Some years ago there was a BBC television programme called It’s not easy being green. Whilst it included some interesting things, it used to annoy the hell out of me and Mr Snail, mainly because of the title. What better way to put people off trying to be more ‘green’ than by telling them that it’s difficult?
So, I want to share some images of what you can do to ‘be green’ that is not only easy, but fun, delicious, empowering, enjoyable, sociable and good for the planet. Let’s not wallow in the negativity; let’s not believe that the only people who can make a difference are rich or famous or in charge of big corporations. Let’s remember that we are all well-connected, because we are all connected with each other.
So, here are some of the ways that I have been green over the past few years.
I’ve been making my garden productive:
Leeks
All snuggled up in the laying box!
The ‘four sisters’ bed
Weeding and eating pests (before fruit set!)
Boston squash (a young one)
Chickens find freshly-cut docks highly entertaining.
An early harvest of Colleen
Colleen and Valor in a raised bed
Ready for composting in the dark
Broad beans
Germinating seeds
The fruit cage
Sunflower seeds
I’ve been putting my money where my mouth is and supporting local producers and installers as well as companies who recycle:
The leaf was made specially for me
Local cheese from Simply Caws – mileage specified
Each hook is unique and handmade
A busy market day
Local mill this is where we buy our flour
The happy snail yarn bowl
Chicken house made from recycled plastic
A local organic farm that sells direct
PV panels fitted by a local company
Handmade shawl pin and shawl made from British wool
I’ve been reducing packaging, especially single-use plastic:
Homemade compost – no bags
Ready and waiting to be filled – time and again
Sage from the garden
Bisected tube… using every last drop
We take our own containers when we buy coffee
Apple scrap vinegar
Freshly picked
Homemade passata
Cotton shopping bag
Bulk purchase
Shop bought pasta comes in plastic, but not homemade
Picked from a friend’s tree
Buying in bulk and in paper packaging. We’ll probably store potatoes in the bag once the oats are eaten.
I’ve been cooking delicious food with simple ingredients:
Making apple cider butter
Dinner
Make a cake
Homemade charcoal biscuits for the dogs
Omelette for tea!
Tomatoes for passata
Lactose-free raspberry and white chocolate ice cream: a taste of summer
Stewed rhubarb and strawberry
Cooking dinner
Mayonnaise with a little black pepper
Yum!
Personalised granola
Bottling fruit for winter
Brooklyn Blackout Cake
I’ve been creative – resuing, recycling repairing and repurposing:
All from oddments
Clever Mr S-o-h
Revitalising frogged yarn
Splint in place to repair my swift
Esme emerging from the ‘woodland’ laying box
Toilet roll middle pots
New mittens from scrap yarn
Solar, wind-up radio mended again!
Yarn from Freecycle
Bench mended with an old pallet
Fermented apple scraps for vinegar
Repurposed rotary dryer
Felted cashmere from an old cardigan
Making a bag
Making a draft excluder from scrap
Some of my string collection
The Snail of Scrappiness
And, not forgetting to share your ideas:
Sharing skills and food
Explaining about the Masterpiece
Tom Brown – a great teacher
The route to so many interesting people.
My diploma portfolio and the masterpiece
An outdoor session in the sunshine
Creations and creators
Whats in the bucket?
On-line tutorial
Me teaching permaculture at Karuna
Bartering!
Angie Polkey explaining how to use an A-frame for surveying
So, why not give being green a go? You might enjoy yourself!
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The Snail of Happiness 
nanacathy2
/ July 13, 2014Oh gosh you make it look so wonderful,just a need to change a mind set I guess!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014I think if people realised that it’s enjoyable, more folks would join in!
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lizard100
/ July 13, 2014I also hated the title. But when you think about the reference to the song from Kermit the frog ( a b side from Sesame Street) I think the point is that standing out from the crowd is hard. Though I agree it’s not obvious to most people.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014Too subtle… I think most people would just have taken it at face value… which is a shame since there was some interesting stuff on the show.
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lizard100
/ July 13, 2014Yep. You’re right. I think the people who made the show said as much too but the producers were keen in the name sadly.
