Wai Not Go Green?

Compostable toothbrushes

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:40:00 +0000

In New Zealand, we throw away around 6 million plastic toothbrushes each year. 6 million! That is a lot of plastic sitting in the landfills waiting for our children (or perhaps our children’s children) to figure out what to do with it all! Because, unfortunately, as far as we can tell, plastic lasts forever in the natural environment. It may break down into smaller pieces, but it never actually goes away. It leaves behind a legacy of toxins & particles that are damaging our health – and that of the environment – in increasingly obvious ways.

Of course its not just toothbrushes causing the problem. Plastic is so ubiquitous these days – fabrics, cutlery, plates, shoes, cups, bottles, cars, packaging, toys …

We need to wean ourselves off our addiction to plastics to save ourselves and the planet. Fortunately its actually easier to do than it sounds. Starting with your toothbrush …

We are now stocking Bamboo toothbrushes for adults and children. They are 100% non toxic and 100% biodegradable. The handle is made of natural bamboo (not a bamboo laminate) sealed with an edible wax. The bristles are soft to medium stiffness, dual length, sharpened bristle, made from nylon 4, and they clean your teeth really well. The toothbrush comes packaged in a sealed recycled cardboard box.

One of the best things about the new Bamboo toothbrushes is that they are compostable. So when its time to get rid of it, it won’t add to the landfill, instead you can add it to the garden compost. Even the bristles will biodegrade in about 3-4 months.

You can get your very own Bamboo toothbrush from the new Healthy Alternatives online store.

Eco Lunch Wraps

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:40:00 +0000

This is a guest post by the lovely Kris Appleby of Healthy Alternatives NZ. Kris has a passion for all things healthy and sustainable and has loads of great green products in her online store.

We’ve just added some new products to our shop, and we are rapt about it! The 4myearth eco snack wraps and pockets, and sandwich wraps and pockets are now in stock!

Forget plastic containers and plastic wrap. Think about how all that unnecessary wastage impacts on the environment for our children. Now here is a simple step that you can take to help reduce waste in your household and to keep New Zealand beautiful.

As a rough guide, we estimated how much one child would use in plastic wrap based on a sandwich, muffin and nuts/sultanas in their lunch bag each day for a year. We worked it out to be 105 meters of plastic wrap that would be dumped into our ever increasing landfill.

Times this by a small school of 450 students and it comes to a whopping 47,250 meters per year!

All the wraps and pockets are non-toxic and food safe. The unique fabric conforms to FDA & SGS standards and is PVC, Vinyl, phthalate and PUL free. They keep your food fresh and at the end of the day you simply hand or machine wash. As they are flat they take up less room and are easy to store.

Buy now as a great Xmas gift, or stocking filler for a gift that helps reduce your waste and shows you care.

Ask me how you can use these as a school fundraiser. For more information visit www.healthyalternatives.co.nz

Make your own household products

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:30:00 +0000

MAKE Your Own Household Cleaning Products

Learn how tomake cleaning products at home & save $$$thousands$$$

Commercial cleaning productsare quite toxic. Clean up your environment by using these naturalrecipes, without compromising on the cleaning power you need to keep your homeclean.

For $25 youcan see common household cleaning products made and demonstrated.

Get tips onwhere to source the ingredients and take home recipes and samples (bring yourown small containers).

Enrol now for our next course in Wellington

Where: Toi Poneke Art Centre Community Room

Ground Floor 61-69 Abel Smith Street

Wellington

When: Tuesday, December 6 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Gift vouchers for our MAKE classes are available from our online store

For enquiries on hosting a demonstration in your home, or as a fundraiser, please contact Kris on 0508 2BE WELL (0508 223 9355)

Reuseable Produce bags

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:45:00 +0000

Countries all over the world are becoming increasingly aware of the threat to our fragile environment from non-biodegradable waste.

Environmental watch groups, local and central governments, as wellas concerned consumers are united in recognizing the importance ofreducing waste. Many governments have already introduced legislation to ban theuse of plastic bags.

It is estimated that every year New Zealanders use 1 billion plasticshopping bags. One way or another almost all of this ends up polluting theenvironment.

Minimizing our use of plastic shopping bags would make the world cleaner andsafer for all living things.

It is vital we all become environmentally aware and accept that thereduction of this pollution is our personal responsibility.

We offer an environmentally pure, 100% biodegradable alternative withcertified organic Reusable Fresh Produce Bags – bags specifically designed foryour convenience when shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables.

