Green Holidays

I have found a new way to learn a language – and it’s great!

Having used all the ‘standard’ language courses before and having got bored or completely lost less than half way through – a friend lent me her CD only course telling me that it was totally different to any other language course.

So I had to give it a go.

And it was SO different that I feel that I have learnt so much more about the language than from any other course that I have ever set eyes on.

Nouns, Nouns & More Nouns:
Most other language courses focus on a common phrase and then add loads of nouns on to it to make it seem fun. So for example you may learn the phrase ‘I would like….’ then you have to learn a page of words including tea, coffee, sandwich, milk, orange juice, soup and cheese etc. They may even show you a few ‘sizes’ like: a bottle of wine, a tin of tuna, a packet of chips, etc.

However, you are only really learning the 1 important phrase.

They then take you through the following chapters: ‘Where is the…’, ‘Ordering food’, ‘I live in a….’ and ‘In a Supermarket’ all in the same theme of common phrase then loads of nouns.

Verbs Are Great!
However, this course spent more time on the verbs and conjugating them. Now at school the thought of ‘conjugating verbs’ was enough to make almost anyone groan – but not so here.

We were taught how verbs can work for you in a sentance in a way that nouns can’t. You can learn 200 nouns for food – but you can still only say the same sentances (I would like a…/Can I have a…/I don’t want a…) – whereas with this course I don’t really need the noun to be understood.

For example I can say: I don’t want to buy that today, but I would like you to buy it for me tomorrow; or, Why don’t you want to come with me today, but you want to go with him tomorrow.

As you can see I can string together long sentances to express myself without a cup of coffee or some cheese even in the sentence! Yes, learning nouns is very useful in the long run – but to understand the verbs is to actually speak the language.

The Language:
Pronunciation is also a key to learning a new language as the stress on the wrong part of the word can render the word useless. It will either mean nothing to the listener – or worse – mean a totally different thing!

So the fact that this course is totally audio is great. Sitting in my car or at home and just listening to the voices on the CD is so helpful. There is no need to keep stopping and starting the CD in bits here and there – it just flows as though it is a conversation.

And the fact that there are also 2 students with him is really useful as a sort of ‘benchmark’ for yourself. Do you get the answer before they say it – or do they get it totally wrong? I found myself shouting at one of them as he just couldn’t get it right when I found that bit quite easy – but I suppose we all learn different bits faster.

The course was by Michel Thomas, andwas 8-part and is used as an introduction to the language as part of a more exstensive language course – but I feel that I have learned so much already.

I can’t wait to move on to the next level!

Could Supporting Local Bee Farmers Help Reduce Demands On The Environment?

We need to think big these days – and certainly look to be sympathetic to the developing world – who are living in conditions similar to those that we were only a few 100 years ago.

They are mainly subsistence farmers or herders who live on what they can grow and the little that they can sell.  They have to rely on resources that are local to them and are as good as free – just as those in the US and Europe did not so long ago.

Now, unfortunately – we are painfully aware that living like this is not going to be possible for the millions of people now currently living in the developing world.

The climate is changing to make herding and farming virtually impossible in some areas; the population has risen to ridiculous and unsustainable numbers making a few trees for the family firewood become a whole woodland for the expanding village; and the demands of the (comparatively) richer individuals are stripping whole countries bare of resources, taking land and water from local people and dumping waste in their backyards.

So – What Can We Do?
Well, as we know what is currently ‘damaging’ to our planet – we can use our buying power to make the right choices.

Just as back home – what you buy determines what manufacturers make – the same applies to internationally traded goods.  Although the honest truth sometimes slips by us:

If you keep buying illegally logged hardwoods (ie. by not opting for FSC approved alternatives) you are actively supporting the destruction of the rainforests and the extermination of orangutans, jaguars, and the endless number of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and plants that depend on them.

If you keep buying any old fish or seafood that you like the look of (rather than opting for MSC approved sustainable alternatives) you are actively supporting the extinction of many endangered species that are being over-fished.  You are also actively supporting the wasteful and destructive nature of bottom-trawling and long-line fishing that are killing off more than just the fish you get to eat; this includes all sorts of birds, mammals, other fish and sea creatures.

