mygreenlifestyle October 2009 January 2010 including mybiggreenfestive guide 2009 Christmas at Indian Ocean Collection www.indianocean.co.uk Contents 18 34 5 7 14 18 24 26 32 34 38 Features 7 24 Festive Guide Festive Gifts Guide Festive Giveaways Festive Food & Drink Festive Decorations Party Time Winter Health & Wellbeing Insulate the Home for Winter mygreentravel 26 Welcome Welcome to our exciting new magazine. We hope you will love to browse through our mybiggreenfestive guide 2009 and that you will find it really useful. Inside you will find all kinds of festive products ­ and if you don't see what you're looking for in the magazine, all the website addresses are there to help you explore a much wider range of great gifts and products that we just don't have room to feature. One thing that is coming through loud and clear this Christmas is the trend to try to put some integrity back into the whole festive season. You will see throughout the magazine we have included products that are "made to last", Fairtrade, Organic or charity gifts. We are avoiding the "pile `m high sell `m cheap" mentality that has taken over the festive season. Why do some Parents seem to think that unless their children spend nearly all day unpacking presents they are being deprived? And whatever happened to the pillowcase? That has been replaced by the most awful `plastic Santa Sacks' I would love to see these things banned in the same way as the supermarket plastic bag. They are so cheap and tacky ­ if you do nothing else this Christmas, please bang the drum for the demise of the `PLASTIC SANTA SACK'. We have some great giveaways this Christmas, the offers end in time for prizes to arrive with you before Christmas. So don't waste time click through to page 14 & 15 now! Most important of all ­ let's bring back the "Season of Goodwill". From us all at mygreenlifestyle to all our readers have a GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Yvonne Ainsworth Editor Credits EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Yvonne Ainsworth [email protected] ACCOUNTS Patrick Ewing [email protected] DESIGN CF Graphic Design [email protected] WEBMASTER K.Maitland [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Dirty Nails P.H.Ewing FRONT COVER The Christmas Book. Dorling Kindersley http://www.dk.com Rockfords Rock Opera mybiggreen festive guide 2009 If you find it difficult to unite the family at Christmas ­ with children playing their latest computer games and adults falling asleep ­ here's a great family story, with a heart warming ecological message which everyone can enjoy together, even while the adults are `resting their eyes'! A Musical of Extinction ® Far away in the Sea of Tranquillity lies the Island of Infinity, home to the last one of every extinct species. Infinity has a secret for the world but Moog, a boy from Battersea in London, and Rockford his dog, are the only one who can deliver its message. Travelling to Infinity Moog and Rockford get drawn into an adventure in sound that threatens the entire human race. Rockford's Rock Opera is a unique ecological audio adventure for children and adults, supported by the World Wildlife Fund. With an amazing, original story, great songs, narration, sound effects, CGI videos and illustrations all delivered via the web, Rockford's Rock Opera a new breed of 21st century, iPod friendly, audiovisual entertainment. Featuring and scripted by respected BBC writer and performer, Steve Punt, this is a story with a message ­ a unique `take' on the threat of extinction and the effect man is having upon life on earth. The whole of Rockford's Rock Opera Part One (52 minutes in total) is available as a free audio book to download, podcast and to stream FREE on the web. You can buy Parts 2 and 3 on CD or as downloads. Or you can buy all three as a gift set. http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com A tale that will change the world. Hear it now. FREE Before you start your Christmas shopping, let me draw your attention to... The Christmas Book ­ editorinchief Sheherazade Goldsmith This new edition published October 2009, describes itself as the "antithesis of that last minute Christmas Eve dash through the crowds to the shops." The book takes us back to the days when Christmas was so special, and children were filled with excitement. When the food that appeared on the table was `Christmas food' and we only saw it once a year. Where integrity was king and gratitude was paramount. The book is full of ideas to help recapture these values and involve children in making a contribution to a greener Christmas. If you made this book your first purchase ­ you could save yourself a lot of money, and the planet. The Christmas Book Published DK Books Price £16.99 http://www.dk.com Life, Extraordinary Animals, Extreme Behaviour by Martha Holmes and Michael Gunton Life has been four years in the making, 70 camera men and women have travelled to over 150 locations in 52 countries to cover over 130 stories of extraordinary and often new animal behaviour. Each of the animal and plant survival stories in the book and TV series has been discovered by working closely with the scientific community to unearth the best new animal behaviour and plant stories. This will make a popular Christmas present for anyone curious about the natural world. Now a major 10 part BBC TV series, narrated by Sir Richard Attenborough. Price: £25 hardback http://www.eburypublishing.co.uk Just a few of the books we have featured and reviewed during 2009 All recommended reading. If you need more information on publishers etc. you will find it all in our previous issues. You can also view other books that are too numerous to fit in here and would make great Christmas gifts. https://mygreenlifestyle.co.uk/pages/ previous_issues.htm Give a Toy worth giving... it doesn't have to cost the earth! Timeless Toys The new Silver Cross `Classic Gift Collection', includes three highly desirable bears and a rag doll which hark back to Silver Cross's roots. The carriages are made in exactly the same way as they have been for over one hundred years ­ painstakingly hand fashioned using only the finest, handcrafted materials and finishes. www.silvercross.co.uk Made To Last ­ investing in future generations Choose from delightful d lion old fashione s for hobby horse onies £25, pigs, p 15.50 or frogs at £ for or donkeys just £10.50. Jigsaws Wentworth Wooden Jigsaws are made to last from sustainable sources and recycled materials. www.jigsaws.co.uk Fair Trade chequered pony, who could resist? Handcrafted made children's Christmas items from gorgeous new homeware website www.pinksandgreen.co.uk Children's Playbarn Made To Last Children's Barn from www.loveyourhomeforless.co.uk is made from 100% cotton fabric and is designed to withstand years of fun, making it a much loved investment for children of all ages. Available in two sizes and complete with a handy storage bag. Free delivery within the UK, allow 2 weeks from ordering. Board Game A fun memory and matching game with 2 levels of play for prereaders and developing readers. Green Board Games use only recycled board for their boxes, and is committed to reducing their carbon footprint wherever possible. Available from www.littleeco.com £5.99 The Secret Seed Society The Secret Seed Society believes that young minds are fertile ground to sow the habits of a green lifestyle so they produce fantasy story packs to entertain and motivate children to engage with growing their own food and join an online club which guides them to find out about other aspects of sustainable living. For ages 37 www.secretseedsociety.com Solar Powered Construction Set (no batteries required) Three different battery free models to make, one at a time, complete with solar panel propeller that spins in the sunlight. £30 www.aspace.co.uk Gifts to treasure Avasarah Avasarah