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DIY Wallpaper Paste

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Skip the chemical-laden wallpaper paste from the hardware store - it offgasses forever and Care2 has a non-toxic wallpaper paste recipe that you can whip up as long as you have enough cooking skills to make cream of wheat. Ingredients are water, flour, alum and clove oil - cook, cork and brush on. Lasts two weeks in the fridge. [GT]

Wallpaper paste recipe [via Treehugger]

Related stories: Make your own eco-friendly paint | Build your own solar oven | Build a workbench from an old fridge

October 31, 2006 in Do It Yourself | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Terra Plana winter '06 collection

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Shoes even a tiger would wear - rather than eat, since they're far, far too vegan - are yours for the picking at Terra Plana. The Winter 06 collection features black or tan Boi style or Andrey in chocolate or biscuit - can a showing of Idlewild in your socks be far behind? [GT]

The Terra Plana Winter 06 collection

Related stories: Green Shoes with Vegan option | Winter shoes to keep you on your bike | Put on your recycled dancing shoes

October 31, 2006 in Fashion & accessories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Solar powered corpse light

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Purportedly for Halloween, the Corpse Solar Light works pretty well as a Day of the Dead decoration too - so well that it's extremely back ordered (which is a terrific sign from the Hippy perspective).  The corpse (or zombie, in the parlance of the genre) is about a half meter high, holding a gruesome lantern with a solar cell so you can, as it were, set it and forget it (until the Necromancers Anonymous meeting across the way complains).  $89 USD.  [GT]

Corpse Solar Light [via Gizmodo]

Related stories: DIY: Solar Jack-O-Lantern | Solar Crystal Ball Garden Lights | Aimulet LA: wireless, solar, audio, bamboo

October 31, 2006 in Green gadgets | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Power Aware Cord glows brighter as you use more juice

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Instead of the same old rubberized black power cable, the Power Aware Cord pulses brighter and brighter as you draw more electricity. Developed by Anton Gustafsson and Magnus Gyllenswärd for STATIC!, the idea is to draw attention to not only how much power you're using (in hope you'll consume less) but also that simply by seeing the electricity flow, you'll become more aware of your overall relationship with your gadgets. (The next step is not taking them to couples counselling; they already go without you.) [GT]

Power Aware Cord [via Fosfor]

Related stories at Hippyshopper: ethical consumerism: Evesham Carbon Free PC | Tumi LE Powerpack Backpack gives twice | Clinton gives out Solio chargers

October 31, 2006 in Green gadgets | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Fivelimes is live

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I've been to Fivelimes on several occasions, having been the lucky possessor of one of their advance-viewing Golden Tickets, but it is now flung wide open for the entire world to experience. The idea is for people to post both a quality and sustainability rating on products listed in the Fivelimes database - Ecowork furniture, for instance, is listed as being 5/5 for quality and 3/5 for sustainability. While all product categories are opening up at a reasonable speed, they're getting hundreds of submissions about clothing so that's a potential source of considerable eco-fashion know-how.

[GT]

Fivelimes

Related stories: SOTW: StyleWillSaveUs | Rodale Names First Brand Editor for 'Prevention' | New Consumer: The UK's only fair trade magazine

October 30, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Save the earth: don't go to work

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The RAC Foundation is specifically appealing to the business community to stay home. Telecommute, that is. RAC estimates that fully half of all UK workers work in information technology of some sort, which can generally be done from any location (and trust me, I have). There's no reason, they argue, to have those people clogging up the roads needlessly. If all IT workers stayed home one day a week, it would cut emissions by 1%, and eliminate 1.7 million car trips. RAC also asks companies to teleconference and videoconference, have internal blogs and wikis, and generally make it easier for people to get information without having to go over and ask Johnson for it.