I could go on with this list – but sometimes we don’t think or the end result of our ‘easy’ food choices.

Alternative Living:
So back to the bees: They reproduce extremely fast, do all the hard work themselves and don’t need a huge amount of space to grow. What a great alternative to cattle and dessicated crops! But they need someone to buy the honey.

And so, if a family has chosen to ‘farm’ these insects rather than farm something illegal or damaging to the environment – then shouldn’t we support that?

All across the globe we are trying to help communities to become more self-sufficient and sustainable by introducing bee-keeping, fairtrade specialist products and co-ops so that they don’t have to plunder their local area just to survive. 

We are also helping to make sure that they have access to biomass heating, solar cookers, water purifiers and education and skills so that they don’t have to depend on limited rainwater, local forests, bushmeat and food handouts.

So, make sure that you support these efforts back home with your shopping choices.  If they are making something that you don’t buy – then they won’t be sustainable alternatives, will they?

If they are saving the rainforest and it’s endangered wildlife buy manufacturing fairtrade honey, organic coffee or FSC approved furniture – then you had better make sure that you buy it over the ‘not so eco friendly’ alternatives.

If not – then they will have to go back to living off the land – even if that means killing another tiger, clearing some lush forests or over-grazing their land with cattle.

Your choice!

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It’s your chance to meet some inspirational people – and get your hands on some great equipment!

It’s not all about birds – but if you love birdwatching and great wetland landscapes – then I suggest you clear your diary for any day over the weekend of 20th to 22nd August 2010!

For only £10 entry – you could have the opportunity to ask Chris Packham for some wildlife-watching tips, listen to Mark Carwardine discussing endangered species and maybe watch a slide show of great wildlife moments from Simon King – not bad, eh?

The Show:
Basically, BirdFair is one of the biggest bird-watching and outdoor shows in the UK and is set in the most beautiful scenery to add even more to your day.

As with many great shows, there will also be the opportunity to visit the stands of all the local and international wildlife stands and ask questions about the work they do and how to become a supporter or volunteer.

Add to this stalls that are filled to the brim with the best photographic equipment to improve your photos and to increase your viewing range as digiscopes and binoculars of all shapes and sizes are on offer.  As well as a host of specialist manufacturers and users to help you decide on the best items for your needs.

Whether you are hoping to get some advice for starting out or whether you are looking to take the next step in your craft and hoping to increase your equipment collection to cover more wildlife and birds – it will all be there.

Using A Zoom Lens Can Get Great Images

And it’s not just about technical things – there will be a whole host of stalls selling outdoor clothing, camping goods, walking shoes, wildlife holidays, travel books, field guides, wildbird seed, nest boxes, wildlife art, and so much more!

And, to be ‘green’ the organisers are offering free transfer buses to the show from the local train station to save on all those cars on the roads!

Show Extras:
It’s not all about just being a show – there is so much more there than stall after stall.

For example, there is a grand auction selling a whole range of random goodies from paintings to one-off experiences – all donated to the show specifically to raise funds for this years fundraising targets.

There are also 3 different agendas for events and talks throughout each day and kids events as well for the little learners!  Bushcraft skills, art and education are the themes you can find here in the several big tents on site.

And, your entry ticket gives you free access to the nature reserves here too – so after you have brought that new camera you have been promising yourself – or upgraded to a better digiscope – you can get straight out there are try it for size!

If you plan to go for the day – make sure you get there early and plan to do a lot of walking, and you won’t regret it.  If you know you love this type of show then make sure you stay for the weekend as you might not get to see everything on just the 1 day!

And this only happens once a year!

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What a great summer we have been having here!  I have been out and about almost every day!

I have taken a few eco courses with some local charities and helped out and attended several green summer carnivals and general fairs with the family.

There are a few more on the horizon as well and maybe some educational volunteering at a local wetlands reserve for me too!

So, what has everyone else been up to?  Well, lets take a look……..

One Family enjoyed some hiking in the woods for the day – so join their story – with great photo’s – for Enjoying Yosemite Valley with Kids – A Trip Report. Amazing!

And if that puts you in the mood for the great outdoors and you are thinking of camping for the first time to save some money, then take a look at Beata Antoszek’s quick post with 6 Tips for Camping on a Tight Budget.