is jewellery that makes a difference ­ the finest ethical jewellery from an exclusive list of socially and environmentally conscious jewellery designers. Avasarah own brand designs use only recycled metals and no extra heat or chemicals. A significant 20% profits from each piece of go to support Indian Charity. www.avasarah.com Superb Men's cufflinks from Oria Traidcraft From Traidcraft (the UK's leading fair trade organisation) Silver Circles Necklace £35 http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk Oria Jewellery is dedicated to making fine, contemporary jewellery using ethically sourced gold, silver and gems. www.oriajewellery.co.uk Jewellery Wrap & Bag Remade Bag and Jewellery Wrap from designer Jane Withers made from luxurious recycled lambswool. Jane makes fine textures and patterns with relief designs using embroidery. She uses natural and organic yarns and reuses and recycles all waste and surplus fabrics. Both are priced at £15. www.foufurnishings.com Obaku Watches Obaku Harmony, watches equipped with special environmental friendly movements, which are using the new SPRON Battery, a new mercury/leaffree silver Oxide Battery. www.obakuwatches.co.uk Gifts for him & her Tribeworld have gifts for Christmas that don't cost the earth. They've just launched a whole range of Bamboo and organic cotton fairtrade clothing. Great gifts for him & her. www.tribeworldwear.com Say Yes to Carrots Yes To Carrots'TM is a totally parabenfree range of products that utilises nature's best kept beauty secrets: Dead Sea mud and minerals, along with organic fruits and vegetables bursting with BetaCarotene, a natural form of Vitamin A. All produce used in Yes To CarrotsTM is sourced from certified organic farmers. www.yestocarrots.com Luxurious soaps Heyland & Whittle soaps gently cleanse and naturally moisturise the skin. Made using the traditional "cold processed" production method these luxurious soaps are handmade in Surrey with the finest essential oils, vegetable oils and natural colourings. A spicy and invigorating all over body soap loaded with oatmeal and poppy seeds to exfoliate dead skin cells and clear clogged pores. Prettily boxed to save on wrapping. www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk Merry Cranberry The Body Shop's `Merry Cranberry Collection' takes inspiration from the ripe, red cranberry that bursts with juicy festive flavour. The collection's deepred colour scheme and mouthwatering fruity fragrance perfectly capture the traditional essence of the season. www.thebodyshop.com is a small company making soap in the middle of a Norfolk woodland. The soap is unbelievably good and somehow the combination of plant oils and extracts heals a multitude of skin complaints. Available through www.simplysoaps.co.uk Simply Soaps Christmas Charities Animal Gift Give an animal lover a Friendship Adoption Pack. Sold across the UK to raise much needed funds to protect endangered species, each pack contains a cuddly toy of the animal, a photo card, an information booklet and a thank you card. All are priced at £24.99 and available exclusively from WH Smith and http://www.friendshipgifts.co.uk Why not give a gift that will benefit more than one receiver? Present Aid This Christmas, Present Aid offers an alternative gift for chocoholics that is not only calorie free but also helps poor farmers cope with the impact of climate change. The chocolate kit, which costs £47 from Christian Aid's virtual gift service, consists of cocoa seedlings and training for Nicaraguan farmers to help them adapt to global warming by switching from growing coffee to cocoa that strives in hot climates. As a Present Aid buyer you receive a card with more information about the gift you have `bought' which you can send to the recipient of the present, and the actual gift goes to help someone in a poor country. Help raise up to £140 million simply by Christmas shopping online Giving to charities and schools is totally FREE this Christmas. Giving to charity this Xmas will be absolutely free for online shoppers, thanks to TheGivingMachine, and could potentially amass a staggering donation of up to £140 million, given that as much as £5 billion1 will be spent online, purchasing Xmas gifts and seasonal fare in the month of December alone. TheGivingMachine is a unique notforprofit shopping and fundraising portal which donates the commission offered by major online shops for clickthrough custom. TheGivingMachine provides easy access at the touch of a button to over 200 popular online shops including eBay, Amazon, Play.com, John Lewis, Tesco, Next, Boots and many more. Register at http://www.thegivingmachine.co.uk, choosing your favourite charities and schools (up to four) and then clicking through to an online shop. Through Present Aid, people can purchase unusual and meaningful gifts that make a lasting difference to some of the poorest communities in the world' The money goes to one of the following project funds also included. l agriculture and livestock l emergency and disaster preparedness l healthcare inc. HIV/Aids l training and education l water and environment For The Present Aid catalogue go to http://www.presentaid.org prices from £5 to £1,400. Gifts That Make A Difference Good Gifts offers two hundred wonderful ways to make a difference to peoples' lives here and abroad, the widest selection of any charity catalogue. The 2009 catalogue with around twenty ingenious new gifts, continues the charity's commitment to bring hope, provide income, education and help restore personal dignity to those in need. Don't forget you can also be safe in the knowledge that your money has been used solely for the purpose intended. http://www.goodgifts.org Made to last... bring them out year after year! It is so easy to make a Christmas Stocking or a Santa sack, details you can find on the internet or in The Christmas Book, page7. If you're not up to making your own here are some beautiful stockings and sacks that will make timeless pieces that can be passed down through generations. Let's move away from the plastic throwaway cheap rubbish and get back to some quality creations that will delight children and adults alike. Win Green has a Christmas range of beautifully embroidered and appliquéd traditional Christmas sacks and stockings for both boys & girls. Children will love to see the stockings hanging at the end of their bed filled with presents on Christmas Day. www.wingreen.co.uk Patchwork Santa's sacks and stockings ­ make them a part of your family tradition. Personalised Patchwork Stockings and Santa's Sacks These beautiful personalised patchwork stockings and sacks are made in the UK for Aspen & Brown by hand and embroidered with a name. They take many hours to make and are therefore priced at £39.95 each. These beautiful non personalised patchwork stockings and santa's sacks are made in India by a small women's cooperative who sew together in their homes, thereby enabling them to contribute towards the family income. The stockings and sacks are priced at £16.50 each. All available from Aspen & Brown, www.aspenandbrown.com Patchwork Stockings and Sack Serve up some fantastic Christmas snacks with this 4Section Server in the shape of a Christmas tree. Featuring the delightful illustrations from Raymond Brigg's classic children's story, The SnowmanTM www.portmeirion.co.uk Timeless Portmeirion Luxury Organic Table Linen from Ochre & Ocre The ultimate indulgence, beautifully presented in a wicker hamper, containing exquisite Italian Organic Linen with the Ocre Rouge trim: 4 Napkins, 1 x 150 cm Runner, plus 4 handmade wooden napkin rings, and 2 Beeswax pillar candles. Price £150.00 www.ochreandocre. com Homes... For something a little different www.notmass produced.com is an online marketplace for beautifully designed and crafted gifts by independent designer makers. All the products are