Speaking as someone who has telecommuted 95% of the time, the rare occasions where I am demanded to be on site are generally still goofy. Any job that can be done with a computer can be done in a bathrobe on a beach. Go home! [GT]

RAC Foundation [via Tech Digest]

Related stories: Eye Catcher Videophone | Evesham Carbon Free PC | Donate your spare computer (cycles) to climate change

October 27, 2006 in Planet saving | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Friday's ecospot: Fordhall Farm

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You needn't go somewhere far or exotic to have a relaxing weekend: trip up to north Shropshire to spend some decidedly old-fashioned time at Fordhall Farm. Chemical-free for 65 years (yet not certified organic; they're working on it), all their animals are free-range and they make their own organic ice cream. If you're short on plans for the 4 & 5th weekend in November, you can sign up to volunteer there as a hedgelayer - "another great weekend of hard work and fun". A great opportunity to be tired from actual work, as opposed to simply doing work that makes you feel tired. [GT]

Fordhall Farm

Related stories: Organic Tuscany | Have a VegiVentures Christmas | Botelet Farm

October 27, 2006 in Transport & travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sun And Wind Powered Ferry

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It's so dashed logical that a ferry should be powered by sun (which it's in fully half the time) and wind (which it's in nearly all the time) that Hornblower Yachts is teaming up with Australia's Solar Sailor to do exactly that. Costing between 3 and 4 million pounds each, they'll emit half the pollutants of a conventional ferry and start operations in 2008. The solar power comes from a central wing (which also functions as a sail) which is covered with solar panels. If the wind gets too high, the wing folds up, and the ferry goes back to diesel power. [GT]

World's first sun and wind-powered ferry [via Spluch]

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October 27, 2006 in Transport & travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

EarthBox: a complete garden in a pot

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Well sure, we'd all love to have fresh garden vegetables with next to no effort - but apparently with the EarthBox we actually can.  Using a combination of smart fertilizing techniques and water management that prevents both over and under watering, it's mostly smart thinking, rather than technological advancements, that make the EarthBox look like an appealing piece of gear. And at only $60 USD for an entire kit, it looks well worth a try - I'm thinking about picking up one for myself. [GT]

EarthBox [via Hugg]

Related stories: Composting if you don't have a garden | Iota garden decor | Orkney Seaweed for Your Garden

October 27, 2006 in Plants & gardens | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Dryer Balls reduce static, lint, drying time

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I'm guessing the way these Dryer Balls work is, by bouncing around they keep the clothes from getting into knots that can't dry properly. (Assuming they do in fact work: post any experience with them in comments, please!) Made by Ecozone, Dryer Balls are supposed to act like dryer sheets (without the incredibly toxic perfume and waste) in that they soften clothes and prevent lint and static, and also apparently reduce drying time by a whopping 25%. Wow! If they really are all that, £7 for two would be a real bargain, considering how much electricity that would save you. But I'd really like some impartial comment. Meanwhile, check related stories for some definite energy saving bargains. [GT]

Dryer Balls

Related stories: Swap that hot halogen for a cool GU10 Hi Power LED | Build your own solar heater for under £200 | Water saving gadget roundup

October 26, 2006 in Energy saving | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Tatty Bumpkin bamboo clothes for kids

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Tatty Bumpkin has now branched out - in a limited edition way - into providing "cloud soft pj's" made of Hippyshopper's favourite fabric: bamboo. Each Bamboo pyjama kit comes with their own little drawstring travel bag and is available in sizes from one to eight, in coral, ecru and sky blue. £20 per set. There's also matching bamboo bedlinen, consisting of a single sheet, pillowcase and duvet cover with coconut buttons, in an embroidered Relax bag. £65. [GT]

Bamboo pyjama kit

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October 26, 2006 in Kids stuff | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Weekend DIY: Build your own Stirling Engine

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A Stirling Engine is what rumour had the original Segway billed as. They are incredibly quiet, efficient machines powered by gas expanding as it heats up, and compressing as it cools down. The heat could come from anything from the sun to decomposing compost. In the SFA Stirling Engine Project, the heat comes from a tea light. It's a great little project for illustrating how common household objects could be repurposed into actual power sources, with a little imagination and elbow grease. [GT]

SFA Stirling Engine Project

Related stories: DIY Solar - even in Wales! | Weekend DIY: Build your own solar oven | DIY Kyoto at home

October 26, 2006 in Do It Yourself | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Weekend DIY: Organic Halloween Party

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Hallowe'en has, over the years, has taken on scary implications for the waistline and the teeth. It's not too late to make it healthier with these Spooktacular Halloween Recipes, which show you how to do everything organic from Creepy Party Punch and Ghoulish Zombie Meatloaf through (shown here) Boo-nilla Cupcakes filled with Bloody Goo & topped with Meringue Ghosts. Care for a Vampire Blood-o-politan by moonlight? [GT]

Spooktacular Halloween Recipes

Related stories: As Nature Intended: Organic Yorkshire pudding (recipe) | Billington's organic dessert recipes | Green blog roundup: Mighty Foods recipes

October 26, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tree Art, drawn by trees

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Shown here is Four Panel Weeping Willow Tree Drawing, which is by Tim Knowles in the sense that he attached the pens to the willow branches that, by moving against the paper, drew the artwork.  Or, by the willow tree, in that it physically held the pens and dragged them over the sheets.  Or it's a collaboration: Knowles displays the works as diptyches, with a picture of the tree-artist next to its drawing.  Visit the Rokeby museum site for more pictures from the exhibition.  [GT]

Four Panel Weeping Willow Tree Drawing [via Drawn!]