Or, will you be on the road this summer? If so – is your car prepared for the journey? Look in on Jena Ellis’ article for a list of 10 Essentials for a Car Emergency Kit, and then hop over the Eco Holidays for a quick guide to help you Check Your Car For Basic Safety. 

On The Road

This way you can be doubly sure you don’t get held up by some stupid basic problems instead of enjoying your trip!

And what about your clothes? If you need new travel or camping gear – make sure you read Eco Living Advice’s tale of whether natural or man-made materials are more eco-friendly – and as usual it is not as straight-foward as you might think! So open up Eco Clothes and see both sides of the debate!

But if you want to get away from where you are for a while – or for ever – then maybe take a look at The Investor’s information with some help Researching moving abroad.

Whatever you decide – do take plenty of photos!

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Do you know enough about both biodegradable products and biodegradable packaging?

I know it might seem obvious what they are when you just think abut the word ‘biodegradable’ as we all sort of know what this means – but what about behind the products?

When you think about biodegradable washing up liquid or shampoo for example, are you thinking about the product itself, or the packaging – or both?

And what exactly are the benefits of each – if any?

And is a product that breaks down even better than one that stays in it’s original form – chemicals or not?

Well, in this article I have put together a very basic summary of the good and the bad of both – so you can make a more informed choice when you think about your next purchase.

The Products:
Well, holiday toiletries and suncreams, etc should all ideally be biodegradable as otherwise your everyday shower is washing all these ingredients into the waterways and rivers of the village or vacation spot you are visiting.

This way, when you wash off your shower gel when in your hotel or out camping, it passes into the neighbouring ground or lake and gradually ‘breaks down’ with the help of bacteria, sunlight or water into virtually harmless little bits. 

Although it could still cause a bit of a problem in the first few days or weeks – it will eventually be gone – which is better than always being there for years and years no matter how diluted it is.

However would you be interested to know that there is no legal definition of ‘biodegradable’ for products in the US or EU – it’s just a vague assumption.  That assumption being that the product will break down more or less naturally into naturally existing particles in around 6 months or so.  However – it doesn’t have to do this at all to use the phrase on it’s packaging or advertising!

Needless to say – anyone can use this ‘claim’ on the product accompanied by a standard flowery or plant looking picture or image – and you can’t prove either way, you just have to take their word for it.

It is the same with the word ’natural’ on products.  This word has no legal right or wrong on packaging – and anyway, petroleum oil is natural and so is arsenic, so the word natural is a bit of a strange one anyway!

The Packaging:
Then there is the bottle it’s in.  It would be virtually impossible to not use plastic bottles when traveling, so you should really try to use biodegradable plastic bottles, right?

Well, there is an argument for and against strangely enough – and it’s all quite simple: if you buy a container that has been designed to degrade naturally over a period of time – then you can’t use it over and over again can you?

Buying a normal plastic bottle means that you can either recycle it or use it repeatedly for any product – but if that bottle is liable to start breaking down, then you certainly can’t use it over and over, it’s unreliable.

And of course, you can’t really recycle it either as otherwise the recycled products you make out of it will be unstable too and just as liable to break down as well!

So, it’s a tricky one really.

Buying biodegradable plastic bottles is encouraging continued plastic production – but is better than new regular plastic being made.  But if the demand for recycled plastic products drops as a result, then surely that is a bad thing; as all the existing non-biodegradable plastic will be left for ever on earth in dumps and floating in the sea!

And if regular plastic isn’t made anymore, then we won’t be able to reuse our bottles and tubs again and again forever – we will always have to buy new!

The End Result:
I can’t say for certain what is the better in terms of the whole plastic situation, but it certainly makes you think a bit further into the issue than just assuming that a biodegradable product is instantly better.

However, I certainly recommend seeking out products that really are made of safe natural ingredients and those which should not have a harmful effect on wildlife – as it means that they will probably not be harmful to humans either.

I mean using products on your body that contain man-made chemicals which are known to poison fish can’t really be that good for you either, can it?

Hello again – and welcome to another summer of green holidays and adventures!

I have been out and about myself on the allotment, volunteering for charities, holding stalls at carboot sales and basically enjoying the sunshine – but what have you all been up to?

