ChronicleLive - Go Green

Help!

2009-07-27T15:14:30Z

My wormery has got mould! I know food is supposed to rot to break down and enable the worms to eat it. But there is properly loads of mould growing inside it.

Does anyone know what I can do to stop it? Or is it OK to just leave it?

I'm worried the worms will die if they don't like the conditions.. All help gratefully received.

The food waste's diminishing but the motivation's rising

2009-07-20T07:09:54Z

WE'VE been ploughing on in our Waste Not, Want Not food waste challenge and our worms are doing well.

We took delivery of our wormery which has almost completely eliminated our food waste. Coffee grounds, apple cores, bits of salad, vegetable peelings, even rice and pasta, have all gone into our magic composter, along with egg shells and lots of ripped-up cardboard for a bit of roughage.

Back inside the house the pressure has been on to check the fridge to make sure nothing is quietly going off without us noticing. We're improving, that's all I'll say.

But the main change has been at the supermarket, where we've spent less money over the last few weeks, thanks to some harsh self-questioning ("do we really need that"), in the aisles. This has meant less food in the house with less to go off, but thanks to some imaginative cooking there has been no noticeable effect on our ability to adequately feed ourselves.

We agreed to sign up to the six-week challenge, run by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership, with environmental motivation in mind. Food thrown in the bin ends up rotting in landfill, releasing methane as it goes because it's starved of oxygen being buried under all the other waste we tip in there. Methane's a harmful gas which destroys the ozone layer and accelerates climate change. No bad gases are produced if food is decomposed the natural way, by worms or in a compost bin, and a useful product, compost, is produced.

With the extreme weather events we've had in the last couple of weeks, such as torrential rain showers and very hot days, you could say we're seeing the effects of climate change, which we've caused. So it seems a good time to think about what you may do to stop it now.

Wiggly worms make short work of waste

2009-07-06T12:31:47Z

So our wormery was delivered and, because I didn't have time to put it together straight away, it sat at the top of the stairs in our flat (next to a radiator) for three days.

"Are there worms in that?" Fergus asked with more than a hint of trepidation in his voice. "No, don't be daft," I replied. "You get those once you've set it up and you're ready to go."

Ferg went away for the weekend, leaving me to fill in our food waste diary and clear all the gone-off, half eaten food out of our fridge and cupboards.

On Saturday afternoon I thought I'd better sort the wormery out. I cut the bindings off the outside and took the lid off to look for the instructions. Inside there were three large bags, one called "worm treats", one of anti-lime, and the third..? "Oh no! The worms ARE in here!" I bet I've killed them, I thought.

Inside there was also a brown block of coir, coconut husk, which you have to soak in water to break it up, then ring it out to create bedding for the worms. They bury into this and you lay your waste food on the top of it for them to feed on.

I gingerly scissored open the top of the "worms" bag, expecting a grim sight of a tangle of thousands of worms to greet me. What actually hove into view looked essentially like a bag of soil, with the odd worm peeking out. I tipped this onto the bedding and left the worms to go about their business.

Ferg came back from his weekend away, lifted up the lid of the wormery and emitted a small scream, a bit like a child's, upon seeing the worms clinging to the lid inside.

"I think I'm going to be sick," he said. What a wuss.

Waste Not, Want Not, week one

2009-06-29T07:28:58Z

The first thing I've learned through the Waste Not, Want Not challenge is that we don't produce that much waste. Not all the time anyway.

Our first week of the challenge, which involved collecting all the food we wasted, including things like apple cores and tea bags, in a bucket, went fine. But the bucket wasn't exactly overflowing by the end of the week.

However keeping a record of our waste has thrown up some interesting elements of our behaviour which I hadn't previously appreciated. Firstly we have a random attitude to buying food. It's more like buy what you fancy than buy what you need when we go to the supermarket. Consequently we end up with a lot of random food which doesn't go together and often too much of one thing, which ends up getting thrown away, and too little of another thing.

The worst wastages have been meat (and since I'm a vegetarian I'm washing my hands of this one), with Ferg chucking out half a packet of bacon and two thirds of a packet of that posh sliced Italian ham, simply because he didn't eat it in time. This is a problem because you can't put meat in a wormery or compost bin. And I'm not going to eat it. So it's up to him to find a way of using this stuff up once he's committed himself to opening it.