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Karen B
/ July 13, 2014Wow! What a fantastic post. It is very impressive to read and see how much you both do to follow a green lifestyle. What I enjoyed about this was that I could actually give myself a little pat on the back for following a lot of the things you are illustrating too! It’s funny, but I don’t even think about many of the things as being anything other than normal home and garden management. I simply do what the women in my family have always done. It should not be considered hard, or a big effort to do these things, but I realise that is not the case for many.
Three cheers for you pointing out to us all that often the simple and old fashioned ways are best.
Love your chickens!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014It’s possible to make a difference in all sorts of ways. For example, today I made a raspberry version of your cake – it’s heavenly and really easy – thank you!
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davidprosser
/ July 13, 2014A great way to save money and to help the local economy at the same time. I’m dreaming of stewed rhubarb and custard now. Anybody got a tissue handy, I’m drooling again.
xxx Ginormous Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014It’s always the rhubarb that gets to you, isn’t it!?
xxx hugs xxx
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oawritingspoemspaintings
/ July 13, 2014Beautiful ideas, very creative, I thoroughly enjoyed the post!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014Thank you!
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quarteracrelifestyle
/ July 13, 2014A beautiful collection of photos from a simple life, truly lovely!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014Thank you… it’s not always that simple, but we try!
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quarteracrelifestyle
/ July 13, 2014Oh I know, it’s ALOT more work than walking into stores to buy whatever but I love it… it’s a gentler way of life, well that’s what it has brought to me. It’s brought appreciation for nature, our earth, an awareness of needs v wants – a simplicity. You are doing it beautifully 🙂
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narf77
/ July 13, 2014Its only hard being green when you are surrounded by rednecks…but then you just have to work smarter not harder 😉 People are always going to be suspicious of anything that challenges their own person status quo. If you can show them that it is going to benefit “them” then it’s sold. “Smarter, not harder” my new motto 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014Good motto… I think I will adopt it!
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narf77
/ July 14, 2014Hopefully you aren’t surrounded by rednecks (like we are 😉 ) It’s amazing how well you learn to blend in with the natives and like the wolf in sheep’s clothing…take them out…one…by…one… 😉
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katythenightowl
/ July 13, 2014When I think of how many of these things I used to do, it makes me want to go back, and do them all over again 🙂
I’m with you on the ‘it’s easier than you think’ mindset, though as, although things always seemed to take that little bit longer, I always had the satisfaction of knowing that most of our household needs were provided mainly by us, but also by local producers 🙂
Like the wonderfully tasty courgettes you brought around, it all saved on so many travel miles 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014Of course, as we get older and when we’re ill many activities become more difficult… and that’s why it’s important to share the abundance!
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katechiconi
/ July 13, 2014It’s not easy being green, it’s DEAD easy being green! And more satisfying, and cheaper and more fun, and more creative and more interesting and more responsible…. well, you get the picture, I’m sure. And by the way, we need more photos of the Girls, please. I miss mine and enjoy yours vicariously.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014I will do a special chicken post soon!
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katechiconi
/ July 13, 2014🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 13, 2014And I hope you noticed the guest appearance of the snail of scrappiness!
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katechiconi
/ July 13, 2014I did, and was honoured to be included in your feast of greenitude!
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Tamika Simpson
/ July 14, 2014Your images reflect my life…..perfectly. Nice to connect with other like minded souls. Nice blog site. I love the work we do for, earth, family and friends.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 14, 2014Thank you… the more of us who do it, the better the planet!
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oaktagdesigns
/ July 14, 2014Love this! The more you do, the easier it becomes, and the more you wonder why you did it any other way!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 14, 2014Too true.
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colorpencil2014
/ July 14, 2014What a great post and such beautiful photos: a garden of Eden indeed. And very inspiring as well. All good stuff and well done!!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 14, 2014I’m doing my best…
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Joanna
/ July 14, 2014This is really good and a great way to summerise what you’re doing! Hopefully I will get to the point you’re at one day 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ July 14, 2014Just remember – small steps, like the snail of happiness!
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Joanna
/ July 14, 2014That’s what I’m aiming for – small steps at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed (snail analogy is a good one!)
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