Lets begin with a real green adventure leading off from my previous article (great minds think alike and all that!): Eco Living Advice offers up the idea of analysing your job and to try to make is into a more green alternative – now that really could be an adventure; so read on with his Green Careers article and get thinking!

Then in a similar vein, here is TravelCat’s quandry of Should I Travel Abroad To Raise Money For Charity?  These 2 really make an interesting read to look at the wider side of eco friendly activities!

Taking a step closer to home is The Nature Blog with a really touching tale of the opposite of nature watching – nature waiting.  Read this short article on the virtues of letting nature come to you rather than chasing it all over the woods or seas: In Praise Of Slow.

A shorter article here from Viviana Widjaja suggests some great Holiday Activities for Kids – Eco Friendly Holidays to inspire in advance for the weeks they have off school!

And another quickie from Wise Bread with their 5 Essential Travel Tools to not leave home without on your green adventures! And Linda@NHE offers advice on what to do if you encounter bugs there! So read on with Mosquito Bites Natural Remedies and save yourself some scratching!

This is followed by a lovely article – with pictures – to offer you the chance to take a pilgrimage as part of your green holidays, walking centuries old pathways in the footsteps of millions: 10 Amazing Religious Pilgrimages by Phillip Lopez.

Hopefully this interesting selection will keep you busy for a while – not just reading them, but thinking about the ways that these articles could change the way people think about their job, their family and they vacation.

Times are changing – and now is not the time to be left behind!

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We all think that all ‘green’ and ‘eco’ travel definitions are around about the same: but no!

A friend of mine recently got a book called ‘The Ethical Career Guide’ out of the local library only to be surprised by what was in there.  There was no mention of conservation or the environment, and global warming was not even touched on.

Why?  Well ‘ethical’ always refers to working with people to create equality as well as supporting communities and cultures – it doesn’t really have anything to do with the natural world.  So an ethical holiday isn’t necessarily a green holiday or even eco friendly!

So I have put together a simple definitions article for the main words we use to define our holidays and travel so you can be sure to focus on the best one for your requirements and prefered areas of interest.

Ethical Travel:
“Travel to any location that includes offering respect and courtesy to local people, as well as thinking about the long term effects of your actions for the communities that you visit.”

So for example, ethical travel would include supporting the community you visit financially by using local services and buying local goods – and at a reasonable price.  It would also look to not exploit natural resources – or local people, and includes not offering gifts or money to ‘begging’ children but to the places that will benefit the children most, like schools and local groups.

Responsible Travel:
“Travel to any destination in the world – including cruises, luxury villas, skiing and volunteering – can be ‘responsible’ if they can prove that they care about the people they come into contact with and their culture as well as their surrounding environments and it’s wildlife.”

For example, if you travel to a ‘responsible’ African safari lodge, you would expect it to be run by or employing local people and spending some or most of it’s profits and time on helping protect the surrounding wildlife for the future. 

It doesn’t matter if you have to fly across the world to get there and only stay for 3 days (although longer stays can help communities more) - it is what you are supporting while you are there that counts.  And if it is a big step away from mass tourism – it is ‘responsible’.

Eco Friendly Travel:
“Travel to destinations with the intention of reducing your overall impact on the environment, including the avoidance of many of the usual destinations, modes of transport and travel products.”

For example, we know that flying creates higher than average emissions and cruises create more than their fair share of waste – so the eco friendly traveller would try to travel using other means, or would use these modes of transport more wisely by staying in the destinations longer or choosing a more eco friendly company to use.

Eco friendly travel would also include not using products that can damage or put undue stress on the environment they are visiting, so would try to use biodegradable toiletries, wash clothes less, eat local foods rather than expect locals to import things 1000′s of miles in, take all rubbish home with them if no recycling exists and not buy products made from endangered resources – or animals!

This type of travel would also look at certain destinations that are being overcrowded or exploited with the end result of the area/destination/beach/local community being degraded, overused and ultimately destroyed.  Mass tourism destinations would be among the places to avoid, although something could be said for keeping all the ‘sun-seekers’ in one place!

Green Travel:
“A type of travel that includes both using modes of transport which reduce or limit the environmental impact of getting from A to B as well as limiting environmental damage while preserving natural resources and reducing pollution and excessive waste.”

