How to be Sustainable in a Lockdown

The current climate is scary. Emotions are all over the place and its hard not to be left with worry or concern. With us all trying to adjust to this new way of living, working and socialising it is perfectly normal to need to stop and take stock of the situation. I for one have felt afloat over the past week, with the realisation of the current situation really hitting home and the scale of what is at risk becoming more and more apparent.

With only one task on the to do list - avoid physical contact with others - I thought I'd use my only outlet on here to share with you some ideas and projects that you could undertake, should you feel so inclined to help you move towards living a more sustainable life as we emerge out of these times. Some are simple and some are pretty fun to!

So without further a do, here's a few simple things you can do to live more sustainably at home... 

1. Change your energy provider

It maybe some thing that people have been banging on about for a fair amount of time but changing your energy provider is one quick fire way to make a difference. With working from home, there has never been a more important time to ensure that you're using renewable energy to power your activities.

2. Create a compost bin

Have a garden? Why not spend some time clearing a small space to create you're own compost bin, you will need some wood to make it but it will save you a fortune on compost and help you to add value to your waste. If you don't have a garden, making sure you spend time to separate out your food waste is still really important. You can even get a little indoor composter to create what you need indoors!

3. Plant some seeds 

Empty yogurt pots, and toilet rolls are the perfect starter pots for seedlings. If you're visiting the supermarket you can grab a pack of seeds that you really think you will eat. Even better, order some organic seeds and have them delivered through the post and you can support one of your local businesses in the process.

4. Grow new from your waste

If you don't fancy growing food from seeds, why not grow food from your food waste instead. This buzz feed guide to growing food scraps is a great place to start. Foods such as lettuce, spring onion, leeks and lemongrass are a great place to start, and if your feeling adventurous, you can even turn to mushrooms and avocados!

5. A wardrobe clear out

With one truck of clothes being burnt or sent to landfill every second we all have a responsibility to do more. So why not have a wardrobe clear out, photograph your unwanted garments and sell them to to people who do whilst earning a little bit of cash on sights like ebay or depop.

6. Empty the cupboards

As people go crazy bulk buying things they really don't need, why not go the other way. Go through your cupboards and finally pull out the cans that you never use and instead donate them to your local food bank. 

7. Mend your broken clothes

We can spend a whole load of time scrolling through online shopping websites but why not put the phone down and pick up a needle and thread instead. Add a button to that shirt which you've been meaning to do for months, sew up that small hole that gradually growing on your bottoms. A new lease of life and saved your bank account from the hit. Win win.

8. Educate yourself

Have you been wondering about some of the issues surrounding sustainability? Do you not understand why there is a fashion revolution? Why you should by organic? Why we need to include privilege in the conversation around sustainability? What are the real issues with plastic? If not, now is the perfect time to learn and be able to have those insightful conversations. I'm always happy to chat away on the topic should you need someone. There are also loads of fantastic free courses out their at the moment including edx

9. Make it yourself

Why not have a little you time, and create your own scrubs or cleaning products. You will be amazed at how easy it is, you pretty much just need essential oils, coconut oil and sugar for scrubs or vinegar, orange skins and essential oils for cleaning products. EASY!

10. Stay indoors

Yes, something we are all doing anyway will massively help. Less cars on the roads means fewer emissions and therefore better for the environment. The caveat to this though, be sure to put extra layers on/ grab a blanket if you get a little chilly instead of putting on the heating.

I hope what ever you're up to in this weird time, you find comfort in knowing we are all in this together!

Love
Erin

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13 Sustainable Swaps You Can Take to Help The Planet

 

As we've entered a new year, I thought it was about time that I pulled together a list of sustainable swaps that we can all make in the the coming months to live a little more sustainable life.

Whether you only want to make one switch or ten each and everyone one will be a small step.

