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If you are looking to take some steps towards living in a more green and sustainable way let me help you with enough ideas to fill a year!  Based on my series of Weekly Green Tips I have now combined all the weekly tips I gave into one post giving you a new idea for every day of the year .... 365 ways to help you save the planet.  I appreciate you may already do some or others are either irrelevant to you or maybe impossible to tackle right now - but hopefully there are plenty here you can action.  And imagine what a difference we could make to the world if we all took up these tips.

To make it easier for you to find them I have linked to all of them below in 7 main groups.  And of you are wondering why there are not 52 I did a few super blogs of 14 and even 21 tips to cover when I had time away from blogging! Oh and the last one had a list of nine as try as I may I couldn't lose 2!!

A years worth of planet saving tips

Theme - REDUCE

Disposables to go - 7 throw away products you do not need to buy
Saving water - 7 ways to save water around the house
Don't buy - 7 products you really should NOT be buying
Christmas Waste - 7 ways to reduce waste over the festive season

Theme - GARDENING and WILDLIFE

Get Growing - 7 useful tips for new gardeners
Veg for everyone - 7 places you can grow veg even without a vegetable plit
Helping bees - 7 ways to attract bees to our garden
Helping Beneficial Bugs - 7 ways to get good bugs in your garden
July veg - 7 vegetables you can sow as late as July
Water Wise Watering - 7 tips to use less water in the garden
Organic Gardening - 7 tips to turn organic in the garden
Helping the birds - 7 tips to attract birds to your garden
Bird Friendly plants - 7 plants that birds love
Home-made plant labels - 7 plant labels you cna make yourself
Green Lawns - 7 ways to grow a greener lawn
Storing the Harvest - 7 ways to store your home grown produce

Theme - FAMILY and LEISURE

Green Holidays - 7 ways you can still be green when on holiday
Green Hobbies - 7 ways to keep your leisure time green
Get outside in Winter - 7 ways to tempt you outside in the middle of winter
Foraging - 7 fantastic foods to forage for
Avoid All inclusive holidays - 7 reasons you should not go all inclusive
Green Holiday Ideas - 7 type of holiday that are great for the planet
Green Baby - 7 tips to bring up a green baby
Green Pets - 7 ways to keep your pets green
Back to School - 7 tips to help keep school bags etc green
Halloween - 7 spookily green Halloween ideas
Christmas Presents - 7 festive present giving ideas
Easter - 7 tips to help keep the Easter Bunny green

Theme - FOOD

Bread - 7 ways to use up old bread
Fish - 7 sustainable fish you can eat
Avoiding Supermarkets - 7 other places where you can food shop
Cooking - 21 ways to cook efficiently
Christmas Food - 7 foods that are in season at Christmas (UK and northern France)
Avoiding Palm Oil - 7 ways to not consume palm oil
Cooking from Scratch Part 1 - 7 tips on how to cook great food from scratch
Cooking from Scratch Part 2 - 7 more tips on how to cook great food from scratch

Theme - HOME and WORK

Green Renovations - 7 ways to keep your DIY green
Dealing with Clutter - 7 ways to keep clutter out of landfill
Newspapers - 7 uses for old newspapers
Heating - 21 ways to heat your home (and work) using less energy
Old Clothes - 7 tips for keeping old clothes out of landfill
Paper - 7 ways to reduce paper use
Buying Tropical products - 7 tips to buy tropical products sustainably

Theme - TRANSPORT

Greening your car - 7 tips to keep your car as green as possible
Driving Tips - 7 ways to drive efficiently

Theme - MISC

Quotes - 7 green quotes to live our lives by
7 Random green things we should all do this week
The 9 Rs - 9 words we should think about in everything we do

Have you got any more great ideas we can take on board to help save the planet?

Week 48 - 9 Green Rules

9 Green Rules to Live by

1.  REDUCE

We live in a consumer society where we all buy far more than we need and use too much energy.  This level of Western consumption is quite simply unsustainable and the most important step we can all take to help is to reduce how much "stuff" we buy and how much energy we use. Advertising bombards us with the message that we need so many things but we don't and reducing how much stuff we have and energy we consume in our every day life is critical to reducing humanity's impact on our planet.  To give you some inspiration here are 100 ways to reduce your plastic use.

