Green wave hits Brighton

Don’t worry, it’s not an environmental disaster! No, a new green festival ‘Green Wave’ - billed as ‘The Eco Family Fun Weekend’ - is headed for Brighton on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July.

You’ll be able to experience all the fun of the green fair in the beautiful setting of Preston Park with eight different interactive Zones, from the Earth Zone - where you might find wormeries, composting ideas and a mini eco farm - to the Energy Zone, for products harnessing sustainable energy, ranging from mobile phones to solar powered cars, and an Energy Play Area or eco circus for children. (click on the image to the right to see the flyer full size)

The emphasis is very much on our favourite watchwords: biodiversity, eco-friendly, Fairtrade, homemade, locally produced, low carbon footprint, recycled and sustainable!

Take a stand!

If you are a Sussex-based ethical business, charity or NGO there is still time for you to take a stand at the fair. Charities and NGOs are eligible for free stands, and there may even be a few free stands available for small ethical businesses that add value or pure fun to the event!

If you are interested in this opportunity, do get in touch with the organisers:

Frank Jay on 01273 323 200 or 07721 633 233 or at frank@neweraassociates.co.uk

Or Jacqui on 01273 323 200 or 07740 201194 or at jac.cuff@talktalk.net

Or simply download the Green Wave booking form and return it to them.

It should be a fantastic event!

Take care,

Katie
Ethical Weddings

Brighton World Fair Trade Day event - Sat 10 May

We are really excited about our World Fair Trade Day event this Saturday 10 May!

Greg Valerio of Cred Jewellery is going to be telling us all about the process of seeking Fair Trade certification for gold and diamonds. So if you’re on the lookout for an ethical engagement or wedding ring, are confused about conflict diamonds and focused on Fair Trade, it really is a must.

The event takes place this Saturday 10 May at The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton.

If you happen to be in Brighton on Saturday and can tear yourself away from the beach for an hour or two, we’d love to see you there…!

Midday – 2pm – fair trade stalls and information stands

2-3pm – speaker event – ‘Fair Trade that glitters’ - raising awareness of the social and environmental issues surrounding gold and diamonds (going beyond conflict or blood diamonds) and the route towards fair trade certification that Greg Valerio of Cred Jewellery has been spearheading.

Greg will be talking about his experiences to date and what future he sees for fair trade gold and diamonds. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

3-4.30pm – chance to chat to local ethical businesses

4.30pm – late! – chat some more in The Cricketers pub over the road (The Cricketers, Black Lion Street, BN1 1ND)

The event is free but donations to cover costs will be gratefully accepted.

You are very welcome to come along to all or any part of this day-long event.

Hope to see you there!

Katie & Jamie
www.ethicalweddings.com

Ban Brighton’s plastic bags - latest!

After moaning that I hadn’t heard much from the Plastic Bag Free Brighton campaign in my last post, I was chuffed to get an email today with their latest news.

They are inviting everyone (well, it’s first come, first seated!) to a a free screening of ‘message in the waves’ at Brighton’s lovely arthouse cinema, the Duke of York’s Picturehouse.

The film, by the BBC Natural History Unit, takes a look at some of the environmental challenges facing the people and wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands and shows the impact our day-to-day activities have on ocean systems and wildlife.

Excitingly, this is the film that Rebecca Hosking helped to make which inspired her to make her home town of Modbury in Devon a plastic-bag free town. The Brighton campaign is hoping it will inspire us to help make Brighton & Hove the first plastic-bag free city!

And that’s not all… after ‘Message in the Waves’ there will be:

• two short films made by children at Balfour Juniors School, ‘The exciting adventures of the plastic bag’ and ‘Revenge of the rubbish’
• a talk by artist Lou McCurdy who spent a year collecting plastic from a Brighton beach to create the installation ‘More Plastic than Plankton’
• a short discussion with guest speakers (tba) and a Q&A session
• giveaways for all attending courtesy of their sponsors

The event is free to attend and will work on a first come, first seated basis. Donations will be collected for the Duke of York’s roof renovation fund, by way of thanks for their generosity in hosting the event at no cost.