handmade in small quantities in the UK/EU, some also go the extra mile and have organic, recycled and vintage items. This distinctive cushion is made by painting appliquéd onto vintage material £32 www.notmassproduced.com Beeswax Yankee Candles Yankee Candle have a complete range of candles which are 100% natural made from soya beans. Ignite a Christmas atmosphere with a clear conscience knowing that your Christmas Candles are environmentally sustainable a great gift. www.yankeecandle.co.uk Gone Rural Gone Rural has regenerated the ageold Swazi traditions of grass plaiting and weaving. Vibrantly dyed bales of lutindzi, an indigenous grass, are made into baskets, floor and placemats. Purchases help Gone Rural Bomake, a dedicated notforprofit organisation support communities through training, health and education. http://www.gonerural.co.uk The Perfect Gift Pretty, long lasting and practical foldaway wipe clean ®shop boxes, bags and panniers. So versatile you can use them just as well for grocery shopping, going to the gym, a day at the beach and in the garden the perfect gift. www.thecamouflagecompany.com Almost too nice to clean with! Eco cloths from www.jangneusdesign.com. Combining gorgeous designs with an environmental responsibility and awareness, these are very ecofriendly, 100% biodegradable and are printed with ecofriendly ink so when they've finally worn out just put them on your compost heap! www.jangneusdesign.com ... and garden gifts Know a gardener who likes a glass of wine?... here's the perfect gift The sustainable wine company, Fetzer offers `grow your own' herb garden bottles of its Californian, premium quality Valley Oaks wines. Each of the Valley Oaks varietals ­comes with free, fun and easy to grow herb seed paper, a Fetzer embossed pot and recipe tips. /www.fetzer.eu The Holly and The Ivy Trees Direct come potted and staked, dressed in a hessian sack tied with green garden string, a hand written gift card and planting instructions. A lasting present to be enjoyed for many years to come. Trees can relieve the effect of carbon emissions, help our wildlife at the same time bringing beauty, and lasting pleasure. www.treesdirect.co.uk Support the RSPB and the birds this Christmas Bring a little seaside fun to your garden with these new beach hut nest boxes. Made to the same high standard of materials as all RSPB nest boxes to ensure they are well insulated and safe for birds. Supplied with a 32 mm entry hole, they can easily be converted to a 25 mm hole with a nest box plate if required. The side panel is pivoted for easy annual cleaning. For the whole range: http://www.shopping.rspb.org.uk/c/Christmas.htm `Dirty Nails' Joe Hashman On the Plot with Dirty Nails is the next instalment by Joe Hashman, gardener and naturalist detailing the weekly jobs to do on the allotment and in the greenhouse to ensure healthy crops for every season. Passionate commentary on the wildlife, and unusual recipe ideas, will keep you and your family inspired and motivated to grow your own forever. www.howtobooks.co.uk Our Bumper Festive Giveaways The Age of Stupid `The Age of Stupid' is the new cinema documentary from the Director of `McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscarwinning `One Day In September'. This enormously ambitious dramadocumentaryanimation hybrid stars Oscarnominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching "archive" footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance? ­unmissable. All offers close on 12 December 2009. Out now on DVD The Age of Stupid If you haven't had a chance to see the Age of Stupid, now's your chance to get your hands on your own copy ­ for free! We have 5 copies to give away free. Just email to ­ [email protected] subject line Age of Stupid Dig that garden save the Planet ­ Johnnie Dominic Ever wondered what you can do to save the planet? We can begin that battle in our own back gardens! A beautifully illustrated entertaining book brimming with ideas helps you make those first steps to becoming an eco gardener. Published by Summerdale Publishers Ltd. £7.99 www.summersdalecom We have 5 copies to give away ­ just email [email protected] subject line Dig that garden save the Planet. Skin Blossom The Skin Blossom Organic Bloom range is certified by the Soil Association and is also Vegan. It has been specially created to contain organic and skinfriendly ingredients at a super affordable price, meaning everyone can have beautiful skin and be kind to the environment without blowing the budget. Prices range from £4.75 to £6.95 and products are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. www.lucyrose.biz Skin Blossom has teamed up with mygreenlifestyle to offer 2 sets of their organic creams to our lucky readers. Simply email to ­ [email protected] subject line Skin Blossom. Puro Direct ­ from the roaster to your cup! WIN a supply of Free Fair Trade Organic Coffee, and a set of limited edition Cups and Saucers! Puro has proudly taken socially responsible espresso marketing two steps further with a product that combines Fairtrade certified sourcing with saving the rainforest through World Land Trust. Money from each sale of Puro coffee helps buy and protect precious rainforests and also ensures that third world growers get a fair and sustainable deal. In partnership with the World Land Trust, already over 2,400 acres of rainforest land has been added to Puro's reserve in Ecuador, South America. To celebrate the launch of www.organicfairtradecoffee.co.uk Puro have teamed up with mygreenlifestyle to offer 16 x 250g of their Premium Fair Trade Organic coffee plus 6 limited edition Puro cups and saucers to one lucky reader. To be in with a chance simply answer the following question: Q. How many acres of rainforest have been added to Puro's reserve in Ecuador, South America? Email to [email protected] subject line Puro Coffee. WIN A HAMPER OF REDWOOD GOODIES! DELICIOUSLY DIFFERENT Delicious `turkey' roasts with fresh, wholesome stuffings are just some of the guiltfree festive foods available from awardwinning producers of natural plantbased foods Redwood, which recently topped The Ethical Company Organisation's list of vegetarian foods suppliers for the third year running. Made from 100% natural ingredients, Redwood's Vegideli Roasts are free from meat, egg and dairy ingredients, hydrogenated fats, artificial colours/ preservatives, GMOs and cholesterol. You'll find them in good health food stores and at www.redwoodfoods.co.uk Redwood have teamed up with mygreenlifestyle magazine to give five lucky people the chance to win a `hamper' of Redwood's deliciously different guiltfree foods that are good for both body and soul! To be in with a chance just email, [email protected] subject line `Redwood Hamper'. Freshly baked bread is essential on Christmas day! Wallace & Gromit baking kits from Organic award winning Bacheldre Watermill has launched an exciting new range in association with the recent Wallace and Gromit hit film `A Matter of Loaf and Death' www.bacheldremill.co.uk Sharpham Park Organic Spelt Christmas Range Sharpham Park, the premium organic food label has launched the perfect gifts and products for a Spelt Christmas. Spelt is an ancient cousin of wheat. It has a different gluten structure to wheat so is easier to digest, as well as having a far better deep nutty flavour.Included in the range: Sharpham Park Organic Spelt Christmas Cake Sharpham Park Organic Spelt Christmas Pudding Sharpham Park Organic Spelt Mince Pies Sharpham Park Organic Spelt Luxury Biscuit Selection Buy individual products, or hampers the perfect gift for that food lover. Stockists: 01458 844 080, or via http://www.sharphampark.com Love Food Hate Waste? ... ideas for a waste free Christmas Christmas Pudding Strudel Caroline Marson 250g ricotta cheese Black pepper Zest of 1 orange 250g leftover Christmas pudding, crumbled 3 large