Going Green #33 - November 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

I'm dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

Did you know that early images of Father Christmas showed the jovial present giver dressed not in red but in green?  It was only after a well know drinks company decided to use him (and their corporate red colour) that Farther Christmas became the familiar figure in red we know today.  Bearing in mind that particular beverage company has an appalling environmental track record I think it's high time we brought back our green Santa.

OK, so I am probably not going to get that to happen but I can at least try and help you make your Christmas as green as possible. For starters there were a couple of festive posts in last month's Going Green including a round up of 60+ ideas for home-made gifts from Attachment Mummy and plastic free glitter from The Mad House of Cats and Babies.  I have also put together a round up of various eco-friendly Christmas related posts I have written - everything from seasonal food, to presents and how to wrap them.  Hopefully you can use these hints and tips to have a fabulous yet sustainable Christmas.  If you have any similar posts please do let me know and I can add them.

Going Green #32 - October 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Climate Strikes

First we had The Blue Planet Effect and then we had the global climate strikes on September 20th 2019.  Awareness that we absolutely have to changes our ways and we have to do it urgently is gathering momentum and we need to keep it going.  To that end I have linked up 2 posts that show what we can all do right now, one aimed at everyone and one aimed specifically at the section of our population who stand to gain most from the changes - children.

I would also urge you to do some reading.  I am part way through the book "There is No Planet B" by Mike Berners-Lee which outlines where we are now and what we have to do mitigate the negative knock-on effect of our combined actions.  In part in makes for depressing reading but it is also a very positive book, showing that it is entirely achievable to stop increased levels in atmospheric CO2 without losing our current standard of living.

My picks from Going Green September 2019

Thank you to everyone who linked up in September - these were 3 of my favourite posts:

• Isabel at Sustainable Responsible Living gave us a range of healthy sweet snacks without plastic packaging.

• Annette from Four Acorns wrote about something that I suspect we all suffer from - Climate Anxiety and how she deals with it.

  

• And finally Emma from Small Footprints Big Adventures gave a very detailed account of which are the best shopping/grocery bags to use. Interesting stuff and not always what you would have expected. 

If you missed these posts do head over now for a read.

Calling Eco-Instagrammers

If you are on Instagram and would like to join a group of like minded people to help support and promote your account. If you are interested please follow and then DM  backcountrycitygirl.

Please link up to 3 posts, old or new and let's work together to spread the Going Green message.  I'd love it too if you could promote the linky on all your social media channels and among all your friends. Thank you 💚.  Let's work to

Before you link up may I just remind you of 3 of the "rules":

• Link up to THREE posts
  
• Please can you include my badge (preferably) or a link back to A Green and Rosie Life. That will 
• This is a blog link so in order for us all to benefit please comment on a minimum of three other blogs in the link up, ideally including the one in front of you, one my host posts and at least one other ... the more you comment the more others are likely to visit your blog. 
  

If you share your posts using the hashtag #GoingGreen and I will RT you etc.  I will also add posts with suitable vertical pins to my Going Green Linky board on Pinterest.

Need to find me on Social Media?  Here you go ...

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Thanks for visiting and I look forward to reading all your linked up green posts.

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Children of the world, you are the Generation to reverse Climate Change. Act now.

Wow - will September 20th 2109 go down in history as the day the world woke up because the children shouted so loudly? I sincerely hope so.

The Climate Strikes are fabulous. They have made so many more people aware of the looming climate crisis and put increasing pressure on Governments to act. However, it is not just Governments who need to act now to stop humanity destroying itself (and many other species and habitats at the same time) and we ALL need to make some big changes to our lifestyles. Even as children there is so much you can do right now reduce YOUR impact on the planet.  You are more than likely the last generation who can make the changes need to avert a total crisis.  Please read on and please become eco-friendly even before you are an adult.

Image credit

Eco-friendly actions children can do, right now.