Related stories: Organic chocolate with a twist of modern art | Affordable art at design*sponge | The Ship: the Art of Climate Change

October 26, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Oxjam October for Oxfam

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October's nearly over, but there's still five days left of Oxjam! Oxjam is the biggest, hottest, longest, most diverse music event in Oxfam history, going all month, across the entire kingdom, to rock out and raise heaps of cash to fight poverty. It's also an opportunity to get your music on MTV: put on an Oxjam gig, film it, upload it to MTV Flux, and you'll be considered for the big gig in April. Drop by the Oxjam MySpace page to get a list of events going on in your area. [GT]

Oxjam

Related stories: Rally at the US Embassy, London, 4 November | Soil Association Organic Food Fest in Scotland, 4 & 5 November | ITV Granada Big Cleanup campaign

October 26, 2006 in Shows & events | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Inherited pollution effects turn genes on and off

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Planet-wide pollution is now literally rewriting the way our DNA works: without altering the code itself, it is changing DNA markers that indicate whether a certain gene is on or off, permanently. Diseases that are exploding onto the scene, such as autism and bipolar disorder, make a lot more sense if they're being exaggerated by environmental issues, says Randy Jirtle of Duke University. "It's a mechanism in which the animal can respond to the environment, and you can literally pass that information on to the next generation," Jirtle says. [GT]

Inherited Pollution

Related stories: Breathing Earth: carbon and population simulation | Carbonfund.org offers free carbon offset for links | Do carbon-offset schemes work?

October 26, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wild Carrot organic foods and spices

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Spend only £10 at the Wild Carrot on any Friday and get free shipping on your box of organic, local veg, fresh bread and a wide variety of household staples from pasta to beauty products. They also have the most affordable organic wine I've ever seen: the red Vin de Pays de L'Herault, a blend of Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah and Merlot with a dash of Tempranillo, for only £4.69. [GT]

Wild Carrot organic foods and spices

Related stories: River Nene Organic Box Veg Delivery | Eden Farms Organic delivery box | Arthur Street Trading Company vegetarian and organic box

October 25, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Swap that hot halogen for a cool GU10 Hi Power LED

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Equipped with a standard halogen GU10 fitting, the GU10 Hi Power LED features 18 LED bulbs to use only 1 watt of power instead of 15. It also lasts a whopping 50,000 hours! That's over ten years even if you leave them on most of the day (but at less than 10% of the power of regular bulbs). £6 each individually; buy 10 or more and get a 20% discount. [GT]

GU10 Hi Power LED

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October 25, 2006 in Energy saving | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Calling stage 3 pupils to shout about FOE!

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Shout about is Friends of the Earth's annual project to involve stage 3 pupils in environmental issues. This year's competition prize: an actual-factual wind turbine for the winning school or youth group. Write to FOE and they'll provide you with an activity pack, lesson ideas and a bundle of visual resources. Click here to download a PDF of the Shout about flyer. [GT]

Shout about at Friends of the Earth

Related stories: Join the Big Noise | ITV Granada Big Cleanup campaign

October 25, 2006 in Renewables | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The (fictionalized) future of climate change

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John Campbell, the editor of Astounding Science Fiction magazine during its heyday in the late-'30s through the '40s, once said that science fiction allowed people to practice in a no-practice area. These days, climate change is making that no-practice area more of a reality. Considering that Robert Heinlein predicted the waterbed (and the gravity scoop) and John Brunner predicted people gunning down strangers in public places (and the Internet) - to name but a couple, surely Seed Magazine is correct in suggesting greater attention be paid to fictional projections into the future. The more plausible patterns we see, logically, the more easily we'll recognize them if they actually come into being. [GT]