If you’re in Brighton on Sunday 3 Feb, come along! 1.30pm Duke Of York’s Picturehouse, Preston Circus, Brighton BN1 4NA

Katie
ethicalweddings.com

Ban Brighton’s plastic bags!

I’m feeling a very guilty - and cold - green girl at the moment.

Guilty for not writing on this lovely blog for soooo long!

And cold because our central heating has broken… brrrr!

The upside of this, however, is that we will have a heating system that is over 90% efficient by the time our plumbers have finished, rather than one which was 40-50% efficient and about 50 years old. Which is worth shivering for I’m sure!

On the guilty front, I hope I will be forgiven to some extent as I can promise you I have not been spending the time not writing on GGG lazing on the sofa (well, maybe if the heating was working I would have been…!).

Indeed, no, I have been working away on our all new and improved Ethical Weddings website along with my fellow GGG and ethical web designer extraordinaire, Vicky of Make Hay.

Take a look at the fruits of our labour at www.ethicalweddings.com and enjoy a good explore of the site.

If you’re an ethical bride or green groom, have ethical wedding related expertise or want to get involved in any way at all in turning the wedding industry green, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

But to get to the subject of my post today, I thought it was time to share the news that Brighton is - supposed to be - going plastic bag free.

I’m sharing this news with you in the hope that some Brightonians or fellow Sussexians (if there is such a word!) at any rate, will hear me as although I stumbled across the campaign for the removal of the Brighton plastic bag on the internet (and immediately contacted the group to let them know they had my full support!), sadly I see very little evidence that this has filtered down into the shops.

I am still offered a plastic bag nearly everywhere I go in Brighton, and I have seen no signs or flyers encouraging shoppers or shop keepers to “just say no”.

This campaign needs our support. If you are for a plastic free Brighton, check out plasticbagfreebrighton.co.uk and get in touch with Chloë to let them know we want this to work and will help in any way we can.

If Modbury can do it, why can’t we?

Take care (and just say no!)

Katie
Ethical Weddings

Cut carbon and calories!

All this week I have been surrounded by a virtuous and, I must confess, rather smug glow thanks to a new discovery: Brighton & Hove Council’s journey planner website, Journey On.

Following on neatly from Arcadia’s post below, this excellent innovative website allows you to count the carbon, the calories and the cost of your daily journeys to and from work, to the shops, down to the beach, wherever you want within Brighton & Hove.

I have touched before on my walk to work - in the context of the deodorant debates (I walk a fairly long way very quickly with the inevitable issues on arrival!) - so was delighted to discover thanks to the council’s calculator that each day I walk:

over 4 miles

burning nearly 400 calories (or more as it says the journey takes 40mins and I do it in 30!)

saving 1.4kg in carbon emissions and £1.56 in petrol if I were to drive

or 0.5kg in carbon emissions and £1.70 if I were taking the bus

I think this website is a brilliant idea - not least because it lets me boast to all my friends how fit I am and how I’m saving the planet every day!

Gill Mitchell, the city council’s environment spokeswoman, said:

“Every day in Brighton & Hove 27,000 car journeys of less than three miles are made. We want to get people out of their cars and walking, cycling or taking public transport instead.

“Everyone wants to save money and everyone would like to be healthier. Our transport campaign, plus this new website, will help make people aware of how walking, cycling or taking the bus can help achieve this.”

So if you’re not in Brighton & Hove and you want to know how many calories and how much carbon you’re burning on your way to work, get on to your local council and tell them to build you a Journey On website now!

Happy Easter!

Katie

Update: Since I wrote this post, I’ve discovered London is doing something similar with their website ‘Walk It’ - check it out Londoners!

Green Architecture Day

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before but we’re in the middle of buying our first house!