2.   RE-USE

We need to ditch single use items and switch to quality items that can be re-used time and time again.  We are becoming lazy and will happily chuck things away after using them once without so much as a second thought because it is so easy to just buy another one.  This is not sustainable. 

3.  REPAIR

Don't just chuck it because it is broken - so many things are easy to repair.

4.  RECYCLE

If something cannot be reused or repaired then recycling is the next best option.  But recycling comes with it's own set of environmental problems so where possible always reduce and re-use first.   You can read more about the impact of recycling here - A Future for Recycling.

5.  RESPECT

If you respect something you will not want to harm it.  We all need to have a greater respect for the world that has given us our lives and will give future generations their lives. 

6. RESPONSIBLE

We are all responsible for the damage to our world.

It is as simple as that.  The pollution and degradation of our wonderful planet is not someone else's problem and we are all responsible.  Products we use cause pollution.  Our rubbish fills up landfill, breaks down into harmful substances, kills wildlife and our fellow humans.  If we want a future for this planet we all have to accept our responsibility for the damage and we all need to become more responsible.

7.   REJECT,  RE-EVALUATE and REWRITE the RULES

And this is the crux.

We must reject what is seen as normal when in fact it is so damaging, re-evaulate how we live our lives and rewrite a new set of environmental rules to live our lives by.

We must rewrite the Rules.


We will all do anything to protect the ones we love - our friends and family.  Now we need to extend that protection to the planet as a whole, for our future family and for their friends.  Putting these 9 words put into action means you will help be part of the movement that saves the planet rather than destroys it.

These 9 words have been the backbone of my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  To read them all, Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column.

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Week 47 - How to have a Green Lawn

7  Tips to Grow a Green Lawn

1.  Cut the grass longer

Unless you are centre court at Wimbledon you really do not need to mow your grass so short.  Cutting it no shorter than 6cm (2.5") will keep it looking green with less energy expenditure and it will survive any periods of drought much better.

2.   Leave the clippings as fertiliser

When you mow, so long as there are not too many, leave the clippings to fall back into the lawn and they will act as a natural fertiliser.  If there are lots though, then they are better composted but do make sure you mix the clippings with lots of drier material such as leaves or paper/cardboard to stop your heap becoming a black, sludgy mess!

3.  Avoid all Lawn Chemicals

Do not use chemical fertilisers or weed killers on your lawn - rake out moss and dig our individual dandelions and large weeds ... and try to be a bit less worried if the odd weed takes up residence.  I love seeing daisies in lawns and I let our dandelions flower once in spring to collect their petals for dandelion jelly.  To feed your lawn rake in a fine, natural compost.

4.  Make a meadow or area for veg

Why not let some of your lawn grow long and make a wild flower meadow?  This is absolutely fabulous for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects which in turn feed the birds.  And a meadow in full flower is simply stunning to look at.  If you can't give up a whole area for a meadow (and it only needs to be small) then leave a strip of grass in front of hedges/walls to grow long.  This will be a great habitat for all sorts of creatures and all you need to do is cut it once in the autumn.

5.  Grow Veg not Grass

You must know how wonderful fresh vegetables taste so you can turn a small section of your lawn into a veg patch and grow your own.

6.   Do Not Water the Lawn

Even in a drought when the lawn starts to turn brown, the grass is not dead and in almost all cases it will green up when the rain falls again.  If you absolutely cannot go without watering then make sure you water thoroughly just once every 7-10 days and allow the water to penetrate deep down and encourage strong, deep roots.  Watering only the surface every day will do more harm than good and be a waste of valuable water.  Avoid watering in the heat of the day when the grass can be scorched and water loss to evaporation will be higher.

7.   Invest in a Push Mower

If your lawn isn't too huge then the greenest thing you can do is invest on an old fashioned rotary push mower.  The quality of the cut is way better than any electric or petrol mower and you'll get a great work out every time you mow the grass.



Have you mown your lawn yet this year?  I have and as a result I have some very happy pigs who get the extra grass clippings:



Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 46 - 7 Eco-Easter Ideas

7  Ways to have A Green Easter

1.  Choose Easter Eggs with Minimal Packaging

Easter Eggs are one of the worst products on the market for excess packaging.  A much smaller than expected foil-wrapped egg in a plastic mould, in a cardboard box that is finally wrapped in clear plastic.  Ouch!  That is a lot of non recyclable single use plastic for a quick treat.  So choose eggs with less packaging or simply don't give as many. (See pt 4)

French Easter eggs generally have less packaging

2.  Go for Fair-Trade and Organic Chocolate

If you are going to buy chocolate buying fair-trade and organic is the best option for workers and the environment.

