Sustainably Simple

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Sustainable Tailoring by Gillian June

Published by Rachel Elms

Sustainability in the News – February 2018

Published by Rachel Elms

Valentine’s Day Gifts that Give Back with Arthouse Meath

Published by Rachel Elms

Sustainability in the News – January 2018

Published by Rachel Elms

The Big Garden Birdwatch

Published by Rachel Elms

This weekend half a million people will take part in the world’s largest wildlife survey – the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch!

Will you be one of them? If so then read on for everything you need to know…

Birdwatching at RSPB Minsmere today!

Held every year in January it is a fantastic opportunity to not only learn more about the birds in your garden but to also provide the RSPB with valuable information – by counting the birds you see they can determine which species are thriving and which species are threatened.

In fact, because of the survey, the RSPB know that since 2017 there has been a 66% decrease in the number of goldfinches seen in gardens but an 87% increase in wrens!

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk

How can you take part?

It’s simple – just watch the birds in your garden for one hour and record the highest number of species you see at any one time. For the best results I recommend doing it early in the morning when the birds are likely to be most active. Once the hour is up, send your results to the RSPB online here.

To attract birds into your garden over the coming spring months I’ve put together some top tips:

1. Bird foods

Put out nutritious bird foods such as seed mixes, suet treats and meal worms to attract a variety of wild birds into your garden. Feeding is particularly important in winter and spring but, if possible, birds should be fed all year round.

2. Bird baths

Birds need fresh water to drink and to wash – baths are a great way for birds to remove debris, preen feathers and cool off in summer. Remember though to pop a ping pong ball in yours over winter to stop the water freezing up!

3. Nest boxes

Now is the best time to put up nest boxes before the nesting season starts in mid-February. Make sure it is sheltered from the weather, near vegetation, 1-3m above ground and away from your bird feeders to avoid any conflict/ disturbance.

New Year, New (More Sustainable) Me

Published by Rachel Elms

We’re already half way through the first month of 2018 and research says that almost half of us will break our New Year’s resolution before the end of January.

How are you getting on with yours?

I spent some time over the christmas break reflecting on my progress towards living a sustainably simple life and, wanting to do better, I decided to shape my resolutions around making a more positive difference in 2018.

And here they are… together with my progress so far!

1. Read more

I love reading yet I never used to make the time for it. Now I try to read for at least 30 minutes everyday. It’s a great way to relax, escape and educate yourself on whatever it is that might interest you – be it sustainability or something else entirely!

A couple of great books on my list right now are:

I’ll let you know what I think once I’ve finished them!

2. Keep better updated with sustainability in the news

It’s important to stay informed of the trends and changes that are taking place in the world around us. Yet sometimes it can be overwhelming to stay updated when there are so many different news stories and sources to follow.

That’s why I’m introducing a “sustainability in the news” section with a monthly summary to help you stay on top of the most important headlines.

Until then, some great resources include:

3. Say no to single use plastic

So this is the hardest of my resolutions. Even though I always bring my canvas bag to the supermarket, I never buy plastic water bottles and I refuse plastic straws, it is my food shop that lets me down here.

Since the supermarkets wrap everything (completely and unnecessarily) in plastic I want to start buying more often from zero waste stores such as:

I will keep you closely updated on this resolution – I already know it won’t be easy!

What difference do you want to make this year? Are you planning to live more sustainably in 2018? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Sustainable Gift Guide: For the Jewellery Lover

Published by Rachel Elms

Bedazzle this christmas with the best ethical and eco-friendly jewellery brands!

One of my favourite brands is Stockholm Rose Designs – founded by Sophie Butler in 2016 she decided to combine her passion for jewellery with her passion for the environment by putting sustainability at the heart of the brand.

However what I love about Stockholm Rose Designs is not just the brand’s sustainable ethos but also the thought that goes into making each unique piece. Every bracelet, every necklace, every ring has been carefully handmade by Sophie in her small workshop using recycled materials and eco-friendly processes.

You can view the full collection here and if you love it as much as me then you can use the discount code SUSTAINABLYSIMPLE for 15% off all jewellery at Stockholm Rose Designs!