Portion sizes are a bit of an issue for us, but we're also quite good at eating, so stuff rarely goes to waste, we just sit there with our bellies sticking out. Having said that the challenge has made me think a lot more about finishing food. I went out for tea last week and because I was thinking about it I made a conscious effort to eat every last morsel. I even ate the chive garnish and slices of those raw red onions which I hate because you can taste them for about three days afterwards.

In other news we've just taken delivery of our wormery, which is the next part of our challenge...

Bike Week the final chapter

2009-06-19T08:06:07Z

Bike Week's drawing to a close and I'm wondering whether to finish it off with a 10-odd mile cycle to my parents' house tomorrow (the car's not going to be ready until next week).

But now I have a new focus. We went to the launch of our Waste Not Want Not Challenge on Wednesday. Fergus is still recovering from the photos and videos we had to have done. He won't be happy when he sees one of the pictures is in today's Chron!

Our digital team is going to set up a dedicated section of our website for articles, pics and videos of me and the other families from Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland taking part in the challenge to cut our food waste.

So check that out.

Summer time and the living is easy...

2009-06-18T08:12:21Z

Festival season is upon us folks and I will shortly be setting off on my annual pilgrimage to Glastonbury.

I for one can think of no better way of spending the summer than soaking up the sun listening to my favourite bands and artists among friends in the great outdoors. And it is good to know that come rain or shine (please let it shine) you can enjoy your festival eco-style. So here are my top tips for an energy efficient festival season:

Getting There - Travelling by public transport not only reduces pollution but it allows you to beat the queues and the nightmare carpark. Most festival websites have a travel section so be sure to check them out before you set off. Alternatively, National Rail Enquiries and National Express Coaches have timetable information and you can book your tickets on-line.

If you don't fancy letting the train take the strain why not car share? Chances are you will be travelling with friends anyway but even if you are meeting them there you can always get in touch with other people from your area who are travelling to the festival through the car-sharing website www.lifeshare.com

Gadgets - Finding your friends (and your tent) can be a nightmare once you are at the festival. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged before you go and top it up while you are there with a solar mobile charger. That way you can always stay in touch. Chose a camera with a rechargable batteries - they are light to carry and you will never miss a moment of the action.

Essentials - While it is always good to travel light, there are some festival essentials that you really can't do without. Brave is the festival goer who leaves home without toilet paper, toothpaste and deodorant! Make sure whatever you pack is sustainable, recyclable, low carbon and biodegradable. Ecotopia offer a fantastic "Eco Festival Kit" packed with all the essentials, check out Ecotopia to find out more.

Clothing - As optimistic as I am, the chances are it will rain at some point during your festival visit. Did you know you can now buy degradable waterproofs and recyclable wellies? Order direct from www.dunlopboots.com and www.eco-trade.co.uk/item/Biodegradable-Waterproof-Poncho-ET12686.html

Sleeping - As tempting as it is to shove your tent and sleeping bag back in the garage when you get home, don't. A good tent can last for years if you take time to clean and air it well. Wipe off the underside of the groundsheet, rinse and dry the tent pegs and don't pack it away until it is all completely dry to ensure it doesn't go mouldy. There is now an excellent range of eco tents and bedding available made from sustainable or recycled materials - you could even spend your festival in a Tipi!

For more information on how you can become more energy efficient this summer contact your Energy Saving Trust advice centre in the North East on freephone 0800 512 012 or visit the website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/northeast

Wherever your summer festival travels take you this year, take care, be eco and enjoy!

Bike Week day three

2009-06-17T07:14:38Z

OK, it's time to dispel a few myths about cycling.

1. It's always raining. It's just not true. In the last year of cycling to work I've worn my waterproofs a handful of times, though I always carry them in my bag. Usually it's just fair weather. Wind is much worse to cycle in anyway.

2. It's dangerous. Well so is driving, so's walking. It can be dangerous, but it's about learning the rules of the road, being confident in what you're doing and keeping an eye out for what others are doing, pretty much like driving.

