Mother's day gift ideas - that won't cost the earth!

For mum, this mother's day.

1. The best gift of all - a hug. Hugs certainly feel good, both on the giving and receiving end, and it turns out their effects are more than skin deep. A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that hugs increase the "bonding" hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease. Hugs are good for your heart, they lower blood pressure, and reduce stress.

2. Get a green kitchen hamper for mum, full of earth friendly products for around the home. Cleaning products and laundry products that are gentle on the environment - we like www.ecostore.net.au

3. A health beauty pack full of beautiful soaps and creams with organic, fair-trade ingredients. Our favs: regenerating hand cream and body wash by Weleda - pomegranate body care range www.weleda.com.au

4. Organic Cotton Bedlinen - Did you know that researchers have uncovered up to 2 kilograms of harsh chemicals embedded in every queen size sheet set of non-organic cotton bed linen. Go organic, for mum's sake.

5. An Earth Machine or compost machine - it's a fabulous investment to reduce landfill waste and give your mum free mulch and soil amendment that will make the neighbours jealous.

6. An interior design consultation - give mum a special gift to help brighten her world. A new coat of paint for the lounge room, or a bedroom make-over with help from a professional interior designer. Contact us for more information.

7. A pair of house shoes from www.houseshoes.com.au - House Shoe soft foam soles are made from industrial waste diverted from landfill, creating a sustainable future for the planet, with a double layer of stretch cotton that moulds to the shape of your mum's foot.

8. www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au for a gift for mum, and one for a total stranger that keeps on giving! Many adults in Cambodia have limited or no functional literacy. A gift of adult literacy classes teaches many basic life skills in a supportive environment specifically tailored to local needs, as well as numeracy and literacy.

9. Another mum's gift - from Oxfam. Starting the day well is important, especially for growing minds and bodies. That’s why Oxfam Australia supports Doomadgee State School to run a healthy breakfast program for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Your gift helps provide one child with fresh fruit, bread, milk, juice and muesli for a month, and helps increase their attendance and concentration at school. Make another mum happy!

10. Super soft and absorbent, bamboo towels will spoil your mum without costing the earth! Pick a highlight colour from the bathroom or go with classic white. From Style Plantation stores nationally - www.styleplantation.com

Cleaning tips.

Autumn is here! Beautiful weather, crisp mornings - and time to get the house in order!

It’s always so rewarding to clean house and simplify, but did you know that there are some Autumn cleaning projects that can help your home be more energy efficient? These are quick, easy, and should save you some money in the end.

1. Refrigerator
There are a few ways that you can clean out the fridge and make it more efficient. The biggest one is cleaning those coils. You can save 6% of your fridge’s energy output just by doing this one little thing a couple of times a year. Cleaning the coils is pretty simple:
• Pull your fridge away from the wall and unplug it.
• If there’s a metal plate covering the coils, carefully remove it.
• Check out all of that dust!
• Use the skinny vacuum attachment and a brush to clear away the dust.
• If things are really gross, you can wipe them down with warm, soapy water, and let the coils dry completely.
• Replace the back plate, plug it in, and move your fridge back against the wall. To be really efficient, you ideally want it about 5cm from the wall. Check manufactuer's recommendations.
Another way to save energy in the fridge is to clean out the contents. You want it to be full, but not so packed that air can’t efficiently circulate. Plus, now’s your chance to get rid of that mystery container of leftovers that you don’t remember shoving in the back there. A win-win!

2. Dishwasher
Keeping your dishwasher clean saves energy and water. For most modern dishwashers if you clean it a few times a year, you can totally skip pre-rinsing and soaking dishes in hot water and avoid having to re-wash you dishes. The best time to clean the dishwasher is right after you’ve run and unloaded it…the water and heat from the cycle will make it easier to de-gunk. Here’s how to clean it:
• Cut the power or unplug.
• Pull out the trays that would hold the dishes, and wipe them down with a vinegar and water mixture.
• Check the spinning arms and vents in there, clearing out any debris with an old toothbrush and a rag.
• Do the same on the door.
• Use that same toothbrush to clean around the edges of the door, where it seals closed.
You can also save energy by making sure that you only run your dishwasher when it’s totally full.