3.  Buy Real Eggs

Head to your local farm shop and buy some locally produced free range eggs.  Have fun using natural dyes to colour them and use these for your Easter Egg Hunts.

4.  Buy Other Presents

Why not get a bit creative this year and buy some different Easter gifts.  How about some organic carrot seeds so your children can grow tasty carrots for the Easter Bunny?  Or an Easter themed book or china Easter cup.  Once the chocolate is gone, it's gone but other gifts will last much longer.

5.  Support Local Businesses

I have already mentioned buying real eggs from a local producer and you can extend this to more of the food you eat this Easter.  Head to your nearest farmer's market or farm shop this Easter and help support local producers.  Also look out for Easter events being run by National Trust properties and businesses in your area.  Your local open farm may have real chicks, baby rabbits or lambs for you to coo over.  Or what about a family holiday at an Eco-Gite?  Do remember though, that if you are walking in the countryside with your dog that it must be under control and not chase livestock.

6.   Make your own Easter Bonnets etc.

For bonnets, table decoration, baskets etc you can make your own and avoid over-packaged and overly plastic items.  Whilst you can get some lovely Easter craft kits it is even better if you make your own from items you've already got in the house.

7.   Make you own Easter Treats

Pretty much as soon as food retailers get Christmas out of the way then the first Creme Eggs appear on the shelves, followed all too soon by all sort of Easter foods to tempt those with a sweet tooth.  OK, by now you MUST know the score - they'll be over packaged, high in sugar and fat and packed full of e-numbers and chemical additives.  You can avoid all of these by making your own.  Home made and decorated Easter cupcakes are so much more tasty and the kids will love helping you to make them.

Do you have any more tips to enjoy a more Eco-Easter?  Or any favourite craft ideas?  Please do let me know in a comment.

Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

Week 45 - How to buy Sustainable Tropical Products

7  Tips for Buying Sustainable Tropical Products

1.  Why we need to buy Tropical Products.

Tropical products provide the backbone of the economy for many tropical countries and if the West were suddenly to stop buying them we would put millions of people further into poverty.  However there are ways we can buy tropical goods that help these countries and ways that harm.

2.  Buy Fairtrade

Fairtrade is about paying farmers and workers a fair wage and ensuring decent working conditions.  By supporting fairtrade products you are helping to develop thriving communities that are in control and not reliant on charity, whose futures are secure.

3.  Buy Organic

Put in the simplest of terms, products that are grown organically will not contain pesticide residues and the farmers and workers who produce them will not have been exposed to these health damaging products.

4.  Don't buy Cheap Pineapples

Whilst it is said the thick skin of the pineapple, which isn't eaten, protects the inner flesh from having pesticide residues the far bigger problem with non organic pineapples is the damage by pesticides to both the farmers growing them and the environment as a whole.  Many are also working for very low wages without any union support.

Fernando Ramirez, an agronomist from Costa Rica's  National University explains the problems of pineapple production in his country.

"Pineapples need very large amounts of pesticides, about 20kg of active ingredient per hectare per cycle. The soil is sterilised; biodiversity is eliminated. Fourteen to 16 different types of treatment are typically needed, and many have to be applied several times. They use chemicals that are dangerous for the environment and human health."

5.  Buy Bananas

Unlike most fruits, bananas ripen off the plant.  They are therefore picked when green and transported by boat which is more environmentally friendly than flying.  They ripen on the longer journey without spoiling.  Oh and organic bananas really do taste so much sweeter.

6.  Buy FSC Certified Hardwoods

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, an not for profit international organisation with the remit of promoting responsible forests where the highest environmental and social standards are maintained.  Buying FSC certified hardwoods will ensure the wood is not illegally felled from virgin rainforest and that the forests where it is grown are managed sustainably.

7.   Never Buy:

There are certain tropical products that you should never buy as they can never be sustainable.  These include coral, tortoise shell, fur and palm oil.  In contrast, buying fairtrade and organic tea, coffee, chocolate, spices and nuts etc can be sustainable.


Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 44 - 7 Green Reasons to Cook from Scratch (Part 2)

7  Green Reasons to Cook from Scratch (Part 2)

1.  Less salt and Sugar

Ready cooked meals and takeaways are often high in salt and sugar making them a pretty poor food  option.  Eating too many can lead to health problems whose treatment is a drain on valuable resources.

2.  Avoids chemical additives

Likewise such food is often laden with all sorts so chemical additives.  Whether these are unhealthy is argued at length elsewhere but do you really want to be filling your body with masses of man-made ingredients?  Home-made food also tastes fabulous!

3.  Greater understanding of where food comes from

If you cook from scratch you can start to understand where your food comes from and how it was produced.  Buy a takeaway chicken dinner and you have no connection to the fact that the chicken  probably led its entire life in a factory farm, was fed with all sorts of growth hormones etc before being killed in a huge inhumane abattoir and then the meat pumped with water.  But make that same chicken dinner yourself and you can choose a outdoor reared bird that is not full of chemicals and was despatched quickly in a humane way and not full of water.  You will also be able to choose food that is local and seasonal.

4.  Slows life down a bit and holds friends and families together

The 21st century is a fast place where everything, including food is instant.  Bung an over-packaged meal in the microwave and gobble it down a few minutes later.  In contrast cooking from scratch helps slow things down a bit.  It gives you time to really appreciate what you are eating and you are much more likely to eat the meal together with friends and family around a table - a simple way to foster great relationships with the people in your life.

You may also find yourself talking to food producers about the best way to cook certain ingredients, what is in season and how the food was produced.  When you know more about who produces your food you are more likely to want to cook with and eat ethically produced food.

5.  Puts you in control of where your food comes from

Much ready cooked food is manufactured by multinational companies whose interest is profit-centred not food-centred.  They control what the farmers grow and how.  They have huge buying power and can reject produce and force down the price paid to farmers who in turn cut corners to try and make a profit themselves.  When you cook from scratch you can choose where your food is produced and how.  You are in control and you can  choose organic, ethical, fair-trade and local food

6.   Retains vital skills

Popping a ready cooked meal in the oven may be quick and convenient but what if you can't do that?  How are you going to feed yourself and your family if you don't know how to cook.  What if ready cooked food becomes too expensive for you to buy?  Cooking from scratch means you retain these vital skills.

7.  It's fun and gives you a sense of achievement

And that has to be a good thing!


Do you have any more reasons why we should be cooking from scratch.  Do please let me know in a comment.

Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 43 - 7 Green Reasons to Cook from Scratch (Part 1)

7  Green Reasons to Cook from Scratch

1.  It saves you money

Ready cooked meals and takeaways are expensive.  Cook from scratch and with the money you save you'll be able to buy what can be more pricey organic or fair trade ingredients and still be spending out less money for infinitely better quality food

2. You can use organic, fair-trade and local ingredients

All of which are better for the environment and for you.  Less chemical use, better working conditions for agricultural workers and minimal food miles.

3. Use your own home-grown ingredients

Now that really in the way to have zero food miles and you cannot getter fresher than produce from your own garden/allotment.

4.  Eat Seasonally

By following the above points you will begin to eat seasonally, not relying on ingredients flown in form the other side of the world.  Yes, enjoy those strawberries in your desserts in summer and savour that apple crumble in mid winter when strawberries are not local and are expensive and tasteless.

5. Less Waste

Huge amounts of food is wasted in the manufacture of ready cooked meals etc from food rejected at the farm through the production methods.

One exception to this is cheap processed meat products where every available piece of the animal can legally be shoved in a sausage under the term "meat".  You will also find incredibly high fat levels.  Read this article for more about the way cheap sausages are made. 

5.  Less Packaging

Processed food comes with so much packaging much of which cannot be recycled.  Dump the ready meal and watch your bin slim down!

7.  Avoids Palm Oil

You won't find palm oil on the oil aisle in your local supermarket but you'll find it is so many ready made foods from cakes to curries that is is almost impossible to avoid ... but easy to do so when you cook from scratch.  Read this post to see why how else you can avoid palm oil.

Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 42 - 7 Eco Holiday Ideas

7 Green Holiday Ideas

1.  Independently owned and managed holiday cottages

If you book your holiday direct with the owner then you are supporting a family run business.  They will be putting money back into the local economy and you will not simply be lining the pockets of big multinational organisations.  Many of the large online travel agents also charge booking fees and certainly cannot offer the personal service you get with owners.  Owner-managers can help answer all your questions and help you find things like local organic food shops and ideas for green days out.  Use the hashtag #HolsDirect to search for independent holiday home owners on social media.