3. You get sweaty and tired so it's not a good way to get to work. Well, you can go as fast or as slow as you want to avoid getting sweaty. On the other hand it wakes you up in the morning. In the winter you won't get too hot, I can tell you.

4. You'll always turn up to work dishevelled with a bag of crumpled clothes. This is not an insurmountable problem. Many workplaces have showers, hangers, lockers, that sort of thing. It shouldn't be enough to put you off.

Starting to cycle is about spending a little bit of money on a decent bike and accessories, learning the rules of the road, practising a bit to get your confidence up and having fun. If you cycle 15 minutes each way to work five days a week that's your basic recommended exercise sorted, great if you're sitting at a desk all day.

Give it a try.

Bike Week day two

2009-06-16T06:48:17Z

Well, we bought the car after a good bit of haggling. And then I cycled to work this morning.

The thing about car vs bike is it's not a fair comparison. We need a car as a household, mainly for going to see Ferg's family in Scotland. But we don't need or use one for a lot of things. I'm never going to take the car to work and I'm in the process of persuading Ferg he should ditch the car commute in favour of a bike too.

But we still need a car. And now we've got a much more modern, cleaner, more efficient one for all our essential journeys.

But cycling is great. Bit humid this morning, but not raining, the feel of the wind in my hair and a little bit of excercise of a morning. Plus not getting stuck in traffic jams. You don't get that with a car.

Bike Week diary part one

2009-06-15T08:14:07Z

So Bike Week started on Saturday and I have a confession to make. Although I cycled to work every day last week, as well as going out for a bike ride at the weekend, in the last three days my feet haven't touched the pedals.

This morning I walked to work, shock horror. This was because Fergus and I are off to hopefully strike a deal with a used car salesman over a new (to us) motor straight after work this evening (this isn't getting better, is it?). On the plus side it will be considerably newer and more eco-friendly than Ferg's current on-its-last-legs rustbucket.

Walking into work though did give me the opportunity to see just how many other people are commuting by bike. I think the numbers have really grown in the last year or so, which is good.

I did catch one poor soul fixing a puncture at the side of the road. But take it from me, this hardly ever happens (touch wood).

Saddle up for Bike Week

2009-06-11T08:49:07Z

It seems every week has a theme these days. But starting on Saturday is a week of events which is pretty close to my heart.

Running until June 22 is Bike Week, seven days designed to celebrate the great British biker and show all those wheel-averse non-cyclists what they're missing.

I ride to work and back just about every day and generally absolutely love it. But before I started I'll admit I was put off by a lot of things. Rain, traffic, getting sweaty and not wishing to turn up to the office with a bag full of crumpled clothes were the main ones.

But over the last year of cycling to work I've encountered very few real problems. My confidence has increased, I've ridden happily through a generous variety of British weather and I've got round the clothing issue OK.

I'll be back next week to blog on my bike week daily diary, detailing some of the challenges we cyclists face and how to overcome them. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll see if I can help.

And our friends at Be Air Aware are running some events for Bike Week so visit their website to find out more.

Amy's green challenge

2009-06-09T07:41:05Z

There's some limbering up going on chez Hunt as yours truly and the better half Fergus prepare for our latest green challenge.

To be fair, I'm not sure Fergus is really limbering up, it might just be me.

But anyway, next week we will embark on a six-week challenge to cut our food waste and learn about recycling kitchen scraps.

It's part of a competition called Waste Not Want Not, run by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership as part of the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

Three households from Gateshead (including us), three from South Tyneside and another three from Sunderland will compete to go from food wasters to winners in six weeks.

Luckily for Fergus I volunteered us to take part. I didn't even tell him first - thought I'd keep it as a nice surprise. He can hardly contain his excitement.

We will get a compost bin, wormery or an interesting contraption called a bokashi, which uses bran to break down food scraps. Since we live in an upstairs Tyneside flat with a small yard but no great patches of greenery to speak of, I'm hoping it's not a compost bin.

After that it will just be a case of getting old lazy bones Ferg to use the right bin and resist those tempting BOGOFs down Tesco.

Check back over the next few weeks to see how we get on.

Let's get in shape for a greener, cleaner summer!