Food

• Only take the food you will eat - don't take too much and don't waste food.
• Learn how to cook especially those things that are heavily packaged - don't just watch Bake Off, become a baker!!  Learn how to make bread, biscuits etc. Reject plastic packed processed food and aim for delicious home made goodies.
• Takeaways - the beef in your burger may have come from a cow grazed on land that was, until recently, rain forest. Your fried chicken will most likely be from a factory farmed bird pumped full of growth hormones.  Parents often buy takeaways when they are short of time to cook a meal but you can help out.  Do some of the cooking or help with other jobs around the house to free up your parent's time.
• Choose a vegetarian meal when you eat out.
• Cut out those plastic packaged snacks that may well also contain palm oil.

School

• Ask if your  school will set up an environmental club and help run it.
• Likewise ask for and help look after a school veg garden and suggest your school invites in environmental professionals to give talks and run workshops.
• Lunch boxes - make your own sweet/savoury snacks and use reusable sandwich wraps. Make seasonal salads in reusable containers.  Take a reusable water bottle and say no to so many fizzy drinks or squash.
• If you eat school dinners, pick the veggie option.
• If available choose lesson options that give you skills as well as academic qualifications - cookery, woodwork etc
• Look to follow a career that is environmentally friendly - green technology, environmental consultancy, organic agriculture etc. and chose the appropriate courses to reach our career goal.
• Learn about politics and how governments work so you will be better informed when you are old enough to vote.

Special Events

• Over the next year you'll all have a birthday and then there's Christmas, Halloween, Easter etc so ask for fewer gifts and/or eco-friendly ones. Reject all th eplastic paraphernalia that goes with Halloween.  The generous grandparent can be a sticking point but politely tell them that their apparent generosity spending out on gifts you don't need is actually damaging your future. By spoiling you now they are spoiling your future.

Fashion

• You are no doubt going to need a new wardrobe as you outgrow your current one but consider buying fewer items and choose those from ethical and sustainable suppliers. Even if you can't do this reject the excess and enjoy a slimmer wardrobe.
• Stop buying clothes online and returning those you don't like - did you know returned items invariably go to landfill as that is easier than checking they are clean and repackaging them?
• Wear clothes until they actually need washing and get out of the habit if tossing them in the wash basket as soon as you take them off. 
• Pass your outgrown clothes onto younger/smaller friends and family members and be proud to wear second hand.
• Learn to make, mend and alter your own clothes.

Personal care

• Toiletries - ask your parents to buy you eco-friendly brands and products such as bars of soap and solid shampoo. If these cost more you could pay for the extra yourself from your pocket money.
• Make up - consider how much you buy and finish what you have before you buy more. Could you cut back how much make-up you use, anyway? 
• Sanitary wear - use washable sanitary pads or a reusable Mooncup. These may appear expensive but in the long term you will save a fortune.

Your Garden

• Ask if  you can take over a small part of your garden and start growing some veg for your family.  Even without a garden you can grow some herbs in a pot or cress on a plate on the windowsill. There's more growing ideas here. 
• If you have no space in your garden you could offer to help out at the local allotments in exchange for veg and fruit.

Leisure time

• Join an environmental club or conservation organisation and start to become an expert on environmental issues.  You can get involved in wildlife surveys and maintaining local green spaces, parks and wildlife reserves.
• Learn a useful skill.  I've already mentioned about helping to cook at home so join a cooking club to build up kitchen skills.  What about joining a sewing class so you make and mend clothes? Or classes on carpentry etc that will mean you can make and mend all sorts of things.
• Become a Cub, Brownie or Guide as these organisations have become very green focused. You'll learn loads and be with other like minded people.
• Join and use the local library. 
• Could you help set up a toy library or a free book swap?
• Technology - your phone takes a lot of resources and energy to be built and the servers that allow you access to the internet use A LOT of electricity.  It's time to get used to keeping your current phone etc MUCH longer and using it A LOT less.  When you are busy helping cook meals and snacks, looking after that veg patch and spending time in that environmental club you'll be on the phone less anyway so it will last longer! And you really don't need the latest phone, earphones, games console, tv etc etc - be happy with what you have right now and make it last.
• Turn all your technology off when not in use - do not leave them on energy sapping standby.
• Switch your search engine to Ecosia who use their profits to plant trees.