sheets of filo pastry 25g melted butter (unsalted) Ground cinnamon Brown sugar Vanilla ice cream, custard or cream to serve In a bowl mix together the cheese, black pepper, orange zest, and crumbled Christmas pudding. n Lay out the sheets of filo pastry, brush each sheet with melted butter and place on top of each other. Spread the filling at one end of the filo square. n Fold one end of pastry over the mixture and continue rolling, tucking each end to create a seal, until you have a tight filo parcel log. n Brush the top with butter and sprinkle with a little cinnamon and brown sugar. n Bake at 200°C (400°F) mark 6 for about 25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on the base. Serve in slices with cream, vanilla ice cream or warm custard. Enjoy! n Generous Mince Pies From Essential This year, don't make any old mince pie ­ make a Generous Mince Pie (GMP) with this super recipe from renowned chef Rose Elliot. The pies are `generous' because the ingredients are all ethically sourced and ensure a fair price is given to the farmers and growers. When you buy the Super Fruit Mix from the ethical website http:// www.ethicallyessential.coop 15% of the cost goes straight to Caring at Christmas. Fresh And Spicy Mincemeat (enough for 24 mince pies) 125g (4oz) Essential dried fruit salad mix, including apricots and apple rings 175g (6oz) Essential superfruit mix 50g (2oz) Essential applejuice infused dried cranberries 4 tablespoons marsala, brandy or orange juice 2 tablespoons maple syrup ½ teaspoon ground Essential organic ginger ½ teaspoon Essential organic mixed spice ½ teaspoon Essential Fairtrade organic cinnamon 1 small banana, peeled Chop the fruit salad. Put into a bowl with the super fruit mix, dried cranberries, marsala, brandy or orange juice, maple syrup and spices. n Mix well, then cover and leave for 1224 hours, stirring occasionally. n Put the mixture into a food processor along with the banana and pulse until the mixture is chopped and blended, but still has some texture. n Keep in a covered bowl in the fridge for up to a week. n n For The Pastry (This is sufficient to make 12 mince pies). This pastry is richer than a normal shortcrust really easy to make, and comes out very light and crumbly. 250g (9oz) Essential wholemeal spelt flour 175g (7oz) soft, salted butter or pure vegetable margarine Put the flour and butter into a bowl. Using a fork, lightly blend them together until they form a dough n Gather the dough up into a ball, knead it lightly on a floured board and roll it out, not too thinly. n Set the oven to 220°C (425°F), gas mark 7 n On a lightlyfloured board, roll the pastry out fairly thinly. n Cut circles to fit small tartlet tins n Fill with a good teaspoonful of mincemeat. Cover with a smaller pastry circle to fit the top, press down lightly. n Brush the tops of the pies with soya milk and sprinkle quite thickly with caster sugar. With a skewer make a steamhole in the centre of each pie. n Bake for about 10 minutes, until the pastry is set and the sugar on top looks crisp. n Freeze when completely cool. n Now 's the time to get the Christmas Cake started! This Fairtrade cake is slightly different to the traditional cake, allowing you a little more time if you have left it a little late, but no less delicious. Use Royal icing or Fondant icing whichever you prefer. Fair Trade Christmas Cake 500g mixed dried fruit e.g. sultanas, raisins, currants 100g ready to eat apricots, chopped 100g dates, chopped 50g dried cranberries 150g glace cherries, halved 225ml cold black tea, made from two Teadirect Gold teabags 100ml whisky or brandy 75ml orange juice 1 orange, zest only 2 tbsp black treacle 200g butter, slightly soft 200g muscovado sugar 250g plain flour 1 heaped tsp baking powder 5 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice 75g chopped nuts To cover the cake 450g marzipan Sifted icing sugar 4 tbsp apricot jam 1 kg ready rolled fondant icing In a large pan mix together the dried fruits, apricots, dates, cranberries and cherries. Add the cooled Teadirect Gold tea, whisky or brandy, orange juice, zest and treacle. Bring to the boil, stirring. Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Transfer to a bowl and chill overnight or as long as you can. n Preheat the oven to 140 degrees C/275 degrees F/ Gas Mark 2. n Lightly grease a 20cm round cake tin and line with baking parchment. n Place all the remaining cake ingredients, except the nuts, into a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly, and then fold in the teasoaked fruit and nuts. n Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top, making a slight dip towards the centre. Wrap the sides of the cake in a double thickness of brown paper. Check the cake after 3 hours, and cover with parchment paper if the surface is getting too brown. Bake for a further 30 minutes1 hour, or until a metal skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. n Cool in the tin for 15 minutes then turn out and allow to cool completely on a rack. n Dust a large work surface with icing sugar and roll the marzipan to a circle slightly larger than the cake. Heat the apricot jam in a small pan and brush over the cake. Ease the marzipan over the cake ­ rubbing with your hands to create a flat smooth surface. If time allows, cover the cake with a clean tea towel and then leave in a cool place for at least one day. n Roll out 150g of the fondant icing on a flat surface, lightly dusted with icing sugar and use your favourite Christmas cookie cutters to cut out some festive shapes e.g. snowflakes, stars or holly leaves etc. Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment and leave to set, uncovered, in a cool place. n Place the cake on a cake board. Brush the marzipan covered cake with a little water. Roll out the remaining icing to a 33cm round. Lift over the cake and smooth the icing down the sides. Trim off the excess icing. n Use the Christmassy shapes you prepared earlier to decorate the cake and finish off with a ribbon. n Christmas Lunch... what could be better! Organic Norfolk Black Turkey For Christmas this year, Laverstoke Park has freerange, organic Norfolk Black turkeys available. These black feathered birds are a traditional, slow maturing breed, considered to be one of the most flavoursome and succulent, thanks to its fine layer of fat just under the skin. The turkeys are reared on the farm and live on clover and herb rich pastures ­ perfect for foraging. The supplementary organic feed is formulated to complement the grassed, clovers and herbs in their diet, ensuring the superior taste for which they are famous. www.laverstokepark.co.uk To avoid disappointment order your turkey now: Call 0800 334 5505 Sage and Onion stuffing ­ so easy to make your own! 4 large Onions 10 sage leaves 125g (quarter 1lb) breadcrumbs 40g (1.5 oz) unsalted butter 1 egg pinch of salt and pepper n Peel nThrow in the sage leaves in the last 2 minutes. Take them out the pan and chop them both finely then put into a mixing bowl. nWork in the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and butter. Mix in just the yolk of the egg. nYou will now have enough stuffing to stuff a medium turkey or a large chicken. From www.selfsufficientish.com/sage the onions and put them whole into a pan of boiling water. Simmer for about 510 minutes. If you fancy a change from the traditional Christmas Day Turkey, or the Boxing Day Ham, why not try a fish dish? Alternatively, just for a change over the holiday. Alaska Seafood is wild and sustainable. Careful management based on conservation assure abundant stocks of salmon, halibut, sole, pollock, and shellfish. Alaska is thousands of miles away from large sources of pollution that can contaminate the human food supply in other parts of the world. These distances, combined with the earth's patterns of circulation of water and air, help to ensure