2009-05-08T09:48:21Z

I don't know about you but I always get itchy fingers this time of year and want to get things sorted out in my house. It's the most likely time for me to clear out the garden shed or wash the curtains...so I thought you might appreciate some top energy saving spring clean ideas to focus on this year!

They range from one minute fixes to weekend DIY projects - and they'll all help get your home ready for summer, while cutting your energy use year round...

Let the sunshine in - cleaning windows and pulling back curtains during the day will help you take in more natural light and warmth from the sun. When you do need the lights on, save money by installing energy saving light bulbs.

Adjust your heating controls - make sure your central heating is set for warmer weather, or switch it off all together. Do you have a full set of heating controls?

Give your loft a makeover - clear out those dusty old boxes and add loft insulation instead. It could save you around £205 per year if there isn't any loft insulation there already. You could call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre for information on loft insulation and any grants that may be available on freephone 0800 512 012

Spruce up your kitchen appliances - A little cleaning can go a long way in helping your appliances run more efficiently. During your spring clean don't forget to:

defrost your fridge and freezer for greater energy efficiency
de-scale your kettle so it can boil water more quickly
clean your oven door - you'll be able to check on food without opening the oven and letting heat out

I know these aren't going huge jobs and me washing my windows won't bring down the national carbon emissions by a huge amount but the world's made up of individuals and by lots of us taking small actions... well, it's got to come to something hasn't it!

Let's get in shape for a greener, cleaner summer!

2009-05-08T09:48:21Z

They range from one minute fixes to weekend DIY projects - and they'll all help get your home ready for summer, while cutting your energy use year round...

Adjust your heating controls - make sure your central heating is set for warmer weather, or switch it off all together. Do you have a full set of heating controls?

Spruce up your kitchen appliances - A little cleaning can go a long way in helping your appliances run more efficiently. During your spring clean don't forget to:

defrost your fridge and freezer for greater energy efficiency
de-scale your kettle so it can boil water more quickly
clean your oven door - you'll be able to check on food without opening the oven and letting heat out

Track garden's progress online

2009-04-07T15:33:25Z

The web is a wonderful thing. We can "tweet" and "poke" and instant message each other all from the comfort of our sofa and office chair.

Now a website run by Gateshead Council aims to give people a behind the scenes view of the council's preparations for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Horticultural supervisor Phil Gregory, who is creating the Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway-designed garden, is keeping an online diary of how it is going.

The garden, called A Window of Opportunity, is being sponsored by Northumbrian Water and boasts a number of water features.

Pupils from Kingsmeadow School also helped to design it.

Visit the council's website www.gateshead.gov.uk to read the diary.

My granny had the right idea - make do and mend!

2009-04-03T14:12:17Z

According to some new research out this week from the Energy Saving Trust, the majority of North East residents believe the country should once again embrace the wartime spirit in an effort to cut down on waste.

I totally agree. We could learn a lot by listening to people in their 70s and 80s who experienced rationing and food shortages as they learn about how to be thrifty.

Seventy-two per cent of people polled in the North East thought local communities should work together more to help manage resources similar to the communal nature of the wartime effort, for example, by sharing leftover food with neighbours or car sharing.

And 60 per cent of North East respondents thought measures such as rationing or personal daily allowances were needed to help the British public cut down on excess!

Now, I'm not advocating rationing but I think the message is clear - we're ready to embrace a more sustainable, less wasteful lifestyle.

A range of age groups took part in the survey which found that all of those in the North East who lived during the Second World War - 80 years old and over - revealed they are carrying on the wartime values they learned.

I'm certainly not advocating a return to rationing or indeed enforced personal daily allowances. However if we could adopt just a few of the practices used during the war, such as recycling bath water for watering plants, then it would go a long way towards saving energy and reducing our carbon footprint.

North East residents who lived through the Second World War were extremely resilient in the face of extreme hardship. People had very little but they made do. Everyone you speak to who lived through the war always speaks about how they came up with extremely ingenious ways to make life's essentials - food and clothing go that little bit further.

We can now see an age of 'thrift being the new thrust' and 'frugality the new frontier'.

For more information on how you can implement some wartime values in to your home contact your Energy Saving Trust advice centre in the North East on freephone 0800 512 012 or visit the website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/northeast

I for one am heading into the garden this weekend to plant some potatoes and dig for victory!