsmouth Green Party and follow us on social medias, do peruse some of the links below:

Portsmouth Green Party: https://portsmouth.greenparty.org.uk/

PGP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenPompey

PGP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pompeygreens/

PGP Twitter: https://twitter.com/PompeyGreens

#LetPompeyBreathe: https://greenpompey.org.uk/let-pompey-breathe/

Green Party of England and Wales: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/


Written by Tamara, a Green Hairy Feminist

How to Eco-Hack Your Laundry Room

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these, but as the days are getting brighter and lockdown is lifting, I (Emma) decided to revive the ‘How to Eco-Hack…’ series.

This time, thanks to some of my recent purchases, we’re focusing on the laundry room. (Or, I supposed as we’re British, the free space under the counter in the kitchen.)

Before you wash

Make your white goods greener

Electronics are a major contributor to climate change during creation, use, and disposal. Normally, we think of this with small, smart tech items, but it’s also true for our bigger appliances, like washing machines and tumble dryers.

If you want to be clean and green, then repair the items you already have and if you have to replace them, then shop second-hand and look for ones with a higher energy rating. (Also, offer your old items for spares on free sites.

Get a basket

Okay, so if you’ve already have a basket, that’s great. But if yours is falling apart because you’ve had it for 15 years and it wasn’t great quality to begin with, search for a second-hand item. It’s not very common in charity shops, so look online or expand your definition of what can be a washing basket. A swing-top bin, a bag-for-life, or a storage box will all work. If you want to buy new, look for a wicker one with a fabric liner. It’s more expensive but it lasts longer.

Wash less often

Over-washing wastes water and electricity, as well as damaging your clothes over time. We’ve been conditioned to think that we should throw things in the wash after every wear but that’s just not the case. Need some advice on when to wash? Check out this image from Moral Fibres.

To stretch the amount of time from wardrobe to washing basket, spot wash clothes with small stains and hang outfits up at night to let odours dissipate.

Wear your clothes for longer

I know that this seems like I’m making the same point twice, but I’m not, I swear. You’ve heard of microplastics, right? The invisible-to-the-naked-eye pieces of plastic are making their way from our products to our food. And microplastics, like the dirty little secrets in every teen drama I’ve ever watched, all come out in the wash.

As most microfibres are released in the first five washes, keeping items for longer will negate this. Even better if you buy second-hand because that item has likely already been worn and washed a bunch of times. And of course, dangerous microfibres only come from plastic-based materials, like polyester. Cotton, wool, and hemp items will shed microfibres too, but because they’re natural, they won’t damage the planet.

Wash

When it comes to washing your clothes, there are so many ways to reduce your impact on the environment. These tips are pretty well known, but we’ll just go over them quickly:

  • Treat smaller stains in pre-wash
  • Wash at lower temperatures because most of the energy use comes from heating the water
  • Fill your machine up until you can fit your hand between the clothes and the drum
  • If you have reusable menstrual products, soak them in a bucket of cold water (like the kind you’d get when running your shower)
  • Ditch the fabric conditioner

What to wash with

When it comes to what to wash with, there are a few options that are better for the environment because they don’t use chemicals that are dangerous to marine life (seriously, check the warning label on those scent booster things) or come in single-use plastic packaging.

Eco Egg: My mum has been using this for at least ten years, just refilling the egg with pellets about every year or so. It doesn’t contain bleach, is UK-made, and will save you tons of money. (I’ve read other reports about the egg holder occasionally opening mid-wash, but we’ve never had that happen, and that it should be used above 60 degrees or for heavily soiled clothing, but again we’ve never experienced an issue, although we rarely wash above 30 degrees.

Ecoever: Made using natural ingredients and biodegradable bleach. I haven’t used them since I left uni but the other sites that I read said that it has a plastic inner liner in the box and is fairly expensive.

Soap nuts: These are natural, biodegradable, and can be bought from Package Free Larder. Pop a few into a netted bag (My friend actually just tied off the foot of some ripped tights.) and throw them into the machines. They’re great value, but the reliability of cleaning can vary, so perhaps don’t use them for heavily stained items.

Stop the microplastics

As mentioned above, microplastics are a mother fucking nightmare for the ocean. But if we’re continuing to use what we have and buy second-hand, there will inevitably be some plastic-based fabrics in our wardrobes. So, for the past two months, I’ve been trying out the Guppyfriend and the Coraball, both of which promise to reduce microplastics.