that Alaska's own waters are among the cleanest in the world, making it an environmentally responsible choice. The Wild Wonderful Alaska Seafood Cookbook is a lovely colourful publication that includes the most delicious selection of healthy recipes for every occasion. www.alaskaseafood.org Alaska Smoked Salmon make perfect canapés for those Christmas drink parties. Christmas Cheers... A Perfect Organic Pairing Bonterra Wine and Green & Blacks Chocolate Organic wine brand Bonterra has created an exclusive and delicious gift pack, which is sure to hit the right note with wine and chocolate lovers. Teaming with Green & Black's, it has partnered the soft yet complex barrel aged Bonterra Merlot with delicious organic chocolates in a beautifully designed gift box. www.bonterra.com Alcohol free drinks are increasing as we Brits start sobering up! Discerning nondrinkers and drivers will find much to celebrate with Luscombe's selection of Red, White and Rosé fruit drinks. Drinks with depth and complexity yet entirely without alcohol, Wild Blueberry Crush (Red), Raspberry Lemonade (Rosé) and Wild Elderflower Bubbly (White/Champagne) All Luscombe Drinks are just as nature intended. Available at Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Whole Foods and independent retailers nationwide www.luscombe.co.uk Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey This multiaward winning single malt is made using an ancient technique of drying the malting barley in a peat fuelled kiln to give it a wonderful, smokey aroma. Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey available Waitrose, Oddbins, Milroys and Royal Mile Whiskies. www.cooleywhiskey.com Harry 's Nuts! Harry Hill's own Fairtrade nut products We all go nuts at Christmas ­This year you can bring real seasonal cheer to farmers in some of the world's poorer countries by choosing nut snacks from Liberation, the world's only 100% Fairtrade nut company. Harry will make no money from this venture so that as much revenue as possible will go back to the farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They are sold in Sainsbury's and Waitrose nationwide. http://www.chooseliberation.com/harry Thorncroft Cordials Thorncroft has a range of authentic no sugar added cordials which have been formulated for depth of character and delicacy of flavour. The unusual and exciting range includes Orchard Cola, Cloudy Lemonade, Zesty Orange, Luscious Brazilian Orange, Cranberry and Hibiscus, Elderflower, Apple, Dandelion & Burdock, Pink Ginger. You'll be spoilt for choice. www.thorncroftdrinks.com Christmas is a time for indulgence... treat yourself to something a bit special! Azorieblue Coffee is a blend of ethically sourced Brazilian Arabica beans from one of the 37 worldclass, worldrenowned estates; which are all credited with the much sought after BSCA (Brazilian Speciality Coffee Association) certificate. When the beans arrive in the UK they are lovingly roasted by the AZORIEBLUE Master Roaster to create a truly unique taste profile. Azorieblue is the perfect way to treat yourself and friends to a real cup of coffee. Available online at www.azorieblue.co.uk from £9.99 to £12.95. San Cristobal Drinking Chocolate Cafedirect a great gift for Granny and Granddad, indeed the whole family. Awardwinning San Cristobal Drinking Chocolate is a rich, creamy, and luxurious festive treat for a cold winter's eve. Made from the purest, most ethically sourced cocoa from a small town in the Dominican Republic. Cafedirect is the UK's largest 100% Fairtrade hot drinks company, ploughing more than 50% of its profits back into its growers' businesses. http://brewing.cafedirect.co.uk/ Divine Cocoa Whether whisking up a rich dark cup of fragrant hot cocoa, or using cocoa in your favourite chocolate recipes, Divine Cocoa is a perfect choice. Free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives, and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Fairtrade cocoa powder www.divinechocolate.com Hari Tea is a new range of luxury organic teas based on Yogic and Ayurvedic traditions. Prestat Organic Wafers Prestat, the Purveyor of Chocolates to Her Majesty the Queen have perfected these handmade wafers to ensure they are exceptionally thin and delectable. Choose from five mouthwatering flavours: organic dark and rich chocolate wafers, organic dark chocolate mint wafers, organic milk chocolate wafers flavoured with ground cinnamon, organic milk chocolate wafers infused with Earl Grey Tea and organic white chocolate wafers infused with sweet orange. Hari Tea offers a unique range of artisanal tea blends. By using only organic loose tea, herbs and spices, handcrafted and nestled in allnatural, 100% cotton teabags (no staples, no glue) the loose tea mixtures relax completely and release their full flavours. Available from: Partridges, Whole Foods. £3.99 per box (16 tea bags) www.haritea.com Prestat Organic Wafers, £10 each www.prestat.co.uk Dec the halls with boughs of holly ­ or something just as green! Some of the best `Christmassy' decorations can be found in the countryside around us or even our own backyards. Children have great fun making Christmas decorations, it's all part of the build up and helps to create the festive feeling. If you don't have the time or the inclination, hereare a few ideas that help to sidestep the plastic rubbish that appears in the shops this time of year and usually ends up in landfill. Fairtrade Hand Painted Baubles made in Kashmir by a collection of families. www.johnlewis.co.uk £3 Fairwind Fairtrade Fair Trees Fairwind has teamed up with Danish Christmas tree grower Bols Forstplanteskole to bring the first ever fair trade real Christmas trees to the UK. Consumers in the UK can now buy real Christmas trees with a clear conscience. Available to order at http://www.fairwindonline.com These are not just Cards! These are trees. They are trees because for every card you buy, a tree will be propagated in the Caledonian Forest and begin a lifetime offsetting our pollution. TreeTwist cards are simple yet striking and will really stand out among the mass of mumble jumble this Christmas. www.treetwist.co.uk Gallery Thea Not only a beautiful handmade Christmas decoration, but also a gift made to last from Gallery Thea. www.gallerythea.co.uk Lavender scented, boxed, NOEL heart set. A wonderful and unique festive gift. Made in Britain using vintage French linen, bring a little French chic to your home this Christmas. /www.angellifestyle.com Solar Star Lights Light up an outdoor tree for Christmas with Solar Star Lights from the Original Gift.Trail over a shrub, an arch, under a parasol or around a patio, these energy saving pretty starshaped lights are powered by a single solar panel battery. www.theoriginalgift.co.uk Bring it out year after year, Handmade Fairtrade Felt Advent Calendar Made from chemical free felt, this Christmas tree design, has a decoration in each pocket to slowly dress the tree until completion on Christmas Eve. There is also space for your own Christmas goodies. www. biomelifestyle. com £13 Crackers Personalise these recycled crackers, by making your own decoration and choosing your own treats. Box set of 6 £5 from www.johnlewis.com All I Want For Christmas... Is To Survive! This festive season, why not put meaning back into `the season of goodwill' by giving a gift that will transform the lives of children and young people worldwide, through UNICEF. The first charity Christmas Card, exclusively reissued for its 60th Anniversary. UNICEF's full range of Cards and Gifts are available online at www.unicef.org.uk/shop It's Christmas Party Time! Elegance Margot Selby's stunning geometric designs are captured in these simply stunning pieces. They use a doublecloth silk and lycra structure that creates a rich 3dimensional eye catching quality. All fabrics are developed on a handloom in her London studio and