eco weavils

One challenge of ethical living is the need vs want tension. Just bought a bathroom - desperately needed one - plaster is falling of the ceiling of current one, the sink is held to the wall with a bit of glue, tiles are cracked and the toilet is so old that it sounds like a rocket launching into space when you flush. So it really needs updated. Lots and more than we could do ourselves. So, Homebase are doing the whole thing and we'll see how it goes. By the way, disappointing information or knowledge about eco or green thinking at homebase; salesperson simply looked nonplussed when I asked for eco options. They did have some which I've gone for - eco toliet and taps, but..... still ........... I find myself dreaming about the cool designed streamline toilets and beautiful taps and whirlpool for the bath and hot air dryer, imagining a glamourous 'cadbury's flake' bathing experience (even though I hardly bath as I always shower). The difficultly is that eco options can be limited and in this case the dowdy plain jane of the bathroom range. I try, in my head, to make 'eco deals' e.g. 'if I get the hot air dryer, then I won't have to use and wash so many towels,' or 'if I get the whirlpool then maybe I could get underfloor heating that would be cheaper and offset the environmental cost.' Truth is I have no idea of how to calculate these things, or even the units to use, I might as well be saying 'if I buy four elephants then that will offset four hippos.' It makes no sense and I'd have to google it, or write into Simon Mayo's 'homework sucks' slot on radio 2 so some bored pHD student with nothing better to do can work it out for me.

Ultimately, imaginary 'eco deals' are the weavils of ethical living; they get into your simple principles and nibble at them till all you have is something that doesn't look or taste anything like the original, and you want to throw it away.

How did I deal with it in the end? I threw away the pretty brochure, on the 'out of sight, out of mind' principle, and went back to basics: 'luxury unnecessary new stuff that uses electricity = bad,' and 'new stuff that is as ethical as possible = good.' Weavils banished. For now.

Good habits

OK, so blogging is harder than I thought and starting the month I had a major interview wasn't maybe the best idea. But things are quieter now, I have a new job, so does my husband and living ethically is raised up the agenda once again. In the last month we did try to live ethically and I thought I'd summarise the successes and failures:

1) ethical superstore - v disappointing. Probably good for gifts and applicances etc, rubbish for weekly groceries. We said we'd collect, the customer service was rubbish - when we phoned to ask for opening times to collect the order they didn't know, when we got there only half the stuff was avaliable. They didn't tell us this, so when we got home and found out we phoned back, they said to come and get the rest, we went up and found out that it was actually all out of stock. Rubbish service at the depot, finally got the rest of our order 3 weeks after placing it, which they delivered to us eventually. So won't be using them again - three trips to get groceries is surely not helpful re carbon footprint.

2) Went foraging. Made nettle and pesto soup, elderflower cordial, elderflower champagne (still brewing). Scary experience, made me realise exactly how dependent I am on nicely packaged and sell by dated food that someone else assures me is OK to eat. Doing it myself filled me with anxiety about had I picked the right stuff and was I going to poison everyone. However, I'm counting this as a success as picking nettles for soup surely must be v eco friendly.

3) Made lots of jam with rhubarb from work's garden. Almost foraging - was sold for 5op for a huge bunch from the OT's. This did for the school summer fair contribution and small thank you gifts for in laws and parents and supervisor. Fairtrade sugar, of course.

4) Present for getting new job was a necklace from fifi bijoux, an ethical jewellry company. Beautiful ethical gold and aqua marine stone pendant. With all the dodgy ethics surrounding diamond and gold mining, this is a company worth buying from, gorgeous designs, beautiful packaging, great service.

5) Have significantly reduced weekend car use by having dog and going for lots of walks.

6) have significantly increased hanging washing out on line. Feel ridiculously happy when dry sunshine smelling clothes are brought in. Tumble dryers can't compete. Am now weirdly excited about 'good drying days'.

7) Attended clothes swap. Got rid of all my old stuff, picked up some new stuff for all the family, all the surplus went to ethiopia. Definite success, even took fairtrade organic wine. Consumption of which might explain the extremely tight short black skirt I picked up which is completely ridiculous in the cold sober light of day. Heigh ho, red cross shop can benefit.

8) Gifts for others: a problem as I am not v organised and birthday presents, especially children's ones, tend to get picked up on the day. Ethical stuff generally needs ordered online and therefore planned ahead. Mostly a failure, although I did pick up an air ambulance helicopter as a present for my son post interview that supported the work of the air ambulance.

9) Food shopping. Doing a big shop at the beginning worked to an extent and no more big shops were needed although did need to pick up some stuff throughout the month, which did not tend to be that ethical. Did not cost any more than normal, as buying in bulk and only going once to the supermarket online saves those impulse buys. Overall a success and can be built on - this month called up last months online list and modified it a bit and reordered, taking a fraction of the time. I'm also getting to be more familiar with things that can't be got ethically (or that are too expensive or yuck e.g. fairtrade oragnic red wine - white is OK), and things that can. Major achievement - discovered Liz Earle - animal friendly cosmetics but the best cleanser I have ever used by far, completely transformed my very sensitive skin and when I next need moisturiser am going to give her's a go. Would definitely recommend.

10)Plastic bags. Failure overall, but have definitely reduced acquisition massively. Will keep trying.

Overall, my conclusion is that it's about forming habits, and when very busy, if the habit is formed it is easier and quicker to go with that. So by forming ethical habits, one by one, and not all at once, then an ethical life can be led. After all, 60 years ago almost everyone shopped, travelled and cleaned ethically. It's just about finding manageable changes, and recognising that it will be slow at first and then speed up. Which all sounds easy but it's true. And some stuff is fun and more pleasant - supermarket shopping online, whilst listening to music at home, going to the farm shop for meat and the kids getting to run round with the farm dog and see the pigs, going to the grocers who know us now, foraging with my daughter and dog - it's all lovely, idyllic and not that difficult to recreate. I know I'm sounding a bit stepford wife there and if I was reading this it would be like 'yeah, right'. But try it, and then tell me I'm wrong.