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Black Friday; What you should know

With Black Friday upon us yet again, it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of a good deal and the satisfaction that you believe you've grabbed a bargain.  You may add an item you were 'umming and arring' about but the low price tag made you think, why not. What you may not realise though, is that

87% of those 'Black Friday' deals are actually cheaper at other periods of the year, demonstrating that the whole day is not what people have been led to believe. In reality, instead of impulse buying, if you really want something that's a little more pricey,  watch it for a couple of months and grab it when you see a reasonable price could save you even more money.

At John Lewis for instance you can ask to know what the prices have been on the item you're interested in over the past few months, just so you're more aware of whether you're actually getting a good deal or not.

Black Friday means bugger all to the people in the UK. It's just something that US businesses have forced upon us in an attempt to increase their cash flow before December hits. It's feels pretty empty and soul less, and something that let's all be honest, we don't really care about or need.

Now I'm not saying don't buy an item on Black Friday, I'm merely asking that we all don't buy something for the sake of the low price. We have enough items in our wardrobes that we've bought because it was 3 for 2 or half price that we have worn only a handful of times. We really don't all need another.

Instead, view Black Friday as an opportunity to really support an ethical company if they are having a sale and show your support for the hard work they are doing to try and make the world a little bit better.

For instance, support Nike trainers who have chosen to back Colin Kaepernick who stood up against racial injustice by kneeling for the US anthem, instead of supporting New Balance who donated $400,000 to a Trump Victory Campaign.

Visit Weekday or Arket who use large amounts of recycled polyester and organic cotton instead of shopping in Topshop who have made very little attempt to get on the sustainability band wagon and who's owner is currently facing a serious string of sexual allegations.

Grab a bra and pant set from Organic Basics, Swedish Eco or Green Fibres who are all using organic cotton, carefully selected factories and all have sustainability at the heart of the business instead of grabbing a Calvin Klein Bra and Pant set.

Grab shoes from TOMS who have just donated $5 million to Gun violence charities in the US and donate a pair of shoes every time someone buys a pair of shoes instead of New Look who's low cost materials and bargains are fueling the fast fashion fire or head to WEARECOW who although they aren't having a sale are donating all money from purchases to charity on Black Friday.

You see, where we spend our money really does impact the future. If Iceland's palm oil free mince pies can sell out in Selfridges, and companies are having to talk more about their impact since Blue Planet 2, we too can show our support and encourage businesses to do better. Choosing to support businesses that are striving to create real positive change, instead of those who aren't, sends a clear message - that we are all conscious consumers, and we want to spend our money with companies that care about more than just their profit margin!

So this Black Friday, instead of just adding rubbish to your basket, ask yourself
1. Do you need this item?
2. Will you really use this item?
3. Does the company do good?
4. Am I actually getting a good deal?
5. And finally, was the environment or the workers negatively impacted by the item?

Because the more we know about where our things come from, the more we can do to make businesses clean up their act too!

Lots of Love
Erin

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The Age of Being Lonely; A Call To Us All

We are constantly connected.

A text, whatsapp, snapchat, ig message or phone call. Being along is a thing most don't experience.

Yet we have all experienced that rising panic when we think we've lost our phone, that anxiety and feeling of dread. But why it is so scary? It's not about the loss of the phone, that's annoying but can be solved, I've come to the conclusion that it's the loss of being constantly connected. Not being able to see what others are feeling, instantly message someone as soon as the thought pops into our mind or unable to navigate on our own. Our phones have become so integrated into our day to day lives that we have forgotten how to live without it.

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What is Slow Living?

We live in a world where many describe how they are as good but busy. Where we spend more time staring at screens than at nature and where we often connect online instead of in person. Instead of technology giving us more time to enjoy life, it has has lead to us working quicker, longer and harder because it is now possible to do so.

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25 things I've learnt in my 25 years

Normally I find myself wanting to set targets for my year ahead, like last years 25 things to do before I'm 25 post (FYI I have done all bar 3 which I am bloody proud of) but this year instead of setting what I want to do, I've found myself reflecting on what I've learnt about life, friendships, myself and the world around us. So instead of me setting goals, here are 25 things that I've learnt in the past 25 years of my life. I hope you may agree with some or even have a aha moment, but most of all, that they makes you remember that we are all different for a reason. So lets begin...