Guppyfriend Wash Bag

This is basically a fine mesh bag that you put plastic-based clothes in for washing. It will catch the microfibres, while still allowing the clothes to get washed, and then you can just hook the microfibres out of the filter at the top of the bag.

Now, these fibres take some time to build-up to the point where you can see them in the filter (because they’re individually invisible to the naked eye), so you might feel a little scammed if, like me, you want instant results. Rest assured that it’s perfectly fine to use the Guppyfriend multiple times between cleaning it out, even if you’re doing a few washes in a row. After several washes, there begins to be a build-up of what looks like lint in the part of the bag just above the zipper. Then, you can clean it out.

To use, fill the bag to two-thirds full with any plastic-based fabrics and zip shut, pushing the zip underneath the cover at the end. (IDK what the technical term is.) If you’re unsure because the label has faded or was cut out, it doesn’t hurt to chuck it in.  Fill up the rest of the machine with only organic materials, like cotton towels and wool jumpers. (This also helps to prevent an imbalance that leaves your machine unable to spin.)

Pros

  • Can be used many times with a reduction in usability
  • Can technically be recycled at end of life (but only in streams that can specifically accept polyamide 6.6)
  • Catches 90% of microfibres
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Can’t be used in temperatures above 40 degrees, which is sometimes needed for  things like toilet cloths and reusable nappies
  • Costs between £15 and £30 dependent on retailer and sales, but this might be too much for people on limited incomes

CoraBall

This is a ball with dozens of coils that are designed to trap microfibres, doesn’t involve sorting your washing, and can be used at higher temperatures. I bought it initially for my toilet cloths, but I’ve used it for many other things.

The trouble is that those coils can be a nightmare if they get caught on any thin or delicate things, like bra straps, loose threads on clothes, or the ear bands for facemasks. That was a nightmare but I should have prepared better.

The fibres build up and can be pinched off, as you do with a hairbrush.

Pros

  • Can be used above 40 degrees
  • Made from 100% recycled plastic
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Only catches 26% of microfibres, so I only used it in loads too hot for the Guppyfriend

There are also other options, like installing a filter onto the wastewater pipe, but these seemed too technical for me and we’re quickly dismissed. If you’d like to learn more about them, this blog can help.

Live and Let Dry

The unsurprising tip here is to hang dry outside whenever possible. Not only does it reduce energy needs but it also extends the lifespan of your clothes. But obviously, this isn’t always possible because we live in the UK, so the weather is not always good, and not everyone has the space for a washing line.

If it’s raining or for those with a tiny garden, a balcony, or no outside space, clothes racks are an incredible investment. My top tips are:

  • get racks that fit over the bath or the shower, so that the water drips down into the drain
  • open the windows a crack to let the moisture escape the room and avoid mould
  • try to do one wash load at a time to avoid drying too much at one time
  • save up non-essential washing during bad weather (I only wash one load a month in winter, by not washing things like summer pyjamas and shorts)

If you need to use a dryer, get some dryer balls to reduce drying times.

Hopefully, this has helped you to improve the eco-friendliness of your washing cycle. If you have any tips, let me know in the comments below.

Tamara Vs Lockdown: The HEAT Edition

Look how happy she is. I am baffled by this.
Image from Pixabay
Disclaimer Warning:
 
Yo, Tamara here.I am in Storytime mode today. So, grab yourself and coffee and get comfy. I am going to use ten words when I could use two. 

Meandering Introduction about the Cold

I hate the cold. I hate ice, I hate snow. I hate cold mornings. My Trinidadian roots show when I am presented with icy pavements, as I gingerly tiptoe over a minute sprinkling of snow whilst wearing my crampons. {Sidebar – if you are anything like me, get yourself some crampons. Trust me. Icy pavements will cower under your confident step. They will revolutionise your life!}

The one and only time I attempted ice skating in my teens, I clung to the sides and fell on my butt multiple times. To no one’s surprise, I hate ice skating with a vengeance. In my twenties, I spent many a winter (and summer!) visit at the Dutchman’s family home in DutchLand huddling under blankets. His family were bemused by my lack of appropriate clothing and suggested I put a hat on. Wear a hat. Inside. I was shooketh!!

