The Big Green Idea Newsletter

	BGI Newsletter
	Issue 17 - June / July 2010
	From the Editor… Seems like I did tempt fate last edition! No sooner had the newsletter hit your inboxes, but the snow and ice returned. I shall be more careful this time, I promise…It looks as though summer is here, *hopefully, and as we appreciate our precious, warm sun, we need to remember to appreciate other valuable commodities as well, such as water. Read our fabulous article on saving water from water gurus Waterwise. Our big news is that the Malvern Spring Garden Show was a runaway success for the BGI, the Big Green Bus was the star of the show! Read all about it here. Many heartfelt thanks to our amazing sponsors, Weleda and Natracare. Whilst at the show, I was lucky enough to meet many fasacinating, inspirational and empowering people including The Medicine Garden’s author Rachel Corby and The Moneyless Man, Mark Boyle. I don’t know about you but sometimes I find it can be all too easy to become despondent about the state of our planet, powerless whilst politicians decide its future and industrial waste slowly suffocates its diverse wildlife. It is terrifying and overwhelming at times. So maybe it is time to concentrate more on what we can do, rather than what we can’t and live our lives in a way we know will leave a lighter footprint on our planet. As Maddy Harland of Permaculture magazine says, human beings can either be the destroyers or the self-elected stewards of our planet.’ So, go on, try being an earth steward! Jo x Read a FREE copy of Permaculture Magazine online and subscribe and save 20% here Malvern Spring Garden Show* The Malvern Spring Show was the Big Green Bus’s first big event of the season and what a fantastic start it was! It was thanks to our two amazing and generous sponsors, Natracare and Weleda, that the Big Green Bus was able to be there. Find out how it went here Inspiring Interviews! Fresh from the Malvern Spring Show, read our fascinating interviews with the lovely author of The Medicine Garden, Rachel Corby and author of The Moneyless Man, Mark Boyle. Why Should I Save Water? On average we each use 150 litres of water a day; that’s two baths full! Waterwise believes that by using water saving products we can cut this by a third. Find out how Biodynamic Gardening at Weleda Ever wondered what biodynamic gardening is? Luckily Claire, a biodynamic gardener, is on hand to explain all about it. And to tell us about what has to be one of the best jobs in the world - growing herbs for our lovely sponsors, Weleda. Click here to find out more. 10:10 Everybody is at it! ‘Trying to cut your carbon emissions on your own can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle. But it’s a different story when you’re part of a huge nationwide community…’ Find out more here Canopy and Stars Love camping but love your home comforts too? Feeling the call of the wild, just as long as it is warm and dry? Canopy and Stars is a company offering British holidays in inspiring, sustainable places, with food supplied by local producers. To find out how they have taken the ‘rough’ out of ‘roughing it’ click here Money Saving Green - Greening Up Your Bathroom This month we are highlighting saving water and the bathroom is a major culprit in wasting water. Not to mention the nasty chemicals used in cleaning it. Suki shows us how to save water and money whilst being greener Book Review - What about China? Why bother recycling when it all gets sent to China anyway? If the politicians thought flying was that polluting, they would have banned it, wouldn’t they? Find yourself stuck for convincing answers to these questions? Becks did, so she now quotes many facts, figures and pithy put downs from What about China? Find out how you can too Footsteps into Foraging Steph loves summer. Not only will she be turning 30 this June, but the Cornish hedgerows and seashores are brimming with bountiful treats. For delicious recipes with elderflowers, wild roses and seaweed click here Wildlife Watching - What the Lek? Heading to North Wales for a special, surprise birthday treat Fiona tries out an RSPB Black Grouse watch. After a very early start and a trek through a fabulous forest, do they find the elusive black grouse? Find out here Green Business - Unpackaged If seeing reports of Hawaii being choked by plastic waste makes you want to be plastic-free, cutting down on packaging is a good place to start. Unpackaged is a London-based shop, doing just what its name suggests. BGI supporter Caroline tells us more Saving Water in the Garden Picking up with our saving water theme, resident gardening guru, Jim’ll, tells us how to save water in the garden, reduce our useage and dependence on mains water and save a few pennies into the bargain! Find out more From Plot to Plate… Early summer means the veg plot is calling and there aren’t enough hours in the day. Certainly not enough to waste precious gardening minutes slaving over a hot stove. So Tanya shows us some quick, easy and delicious ideas with the fresh young pickings from the veg plot If you have a green tip you would like to share, an idea for something you would like to read about or any comments on this newsletter please email me: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) You can now follow us on or sign up to our cause on To unsubscribe from our newsletter click here and type ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line © The Big Green Idea 2010 - Content Editor: Jo Barlow The Big Green Idea registered charity no. 1123650 Disclaimer: All views expressed in the content are those of the relevant author or sources they draw upon, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Big Green Idea or its Trustees. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of any information in this publication, readers should not rely upon it and should verify the detail for themselves before acting upon it.		Many thanks to our sponsors for the Malvern Spring Garden Show Visit our website About Us The Bus How You Can Help Resources Contact Us Other Events Busy Brigit’s Bee Talks In these passionate and informative talks, Brigit explains the importance of (and difference between) honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees, addresses the myriad problems they face and tells you what you can do to help bees in your gardens and beyond. The Garden Festival at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, 12 - 13th June Bee Aware at Buzz, The Lumen Gallery, London, 9th June A word from Brigit… ‘It’s over a week since we packed up the bus and drove it home after the Malvern Spring Gardening Show, but I’ve only just begun to stop buzzing!’ Brigit’s Blog Thoughts from Brigit as the 2010 season unfolds. And it looks like being our best yet! Other blogs we think you may like: Just for the Love of It The London Vegetable Garden Radicalrootsrainbowfruits A Writer’s Work This Issue’s Ideas Sheet: Nature Games and Activities Green News from Earthwire Green Tip of the Month From our friends at Waterwise: ‘Fill a jug with tap water and leave it to cool in your fridge. This way you don’t have to run the tap for ages just to get a cold drink.’ A little Green thought… ‘Progress is a spiral; the pendulum swings back as well as forward. The new post-industrial world, for which many of us are striving, will see an ecological renaissance, a rebirth of all that was best in ‘primitive’ life and outlook, blended with new potentialities at which we can only guess.’ Robert Hart, author of ‘Forest Gardening’ buy it here Forest Gardening Websites We Like! The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust ‘Bumblebees are beautiful, hard working and incredibly important pollinators. The UK had 27 species, but sadly 3 are nationally extinct, and others are seriously threatened. Join today to conserve bumblebees for future generations to enjoy…’ Affiliate shopping Important Notice: Although The Big Green Idea does not encourage consumerism, we do appreciate that everyone shops for essentials and the occasional treat they cannot create themselves. If you choose to shop with any of the merchants via the links above, they will donate between 7% and 10% from the sale to us. This does not affect the price you pay.