It’s in Worthing, about 15 minutes on the train from where we live now.  We’re very excited but cautious - we’ve heard too many tales of woe about all the things that can go wrong before exchange of contract!

However, this weekend we’re going to let ourselves get a little more excited as Green Architecture Day comes to Hove. 

The 1930s mid-terrace we’re hoping to make our home could definitely do with a little eco-renovation so we’re going to take a wander amongst the stalls and exhibitions in search of inspiration!

Check out the stalls and exhibitions for free this Saturday 17 March between 10.30 and 12.00 or 2.00 and 4.00, or for a fee attend one of the talks on everything from Microgeneration, Harvesting and recycling rainwater, to Building with rammed earth - and enjoy a vegetarian lunch to boot! See the Green Architecture Day website for more details.

And if anyone has any tips for rennovating a 1930s terrace in an eco-friendly way (knocking down walls, painting them, doing something with a small courtyard garden…), let us know!

Earthship Brighton 
Continuing in the same vein, I also thought it was about time we headed over to Brighton’s very own earthship for one of the fortnightly tours.  According to Mike Reynolds, Earthship Creator, Earthships are: “independent vessels - to sail on the seas of tomorrow” Find out more…

The tours of Earthship Brighton are held on the 1st and the 3rd Sunday of every month. If you fancy a nosy around, just turn up at Stanmer Church on the lawns in front of Stanmer House at 10:30 am. Buses 25 and 78 leave regularly from Brighton city centre to Stanmer Park.

The tour is £5 per person and involves a walk of around 1 mile round trip, although people with mobility issues can take cars closer to the building. 

It also includes an overview of the Stanmer Organic consortium of 16 member groups - all with exciting sustainable land use and artistic projects.

The parents are coming down for the weekend so this will be a nice Mother’s Day treat for Mum!

Katie

Just a quick update on my last post about the fair trade fashion sale, I’m pleased to report that I made 2 purchases, a Howies jumper and a People Tree top - I’ll try to get pics for you soon!

Fashion Made Fair

Hurrah! Fashion Made Fair is coming to Brighton!

When we lived in London, we loved getting the chance at the Old Truman Brewery off Brick Lane to see our favourite fair trade fashion come out of the catalogue and onto the clothes hanger.  So I was thrilled to see a poster announcing that Green Threads was bringing the fair to Fabrica in Brighton for Fairtrade Fortnight.

All the usual favourites will be there…

People Tree - with some gorgeous garments in their new Spring collection

Howies - the ‘go to’ people for a talking point t-shirt! And lots of lovely comfort clothes…

And top Tonic t-shirts and Ethletic trainers (must get me some of those…) too.

Oh, and when’s all this happening? Well it all kicks off tomorrow (sorry about the late notice - I only saw the poster on Monday!) with late opening till 9pm…

Thursday 8 March 5-9pm
Friday 9 March 10am-6pm
Saturday 10 March 10am-6pm
Sunday 11 March 11am-4pm

Will I see you there? Hope so!

Katie
ethicalweddings.com

Have an Organic Life…

I just wanted quickly to draw everyone’s attention to Organic Life, a great magazine that’s been around for just over a year now.

The Organic Life team is based just down the road from me in Lewes, East Sussex and the magazine (printed on 100% recycled paper - of course!) is crammed full of interesting articles, discussion and debate.

What is particularly useful, from about half way through each monthly issue, are the practical tips and advice on GIY (Grow It Yourself!) herbs, fruit and vegetables. 

Taking you through what’s in season when, they have something to suit everyone, from ‘Small’ (old boots, pots and window boxes), to ‘Medium’ (patios and small gardens), to ‘Large’ (big gardens and allotments).

Oh, and I mustn’t forget the great recipes they drop in to tease your tastebuds: Triple Chocolate Brownie and Lemon Baked Cheesecake… yum! Can’t wait to try out those!

You can subscribe online.  The latest issue delves into the debate of whether organic food is really as expensive as people think…

Happy organic living!

Katie
ethicalweddings.com

I am natural!