#notmyfeet
Image from Pixabay

Meandering Thoughts about the Heat

When I was younger, I used to love the heat. While I was at university, living in a house-share with all bills included, the heating was cranked up high and on literally all the time. But as I began to adult and pay my own energy bills, I realised not only how bloody expensive it was but also the environmental cost and unsustainability of fossil fuels, I became oh-so-miserly with my heating.

Now heading swiftly towards my fabulous forties, this has developed into a genuine preference for a cooler bedroom at night and a general dislike of the stifling heat of central heating. My Dutch schoonmoeder (mother-in-law – yeah I speak Dutch!) can barely recognise me!

Image from Pixabay

A Green Energy Point is Made and Energy Savings Tips Begin

When the Dutchman and I moved out of shared housing, we quickly moved away from the traditional energy providers, preferring to invest in green energy, using Ecotricity for both gas and electric. Green energy was (and remains) my non-negotiable and I was prepared to spend out on this. To counteract the fact that it was (at the time) more expensive than non-green energy, I became a ninja with the thermostat.

I had the central heating down to a fine art with adjustable room thermostats which meant I carefully controlled everyone’s heating usage. My lodgers loved me. Hah. Not.

I began to understand the wisdom of my dear Norwegian friend and long-ago housemate K who insisted my beloved chunky sweater was useless against the cold and I needed to use multiple thin layers. My go-to was now lots of layers including actual thermal leggings, an old-man vest, blankets at the ready by the sofa, multiple hot water bottles and socks in bed. I don’t know what you mean – energy saving is totally sexy.

Image by ri from Pixabay

The drama about Central Heating

So it was a shock when I moved just over a year ago to my new home as my Trinidadian mother keeps her section of the house at a balmy 21 degrees. Prior to us moving into a shared inter-generational household, we had a very frank conversation about our non-negotiables. Her heating was her non-negotiable. As was her ancient energy sucking microwave, dryer and electric blanket.

Image by Simon from Pixabay

Tamara’s Extreme Energy Saving

To counteract this, I went on an energy-saving overdrive. An extra-large outdoor rotary air dryer was erected in the garden. Fingerless gloves were purchased for the Dutchman who now spends his lockdown days working from home. I begrudgingly allow his working space to have the heating on but I’m not happy about it. Thick slippers were purchased from the charity shop to insulate my tootsies from the cold Victorian tiles -beautiful and original yes, but oh so bloody cold. There are blankets liberally spread all over the house. Windows are firmly closed and a door draught stopper is now in use. The oven door is left open to allow the heat remnants to warm the biting cold kitchen.

I was so proud of myself that even when I struggled with my mental health at the beginning of the third lockdown in January 2021 and stayed in bed with the curtains closed for a good few days, I did not put the heating on once.

The Big Reveal

This as it turned out was a big HUGE mistake. I had gone too far. Turns out closed windows together with unopened long curtains mixed with absolutely no heating is a recipe for mould. Who knew? Certainly not me!

I almost cried when I discovered the black mould in the bedroom- under the bay window behind the unopened curtains, behind the wardrobe and even on our clothes. It was as if my house had betrayed me. I was tempted to burn all the clothes and move to a new house immediately.

Dealing with Mould Like an Actual Adult

As this was not an option, I had to actually adult and deal with the problem. Turns out cleaning the wall, using some eco-ish mould cleaning spray and regularly airing out the room is a fine solution.

On awakening, I now open the window and curtains immediately and close the window after I am dressed for the day, usually an hour later. However, the wisdom of the internet tells me 10 mins a day airing should suffice. On the advice of a friend whose partner also likes a super cold bedroom, once a week I close the bedroom door, turn the heating on, open both the window and all wardrobe doors and let the room air for a good couple of hours. Midweek, I also do a bonus wardrobe doors opener. I will never ever have mouldy clothes again. But my gas bill is definitely going to suffer. Sigh. Tamara 1: Heat 2. What’s a gal to do?

Conclusion

The heat won.

Written by Tamara, a Green Hairy Feminist

It’s (Still) Not Easy Being Green in 2021

Should I pretend that I think this is the fourth Friday in January? Would you believe me? Should I admit that for a week that’s been my plan? Should I be honest about why the article is late? *shrugs* Probably not that important.