Eco-friendly thinking

• Remember to turn off the light, put on a jumper rather than ask to turn up the heating, only boil the amount if water you need for your drink, use both sides of the paper, only print what you really need, use a refillable water bottle, say no to straws etc etc etc. Question all your actions and see if you can do better.
• Become an eco-complainer - contact shops, businesses, politicians to voice your concerns.  On the flip side praise those who are taking on board positive action. You may not have the same spending power/voting rights as your parents but remind those you contact that very soon you will be an adult and you will then have the choice where you spend your money/place your voting cross.  They need to prove to you that they are worthy in environmental terms of having your custom/vote.
• Consider how you spend your pocket money/allowance - choose wisely and don't just spend for the sake of it. Ask yourself if you really need to buy a particular thing or perhaps even more importantly does the planet need you to buy it?
• Learn to recognise greenwashing - many companies will be promoting things that appear to be really green but may be less so when you look into it a bit more. For example companies may from plastic straws to paper ones but either supplying them in plastic sleeves or the paper one actually is non recyclable or compostable. This is greenwashing and the best solution is to reject straws totally, even reusable ones as they take energy and resources to produce. 
• Ignore peer pressure - often as young people you want to fit in with everyone else and peer pressure can force you to make poor environmental choices.  Be strong and do what you know is right for the planet. Choose your friends carefully and be a green leader not a planet harming hanger on. 
• Learn to recognise fake news. Question everything and get to the truth. 
• Be the change you want to see in the world and be your parent's personal advisory service.  Research good environmental practice and help your whole family to make positive environmental choices.  This blog post lists 365 ways you can help the planet - help your parents to make these changes.

The future is in your hands.

I have heard some children blaming their parents for the state of the planet but this simply isn't true (who to blame is the subject of a whole separate blog post).  Yes, they have played their part in getting us to this crisis point mostly through ignorance of their actions but blaming them is not helpful.  In all likelihood the Climate Strikes you and your friends have set in motion will lead Governments to make changes but it will also need a committed change from the whole human race to ensure success, especially those of you lucky enough to live in the developed world. 

You have had luxury and convenience all your lives and to a level unlike any previous generation and whilst no-one is expecting you to return to poverty you will need to make many changes from now on.  Soon you will no longer be a child and by starting to live a greener lifestyle now you will find it so much easier as you enter adulthood.  You will be ready for a more simple life which does not crave material goods, that supports local and ethical businesses, where your food is seasonal and there is less waste. A world where we support everyone be they a fellow human, an animal or a plant.

I think I know the type of world you want to live in.  And for that world to be a reality it will be your personal lifestyle choices that will determine whether you and all the generations that come after you can achieve this.   For that reason there has never been a better day to start making changes. Show the world now that you can do what so many previous generations have failed to achieve.

Together you are strong. Together you can do this!

7 eco friendly things you can do this week

More and more people are now aware that we need to make major changes to our lives to stop a climate catastrophe and it is going to take more that buying a reusable coffee cup or rejecting wet wipes.  Millions across  the globe are striking today to support action - are you?

Strike against Climate Change

This movement started when Greta Thurnberg was a sole person striking outside her school but it has now grown into an international movement supported by hundreds of thousands of people of all ages.  Joins students and adults alike on Friday 20th September 2019 to tell governments and businesses we not only want change we absolutely need it.  There will be other dates for direct action if you are reading this after September 20th so click on the link above to keep up to date.