Although quite similar to the Eco Friendly Travel definition above, Green Travel really focuses on self control while travelling – enough sometimes to not even travel in the first place!  Eco Friendly looks at still taking a trip but looking for less damaging alternatives – whereas green travellers might look at taking a different trip entirely.

Walking through fields or woodlands off the main footpath wouldn’t really bother any other type of traveller – but a green traveller would think of the potential for localised damage – for example trampling on rare plants or invading areas used by courting mammals and birds.

The Result:
Well, as you can see there is a fair amount of overlap with these definitions, but some are more social and others more environmental.

Yes – the 2 are sort of linked up anyway as if the community are supported they will take better care of their environment, however many travelers want to see the direct link to their personal beliefs and their actions.

For example an eco friendly traveler would take pride in buying all the most chemical-free, animal-friendly, waste reducing and natural products they can to take with them to visit a local community - whereas a social traveler would take more pride in helping a community to support themselves for the next 20 years whether their shampoo was biodegradable or not!

And a responsible traveler wouldn’t mind flying in to a remote mountain lodge on the other side of the world to support a 5* business built up, owned and run by local people – whereas a green traveler would possibly choose to go camping 1* in a nearby woodland with their local scout group teaching them simple field-craft techniques for free!

So, it is your choice really as to which of these you choose to be like when planning your next vacation, because sometimes they will take you to totally different places!

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It’s not just your home that can be green this spring – your pony can too!

In case you were wanting to spend every sunny day this month at your local yard – here are some eco friendly tips to share with your friends there – and maybe they can let you know some of theirs!

So, here are 10 simple tips for a greener stable. Some will save you money (and resources) on replacement items and other handy tips for making green products:

1) Don’t Lose It- Tie some brightly colored fibres or an old pink shoelace to your hoof-pick to avoid losing it in your bedding or long grass!  And this will save you valuable time.

2) Reuse It – Make yourself a replacement food scoop out of an old drinks bottle, by diagonally cutting off the bottom and using the ‘neck’ as the handle.  Taking the lid off will allow you to use it as a funnel as well.

3) Replace It – Use your old washing up bowl for handy things around the yard; food bowl, saddle soap dish or even pony toy for the field!  The same obviously goes for a few other household items and it saves throwing unwanted plastic out.

4) Keep It’s Shape – Use the lid of your old saddle soap tins as bridle hooks – to help them keep their shape while hanging on the stable wall waiting for the next ride!

5) But Before That – Save up all the leftover bits of saddle soap you can’t use properly in the past few tins, then gently heat them into a joint splodge – and they are saved!  Much easier to use as one great big lump!

6) Bags Of Poo – Bag up your old horse droppings after they have been on the muck heap for a while and sell them to local gardeners or allotments.  Keep it low on straw and other bedding though for the best price.

7) Bags Of Hay- Rather than buy new haynets – why not make your own out of baler twine from the hay bales. A net of about 24 twines is enough – and the smaller the holes, the slower the horse can eat from it.

8.) Spare Twine – If you need a new lead rope for the yard, why waste the clip? Just plait up some baler twine and just tie it to the old clip.  Valuable metal will be saved!

9) Save Washing- If you use black or brown jodhpurs for everyday use, you won’t need to wash them so often – therefore saving water, suds and no doubt extending the life of the trousers.

10) A New Rug – If that old sleeping bag of yours is no longer needed – why not make it into a horse rug with just a bit of your handiwork! Cut out the neck section and tie on some chest straps!

Hope these have been of some help – and maybe they have made you think of something else too!

Let us know if you have a great tip for the yard – and if your friends don’t want to save their old saddle soap or lead rope clips – then make sure you let them know you will find them a new home!

It sounds like it’s just saving money – but it really is saving resources and reducing waste.

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If you are thinking of replacing or upgrading your windows – make sure you do it before you go away!

With new technologies and strict guidelines governing manufacture – you couldn’t be more green and more secure at the same time!  Great if you are away for a month or 2.

Triple glazing units can reduce the amount of heat lost from your home (or reduce the amount of cold air escaping if you have the air con on!) and the secure ‘bolt’ system of new glazing units can deter burgulars. 