I had such high hopes for this blog in late December. I planned to write about my brand-new green health regime. I planned to write about the country getting back to normal with the roll out of two vaccines and how we could again focus on environmental issues on a wider political scale and an individual level. Oh, you poor naïve Emma.

So instead, I will give you a little insight into the green wins and fails that my household has been struggling with since the beginning of 2021.

Cat food packets

Not my cats – they get along too well

Once upon a time, we used tinned cat food, but when Binks became sick in like 2010, she didn’t eat a lot, which meant that the tinned food would go off before she finished it and we were wasting a lot. So, we moved to the little pouches, even for the cats that followed her. (Also, for Grampy’s cat because the packets are easier for him to use.)

Now, these are recyclable via Terracycle, but it’s a hassle and a half. Cleaning them is not as easy as you might think and often you can find that little pieces meat or jelly are left in there to rot (and contaminate the rest of the recycling). Plus, even after you manage to clean them fully, you still have to take them all the way to Horndean Technology College, which isn’t advisable during a pandemic.

Luckily, my dad was angry about this, because he is the one tasked with recycling them, so we are now switching back to tins, because we have two cats living here and one is a feline dustbin. Easier to recycle and no plastic involved.

Plastic soft drink bottles

An accurate depiction of my daily intake

I won’t pretend to you that my family no longer drinks Coke, but prior to the pandemnic, I was drinkning a lot less. Since then, I’ve been leaning into a comfort drink, but I did manage to convince my dad to switch to cans. (Because there was a sale and it was the same price as the bottled drinks.)

Then, I just kept buying a couple of cases every time that a sale came up.

Walking

Not me – the shoes are too cool

At the advice of Tamara, I’ve been going outside more. (I shielded for most of 2020.) This has been good for my mental and physical health. Walking for… I am reluctant to say fun, but you understand… has been a good way to exercise without using a machine. It’s been a good way to get out without using a car. And it’s when I recycle out glass and cartons. It’s been very green indeed.

Well, that’s about it for this month. I’m hoping that by March, I’m able to write about a topic in more depth than I have been today.

Better Late Than Never, Right?

I am late with this blog post. Not because I (Tamara) have been out saving the world one green action at a time. Not because I have been protesting at the appalling treatment of refugees by the Home Office. Not because I have been writing strongly worded letters (emails) to my MP about a myriad of troubles I wish him to right. Not because I have been making my own wrapping paper out of cow dung or creating home-made Xmas gifts with my own fair (brown) hands. Nope. None of the above.

I am late with this blog post because I don’t want to admit to you, Dear Reader, that I haven’t been living a very green or activist life lately. I would say I’ve been doing the bare minimum but that sets the bar too high. I’ve just kinda been here. In my life. Trying not to freak out, trying to get outside and get natural light into my eyeballs, trying to keep depression at bay, trying to exercise, trying to stay connected, trying not to face plant into a tin of shortbread biscuits (too late).

I am late with this blog post because to admit this is to acknowledge being green isn’t always easy. Especially at Christmas in a pandemic.

Being green, being an activist takes up brain space and energy that I don’t readily have right now. But even as I type those words, my brain has started listing ways that I have been green at Christmas in a pandemic.

Listing ‘The Little Things’ List:

I bought mulled wine spices from The Package Free Larder and Fairtrade red wine from my local corner shop Coop. I bought cheese from The Ethical Dairy – produced from organic milk where calves are kept with their mothers to suckle (ok fine, my partner the Dutchman did this one but I’m including it in this flashback of achievements.) I bought books from local independent booksellers Pigeon Books. I bought gifts from independent traders at the We Create Market, a pop-up indoor market at the old Debenhams on Palmerston Road.

£$ I am realising most of my green achievements are consumerist but hey, putting my money where my mouth is! £$

I bought the most amazing bee boobie jugs from The Beehive made by BoobieBu, intended as gifts and kept for myself, thereby forcing me to buy further gifts from BoobieBu.

I bought Happy Birthday bunting from Leather Heather and put up glass balloons to decorate and celebrate the birthday of a young person who is currently in my care. I made a raspberry cheesecake for his 18th from scratch and remembered to get Fairtrade chocolate and to check the biscuits were palm-oil free.

