Rain, run-off and my new water butt.

One step closer to greening the garden I am now the proud owner of a water butt. After 2 days of torrential rain the new water butt and the watering can underneath are full.

This whole process has made me consider how rainwater behaves in my garden.

The surface of my garden is gravel, slabs and concrete. The whole yard is surrounded by a wall. I plan to have lots of pots growing veggies and herbs. I have 2 guinea pig hutches and a shed.

All the ground cover is impermeable - apart from the gravel. So this means that most of the rain falling over my garden will hit the of the shed, the paving slabs, concrete and will over the surface and down the drains. Given that most surfaces in a town are impermeable, the minute it rains the drainage systems have a much larger volume of water to cope with than they would have in a more rural area.

I laid the graveled areas of the garden with a landscape membrane that lets rainwater in but not sunlight. So, no weeds, but the infiltration rate (the rate at which the ground is capable of soaking up rain water) hasn't been deminished. If the rain is coming down at a rate that is greater than the capacity of the soil to soak up the water then it will run over the surface. Obviously this happens to areas of soil.

At the moment, in the UK we still suffer from droughts - even with all this rain. Instead of the water hitting the soil and having the chance to soak into the ground and eventually topping up the water table, it is channeled straight into the drains and treated as grey water along with washing machine and bath water. So, what's my point? It's a really simple one I s'pose - it's an important resource so we need to save it. Ideally, I would have a garden with grass and soil, but I haven't. But by having a water butt and saving the water that I can, I'm making a step in the right direction. I'd like to have some pots with plants in them - possibly strawberries or other things I could eat. The pots may go some way to aleviate the amount of water heading straight into the drains, but as the plants are contained there is no chance for any rain water to make it to the water table.

On a practical note, both plants and water butt are in the garden so no need to wrestle with watering can and kitchen sink. Plants prefer rain water to tap water. At the moment, water isn't metered in my area, but it'll only be a matter of time before it is. So, why not get into the swing of using the free water from the sky !

More Hip than Hippie Podcast

This is a really quick entry today. But just had to spread the word about a podcast called More Hip than Hippie. Each hour long episode is hosted by 2 Californian ladies Dori and Val who love the environment and raise awareness of current issues and discuss topical subjects. The programme is and entertaining way and Dori and Val never fail to neglect their other passions beer and chocolate. Having only just found the podcast I'm playing catch up. But give it a try by clicking the link on the right.

Over dramatic?

Sat at work and just checked my emails. Most days I have a mail from the Friends of the Earth, which even if I can't action directly, always make me think about the wider picture and consider my actions.

But the thing that has really stuck with me this morning was a comment made on Radio 4 while I was in the shower (please note I have a wind up radio for extra smugness!)

Palaeontologists suggested that all life on earth comes to an end as a result of climate change - too hot or too cold - either way no food! Hardly a new thought, but for some reason I have really dwelled on it today. My old geography teacher always used to point out there is alot of evidence to suggest that we are still coming out of the last Ice Age. So then comes the million dollar question which is by no way a new thought, do our actions as humans the blindest bit of difference? Perhaps this change in temperature is one if the earth natural cleansing cycles up there with plate tectonics and meteorology - (like the Principal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia_hypothesis).

Looking at the situation like that it seems an uneven contest - weedy humans v the earth. Doesn't look good, does it? One example in England that springs to mind is where we have tried to preserve beeches to keep the tourism in small coastal towns. Groins are installed and the sand is trapped behind them. Well, for a while anyway. But longshire drift is still takes place and the sea will move the sand along the coast, grain by grain whether we like it or not. And for the time the sand is trapped at one beach another beach further along the coast is deprived of it. At a risk of sounding defeatist, are we just putting off the inevitable?

So with the 'we're all doomed' mindset, can we all have huge carbon footprints and stomp over the land and sea and probably space as well without giving a shit because it's all going to go up in smoke / get covered in ice anyway. Being nice to the earth is only putting it off the big freeze / scorch for a few years.