Photo credit

Going Green #31 - September 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Hello Autumn

Gosh, September already and we are heading into the final third of a year that has seen a definite rise in environmental awareness.  We need to keep the momentum going so maybe you would like to join in some of the events taking place this month or spread the word so others know about them:

• International Coastal Clean Up Day is organised by the Ocean Conservancy and using the strap-line "Fighting for Trash Free Seas. This worldwide takes place on Sat 21st September and 2019 marks the 30th year of this event.

• Clean Up the World Campaign is another long running event and facilitates clean up projects all around the world.  This will be its 26th year and in that time 35 million people   in 133 countries have been involved in over 49,000 clean up projects.  This year the Campaign takes place 20-22nd September.

• And if you have children heading back to school one of my lined up posts highlights 7 ways you can make the return to school more green.  We are at a critical time where we can still make a difference to the future, the future that our children and grandchildren will have to live through.  We cannot fail them.

Going Green #30 - Aug 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Plastic Free July 2019 - what did you think about it?

So another Plastic Free July has come to a close - what did you think of this one?  Do you think it was better supported than in previous years? Did you see any articles about it in the mainstream media or your social media channels.  And what do you think we should be doing from now onwards?

Who is up for a Plastic Free Life?  Please do let me have your feedback.

My picks from Going Green July 2019

As ever there was a wide range of topics linked up.  My favourites this month include personal care, some natty re-purposing and a look forward to the summer festival season:

• You can never really get away from dirty plates so Gina Caro from Gyspy Soul has a useful post on how to go plastic free when washing up:

• Laina from Dabbling Green has a great idea for turning old jeans into a lovely rug:
• 
  

    

• And finally Isabel from Sustainable Responsible Living write a post that really struck home - What is Eco-Snobbism? highlighting some issues that arise as susainability becomes more mainstream.

If you missed these posts do head over now for a read.

Going Green is a subject I believe in with a passion I hope, that with your help, this little linky will go from strength to strength helping more people to realise how easy it can be to live a greener lifestyle.

Please link up to 3 posts, old or new and let's work together to spread the Going Greenmessage.  I'd love it too if you could promote the linky on all your social media channels and among all your friends. Thank you 💚.

Before you link up may I just remind you of 3 of the "rules":

• Link up a maximum of THREE posts - any more will be deleted (sorry)
  
• Please can you include my badge (preferably) or a link back to A Green and Rosie Life.
• This is a blog link so in order for us all to benefit please comment on a minimum of three other blogs in the link up, ideally including the one in front of you, one my host posts and at least one other ... the more you comment the more others are likely to visit your blog.
  

If you share your posts using the hashtag #GoingGreen and I will RT you etc.  I will also add posts with suitable vertical pins to my Going Green Linky board on Pinterest.

Need to find me on Social Media?  Here you go ...

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Thanks for visiting and I look forward to reading all your linked up green posts.

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Links without backlinks to this blog will need moderating before appearing on the linky and for some strange reason occasionally this happens even with a backlink. If you are having any problems adding a post do let me know.

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Going Green #29 - July 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Plastic Free July - will you be taking part?

It's July so it's time for Plastic Free July.  I am hoping with the problem of plastic being so high on the current environmental and public agenda that loads of people will take part this year.  But if you think the idea of going plastic free for a month is just impossible, fear not, my blog post will give you plenty of ideas of how you can take part even if you aren't able to ditch all plastic for a month.

So whose up for supporting Plastic Free July?

What inspired you to become more green?

It was a Winter's day, I am sat in the car whilst Mum has popped into the shop to buy something.  The car parked in front of ours has the engine running and I am drawn to the exhaust fumes spewing out.  The longer Mum is shopping the more I watch and wonder what happens to the fumes, as surely they can't just keep filling the air?  Not long after I was watching the TV and saw a news story about Acid Rain and a connection was made.  Huge areas of forest were being destroyed by the rain that had become so acidic it killed the trees. This acid rain was, in part, created by nitrous oxides in the atmosphere that come from ... you guessed it ... car exhaust fumes.  I was probably about 12 years old.