You might want to choose a holiday on a farm which is a great way to see how food is produced and to learn about the countryside.  So what about a holiday at Eco-Gites of Lenault on the smallholding in France that I run with my husband and boys?

2.  Eco-labelled holidays

Look for holidays that are specifically marketed as eco-friendly - they could include buildings constructed from reclaimed/green materials, those using renewable energy or offering organic/fair-trade food etc and are all likely to be more sustainable than large scale resorts.  Examples include eco cottages/lodges, small scale eco cruises or responsible eco-tours. 

3.  Walking/Cycling Holidays

If you like your holidays to be a bit more active what about walking a ling distance footpath or cycling across a country?  Many companies offer organised trips where your luggage is transported to your accommodation and all you have to do is walk or cycle to the next stop.

4.  Canal holidays

Here's a great way to see the countryside but maybe slightly less energetic than walking or cycling.

5.  Conservation Working Holidays

Another active idea here - organisation like the The Conservation Volunteers, The National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts (UK) organise holidays for groups of people to learn conservation skills through practical holidays.  Full training is given so you don't need any prior experience and you could become adept in such skills as dry stone walling, hedge laying, fencing or woodland management.

5.  Camping

Keep it simple and get back to Nature, sleeping under the stars - you don't need to buy all the newest and most expensive camping kit but I would recommend buying the best quality tent you can afford so that it lasts.

7.  Avoid flying - use the train or ferry

What-ever holiday you choose try to avoid flying and use public transport where possible.  This could be a ferry or train to get there and choose a holiday with good public transport links.  If this isn't possible (and in the case of Eco-Gites of Lenault we do recommend a car when you visit us) then look for activities to do locally that limit your car use (as I detailed in this blog post!). 

Remember, when you are on holiday do support local tourist attractions and businesses, eat in local restaurants and buy form local markets/traders.  Do not be tempted to buy mass produced gifts for your friends back home but go for those made locally - all this will put money back into and support the local economy.

Finally - this may be an often used saying but when it comes to holidays it is never more true:



Do you have any other green holiday ideas - maybe something you have already done or is on your travel bucket list?

I am linking this up to my monthly linky - Going Green. 
Have you also seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 41 - 7 Reasons to avoid All Inclusive Holidays

7 Green Reasons to avoid all inclusive holidays

1. You fly there

In most cases you'll be jetting off to a resort somewhere warm and we all know how damaging to the environment air travel is.

2.  Poor Food

All that unlimited food might seem like a great option but maybe less so when you think about it a bit more.  In many cases it will be the cheapest food the resort can buy and it certainly will not be be organic or fair trade.   It is unlikely that it will be locally sourced and much will be imported.  It will invariably be high in salt and sugar and as it is all free you will easily find yourself overeating. 

3.  You do not support the local economy

Following on from food that is imported your stay at an all inclusive resort will often not help the local economy.  You will not be eating in local, independent restaurants or buying local produce.  In many cases holidaymakers do not even step outside of the resort.  They do not support local tourist attractions or other businesses in any way at all.

4.  Staff are poorly paid and seasonal

To keep holiday prices down resort staff will be on low wages - in resorts only open for part of the year they will have no work out of season.  In other cases those working in the resort are not even locals.

5.  You will not see the country you are visiting

You arrive at the airport, a bus takes you to the resort, you spend your week there and return to the airport in the same bus.  The view from the bus window is the most many holidaymakers will see of the country they are visiting.  The resort offers a sanitised view of your host country where-as when you visit a country for real and stay amongst its people you learn about their culture, their strengths and their problems.  You will not appreciate the wide variety of cultures our world contains.

6.  Less personal service

Now it may seem that the staff are all wonderfully polite and will do anything to help you.  That is true but to them you are simply a faceless person who they will never see again.  However, if you book a holiday will a small independent tour operator or family run holiday cottage you will get real personal service.  Ask about the best green things to do locally and they will know.  You are helping to keep a family in business and they are genuinely pleased to help you.