By working together and thinking ahead, we can all take small steps thatmake a huge impact in preserving our ecosystem. The next time you shop don’tleave the store carrying a plastic bag.

Check out our shop for more information.

Permaculture Workshop Coming to Masterton

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Introduction to Permaculture

2 Day Workshop Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November, Masterton.

With permaculture experts Bryan and Jo from Awhi Farm in Turangi.

This introductory workshop is the first part of the more intensive Permaculture Design Certificate, an internationally recognised certificate course in Permaculture. It will give you a taste of what Permaculture is all about and help you decide if you would like to join us on the more intensive course we are bringing to the Wairarapa in Spring 2012.

Workshop Topics Include:

An introduction to the basic concepts of permaculture design including the philosophy, ethics and principles of permaculture design and sustainability
An intro to the language and meaning of permaculture design including the principles, reading the landscape, observing patterns and landforms and how to start implementing ideas into you own life.

Please contact Janine asap if you are interested in taking part

We need to confirm numbers with the tutors asap so they can plan the rest of their busy year! If you are interested please email me janineogg@gmail.com. It's going to be a fab weekend and no's are limited so don't miss out.

Cost of Workshop

Approx $200 (tbc). Payment options are available - if money is an obstacle, you can spread the payments out.

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture (permanent agriculture or permanent culture) is a practical concept applicable from the balcony to the farm, from the city to the wilderness. It enables people to establish productive environments providing for food, energy, shelter, material and non-material needs, as well as the social and economic infrastructures which support them. Permaculture means thinking carefully about our environment, our use of resources and how we supply our needs. It aims to create systems that will sustain not only for the present, but for future generations. (definition from Permaculture International Journal)

Check out this site to find out more

Seeking Soil Health Enthusiasts - Exciting Workshop Opportunity

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:05:00 +0000

Interested in learning how to depollute the soils and improve soil fertility?

Lee and Frits Ringma are certified Homa Therapy teachers and volunteers from Australia and will be travelling to NZ in November this year to conduct free workshops on Homa Therapy and Agnihotra (ancient method for healing the earth).

Workshops are free and travel expenses are met by donations.

What is homa therapy?

Click here to visit the Aussie Agnihotra site and find out more.

Green Party Co-Leader Speaking on Economic Opportunities

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:40:00 +0000

Sustainable Living Course

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:03:00 +0000

Do you want to know more about environment and how to limit your impact on it?

The National Sustainable Living Education Trust Course gets you informed on environmental issues and gives you practical tips and techniques on how to make your lifestyle more eco friendly.

The course will provide you with ideas and realistic solutions on a personal level, in your own circle of influence. And so focuses on what individual persons could do for the environment in their own backyard without losing quality of life and saving a bit of money at the same time.

In a group (10-15 people) there will be 8 weekly workshops on the following topics: Energy efficiency, Waste minimisation, Gardening with nature & organic vege growing, Eco building, Water use and avoiding stream pollution, Transport and Community resilience.

This will be a great opportunity to meet other people, share experiences, discuss ideas and motivate change. The course will run on Tuesday nights in a relaxed, trusted and fun environment.

Workshops will be held on Tuesdays, starting August 9 from 7 till 9 pm at REAP House, 340 Queen Street, Masterton. The course is FREE but we do ask participants to make a koha towards photocopying and resourcing.

For more info on the Sustainable Living Program visit: www.sustainableliving.org.nz

Questions on the course or want to enrol? Email Steven: steven.slothouwer@yahoo.co.nz

Workshop - Living with Herbs

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:51:00 +0000

Have you heard of the Wairarapa Herb Society?

I certainly hadn't! Luckily, I came across a flyer at Health 2000 in Masterton advertising a great Herb Society workshop coming up Masterton. This "Living with Herbs" One Day Seminar includes 2 great keynote speakers and a choice of 3 different workshops you can attend - making creams and lotions, tonics tictures & teas and cooking with herbs.

Workshop being held at YMCA 22nd July email maybrn@xtra.co.nz (06) 308 6912

Click here to find out more about the Herb Society

DIRTY RIVER RAFTING TRIP WITH RUSSEL NORMAN

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:51:00 +0000

This Sunday 3rd April Russel Norman is paddling the Mangatainoka as part of his Dirty Rivers campaign and the general public are invited to come along and join in the adventure or just chat with him before the trip if you prefer.

Email Alina at alina.siegfried@parliament.govt.nz for more or call her on 04 801 5297

You can also visit the DIRTY RIVERS webpage for more info.