then woven by English mills. Available www.ellageorgia jewellery.co.uk from £50. Beautiful Guilt Free Bags from Saathay Ethical Arts. This black evening bag is the perfect accessory to go with your little black dress. www.saathay.com £25 Equa Green Party Fashion available from Equa for the festive season. Dolly Prom Dress by Tara Starlet ­ £74, Made in the UK using end of roll reclaimed fabric. www.equa.com Scottish Cashmere A stylish sophisticated wrap to enhance any outfit, and to keep you warm on a cold December evening. Ethical, Eco friendly Scottish cashmere from The Travelwrap Company. http://www.thetravelwrapcompany.com Wrap Up Warm Handknitted scarves, with leather tabs from Fair Trade brand AURA QUE ethical online boutique www.shop.auraque.com Retailing at £28 to £49. Bespoke fashion TRAIDremade Boutique is a unique and exciting new collaboration between Fashionconscience.com and the charity TRAID. The exclusive collection features bespoke, limited edition pieces and is 100% sustainable. www.fashionconscience.com Painting the town red The party season is the ideal time to shine! If your makeup needs an injection of colour or you are looking for a thoughtful gift, take a fresh look at YOUNGBLOOD's limited edition 100% pure mineral cosmetics range. www.dermapure.eu Party feet Slinks by Jane Rafter ­ 6 Pairs of sandals 6 totally different looks in one package. Luxurious sandals that are unique in that you can change the tops. www.slinks.com Christmas Lunch is all wrapped up for babes thanks to Totseat. The Totseat travel highchair's design and safety credentials have won a host of awards, including Gift of the Year 2009. The travel highchair is the most versatile on the market, and is the perfect gift or travel accessory for every generation, and you can keep it in your handbag. During December, if you purchase a Totseat travel highchair from http://www.totseat.com you will also receive a free WrapSack the trackable, reusable fabric gift bag. The WrapSack comes with a unique reference code which, once logged into the TrackaSack website, is trackable to its new destination. The WrapSack then moves on to someone else, and on it goes! The aim is to keep the WrapSack on the move, creating an alternative to wrapping paper and ultimately eliminating waste. £23.50, including first class postage. A luxurious new way to enjoy your garden, whatever the weather! A garden gazebo can add style and character to your garden. Ideal for hottubs, garden seating areas or follies. These are of heavy weight construction, handmade from fully treated timber into kits for easy assembly. For further details email: [email protected] mygreenChristmasdirectory Spice seamlessly blends red currant and cinnamon bark with oak wood to create a warm festive aroma. The Paddywax Eco Range offers a premium quality, environmentally sound alternative to the usual paraffin based candle. Fill your home with this fragrant Holiday feast from Paddywax. Fou for You www.paddywax.com Fou Furnishings has launched its first Christmas range, `Fou for you' featuring a range of specially selected, originally designed and fun gifts for all the family, all using natural, recycled, eco or organic materials, sourced from designer to organic makers. Stocking fillers, starting at £1.99 to luxury organic pampering gift sets at £34.50. www.foufurnishings.com CFGraphic Design & Print Brochures l POS l Leaflets lPosters l Media Advertisements l Packaging lMagazines l Spiezia... gift sets are pure and natural, lovingly hand made in Cornwall using only organic ingredients. For gorgeous thoughtful gifts that are packed with goodness, simply choose and place under the Christmas tree or pop into a loved one's Christmas Stocking. www.spieziaorganics.com Tel: 01572 757315 Mobile: 07790 122863 Email: [email protected] Product Reveiw The simplehuman slim plastic recycler is an excellent way to meet all your recycling needs. The slim design enables them to stand neatly side by side to create your own recycling centre. It will also fit into small kitchen spaces whilst still giving a generous 40L capacity. Bin liners are a standard size available at supermarkets although you can also buy custom designed, code K liners from www.simplehuman.co.uk Rear wheels make movement easy and it has a clever exclusive self closing lid for a smooth quiet close. A slide lock keeps the lid shut and curious pets and kids are kept out! As always from simplehuman, a smart design to compliment any kitchen/ utility room, available in black and grey. We can thoroughly recommend this product and can't fault it! Complete with a 5 year warranty and at an affordable £39.99 it's hard to beat (although we found a similar version without the contents label for £25.00 in Wilko stores). www.simplehuman.co.uk/products/recyclingsolutions/slimplasticrecycler.php From The Christmas Book. Dorling Kindersley http://www.dk.com mybiggreen festive guide 2009 Green Business in Focus Producing a piece of furniture that will last a lifetime is surely a labour of love. This is certainly the feeling you get when you see the work of Martin Young. Martin Young is a highly respected creator of unique garden furniture, and when you visit his garden you will see why. Carefully placed around his breathtaking garden, itself a stunning piece of design amid a glorious setting, you discover beautiful and unique garden swing seats simply begging you to relax on them. Martin's success is built around quality and integrity. It was the realisation that a market existed for exceptionally well made and individually designed garden swing seats that fuelled his desire to achieve all this without compromising his eco principles. His first choice of material is therefore oak: strong, durable, with a transparent supply chain of timber from regenerated forests close to home. Oak also has another advantage, which is that it is simply the craftsman's favourite resource. FSC is a Chain of Custody that ensures all timber is tracked from felling (and subsequent replanting), to sawmill, to shipper, to timber merchant and finally to workshop.Using only FSC sourced timber to create their Garden Swing Seats, Sitting Spiritually from 2008, became carbon neutral. Martin's original garden swing seat stood within its own `A' frame. Now he makes swing seats (or swing benches as some call them) that are equally at home swinging from an arbour, pergola or gazebo. And for those interested in creating a Japanese garden, maybe complete with pagoda, he has created a swing bench that fits the surroundings perfectly. In addition, Martin has introduced a garden chair that will match your swing seat. He finds most garden chairs too small so his have 600mm wide seats, making it an extremely comfortable companion to your swing seat. These chairs are solid, durable and contoured, the same as the swing seats, and have matching arms. As a finishing touch Martin now offers a range of acrylic canvas cushions that offer excellent outdoor protection and come in an extensive range of colours. Lyme Regis is, of course, the Mecca of the Jurassic coast and many famous fossillers live here. As a final touch, Martin can set Ammonites into your chosen seat. Sitting Spiritually, is renowned for making top quality garden furniture to each individual's requirements. You can call Martin Young, on 01297 443084 or 07837 651283 to discuss your specific requirements or visit the website, www.sittingspiritually.co.uk Winterhealth&wellbeing According to nutritionist Kirsten Brooks from The Really Healthy Company we can help boost our own natural resistance to illness before it becomes necessary to take prescribed medication. She recommends: Minimise personal and workrelated stress, which lowers immune function and depletes nutrients important for health defence, such as zinc and vitamin C. l l l Sleep well Getting a regular eight hours of sleep and finding