Where to start

[emmsy]

Hi All, im a newbie regarding the forum and being eco friendly and i just want tips and advice on where to start

i do common sense things like turn lights off when not in a room, and do everything i can to save electricity

i recycle also but also dont know much else what i can do

[MKG]

Hi Emmsy - just read through the previous posts, and you'll begin to get ideas about everything and anything. Just ease yourself into it - there's no blinding hurry. Remember the ...ish at the end of the forum name. Above all, enjoy it.

[hamster]

Do what you're interested in!

I love food, so the first 'green' things I did were things like eating seasonally and shopping at markets and suchlike (which I'd done to some extent before, but not wholly), then I got on to growing things, making jam, baking my own bread etc.

If you're sporty, see if you could cycle to work or to the shops instead of driving.

If you're arty and creative you could revamp old clothes into something new and funky.

Think of what you enjoy doing and go from there. Go down to your local library and see if they have any books.

Don't worry about trying to do everything at once, and don't get sucked into the myth that being green means you have to buy loads of expensive stuff!

Good luck!

[ina]

If you've never grown your own - try some herbs on the windowsill. That way you can find out whether you have "green fingers", too... And some are really dead easy (cress - grows on damp loo paper!), and they give you easy satisfaction with something "homegrown" on your dinner.

[Mydreamlife]

How about changing your cleaning products to a more planet friendly version. Also we started with herbs on the windowsill and then tomatos in pots then Potatoes in a big black bin! More recently toilet roll made from recycled paper and a water saving shower head. Try thie website... you can ever get a free shopping bag by pledging (Thats another eco thing - no carrier bags!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/treadlightly

Good luck and have fun!

[Peggy Sue]

We put a waterbut outside this time last year (a plastic barrel we aquaired rather than bought!). It was full in hours but it does make you realise how much water you use for things if you use it from a barrell.

Also just got rechargeable batteries- they are cost effective and save on landfil & manufacturing.

I did all the food stuff first coz I love food- growing it cooking it, eating it. So grow lots of easy stuff and cook with it if you like food, it just tastes so nice!