Photo credit: Stockholm Rose Designs

For your chance to win a pair of dangly earrings from Stockholm Rose Designs, as well as lots of other ethical goodies, head over to my Instagram page today where you can find the details for entering my christmas giveaway!

Gift Guide

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1. Sidai Deisgns – Grey & Gold Warrior Bracelet £34.00

Sidai collaborate with Maasai women to create unique, handmade jewellery since this goregous cuff that is made with recycled materials.

2. Noted – Silver Hoop Earrings £15.00

Organic shaped hoop earrings from the independent boutique, Noted Fashion.

3. Beach Candy – Orange Tassel Bracelet £34.00

This bracelet is handmade by rural Indian artisans in fair trade working conditions.

4. Stockholm Rose Designs – Full Moon Ring £43.42

The hammered full moon ring is made with 100% recycled silver using eco-friendly processes.

5. Bombolulu – Oval Drop Earrings £14.00

These delicate copper earrings are handmade by Bombolulu, a fair trade social business in Kenya that provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

6. Wild Fawn – Hammered Circle Necklace £29.00

This gorgeous pendant necklace is handmade in London using recycled sterling silver.

Sustainable Gift Guide: For the Beauty Lover

Published by Rachel Elms

Up your beauty game this winter with our list of beauty must-haves!

Two brands that you really cannot miss are Fruu and Evolve – both are fabulous beauty brands with sustainability at the very heart of their agenda.

Let’s first take a closer look at Fruu, an organic and vegan cosmetics company that specialises in selling a wide variety of fruity lip balms. Their products are 100% biodegradable with most of their ingredients produced as a by-product from processed food waste, generating extra income for small scale fruit farmers.

Fun, fresh and fruity lip balms from Fruu

Another of my favourite beauty brands is Evolve, a great organic and natural beauty brand who focus on developing small batch products with high-quality ingredients. We particularly love Evolve’s daily defense moisture mist which is packed full of hydration boosting ingredients including prickly pear which both hydrates dry skin and calms irritated skin.

Protect and hydrate your skin with Evolve’s Daily Defence Moisture Mist

Keep an eye on my Instagram account next weekend for your chance to win a moisture mist from Evolve as well as some fruity lip balms and a coffee scrub from Fruu!

Gift guide:

1. Evolve – Daily Defence Moisture Mist £10.00

An organic facial mist from Evolve to calm, protect and hydrate your skin.

2. Nathalie Bond – Rose Geranium & Patchouli Soap Block £6.00

This floral soap block is vegan friendly and handmade in small batches.

3. The Printed Peanuts – Solid Shampoo Soap Bar £5.75

Made with 100% natural oils and wrapped in 100% recycled paper!

4. Fifth Origins – Rhododendron & Rose Soap £25.03

A pack of four soaps, handmade by artisan women in the Himalayas.

5. Fruu – Avocado Lip Balm £2.99

One of Fruu’s fruitilicious lip balms, infused with hydrating aloe vera.

6. Bloomtown – Limited Edition Luxury beauty Baubles £23.00

Handcrafted and reusable baubles. Each contains an eco-friendly and cruelty-free beauty product!

Please note that I make a small commission on purchases generated by some of the links in this blog post

Sustainable Gift Guide: For the Hygge Home

Published by Rachel Elms

As the cold weather and snow continues to sweep in, warm up your home with these lovely gift ideas!

I am particularly excited to share with you the story of Flock – an ethical clothing brand that we love for its commitment to 4 guiding principles of sustainability.

Natural fibres – Flock uses natural fibres that offer superior quality and longevity than its synthetic alternatives. Plus, natural fibres are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable!
Who made our clothes? – A frequently asked question by ethical fashion enthusiasts, Flock have personally visited everyone who has made their clothes in both the UK and Italy.
Quality – Flock’s conscious focus on small batch production enables them to create high quality clothing and reduce the potential for wastage within their supply chain.
Give back – 10% of the profit of every sale goes to the Flock Fund which supports three charities with a positive impact on society and the environment: Lend with Care, Unseen and Trees for Cities.

So it’s really no wonder that Flock have been awarded the Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury for their commitment to being a responsible brand!