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Sustainability made easy at BlueDot Festival

If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen that I recently attended BlueDot festival, a festival that's manages to combine science and music under a telescope to create something pretty special. It's a festival that many may be a little skeptical of. After all, if science isn't your thing then why would you go? The thing is, science is only a small part of what makes this festival, in fact without the food, the positive vibes and the huge variety of music available the festival would only be a little special.

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World Environment Day; Why We Should All Care

I spend a lot of my time thinking about our planet, wondering what we can do to help it and how our small decisions have an impact on the world around us. You see, I have always believed that just because my actions may be small doesnt mean they don't matter. I hear many people say 'well, it's not like I can make a difference' but you see you can. We all can.

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Salcombe Gin Tasting Experience

I am a bit of gin lover (you may know this from my instagram) and so, when my dad bought me a gin making course for my birthday it was safe to say I was a little excited. It took me a few months to pin down a date but last month I finally got around to booking it and it was so much fun I naturally wanted to talk about it on the blog.

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The New Phase Of Life; Moving to London

Hello hello, It's safe to say I've been a little busy, even my blog is full of content for once! With everything that's been going on, I suddenly realised that I hadn't really done an update about what I had coming up in what I'm calling my next phase of life.

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Come Join Me On My Sunday Exploration

Mt gosh where did February go?! This post is a little different than my normal ramblings around sustainability and life in general. It's about what we all do in our day to day lives and why I think we should all step back outdoors a little more when ever we have the chance.

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Acting Like Children

When I was younger I hated being told that I was acting like a child, I use to think it was condescending. People often even used it as an insult. Now though, I love any childish moment and I think its safe to say, a part of you does to.

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Leeds Freshers Week Guide

I feel like I can stand it pretty good sted on what is good during freshers week in Leeds. I've been through 4 years of them after all and so, although I wont be attending this year I thought I may as well create a list so that others can have the fun.

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25 things to do before I'm 25

I don't mean to alarm you but today I turned 24. 24! I don't know whether to laugh or cry, at this age my mum was married and my nan was pregnant and here I am, having just finished my masters degree, unemployed and trying to figure out what the hell I'm going to do with myself for the last year where I am still closer to 20 than I am 30. So in trying to find a positive in the fact I'm getting old yet still feel like I have only just turned 21 I made a list of all the things I want to accomplish in the next 365 days.

So here goes...

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Personal Post; There's more than meets the eye

I'm writing the post tucked up on the sofa, looking back on the past year and where I am today and how, behind the face, the make up and smiles, there is much more going on than meets the eye.

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A New Type of Festival; Blue Dot Festival

I love festivals, there is nothing quite like the buzz of music, the small of all those food trucks and the atmosphere of people just enjoying themselves care free. A few weeks ago my mum asked if I wanted to go to a festival which was a little different from your conventional music festival and so of course, I said yes.

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Underwear shouldn't just be for Valentines

I'm just throwing it out there, underwear shouldn't just be a big thing on Valentines day, it should be part of a routine of self care to make you feel amazing every week. I'm not saying that underwear can't be to impress, it certainly can BUT it should also be there to make you feel sexy, confident and comfortable in your own skin.

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Welcome to 2017!

 Its a New Year filled with endless possibilities to explore!

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The End Is Nigh; A look back at 2016 and why I'm not really setting new years resolutions

What a year! What an absolutely ridiculously bizarre year!

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The Huge Christmas List; The Globe Trotter

I don't think I have ever met someone who doesn't want to travel, or at least have a country they would love to visit. For me, travelling is an annoying little itch which never truly goes away just subsides for a month or two. If, like me, you know plenty of people who would rather jump on a plane than head to work tomorrow then here are some perfect gifts to at least keep them occupied or get them excited for their next adventure. I hope you enjoy.

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