Climate Changing Sci-Fi

Related stories: The UK needs 3 planets to support it | Stop Global Warming and save endangered animals | Economist carbon-offsets global warming issue

October 25, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The UK needs 3 planets to support it

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The UK has moved up from 15th to 14th on a list nobody wants a high score on: the Living Planet Report, in which the WWF ranks countries according to how much planetary resources they consume versus how many are actually available. The UK's footprint has increased by 4%, to 5.6 global hectares per capita, with the result that every UK citizen uses the equivalent of six football pitches worth of natural resources to keep up the accustomed lifestyle. If everybody lived this way, we'd need three whole planets. The top offenders? The United Arab Emirates, the United States, Finland, Canada, Kuwait. Actually, all the cold socialist countries (Scandinavia, Canada) seem to be really beating up their environments, which is quite a surprise in view of how progressive they're seen as being. Likewise, the Commonwealth countries (Canada, New Zealand, Australia) tend to be shockingly high on the list. However, there is hope: China's economy is taking off-off-off, they've already committed to cutting energy consumption by 20%, and they're actually consuming less than one Earth per capita (which is a heckuvalot of capitas). [GT]

Living Planet Report (or download the whole PDF) from the WWF

Related stories: Sir Richard Branson pledges £1.6bn for global warming | Stop Global Warming and save endangered animals | Economist carbon-offsets global warming issue

October 25, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Site of the week: Sci Fi Tech

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While Sci Fi Tech is de facto a geek blog (sporting the odd bit from sister site Shiny Shiny), much futuristic tech is also of interest to the Hippyshopper.  See, for instance, a recent post about the Rotating house [that] points you towards the sun to maximize energy efficiency, and how VW upgrades the past with retrofitted Microbus with 100% electric engine and solar panels on top.  [GT]

Site of the Week: Sci Fi Tech

Related stories: SOTW: Inhabitat | SOTW: Good Design Awards 2006 | SOTW: Sustainable Style Foundation

October 25, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Brian Bentley Recycled Silverware

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Old sterling flatware often has gorgeous lacework engraving and flower patterns, and it's far better to reuse it directly than to melt it down, when you get results like Brian Bentley Recycled does. Handmade in Vermont, the bracelet shown here is made from two sets of fork tines soldered together and polished to a high shine. $38 USD. Bentley also makes candlesticks, wall hooks, key fobs and other whimsical designs that retain the shape of the original. [GT]

Brian Bentley Recycled [via GreatGreenGoods]

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October 24, 2006 in Fashion & accessories, Recycling | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Silkwing: pure, exciting and naturally glamorous

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Hand-woven, naturally coloured silk with freshwater pearl buttons - it simply doesn't get any closer to nature than Silkwing.  (Though very serious vegans disavow both silk and pearls as animal products - virtue laudable, but doesn't silk make you the tiniest bit weak?)  Available in Ready to Wear and Couture for adults, with some super-soft Silkwing baby gear for your favourite infant.  No prices given, but they're based in London, and silk is ultra-light, so P + P should be a breeze.  [GT]

Silkwing: pure, exciting and naturally glamorous

Related stories: Les Raines du Ciel reclaims vintage Chinese silk into modern fashion | Soy Silk | Site of the week: StyleWillSaveUs

October 24, 2006 in Fashion & accessories | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Flame Lily classic but sexy knits

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Handmade from organic cotton, Flame Lily clothing is - as exemplified by the Lilian Skirt an elegant combination of retro and modern styling.  Each piece is uniquely developed and then fair trade created in ZimbabweVisit the online store or drop by 56 North Street, Thame, Oxon in person.  [GT]

Flame Lily organic cotton knitwear

Related stories: Equa fair trade and organic clothing | Adriana Bertini makes condom dresses fashionable | Les Raines du Ciel reclaims vintage Chinese silk into modern fashion

October 24, 2006 in Fashion & accessories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Evesham Carbon Free PC

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Are you a Carbon Crusader? You can say it with your computer, literally, by picking up an Evesham Crusader Carbon3 PC. For £300, you get the basic VIA C7-D chip at 1.5ghz, which is designed to keep your power consumption down at 20 watts (well under the average light bulb) and also the ambient noise to a minimum. It also comes with 256 megs of RAM and 40 gigs of disk, both of which are so minimal that you'll probably want to spring for upgrades, and a 15.4" TFT monitor. With each purchase, Evesham plants four trees to help offset the carbon generated by manufacture of the VIA chip. However you may feel about tree planting (greenwash? genuinely helpful? somewhere in the middle?) it's a darn sight better than not planting trees. [GT]