Going Green #28 - June 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Tackling Climate Change through Good Environmental News

If you read my second linked up post about tackling negativity to taking action against Climate Change you'll read how too many harrowing images of the effects of Climate Change actually desensitise people to the problem - a problem now coined Climate Change Fatigue.  There are plenty of ways to counter this and one is to make sure we spread as much good news about the environment as bad.  Who's joining me on being the purveyor of Good Environmental News.

Going Green #27 - May 2019

Welcome to Going Green. This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world. If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky here: Going Green Linky.

Petition Overload??

I don't seem to be able to look at my social media accounts at the moment without seeing a post from some-one promoting a petition.  I actually have a subject I think may be helped by another petition but I do wonder if we are all suffering from Petition Fatigue.  What you you think?  Would you singn another environmentally themed petition?

20 Brilliant Rhubarb Recipes

I love rhubarb and we grow loads at Eco-Gites of Lenault.  Crumble is a perennial favourite but each year I try to find some new ways to serve this vegetable we always think of as a fruit.  In case you are in need of some inspiration I have put together a range of ideas you might like to try.

20 Brilliant Rhubarb Recipes

- Puddings and Cakes -

1. Strawberry rhubarb crumble from Erin at Oregon Girl around the World is a crumble variation pairing strawberries with rhubarb.

Going Green #26 - April 2019

Welcome to Going Green.  This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world.  If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky >>> Going Green Linky.

A Green and Rosie Life and Brexit (sorry)

I am still struggling to find much time to blog at the moment with a lot of  real life stuff having to take precedence, one of which is Brexit.  Sorry to bring it up here but protecting the UK environment has always been very high on my agenda and I am concerned it will suffer if we are to leave the EU.  So I went to London recently and joined an estimated million other people who are all against Brexit, for a whole host of reasons.

I have, however, been keeping my Green and Rosie Facebook page ticking over so in case you've missed my posts over there here are a couple of things I have shared recently.

Photo from Moral Fibres Facebook Page

Another petition to sign - this one has been set up by Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy asking Micheal Gove, UK Environment Secretary, to stop food producing companies using plastic in their packaging.  Young people fighting for their future - please so sign and share their petition.  Thank you, Hannah, from Chasing Simplicity who alerted me to this petition.

Going Green #25 - March 2019

Welcome to Going Green.  This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world.  If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky >>> Going Green Linky.

Why A Green and Rosie Life was quiet last month

Some of you may havw noticed I didn't blog last month and some asked if I was OK - thank you, I really appreciated that. Everything is fine I have just been really busy with other things and for my sanity (and the chance to get some sleep every night!) something had to give and the blog drew the short (paper) straw. You can read what I've been up to shortly on a new blog post which I still need to go and write!

Apologies therefore for the late appearance of the March #GoingGreen.

What our fast fashion habit is doing to the planet

The term fast fashion has changed slightly over recent years. It originally meant the practice of high street clothes stores producing cheap clothes, quickly, based on clothes on the cat walks of the most recent fashion shows.  Now, though, it has taken on somewhat of a further sense to mean the way many people view and use cheap clothes - fast fashion is where people buy a fashionable item, wear it once once or twice and then throw it away.  The clothes are generally cheap, imported and of low quality but the wearer doesn't see or care about this.  They buy them to satisfy their Fast Fashion Habit.  In fact, the term Single Use Clothing could be used in many cases.

Going Green #24 - Feb 2019

Welcome to Going Green.  This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world.  If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky >>> Going Green Linky.

What an amazing link up January's Going Green was!

Wow - I think the January #GoingGreen had the greatest range of posts to dates and just shows how we can make easily make everything in our lives more green.  Topics covered included:

Veganuary, flying, green goals for 2019, plastic, Valentine's Day, waste, home deodorizing, Nature and kids, Dubai, sustainability, home-made and upcycled gifts and decorations, simple living, make-up removal and shoes!!