No, I’m not defending myself against allegations of plastic surgery (I’m far too young for that - honest!).  But I felt the time had come for me to introduce you to what I think is a fab skin and hair care range: I am natural

I first came across them when an I am natural moisturiser and lip salve turned up in my stocking at Christmas, courtesy of my little sister.  I loved them and couldn’t wait to seek out more when I moved down to Brighton & Hove.

Lovingly handmade, these moisturisers, hand creams, deodorants, lip salves (and lots more) really are exactly what it says on the label: natural.  Unlike many other expensive creams that make such claims, these products have a sell by date and if you’ve been using it a bit too sparingly (as I did with my first pot) and don’t use by that date, it does start to grow mould - which I think is actually quite reassuring, testifying to the lack of chemical preservatives claim!

The products are made by Esther Cohen, a former IT Project Manager, who says:

“Over the years I became aware of what I put on my skin and hair and found it frustrating that so many companies were capitalising on the new organic market and selling outrageously expensive creams and lotions. Organic products shouldn’t be luxury items only to be bought at Christmas and birthdays.”

I couldn’t agree more, and my personal favourite, the avocado face cream, is only £3.29 for a 30ml pot! All the ingredients are clearly marked on the label and on the website.  There is even an A-Z of all the ingredients Esther uses and the majority, if not all, of the products are approved by The Vegan Society.

A regular at several local markets including the lovethatstuff Fair Trade Farmers Market on the third Saturday of each month, and at the Vegetarian Farmers Market in Hove, mentioned in my earlier post, on the first Sunday of each month, I am natural can also be found at The Old Post Office Market in Brighton from 11 - 5pm Wed - Fri, 10 - 6pm Sat and 12 - 5pm Sun.

If you aren’t in walking distance of Brighton beach, you can always order online - and being that time of year, I’d get your order in quickly for one of the beautiful (and very reasonably priced!) gift sets.

And last but not least, with my Ethical Weddings thinking cap on, what about throwing an I am natural party for your hen night - and getting £20 in vouchers for the privilege!

Take care,

Katie

ethicalweddings.com

This little piggie went to market…

I thought it was about time I gave my very local Farmers Market a mention. About a 5 minute walk from our flat (and therefore a 2 minute walk from Hove station so no excuses not to get here by public transport!) is Ralli Hall which hosts a wonderful Farmers Market on the first Sunday of each month from 10am-3pm.

And if you’re wondering why little piggie would choose to do his shopping at a Farmers Market, it’s because this one is the UK’s first and only vegetarian Farmers Market!

The market has a great range of supplies to stock up on or eat there and then (the yummy organic curries and fab fair trade hot chocolate spring to mind!). Last month we were overwhelmed by the choice of English apples (we had to have some of each and the last few turned into a spectacular apple and almond tart courtesy of my kitchen-friendly husband!). This month I’m suspecting the swift approach of the Christmas season may lead to tables groaning with organic Christmas puds and copious amounts of mulled wine and English mead being glugged.

You also get the chance to support the market by buying a raffle ticket…to win a huge hamper made up of the offerings of most of the market’s suppliers. Now that would be a welcome treat for Christmas!

The market is in particular need of support as it is quite hidden away and Brighton & Hove Council does not currently allow them to put up any signs to promote it except for very expensive landpost banner and seafront poster hoardings. The cost of these would have to be passed onto the farmer which they naturally don’t want to do.

If you are in the Brighton & Hove area and want to help out they are asking whether once a month they could place a small signpost by your garden wall / shop window / railing etc outside your office. You don’t have to do anything - they will put it up and take it away again immediately after the market finishes. And not only will you get the warm feeling that comes from supporting 40 local farmers and producers who rely on the market as a source of income but when possible, they will also show their appreciation with treats from the market!

For more information just email your name, address and contact number to frank@neweraassociates.co.uk or call 01273 323200

See you there on Sunday? I’ll be the one scoffing veggie mince pies!

Katie

ethicalweddings.com