Crusader Carbon3 PC [via thegreenguy]

Related stories: Aimulet LA: wireless, solar, audio, bamboo | Eye Catcher Videophone | Donate your spare computer (cycles) to climate change

October 24, 2006 in Green gadgets | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In Food We Trust (also, free chocolate)

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In Food We Trust has a natty, Avengers-looking couple in its logo, has free shipping to Ireland and the UK on orders above £25, and also it promises free organic chocolate with every order.  Even if you're just ordering baby food - something has to keep mummy happy, no?  Products are in the range of a specialty delicatessen: hot drinks, salad seasonings, spreads, sweets, baked goods and breakfast food.  And every order is climate neutral: biodegradable packaging, renewable energy in the office, and carbon offset via Climate Care.  [GT]

Related stories: Cook's Delight stocks 4500 organics! | Well Hung Meat scoops gold again | Maison Plasse: French Organic Gastronomy Home Delivered

October 23, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Automoblox: build your own wooden car

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Automoblox are an heirloom quality, award-winning spin on the building block or the Erector set.  Built from solid wood with real rubber tyres, the idea is to let your child build his or her own toy car (and the girls are specially targeted with the pink is the new black nonsense) - and then play with it, of course.  Available in seven varieties and "engineered to last".   $35 USD.  [GT]

Automoblox [via Spluch]

Related stories: Myriad Natural Toys | Timeless wooden Holz Toys | Lessons in Play: simple high-craft toys

October 23, 2006 in Kids stuff | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Monday's ethical celeb: Rock tours damaging environment, says Radiohead singer

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Thom Yorke of Radiohead is so ticked off by the "ridiculous" use of energy in rock tours that he's threatening to stay close to home if things don't get greener. "The way that tours are structured now and the way it works is a ridiculous consumption of energy ... I would consider refusing to tour on environmental grounds, if nothing started happening to change the way the touring operates." His concerns? The air travel, of course, but also the emissions generated by fans traveling to the concerts. While Coldplay and the Rolling Stones do carbon offsets to cancel their emissions, Radiohead is "not convinced" that's any good. (It's surely better than nothing!) [GT]

Rock tours damaging environment, says Radiohead singer

Related stories: Damian Lewis + Samaritans = better mental health | Jackie Chan autographs for PETA | Schwarzenegger categorically not giving up his Hummers.

October 23, 2006 in Arts & information | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Vintage Roots 2006/2007 wine list is out

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The 20th anniversary wine list from Vintage Roots is out and better still, it's free. Just send them your address and they'll send you the skinny on their mixed cases and new wines and what they really, really like. Or you can drop by in person, for the open tasting on the 25th November when bin ends and discounted stock will be on hand, from 10am to 6pm. Their wines are all organic or biodynamic, and sourced from some of the world's best estates. [GT]

Vintage Roots

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October 23, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bordeaux Quay Restaurant: the future of food

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Retrofitted into an old dockside warehouse and dealing primarily with locally sourced sustainable and organic ingredients, Bordeaux Quay in Bristol is a masterwork of strict ecology (even using harvested rainwater to flush the toilets) and simple, exceptional food (at a steep price to pay off the £2.7 million investment). Or you can take their cookery courses (run on a not-for-profit basis) which aim to not only show how to prepare the food, but how to support local, sustainable food systems. [GT]

Bordeaux Quay [via Treehugger]

Related stories: Vitaorganic Organic Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant | Jamie Oliver to power, turbines to restaurant speed | Duke of Cambridge Organic Pub

October 23, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sheep Poo Paper Christmas Sheepy Cards

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Upstairs my in-laws to be have six grocery bags of Christmas, birthday, and other cards. I bet a whole tree could've been saved if they'd been Sheepy Greetings Cards, which are made from sheep dung. 5 packs are £6.99, all alike; 10 packs are £10.99, likewise alike; the 20 card variety pack has five of each of the four types for £20.99. Each card comes with a matching self-sealing envelope. And yes, I am jealous of where they work. [GT]

Sheepy Greetings Cards

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October 23, 2006 in Renewables | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

DIY: Solar Jack-O-Lantern

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Here's a quick Hippy project you can do with your sprogs between now and Halloween: a solar-powered Jack-o-lantern.  The idea is pretty simple - it boils down to putting a solar-powered light in a plastic pumpkin.  Naturally, a good Hippy would use a real pumpkin (and roast the seeds inside - delicious) and then either bake it or compost it afterward.  Also, why buy the solar panel when you can DIY one of those up also for much lower cost.  If any science fairs are coming, this could be a blue-ribbon project.  [GT]

Solar powered Jack-o-lantern

Related stories: Weekend DIY: Build your own solar oven | Solar insect theatre | DIY Solar - even in Wales!