I believe a few of you might have had difficulties linking up since InLinkz who I use for the linky have upgraded. I know I couldn't access the linky from my tablet so maybe you had problems from a phone or tablet. If so let me know and I can both help link you up and pass any problems over to InLinkz.

Images from:

 Dirt Diggers and Dinosaurs, Experimental Homesteader, Doodle Buddies, Little Green Duckie, Life at 139A and Sustainable Responsible Living.

My picks from Going Green Jan 2018

Well you don't make my job of choosing favourites any easier do you, with so many inspiring blogs linked up?!  So this time I'm going for a mix of those bloggers who commented on most other blogs and those which really resonated with me.  You'll always stand a better chance of being picked of you comment on plenty of others and if you add the hashtag #GoingGreenit's easier for me to see you, especially as some of you use different names when commenting!

• The prize of most blogs commented on goes to Cheryl at Time to Craft with her beautiful, useful and sustainable crocheted reusable make up removal pads.

Image from Time to Craft

• Close behind on commenting was Chicken Ruby who added her post about the trials and tribulations of going green in Dubai.

Image from Chicken Ruby

• and finally Dean's post about simple living on Little Steps really summed up to me how we should all be living our lives.

Image from Little Steps

A special mention also goes to Isabel from Sustainable Responsible Living who came a very close third in the commenting race with her blog post post challenging us to a Plastic Detox.


Please do head over and read these if you missed them last link up - they are all great posts.

Going Green is a subject I believe in with a passion I hope, that with your help, this little linky will go from strength to strength.  Please link up to 3 posts, old or new and let's work together to spread the word that Going Green is both important but also easy.  Please promote the linky on all your social media channels and amongst all your friends. Thank you 💚.

Before you link up may I just remind you of 3 of the "rules":

• Link up a maximum of THREE posts - any more will be deleted (sorry)
  
• Please can you include my badge (preferably) or a link back to A Green and Rosie Life.
• This is a blog link so in order for us all to benefit please comment on a minimum of three other blogs in the link up, ideally including the one in front of you, one my host posts and at least one other ... the more you comment the more others are likely to visit your blog.
  

If you share your posts using the hashtag #GoingGreen and I will RT you etc.  I will also add posts with suitable vertical pins to my Going Green Linky board on Pinterest.

Need to find me on Social Media?  Here you go ...

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Thanks for visiting and I look forward to reading all your linked up green posts.

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Inlinkz, who I use to host this link up, have recently upgraded. If you are having difficulties linking up please do let me know and I'll try and help. Some people may also find I need to moderate their links before they go live - no idea why that is the case and I will get you all joined as soon as I can.

Inlinkz Link Party

Think beyond Plastic - take green living to the next level

On Instagram I follow lots of eco-friendly accounts and see my fair share of images advising what we can do to help reduce plastic etc and reduce our impact on the environment.  You know the sort of thing - say no to straws, take your own coffee cup/water bottle, grow some veg etc. and it's great to see so many people shouting this message out.  If you've got all these ideas firmly into your routine that's fabulous but now is not the time to rest on your green laurels.  Now is the time to take Green Living to the next level with these 3 steps.

3 Steps to Take Green Living to the Next Level

Make do and Make your own

When did you last get a new mobile, TV or other electronic device? Did you really need it or were you tempted by the new iphone whatever number they are up to and all the new stuff it could apparently do?  Advertisers are great at their jobs and we grab their new goods at an alarming rate leaving a large carbon footprint behind us.  Maybe your old phone was a bit slower than the newer one but you didn't think that when you first bought it.  Bottom line - we buy so much new stuff that is totally unnecessary.

It would also seem that we have lost the ability to mend anything and just chick it out and buy new.  I say get out that sewing kit, patch up what-ever is broken and be proud of keeping your items in working order for years. Make mending things trendy! 

We also buy presents for people because we feel we need to but ask any teacher and they'll tell you how many cute mugs they have or how much chocolate. I am sure many would be just as happy with a hand-made card.