time for rest and relaxation replenishes the immune system and improves resistance to infection. Lack of sleep depletes many nutrients especially magnesium. Take an immune tonic BioBran Plus can be used indefinitely through the winter for continued benefits without any tailoff in effectiveness. BioBran is supported by research and will also quickly knock a cold on the head if taken at its onset. l Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates which can significantly reduce the number of white blood cells that our immune systems require in order to destroy foreign particles and microorganisms. l Eat healthily, fruit and vegetables boost nutrients including vitamin C, that protect against excess free radical damage which is associated with compromised immunity. Zincrich foods such as lean protein, seeds, and whole grains are important for immunity provided by your mucous membranes. Also include plenty of garlic and ginger in your diet for their natural antimicrobial benefits. Drink plenty of fluids to ensure your eliminatory systems are able to work optimally. Replace fluid lost during a respiratory infection, prevent dehydration and mucous build up. l l BioBran Plus, priced £19.53 for 90 tablets, is available from selected health food stores or online at www.healthy.co.uk It has no side effects and is suitable for vegetarians. Exercise enough to boost immunity. Studies have shown that regular exercise can improve immune system defence significantly; as little as 30 minutes walking five times a week can increase white blood cells and antibody response. But don't overdo it: excessive intensive exercise can temporarily suppress immunity due to stress hormones produced. Sunshine in a Box SAD is thought to be caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain which controls daily rhythms and mood, due to the shortening of daylight hours and lack of sunlight between September and April. But you can brighten up winter with Solgar's Sunshine in a box kit, winter health survival for body and mind! Solgar's Sunshine in a box kit retails at £25.00 and sold nationwide through independent health food stores and selected pharmacies. Visit www.solgarvitamins.co.uk for full details. Manuka Honey Winter aid to wellness. Honey is believed to have healing antibiotic properties, and in particular Manuka Honey has been scientifically proven to aid digestion. For the last 19 years, researchers at New Zealand's University of Waikato have been making pioneering discoveries that prove Rowse Manuka honey aids wellness. Manuka honey is the product of honeybees that collect nectar from Leptospermum plants. As well as giving the honey its familiar herbal tang, Leptospermum is the source for what the University measures as the Manuka activity level. The term `UMF' Unique Manuka Factor is the same as `activity level' (UMF is a registered trademark in New Zealand which can only be used on Manuka produced in that country). The scale: 5+ 10+ = general health and `maintenance' 15+ = active health 20+ = medicinal use in hospitals i.e. wound dressings Rowse produces four delicious Manuka honeys, three clear and one soft set, with 5+, 10+ and 15+ activity levels including an organic variant. http://www.rowsehoney.com Organic Coconut Oil Coconut oil from Pukka Herbs is a high grade, cold pressed organic oil extracted from the inner white coconut flesh. It is a lovely light massage oil easily absorbed into the skin and due to its cooling properties it is particularly beneficial for dry and cracked skin common during the winter months. Pukka Herbs organic is Certified organic by the Soil Association. http://www.pukkaherbs.com Hemp Protein UK Super Food Specialist Creative Nature is adding Great British Hemp Protein to its already popular raw super food portfolio. The Hemp Protein powder has an exceptionally high protein content making it a firm favourite with environmentally aware consumers, athletes, those with demanding lifestyles and anyone with sensitivities or allergies to gluten and soy. Suitable for vegetarians. £9.99. www.creativenature.co.uk Prestat's Bars of Gorgeous Goodness Prestat have just taken the wrappers off their fabulous new range of CHOXI+ bars. Exceptionally delicious cacao bars ­ naturally rich in antioxidants now contain 70% cacao ­ making them intensely irresistible and confirming CHOXI+ as The Naturally Rich in Antioxidants Cacao Bar. What's more, just two squares of Dark CHOXI+ contain all the antioxidants your body needs for a whole day ­ about the same as two bowls of blueberries or 1lb (0.46kg) of Brussels sprouts! http://www.prestat.co.uk Make Yours a Cosy Home this Winter! Insulation ­ Insulation ­ Insulation! Roof Don't underestimate the benefit of loft insulation, it's cheap and can make all the difference to your heating bills. Most people don't realise that the insulation they've had since they bought their home fifteen years ago, is probably not enough to meet today's energy efficiency. Insulation is very clever. Not only does it make your home warmer in winter, it also helps keep it cooler in summer. This is a little bit like a flask which keeps drinks hot or cold by providing an insulating layer between the drink and the outside air. Space Insulation has the most impressive eco credentials.Mineral wool products with ECOSE® Technology benefit from a natural, formaldehydefree binder made from rapidly renewable organic materials, instead of petroleumbased chemicals, which is up to 70% less energy intensive. The technology has been developed for Knauf Insulation's glass and rock mineral wool products, enhancing their environmental credentials without affecting the thermal, acoustic or fire performance. Insulation products made with ECOSE® Technology contain no dye or artificial colours ­ the colour is completely natural. The three main areas around the house most likely to let the cold are the roof, the windows and if you have one, the chimney. For great energy saving tips, visit www.thinkinsulation.com Don't forget, you may still be eligible for a grant from your local authority ­ check it out. Windows If you don't already have double glazing, you could always fit Secondary Glazing, a very cost effective way of keeping the heat in according to Yorkshire firm Access Plastics. EcoGlaze secondary glazing solution has seen a boom over the past twelve months with consumers choosing easily attachable acrylic glazing ahead of double glazing, which can often cost up to fifteen times as much to install. Given that most homes lose between a quarter and half of heat through windows EcoGlaze combines outstanding performance with an unrivalled return on investment. It's also perfect for the many hundreds of thousands of people who live in listed properties and are unable to install double glazing due to strict regulations. Contact Access Plastics online at www.365plastics.com or by phone on 01535 656983 and supply the window measurements. The EcoGlaze is then cut to size and delivered within a few days with adhesive and magnetic strips. Chimney A chimney and open fireplace without a lighting fire in it is a bit like having a hole in the roof of you house! If you have a chimney in your house, you are losing money. A chimney balloon is a simple, cheap and efficient way to stop the loss of warm air from your room up the chimney, and the flow of cold air from outside coming down the chimney. It stops draughts, heat loss, soot, debris, and birds' mess, as well as reducing noise. How does it work? Once inflated the balloon grips the chimney walls and your chimney will no longer draw warm air out of your room. The chimney balloon is a made from a fairly thin but flexible plastic trilaminate, a special `hitech' material. The outer layer is tough, the inner is an air barrier layer and the core is a heatshrink material. Available from www.mygreenerhome.co.uk from £19.50. Measure