7.  Resorts do not support empathy of other countries and cultures

Going to an all inclusive resort seems so easy and everything is organised for you.  By letting someone else sort out everything for your holiday you feel safe and all is good.  The opposite of that concept is a more chaotic world where you have to make your own decisions, perhaps one that is even perceived to be more dangerous ... but by being part of that world you will become a stronger person with more empathy for everyone who lives on this wonderful planet of ours.  You will feel far more inclined to protect the world when you see what wonderful people and places it contains.


And finally, just time for 2 mentions.  The first is my own small gite (holiday cottage) in Normandy France - Eco-Gites of Lenault and the second is for a Facebook Group I help run, called Book Your Holiday Direct with the Owner where you can find quality cottages, gites, villas and B&Bs all over the UK and France.  Come and join and book your next holiday with the owner, be that me or one of the owners on the group.

Eco-Gites of Lenault

Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 40 - My 7 Favourite Foraged Foods

7 Foraged Foods

1.  Wild Garlic

The leaves of wild garlic are often the first thing I get to pick at the beginning of the year and in a mild winter this can be as soon as early February.  I love them aded to all sorts of dishes with my favourite probably being a leek risotto.

2.  Beech Leaves

I have added this one, not because it is something I forage for a lot but because the young leaves make the most delicious alcoholic drink called Beech Leaf Noyau which I thought others might like to try!

3.  Dandelions

Possible the bane of many a gardener but not me.  I tolerate them in the veg patch as the pigs like them but is the flowers I wait for and turn into dandelion jam or jelly .... or syrup when sometimes it refuses to set.  Most people cannot believe the delicious preserve I offer them is made from dandelions.

4.  Elderflowers

... and berries in the autumn.  Elderflower champagne is so easy to make and a wonderfully refreshing summer drink.. Just a word of caution though - be careful what bottles you store it in.  The berries can be added to fruit jellies and chutneys or made into the unusually sounding Pontack Sauce .... that is best kept SEVEN years to mature.

5.  Blackberries

These must be the most commonly foraged berry with brambles popping up all over the place.  I love them in crumbles and this apple and blackberry cake.  What is your favourite way to eat them? 

6. Sloes

Say sloe to any forager and I bet their eyes will light up as they say Sloe Gin back to you!  But you can also add them to jellies and they really help them to set as they contain a high level of pectin.

7.  Rosehips

In WWII children were paid to collect rosehips which were made into a syrup.  With oranges and other citrus fruits unavailable the syrup became an invaluable source of Vitamin C for the nation's young people.  I make rosehip syrup to both help fight colds due to its vitamin contant and also because I love it drizzled over my morning porridge!

Foraging Rules

If you are heading out to forage please do follow these simpler rules:

1.  Be sure you know what you are foraging for - if in doubt leave it there.
2.  Only pick enough for your own use and leave plenty for nature and other foragers
3.  Ask the landowners permission
4.  Avoid heavily polluted areas and where foraging at or near ground level avoid areas with lots of dogs!


Have you seen all the other posts in my #WeeklyGreenTips series?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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Week 39 - Home-made plant labels

7 upcycled plant labels

1.  Twigs

Use a potato peeler to remove a section of bark from a thin twig and then write in pencil or pen on the shaved part.

2.  Corks

Save your corks, push them into a thin stick and write on them in permanent marker.  You could even stick them into the end of old forks.

3.  Ice lolly (popsicle) sticks

Save all those ice lolly sticks and use them with either permanent marker or pencil.  You could also paint them with blackboard paint and write with chalk.

4.  Wooden clothes peg

So simple - just clip it on the side of the pot/tray

5.  Flat pebble or stone

Next time you are at the beach collect some flat surfaced stones and paint plant names on them.  You can also add painted pictures if you are arty enough!

6. Old plastic cutlery

Don't chuck them - use them as labels so at least they are no longer single use plastic.  (As an extra you can also stick forks in the ground prongs side up to deter cats using your seed bed as a toilet!)

7.  Slate

The wind blew some slates off our roof recently which broke into pieces.  They won't be wasted though as they are ideal now as plant labels.
Finally, if you have bought plastic labels remember that you can use them lots of times until they finally break.  Always write in pencil which can be rubbed off.  And whilst one side of the label is easier to write on than the other you can still use them on both sides - just remember to cross off the name from the other side so you know if you've sown carrots or lettuces!


Have you seen all the other posts in #WeeklyGreenTips?  Click on "Weekly Green Tips" in the labels section in the right hand column for loads more green inspiration.

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