October 20, 2006 in Do It Yourself | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bamboo Towels from Ecocentric

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What, you may ask, makes the EcoCentric bamboo towels more exciting than any other bamboo towel we've mentioned so far? The answer is, darling, all bamboo towels are exciting, and these are as exciting as any other. Made of 70% bamboo and 30% unbleached cotton, they are - as all bamboo towels - anti-bacterial, anti-static and anti-fungal. If you've got teenagers, you're probably already halfway to buying a set. Washcloths £3, hand towels £9, bath towels £18 and bath sheets £28. [GT]

Related stories: Review: the Bodyflik | Bamboo towels at Nigel's Eco Store | Albatross renewable linens and towels

October 20, 2006 in Health & beauty | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

What On Earth Pizza

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The most elaborate site you're likely to ever see dealing with the simple food that is pizza, is probably What on Earth. That is, unless you know another organic pizzeria with six webcams on its allotment, including a compost cam? In contrast to their web presence, their pizzas look marvellously simple, most featuring fewer than a half dozen ingredients. The Classico (smoked welsh ham, olives, mozzarella) could easily be a favourite of mine, if not the Cipolla (leek, mature cheddar, double Gloucester, parsley). (Also, if you know how to stop foxes pooing on potatoes, please tell them how.) [GT]

What on Earth

Related stories: Pizza Piazzo / Pollo / Pizza Organic / GM free | Restaurant review: Amici, London organic Italian

October 20, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Leon: real fast food

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Organic restaurant fare generally means a bit of extra patience and a bit extra on the bill (and those bits are generally higher than one might manage every day). Whereas Leon Restaurants have organic takeaway starting at £1.80 for a sumptuous salad, £2.50 for Tom Yum soup, £3.60 for a grilled chicken wrap and £5.10 for the I Love England breakfast. You can fax in your order, call up, or just pop round. They even have accounts, for those who don't like to dirty their hands with cash. (Me, I like my hands filthy.) [GT]

Leon Restaurants

Related stories: Vitaorganic Organic Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant | Duke of Cambridge Organic Pub | Restaurant review: Amici, London organic Italian

October 20, 2006 in Food & drink | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Starlet: Handmade Lingerie

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If you want to be sure someone else has had their hands in your pants, Starlet Lingerie purveys g-strings, thongs, and bra and panty that are handmade of lace or crochet. (Yes, I had to retype that a few times.) Pants start at £20 and sets at £32. Although made of knit lace, the patterns are modern and sassy - see the red lace boy shorts (£25) or the baby blue and lavender bikini (£33). [GT]

Starlet Lingerie

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October 20, 2006 in Fashion & accessories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday's Ecospot: Organic Tuscany

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Are we already thinking about next summer?  If we want to go to Organic Tuscany, I suppose we'd better, since three of the 14 weeks are already full up.  For 1100 € one gets a week in a quiet area of Tuscany, fully organic meals, and all the cooking classes you can stand before you have to let your belt out a notch.  (Actually, there's plenty of exercise too: horseback riding, swimming, and lots of walking tours.)  [GT]

Organic Tuscany

Related stories: Have a VegiVentures Christmas | Taste Organic Provence | Friday's ecospot: Botelet Farm, accomodations, organics, aromatherapy

October 20, 2006 in Transport & travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Weekend DIY: Make your own eco-friendly paint

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Here's a DIY for the serious Hippy: make your own wall paint from flour, water, clay filler and mica - plus whatever colour you want. (Make sure to write down how you achieved the shade if you want to do touch-ups later.) If you want oil paint, you can mix up natural solvent, chalk and linseed oil plus colour - or you can make your own milk paint with a casein base, lime and chalk. Then there's no question about what to do with leftovers: simply compost them. [GT]

Make Safe, Natural Paint [via Sustainablog]

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