your savings! Save energy, save money with Oregon Scientific + ECO ClimaControl By turning down your heating by just one degree you can save up to 10% off your heating bill with the + ECO ClimaControl. The temperature and humidity in up to four rooms of your home can be easily monitored by simply observing the large LCD display on the + ECO ClimaControl. It also includes a 1224 hour weather forecast, humidity alert, a radiocontrolled clock, and calendar with backlight. Just 4 hours of direct sunlight will power the ClimaControl for 2 months continuously. RRP: £89.99 www.oregonscientific.co.uk Keeping Warm Woodburning Woodburning is one of the most environmentallyfriendly ways to heat your home according to Euroheat. Burning wood is a carbon neutral process, meaning that no additional CO2 is released into the air. Ecoconscious homeowners who are looking for a costeffective way to warm their homes without harming the environment need look no further than a woodburning stove. With a Euroheat woodburning stove the real beauty lies within, as behind the stunning exterior of each stove lies the very latest technology, ensuring the burning rate is precisely controlled to allow safe burning for up to 24 hours, so the stove can be left to warm the room overnight. Hassle Free The Vidro ecofireplace eliminates the hassle and expense of installing a traditional fireplace, whilst offering ecofriendly benefits. it runs on environmentally friendly bioethanol, an alcohol based fuel, which when burned simply lets off steam. (Traditional fireplace fuels, such as wood logs or coal pollute the air and let off soot and smoke.) Because they do not require a chimney or flue, the fireplaces can simply be hung up or placed in your desired location without having to do any complicated or expensive installation work. Stockist information: Amode www.amode.co.uk Wood is good Wood is one of the few truly carbon neutral fuel sources we know about and it is readily available. The Forestry Commission estimates that 8.5 million tonnes of wood each year go into landfill ­ that's approximately 50% of the wood available that could be put to good use heating our homes. The beauty of wood is that it is all around us and tree stocks are on the increase in the UK ­ who says money doesn't grow on trees? www.euroheat.co.uk Airtoair Heat Pump Worcester's Greensource airtoair heat pumps are a costeffective, ecofriendly way to help make the most of your conservatory or garden room all year round. As the family arrives for Christmas and you need extra space for entertaining, choosing an airtoair heat pump means you can enjoy a comfortable temperature whatever the season. The airtoair heat pumps draw energy from the outside air and use it to heat the room offering a fresh alternative for environmentally conscious homeowners. Requiring nothing more than a suitable outside wall they are an ideal heating solution for conservatories, garage conversions, garden rooms, and smaller homes. www.worcesterbosch.co.uk If you use a woodburning stove, it's important the wood you use is dry, wet wood reduces the heat output. Euroheat's log store provides a natural environment for the quick drying and storage of freshly sawn timber, retailing from £270.25. www.euroheat.co.uk You could ofcourse build your own without too much difficulty very cheaply from wooden pallets. Grow Your Own Food with Dirty Nails Mealtime Magic There is little which can compare with the pleasure to be had from sallying forth into kitchengarden or down the allotment on a Sunday morning at this time of the year, and spending a good hour or so gathering the ingredients for a big meal. In the company of distant church bells peeling and a quiet stillness which lends timeless magic to the season of plenty, this is `pottering' at its very best. Veggies fresh from the ground demand time to prepare, in the harvesting, rubbing, scrubbing and washing. This is an integral part of the fun. After admiring and considering what is to be eaten, bad bits must be removed, and the produce readied for cooking. It cannot be rushed, in the same way that cultivating a tempting row of, say, swedes, is not a venture to be entered into in a hurry. I'm a busy man and always have been. "Burning the candle at both ends", mother used to say some years ago. But growing your own veg tempers this. It reigns the home producer in to the natural rhythmic cycles of the seasons, working with forces which are so beautifully honed that careful planning and a little respectful forethought can reap plentiful rewards yearround. Sharing the bounty at mealtime, either with the children, with friends, or both, is a family ritual which has provided this household with some of its finest moments. There is nothing like a healthy hunger for good food to bring folk together. On The Plot With Dirty Nails (ISBN 9781905862320) is available from bookshops and www.dirtynails.co.uk priced £12.99. Copyright, Joe Hashman September 2009 Hebog House ...in the heart of Snowdonia, in the village of Beddgelert North Wales Hebog House is a spacious Scandinavian Style house in a quiet peaceful location right on the edge of the village. It has a 4 Star Accreditation with the Welsh Tourist Board, and the accommodation is situated over 4 floors. For availability and rates: www.holidaylettings.co.uk/26159 H e b o g House The latest addition to our eco makeover is is getting an The Breville White Fast Toaster with Closing Lid. The toaster comes with a closing lid reduce eco makeover! that canby over the energy required to toast 30%. It has all the Sponsors so far for Hebog House `eco makeover'. www.deva.org.uk www.naturpaint.com www.lakeland.co.uk www.heatkeeper.co.uk regular features, but also has a Blue countdown illumination that shines through the toaster body. Available from Argos £34.29. Gifts for the travellers in your life Travel Guides If you're planning next year's excursions you could do better than checking out these great green travel guides. ORGANIC PLACES TO STAY: UK AND IRELAND ­ Linda Moss GO SLOW ENGLAND ­ Alastair Sawday and Gail McKenzie ECO HOTELS OF THE WORLD ­ Alex Conti GREEN PLACES TO STAY ­ Alastair Sawday All four books offer something different and would make a great Christmas gift for the discerning traveller. Incognito's antimosquito spray A natural formula works by masking human odours from all manner of predatory stinging and biting insects, rather than coating the wearer in toxic pesticides such as DEET ­ which was recently cited as a "toxic worry" by one of the worlds top scientists.* incognito's entire range of sprays, soaps, moisturisers and shampoos are completely safe for you. The"Flashpack" is an ethicallysourced, cotton, roll up travel bag that contains a spray, shampoo and Luxury Loofah Soap makes a great unusual gift. Special offers available from Holland & Barratt in the run up to Christmas. For the Camper...Organic Cotton Sleeping Bag This organic cotton sleeping bag is compact and comfortable, perfect for those occasional sleepovers or camping trips. Designed in England and hand made in Kerala, India, in a factory fully accredited to SA 8000. The outer cover is highquality hand woven organically grown cotton, dyed using natural colourfast dyes. 100% machine washable www.biomelifestyle.com If you're planning a trip over the Christmas period to family, friends or a great night out, consider using the train. There are some great deals available by booking in advance with thetrainline.com Trainline sells tickets from all train companies to all national destinations. Buy your next ticket from Trainline and you could save an average of 43%*. Tickets are delivered direct to you or collect at the station. wwwthetrainline.com mygreenlifestyle.co.uk Image: SOFA www.sxc.hu mygreenlifestyle magazine [email protected] next issue ­ January 2010

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