Talking of "themed" presents this might be the most appalling idea I have ever seen, a shop selling a plastic heart filled with NOTHING, marketed as The Gift of Nothing for Valentine's Day. It is an awful idea and so wasteful ... but I have to admit the sentiment is right.  Do we really need to be buying our loved ones expensive gifts, flowers flown in from the other side of the world, over-packaged chocolates and cards?  Why not offer a romantic experience instead: a nice meal, romantic walk, trip to the theatre etc but not a plastic heart filled with nothing.

Image from the BBC

Going Green #23 - Jan 2019

Welcome to Going Green.  This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world.  If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky >>> Going Green Linky.

Green Goals for 2019

I am sure lots of you are busy thinking up and acting on your New Year's Resolutions and I am hopeful to see some green inspired ones in blogs linking up to GoingGreen. I have to admit, though that I am not really a New Year's Resolutions person but I have linked up some Green Goals I am hoping to achieve in 2019.

Green Goals 2019

I am not a great one for New Year's Resolutions. For example I'd love to lose a bit of weight but I have been pretty much the same weight for the last 30 years so I accept it isn't going to happen however many times I add it to a list of Resolutions. I don't really drink that much alcohol and there's no way I'm giving up dark chocolate!!  However I do like the idea of having some green goals for the year to come so am happy to promote those.

Going Green #22 - Dec 2018

Welcome to Going Green.  This is the place to promote all your green, sustainable, environmental, seasonal, local, organic, fair trade, ethical etc posts ... basically any post that helps or inspires readers to preserve and improve our beautiful world.  If you are not sure what subjects would be good or need some ideas have a look here where you'll find all the details about the linky >>> Going Green Linky.

Green Christmas

2018 has seen somewhat of a shift in the awareness of issues such as plastic pollution and deforestation for products such as palm oil.  People are slowly beginning to make the connection between their lifestyles and Climate Change and, critically, that Climate Change will affect us all, not just someone else far away.

But then along comes Christmas and big businesses go all out with their expensive adverts and shops and online websites packed to the rafters with STUFF, all there with the message that buying more will bring us all so much festive happiness.

Sorry, but I don't buy it (literally) and I hope you don't either.  Let's take Christmas back from big businesses who care nothing for the planet and only to further their profits and let's have a simpler Christmas.  Buy some presents but from small, local and family businesses, buy experiences not more clutter and overall spend less money on your loved ones but more time with them.  Or try your hand at making things.

Are you with me? Please do share these images if you are.

6 ways to make your Christmas jumper "green"

You would think that A Green and Rosie Life might be the last place you'd find a post about Christmas jumpers, wouldn't you?  After all they pretty much sum up everything I stand against ... an unnecessary item, bought because everyone tells you you should have one (and who wants to be the ONLY person who doesn't have a Christmas jumper?) and quite possibly made from man-made fibres.  They are a bit of short term fun, worn a handful of times, maybe a social media post or two and then the poor old thing get consigned to the back of the cupboard or worse still the bin.  You've guessed it, I am not a fan.  However, the truth is, that for the foreseeable future they are probably here to stay and when I recently heard that some schools now have "Wear a Christmas jumper to school days", more people than ever will be buying them. With that in mind here's 6 ways you green up your Christmas jumper and make it more sustainable.

6 ways to Green up your Christmas Jumper

1. Make you own. If you are no good at knitting you could decorate or upcycle a jumper you already have.  Hobbycraft have some brilliant ideas to try out. 
2. It's nice and warm so you can turn the heating down a degree now.  
3. If you are really going to buy a new one make sure it is in natural materials and made ethically and choose one that you'd be happy wearing all through the colder weather.
4. Buy a secondhand one.
5. Get as much wear from it as you can and remember to wear the same one next year.
6. Swap with a friend - an easy way to get a new jumper without buying one.

What do you think about Christmas jumpers and can you think of any more ways to make them as green as the Christmas trees on them?