Or, looking at it from a slightly different perspective, does that mean there is the potential that fellow humans in years to come, will have to live on a planet that is a much tougher place than it is now, bith with few resources to cope. Less places where food can grow, less space to live because the population has exploded, more mouths to feed. Would are blasie actions be condemning future generations to a life of starvation and fuel deprivation?

But then perhaps we don't have to worry about that. It's not happeneing now. It's some time in the future. Besides, people have been banging on about it for years and quite frankly it's a right pain in the arse. We certainly won't be here to see it or experience it. Long gone by then, all of us. At the moment people from the over indulged West watch people in Africa suffer from both starvation and fuel deprivation and we're able to shut it out of our minds while it's happening now. While we are all alive and standing on the same earth. So, it's hardly a surprise to imagine that shutting future images of the earth when we're not even going to be here.

That one comment on the radio really made me stop and think. It doesn't seem to matter which way I look at it, we as humans have to be careful and mindful with the finite resources that are available to us. Even if the human race isn't going to be stopped in it's tracks by dramatic climate change, if we just use resources at a rate faster than they can be replenished, then we're on a sticky wicket. Am I being over dramatic? I don't think I am.

I can by no means live a completely sustainable life or be on the planet without making any impact at all, but I'm going to try a bit harder than I have been. Sometimes, when I'm feeling lazy - or skint, it's easy to let things slide, but everything I do havs an impact on someone somewhere and I don't want to forget that. I'm going to try and change one thing everyday and make a little difference. Even if it's only a slightly quirky one!

Feet or Car?

The obvious answer is feet - of course. Saves money and is another action that is a step closer to reducing your impact on the environment.

There are some times when using your car is unavoidable - I live in the west country and although I can use the train to get to Bristol and Exeter, the service is hopeless to the coast or the villages. But, my car usage is down to once a week now and that is a huge improvement for me.

FEET - Advantages

• No traffic jams
• You can have a beer and only have to be in control of you feet!
• Travel as and when you want
• no waiting for a bus or being restricted by the car park ticket running out
• Even having to buy a ticket in the first place
• Let alone looking for a parking space.
• Good dose of fresh air
• Great chance to listen to your Mp3 and catch up with a podcast or new album

FEET - Disadvantages

• Could get wet if it's rainy - solution - carry a brolley!
• If you have lots of shopping you could be weighed down - on the positive side it's extra bit of exercise!
• Comfy shoes needed unless you are a hard core high heel wearer.
  

CAR - Advantages

• You won't get wet in the rain
• You can get there quickly unless you're in a city in which case you sit in a jam)
• Great flexibility for holidays
• You can get lots of stuff in them!

CAR - Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Polluting
• Need to find a parking space and then pay for it.
• Use it too much and you'll get fat
• You can't have a beer
• Traffic jams

Both feet and cars have their ups and downs but staying out of your car is good for your health, the health of the planet and the health of your bank balance. More money to spend on organic food!

And, if you want to go further or faster how about a bike!!

Welcome to Green Not Grunge !

'Being green is as easy as flicking off a light switch'

Green and ethical issues are no longer the preserve of a small group of sandle wearing eccentrics green has become mainstream.

For every decision, be it shopping for food or choosing your holiday, there is always a choice that is more ethical or greener; perhaps options that you may not have considered. So, practical solutions for day to day living without hugging too many trees (unless you really want to) and feeling that you are still leading a happy and satisfying life. Who knows, maybe an increased sense of satisfaction in taking more action to reduce your impact on the environment.

The aim of this website is to offer both practical and green alternatives to everyday choices in one place.

Remember that everything makes a difference and integrating small lifestyle changes. Think 'Evolution not Revolution'.

The subject is vast so it is inevitable that issues, topics and ideas will be missed. To overcome this the site will constantly evolve and suggestions on any aspect of the site are always welcome. The contact details can be found under contact us on he home page menu. While suggestions are always welcome, please keep them constructive.