the ecohut blog

The expression “a cobblers child is never shod” was never truer than when you look at our garden -it is not a good advert for the owner of a garden centre.  We all know its good for us to get out in the garden and enjoy the fresh air but its also nice to appreciate beautiful planting.    If you are not a gardener its difficult to know where to start and you can end up spending a lot of money on plants which disappear into a garden and then go and die on you!   If this sounds familiar then check out the “kit form” planted borders from www.gardensonaroll.com, choose the kind of end result you want and tell them the area you want covered simple! A box containing everything you need including estabished plants, planting medium, the marked up biodegradable “roll” and full instructions will then be delivered to your doorstep.  Watch QVC (channel 16 on freeview) at 7.00pm this bank holiday monday 13th April for your chance to buy and get planting ready for the summer.

Had a great although somewhat bewildering day last Sunday at the Natural and Organic Show at Olympia in London.  Full of inspirational people and inspiring products from pampering treats to petfood.  Great to catch up with “Inlight”  whose daily face oil won a coveted 2009 Natural Health award - although thoroughly annoyed to miss Dr Mariano Spiezia who developed their fantastic products - talk about optimal skin health.  See my website www.ecohut.biz for fantastic offers on their products.  Also found some other gems to add to my range - watch this space!!   Was also introduced to the “juicemaster” the lovely and very energetic Jason Vale  by Janey Lee Grace.  I had bought his first book with a first generation moulinex juicer years ago - have used it very sporadically since- his bouncy demo was enough to make me go straight home find all the bits, dust it off and use it daily - the kids love the juice and fight over making it.   One type of fighting I am not going to interfere with!

I am feeling very “wound up” today which led me to think about about the power of free renewewable kinetic energy. If you are anything like my family there is never a battery to be found (of course rechargable ones!) when you need one, so wind up torches, watches,and even radios are a great idea. Check out www.windup-products.com for a great range. Or what about a rechargable solar torch - www.sunnightsolar.com will match your order and give one to people who need them desparately as their only source of night time llight. The company is USA based so any stateside readers will be able to get them - I am waiting to hear if you can get them in the UK at the moment.

It really has been like spring is really here this week - the garden centre has been packed and there are signs of new growth everywhere. I have even been able to put my washing out - oddly in these emancipated times I find this a truely uplifting experience - now that I dont use any smelly nasties in my wash it is so lovely to have sheets which smell of fresh air! Not only do you spend less money and expend less energy but uv light kills bacteria so your clothes take longer to get wiffy.

I am making the most of it as they say we could have snow again next week!!! dont forget any of you who have been in the garden this weekend protect anything delicate with fleece so a late frost (or snow )wont kill it.

None of us could fail to have been moved by the images of children dieing of malaria, grannies struggling in hovels to look after orpaned grandchildren and children hiding under beds to phone helplines during friday nights comic relief. But it gave me hope that even in the midst of a recession so much money was raised in such a fun way - Robbie Williams in little britain was a scream!
Donating money is not the only way we can help alleviate poverty - by buying fairly traded goods you are ensuring that more of the money goes to the producer www.fairtrade.org.uk
Think fairtrade when you buy your Easter Eggs.

I went up to Ecobuild this week at Earls Court. Came back encouraged by the number of people exhibiting clever products but discouraged by the lack of joined up thinking there is in government to encourage people to green up their building act!
Favourite exhibitors: NBT - www.natural-building.co.uk, great natural insulation products, clay building blocks and paints; Traidical - who make hemcrete a green alternative to concrete - a mixture of lime and hemp www.limetechnology.co.uk ( was I attracted by the central stand feature - a lotus elise with the hemp bodywork? ); Ecosheet - www.ecosheet.com who recycle mixed plastic into a plywood substitute and the very stunning display from bottle alley glass www.bottlealleyglass.co.uk who collect bottles direct from pubs and clubs and recycle them into the most beautiful tiles and bar tops.

I have just been reading a very balanced National Geographic Article about the Rainforests of Borneo which has made me realise two things; firstly that thanks to my ancestors I am a hypocrite and secondly that sometimes something which appears a good thing environmentally metamorphasises or grows like topsy and becomes a bad thing.
The NG journalist posed a question to the local official he was interviewing about how he felt about people lecturing him about good environmental practice who came from a country which had long ago cut down its ancient forests, destroyed its native wildlife and depleted all its mineral reserves? the response was very polite …. a lot politer that I would have been…..
It then turns out that the most serious threat to the remaining rainforest now is not just illegal logging but the monoculture palm oil plantations. Yes thats the same palm oil which is used to produce boidiesel that “ecofriendly” fuel of the future …. its also in food products, beauty products and numerous other items which form part of our weekly shop. Anouther journalist is quoted as saying Borneo has been shopped to death!
So think about these global issues - join an organisation such as the rainforest foundation or the world wildlife fund but act locally; buy uk made furniture from our own woodland (watch this space at the ecohut website) or uk cooking oils such as hill farm rapeseed oil which dont contain palm oil www.hillfarmoils.com.

National Geographic Article: “Borneos Moment of Truth” November 2008

We have now stayed at Trelowarren twice - I love it.  An ancient cornish estate has been given a new lease of life by the careful refurbishment of existing buildings and the construction of these highly energy efficient - well with exception of the halogen lights !-  new houses.  Cosy, comfortable and luxurious the houses are available either as holiday lets or as timeshares.    The resteraunt is superb, the estate dramatic and unspoilt and the location ideal for visiting the many lovely beaches in the area.  There is a huge commitment to supporting the local community - you can even order your food from the loal shop to be delivered to your cottage for when you arrive.  The biomass boiler which supplies the heat is now fed largely with estate timber and plans are now in progress for further self sufficiency with the reinstatement of the estate kitchen garden.

Trelowarren, Helston, Cornwall TR12 6AF  www.trelowarren.co.uk

This half term we headed up north to Augill Castle just  outside Brough in Cumbria.  A true labour of love this is a home which accepts guests rather than a hotel.  ”Stress free” is not usually a word associated with staying anywhere with three children but from the moment you curl up on the sofas with tea and scones to when you reluctantly wend your way home down the drive this is the only way to describe our experience.  Think country house elegance meets farmhouse cosiness and welcome.  Luxuriously comfortable beds, roll top bath and a serve yourself bar for the grown ups and a playroom, outside playarea and even pedal go carts for the kids.  We got there on a sunday and the kids all polished off their roast dinner early at six.  Grown ups eat round the same enormous table later while the children dress up as princesses or watch a dvd.  The food is delicious - the breakfast was the best I have ever had -made even better by the fact that that it doesnt start until 9.30am and then doesnt finish til the last guest has eaten.  The next day my children did a day at the Augill “Little Cooks” school - and learnt to cook vegetarian chilli and all the accompaniments and their favourite chocolate fudge  unluckily for them it was quite a hit with the grown ups too.  They had a fantastic time.  Eco considerations abound from the use of local food to the choice of locally made chemical free toiletries from “woadworks” in the bathrooms. 

Simon & Wendy Bennet, Augill Castle, Brough, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4DE  www.stayinacastle.com