April 2007 Archives

One of the most satisfying, healthy and green things I do is to grow some of my own food in the garden. I'm more of a composter than a grower, though, but I do manage to cultivate quite a few annuals (tomatoes, potatoes, climbing beans, squashes) and perennials (one of my favourites is blackberries) and I look after some fruit trees.

Not only does growing something connect you directly with the Planet, but if you grow edibles it reduces your reliance on bought food, and you are guaranteed it's fresh. There's nothing quite like picking sweetcorn and getting it into a pan of boiling water within a couple of minutes, and eating it just 5 minutes later.

You don't even have to have a garden, a pot of home-sown basil on a window-sill will be just as satisfying... and nearly everyone has access to a reasonably lit window-sill. For those with yards and no soil, a container or pot will enable you to try courgettes or beans, or salad leaves or even the humble spud. Once you have grown something successfully, you get a real buzz and want to do it the next year, and with many people it becomes an important part of their life. For those wanting to be really green, it is a central feature and can take over their life in a beautiful and positive way.

It is not too late in the season to start, although you won't have time to grow peppers from seed as they need putting in much earlier. But I reccommend planting some herbs, a squash, pumpkin or outdoor cucumber, and climbing French beans, which are far better than Runner beans, especially in a dry season. Spending a few moments organising this now will hopefully give you much satisfaction over the year, and should result in something delicious and edible... and be part of your attempt to live a greener lifestyle. Good luck!

Social Workers care. You care about other people and the planet we all share, and the communities we live in. You work towards better health, better relationships, better living and working conditions and promoting a fairer world. I'm sure you care about yourself, the environment and for the welfare of people not yet born. Now I'm not a social worker - as such, but I care, and many of the things I do are connected with developing a just and equitable society, where we care about each other and take responsibility for our own and collective actions. I label my voluntary work 'promoting sustainability', others might call it 'green', and i've even been described as an 'eco-warrior' but I prefer to think of myself as an 'eco-lover'!

My column every 3 weeks and weekly blog for Community Care stems from my helping BBC Newsnight's 'Ethical Man' Justin Rowlatt with his year of green living. I have been trying to live a low impact lifestyle for 20 or so years, and therefore have a wealth of tips, ideas and suggestions about how you too can live a more ethical life, if you wish to. One of my main concerns is the issue of climate change caused by increased greenhouse gases from human activities, and I will share with you how I keep my fossil carbon emissions low. There has been debate in some circles about whether or not the high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are man-made and how exactly these are connected with climate change, but I invoke the precautionary principle, and suggest that if the majority of the world's experts are telling us that fossil-fuel emissions are going to raise sea levels, increase severe weather and wreck ecosystems, then we should aim to curb those emissions and take personal responsibility and action.

My column will have a different theme each time; the first one's water, as my compost-toilet is why Justin wanted to come and film... future columns will cover energy, transport, food, recycling, holidays etc. My blog however will not just add detail to the column's content, but will react to news, tell you what I've been doing in the garden and within the community groups I participate in. These include York Rotters home composters and York Credit Union, both of which I started, and others like Alternatives to Violence Project and the Carbon Rationing Action Group where I'm active as an organiser. I'm political too, and am standing in the local elections in May, and should I get elected, I'll be able to tell you about the trials and tribulations of a City Councillor.

Blogs are interactive. You can post your comments, add your views to debates and tell all readers your green solutions. I have much to learn about the world of Social Work, and may pose questions or display ignorance which you can help me with. You are also welcome to ask me questions about your ethical dilemmas and I will do my best to be helpful.