New UV coatings can also protect the goods in your home and reduce noise pollution if you live in the city or close to a railway, etc.

However – look closely at the ‘eco friendly’ labelling on some company websites – it can mean one of 2 things:

Eco Friendly 1 – 100%:
It is energy efficient and can save energy in the home as well as being made of eco friendly products from sustainable sources.

Eco Friendly 2 – 50%:
It is energy efficient and can save energy in the home ONLY.  It can be made out of any materials at all - for example limited resource aluminum or certain high-petroleum plastics.

And of course, you want to make sure that the company you choose has a decent reputation, and is preferably affiliated with, or a member of, a certification or National scheme - This would include the Master Builders Association or the Guild Quality Surveys and include Penguin Windows in the US, or FENSA and the ‘BSI Kitemark’ in the UK with firms like Everest Windows.

Other Factors To Consider:
There are other things to look out for when choosing a supplier and your preferred products as well, as there are so many combinations you can choose from – some will age quickly, be less secure and possibly not that eco friendly after all! And the length of the warranty can be as little as 3 years up to a lifetime guarantee!

It’s certainly worth paying a few $100 more from the off, than have to pay the several $1000 in 3 years time when it breaks of ‘yellows’ in the sun!

• Make sure it is Pilkington K glass or equivalent
• Make sure it is ‘low e’ glass (high thermal insulation)
• Make sure the frame is made from sustainable resources where possible
• Make sure the windows and doors come with at least a 10 year guarantee (materials & workmanship). 
• Make sure it has a fully welded framework to make it more secure
• Make sure it has metal reinforcement in the frame chambers to make forced entry more difficult
• Make sure all ‘glazing beads’ are on the inside to prevent people removing the panes from the outside
• Make sure it has a locking Saracen shoot bolt (mortise) through the whole frame
• Make sure it has a Secure By Design logo for extra security on top if you want!

Go on your 6-month grand tour without having to worry about the security of your home – and come home knowing that you will be more energy-efficient from that point on!

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Hello again, and I hope you haven’t been caught up in all this airline trouble at the moment!

No doubt if you had booked a quiet trip by train across Europe, it could have been affected by thousands of other holidaymakers who couldn’t get on a plane! 

Your quiet out-of-the-way hotel could have been besieged by families waiting for a ferry or coach to turn up!  It could make for some really interesting articles but wasn’t much fun I’d imagine!

Anyway, lets get on with those already in the system – starting with a great post about travelling around the States using car-shares rather than the hassle of hiring one yourself or dragging your car across the country!  Follow the tips offered by Byteful Travel in How to Get Paid to Travel 1,000 miles: Craigslist and see if you can go on a great plane-free car-sharing friend-making adventure!

If you are traveling north to Canada instead then why not take a peek at the photos in Mark H’s article: Wicked But Stunning (Jasper National Park, Canada) where you can see images of pure tranquility! And imagine if you a life there for next too nothing – wouldn’t that make it all the more magical?

Eco Living Advice wants to share with you some destinations on the other side of the Atlantic with 7 Eco Friendly Tourist Destinations in the UK, showing that you don’t need to travel across oceans to see some great sites – you have plenty right where you are now!

And if you want to take along some pretty unique clothing and accessories when you travel – maybe for yourself (laptop bag) or for others (hair bands and wallets) – then take a look at some of the links which Gabriella White has in the post 100 Amazing Upcycling Ideas Anyone Can Do and maybe give one a try! It makes using all your rubbish so easy – and you get something totally unique virtually for free!

However, if you want a taste of a country without actually going there, take a look at the huge choice given by Rowena Hebert for travel literature that summons up the taste and feel of exotic or distant destinations that could interest and inspire you: 100 Novels That Let You Travel The World Without Leaving Home. I have added a few to my reading list that I hadn’t heard of before……

……but if you want to see rather than read, then take a look at Daniel Jones’ list of Top 100 Travel Photography Blogs and see some amazing shots – and like me you might wonder why you aren’t doing your own travel journal like this!

And finally, Jerry Rogers offers up a huge list of links for the student and includes a small section on green travel links 100 Essential Blog Posts for Students Going Green, and you might even find something else inspiringly green that you weren’t really looking for as well!

So, get reading and change today for the better…….