At the beginning of this week, the IPCC issued its latest report on climate change. There is now overwhelming scientific evidence that human beings are having a significant effect on the earth’s climate as a result of various greenhouse gasses. We can all expect the effects to become more noticeable over time. What are we to do? The key is reducing our use of fossil fuels (and thus greenhouse gas emissions) and this is something that we can all contribute to.
Chris Field, co-chair of the IPCC working group says this:
We definitely face challenges, but understanding those challenges and tackling them creatively can make climate-change adaptation an important way to help build a more vibrant world in the near-term and beyond.
And that’s what we need to do, to be creative and to understand that we can each take a little bit of responsibility and make a difference. Over the nearly two years that I have been writing this blog, I’ve discussed all sorts of small steps that I (and others) have taken to lead a life that is a little bit greener and, therefore, contributes a little bit less to climate change and destruction of the planet in other ways.
So, I thought that now would be a good time to list some of the creative things that I’ve been doing that help…
First, in our house, we try to mend things rather than throwing them away as soon as something goes wrong. So, this is our solar-powered wind-up radio in its current (much repaired) incarnation:
Our eco-radio
And (much as I dislike it) I do darn things:
Darned slipper sock
Recently, the base plate on our old Dyson vacuum clearer broke, but we managed to get a replacement secondhand one, so that should survive a bit longer:
Mr Snail attaching the new base plate onto our original DC01
Second, we try to cut down our food miles by growing our own (remember we only have a little garden behind a modern bungalow):
All from our garden
and by buying from local producers like:
Blaen Camel farm shop
Lampeter people’s market
The local water mill
And preserving food so that we don’t waste any surplus:
Storing the apple harvest
We have reduced our use of petrochemicals and fossil fuels by using products that contain natural ingredients:
Buying natural and in bulk
Increasing our use of renewables:
Our solar panels
Boiling water using wood from our willow hedge
Cutting down on the heating bills:
Curtains provide good insulation
Stylish ways to keep warm
Fingerless mittens in action for warm hands
And reducing our use of plastics:
Homemade cotton shopping bag from scrap fabric
We’ve also enjoyed some repurposing:
An old cat litter tray now used as a laying box
Potatoes growing in old dumpy bags
Toilet roll middles as biodegradable pots
Curtains would probably be a more stylish option for insulation, but oven mitts did the trick temporarily!
And just, generally getting creative with waste:
Hexipuffs for a quilt… made from sock wool oddments
A camping toilet, for discreet and civilised nitrogen collection
Apple scraps, fermenting naturally to make vinegar
And, of course, sharing…
… by blogging…
… teaching…
… and, of course, over coffee and cake…
The Snail of Happiness 
The Twisted Yarn
/ April 2, 2014Ooh, I wish I’d thought of using loo roll holders for seedlings. That’s genius! I’m definitely stealing that idea.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014I cut them in half first, otherwise you use loads of compost.
LikeLike
Charli Wilson
/ April 3, 2014You don’t find they just went mouldy really quickly? Mine did, poor seedlings 😦 Newspaper stayed non-mouldy for longer, long enough that the plants got big enough to transplant anyway.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 3, 2014Mine lasted fine for peppers and chillis in the propagator and I was able to transplant complete into pots… I wonder if different brands decompose at different rates?!
LikeLike
nerdinthebrain
/ April 2, 2014That toilet paper roll thing is brilliant! 😀 We also fix things rather than replacing. We also just don’t use some things that other people find commonplace…like a vacuum cleaner (we just sweep the carpets with a broom) or hair dryer. Thanks for sharing all of the awesome ideas you use!
LikeLike
lizard100
/ April 2, 2014Reblogged this on Green Lizard's Blog and commented:
This post has many great ideas all in one place. Very inspiring!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 4, 2014Thank you for re-posting… glad you found it inspiring
LikeLike
Tajana
/ April 2, 2014This post explains well why I’m one of your followers… 😉 I’m shamelessly sharing your writing on my FB pages 😀
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014Thank you… feel free to share shamelessly!
LikeLike
lizard100
/ April 2, 2014I was sad when I saw the news confirming what we’ve known for ages but then I was happy to read your post. So I reblogged it. Lovely ideas! And great that people are doing their bit!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014Thank you… I refuse to succumb to despair… I just hope other folks want to make a difference too
LikeLike
lizard100
/ April 2, 2014I think that’s the great thing about practical environmental-ness it’s hopeful.
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 2, 2014This post is almost as delicious as that cake! I am SO glad I found this scrumptious blog 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014Brooklyn Blackout Cake… yum!
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 2, 2014Emmm is your version vegan? If so…do tell! 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014No… but the trick is that the ‘icing’ is a very think chocolate custard… I kid you not. It is a recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook… full of extremely decadent things.
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 2, 2014I swear I saw a vegan version. Thick chocolate custard is the true culprit behind the name “food porn” WHAT a substance! Note to self “make me some vegan chocolate custard STAT!” 🙂
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 2, 2014LOL! I am praising you up here and you are just signing on the dotted line back at home (I just saw your “follow” 😉 ). Mutual respect ma’am, my favourite kind 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014I thought I was following you already, but clearly my brain is woollier than even I thought! Well, I am now 🙂
LikeLike
narf77
/ April 2, 2014Cheers 🙂 I love that your head is stuffed with wool. What a gorgeous place for the mice to nest 🙂 Mine is crammed full of useless OH&S at the moment. The mice boycotted my mind as a bad joke barren of anything wonderful and entirely too twitchy and angsty for nesting purposes 😦
LikeLike
Nice piece of work
/ April 2, 2014gotta love those oven gloves…. 🙂
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014It’s just a case of lateral thinking!
LikeLike
mabbsonsea
/ April 2, 2014Thanks for these inspirational ideas. I’ve re-blogged this great post
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 2, 2014Thank you… glad to provide some inspiration!
LikeLike
mabbsonsea
/ April 2, 2014Reblogged this on mabbsonsea and commented:
There are some great ideas on this blog. These are particularly inspirational … and fun.
LikeLike
davidprosser
/ April 2, 2014Great reminders all. We need to preserve the planet for generations to come.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 3, 2014And I think we can, if we all do something…
xxx
LikeLike
gentlestitches
/ April 3, 2014There was a lot in that post and it was all heartening. Loved your teaching pic gotta get a bee quilt pattern and glad I somehow found your webpage. 😀
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 3, 2014No point in being negative…. if permaculture has taught me one thing it’s that we can all make a difference
LikeLike
claidig
/ April 4, 2014We use egg cartons for seedlings, although currently they are empty and taking up space since no one is free long enough to grow things, sadly. However, old bed slats have been nailed together to make a couple of flower beds, and a couple of old drawers from a seriously dilapidated chest are sitting around our garden. Thing is, we have a LOT of stuff – I’m worried we may never run out!
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 4, 2014Ah yes, an excess of stuff… we know that feeling!
LikeLike
Marylin Warner
/ April 25, 2014Excellent information and suggestions, very well presented. Everyone can make a difference, especially when offered ideas and encouragement. Thank you.
LikeLike
The Snail of Happiness
/ April 26, 2014I think I’ll probably do another set soon… I have lots of ideas!
LikeLike