I ate the meat my mother provided and cooked for our Christmas Eve meal, knowing it was not free-range and enjoying it anyway. I delivered a Christmas hamper as a volunteer for Community First who usually host a Christmas Day meal for 100 guests and instead this year, provided each of those guests with a hamper delivered to their doorstep on Christmas Day with a Christmas meal and gifts.

I am late with this post because I told myself all the above doesn’t count because I am not being an amazing environmentalist and changing the world. I am not saving people. I am not standing up for the vulnerable and voiceless.

I am an idiot. What I have been doing does count.

But I am here now.

Because this is the whole point of this blog: we do what we can, when we can.

We juggle the balls and when we cannot due to lack of energy, caring responsibilities, overwhelm, job loss, grief, mental health challenges, whatever the reason – the ball is picked up by someone else who does have that brain space and energy. So rather than feeling shitty for not being the picture-perfect Instagram-worthy eco-activist, I am thankful for all those who shout the shout, walk the walk and fight the fight when I cannot.


P.S. I am also late with this blog because F*2020.


Written by Tamara, a Green Hairy Feminist

9 Free Apps to Help You Be Greener Today

I (Emma) don’t know about you, but over this [swearword redacted] of a year, I feel like my productivity has gone right down. Leaving aside the arguments about toxic productivity and that we are worth more than what we get done in a day, this has been hard for me.

It hasn’t just been the pandemic, but rather a lot of personal stuff that hasn’t got any easier throughout the lockdown period, which for me is basically from March 16th and will continue until my grandad gets the vaccine. (This is not an arguement against the lockdown, which I fully support.)

And this productivity vacuum hasn’t just been limited to work. In fact, I’ve been less green in all the ways you’d expect (buying packaged food and takeaways) and ways you might not (using the dryer more).

So how can we be more green with less time and energy? Well, this is the topic of this article. Apps.

Ecosia

person searching with binoculars

I feel like we bang on about Ecosia a lot but they use their ad revenue to plant trees in places that need them most. They’ve planted over 114 million as of writing.

They’ll also put a green leaf icon next to websites that supply eco products or have sustainable practices.

Forest

tree

On a similar note (and because this post is focused on productivity), Forest will encourage you to put down your phone for a set amount of time while a cartoon tree grows on screen.

It also plants IRL trees through partnering with charity Trees for the Future.

Too Good to Go/ Olio

bags of peaches

I’ve put these together because they both fight food waste by picking up stuff that someone else doesn’t want; Olio from other people and TGTG from restaurants and shops.

I haven’t used them since early March because #shielding, but if you feel confident, you can do contact-free pick-ups from people’s houses or in the same way that you’d usually buy food in the store. (Follow the advice on the apps.)

Pinterest

photo collage

Now, there are a lot of things on Pinterest that aren’t eco, but it’s a great place to search for vegan recipes, upcycle tutorials, and zero waste tips. Approach with caution. It’s addictive.

BorrowBox

woman reading book

Can’t get to your library or a charity shop? Want to avoid buying books online with all the pointless packaging? With BorrowBox, you can borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free without leaving the house.

[As always, second-hand books can be bought from World of Books and new books can be bought from the independent and Southsea-based Pigeon Books, who wrap them in paper and deliver on bike.]

Good On You

clothing store

We all know that Tamara likes the Ethical Consumer, but what if that was in app form and scored clothing brands based on their impact on the people, animals, and the environment.

I haven’t used it because I don’t buy a lot of clothes new – one band t-shirt this year – but I thought it might be good for people who like clothes shopping, as if they recommended you avoid the brand, they’ll give you better options.

reGAIN

woman with boxes of clothes

On a related note, reGAIN encourages donating clothes, shoes, and accessories you no longer wear to the British Red Cross in exchange for discounts on new items.

Weather App

person riding bicycle during rain

This is something I use all the time and the best part is that you don’t have to free up space because it’s already on all of our phones. My most common use of it is to check if it will rain, so that I can put the washing out at night and bring it in the next day.

Other uses could include checking if you can walk somewhere rather than taking the car, seeing the best day to go for a bike ride, or using bad weather as an excuse not to see someone you don’t like when the lockdown lifts.

Hopefully, this will help you be more eco without much effort. Let us know in the comments below if you have any other app suggestions.