3. Air Conditioner
You can save 5%-15% on cooling costs just by making sure that your A/C filter is clean. This is super simple to do, and you should change the air filter in your home 2-4 times a year. Here’s how!
• Take a peek at the filter that’s in there to find the size you need, then head to the hardware store to pick up a replacement.
• Before you pull out the old filter, take a look at how it’s inserted. You’ll want to insert your replacement in the same direction.
• Pull out the old filter, and slide the new one into place

Why Not Fix It?

Although some people seem to have an uncanny ability to fix things just by touching them (or even just by looking at them), most of us aren't so lucky.

Still, there are many benefits to fixing things rather than tossing them out and buying new replacements, from money savings to our own pride and knowledge, not to mention the environment.

It shouldn't surprise you that fixing things rather than buying new can save you a lot of money. In many cases simply sewing on a missing button, touching up a nicked paint job or gluing on a broken corner can get your possessions back up to snuff with only minimal effort and very low expenditure. The trouble is, these days many of us fail to go beyond the easiest small repairs, instead opting to buy new at the smallest sign of trouble.

As E Magazine asked a few years ago, "Whatever Became of Fixing Things?" Travel to the developing world, and you'll see many examples of patched-up products providing long service, from makeshift plumbing to reworked clothing. Our grandparents and great-grandparents were probably quite adept at fixing things up, since stores and funds were often limited. Today, manufactured goods, a consumer culture and relatively high labor costs have conspired to turn us into a bunch of wasters.

Not only are we filling up landfills with stuff that could readily be reused, it takes a great deal of natural resources to make new stuff, in terms of water, minerals, metals, timber, petroleum products and more. Buying new means more transportation and storage costs, and mountains of packaging - important because experts estimate that 44% of U.S. global warming emissions are due to products and packaging.

There are other benefits to fixing things, including learning more about how things work, gaining a sense of accomplishment, spending bonding time with children and family members, and preserving heirloom and unique items. You can also buy better quality things, since you'll have more confidence to know that you can repair them and get more value from them.

As much as we have forgotten how to fix things, there is also a resurgence bubbling of those who are strengthening their DIY muscles. Freecycling is a growing marketplace for exchanging used items, some of which need repairs. There's a new green thrifty movement afoot, and even a humor site for wacky repairs.

When do you repair? Some people like the rule of thumb that says you should definitely fix something if the repair costs are less than 50% of the original purchase price. Even if the costs are a bit more there may be something to reducing waste and keeping with what you've already got.

We found some chairs in a friend's garage and decided to give it a go ourselves. They needed to have new seat bases made, including upholstery (we used hemp) and a sand and re-coat of the timber. A few screws to keep everything sturdy, and the result is fantastic!

Earth Hour

Earth Hour to show landmark action on climate change

At 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27 nearly 100 iconic landmarks in 1,000 cities and towns around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2010, joining hundreds of millions of people showing their commitment to the environment.
Earth Hour will reach new heights this year, with the world's three tallest buildings - the new Burj Khalifa in Dubai, CN Tower in Toronto and Taipei 101 in Taiwan - going dark for the global event.
Melbourne's Luna Park, Rialto Tower, Arts Centre and Crown Casino; Brisbane's Story Bridge; Adelaide's Town Hall and Rundle Mall Lantern; The National Library and Australian War Memorial in Canberra and the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower, Harbour Bridge and Luna Park will join this growing list.
World-famous sites across the US, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore and even the lights of Las Vegas, will switch off in a decisive display of climate action from one of the most significant nations on the climate landscape.
Some of the world's great metropolises will 'flick the switch' on their signature landmarks, marking their dedication to sustainable development and joining their citizens in adopting low-carbon practices.
Hiroshima will become the first Japanese city to show its commitment to global climate action when the lights go out on its iconic Peace Memorial. In London, lights will dim on the world-famous London Eye as the Coca-Cola sign in Piccadilly Circus switches off.
The actions shown by cities of the world and their inhabitants are crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change, says Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
"The C40 suggests that cities are responsible for up to 75% of the world's carbon emissions, so their role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest threat to the planet today is absolutely vital," Andy said.*
"By turning the lights off for Earth Hour, cities are reflecting the aspirations of their citizens as a community that has resolved to take action on global warming," he said.
As Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007 to a global phenomenon in 2009, renowned icons, including the Great Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, Christ the Redeemer statue, Buckingham Palace, Beijing's Olympic Stadium and many more world-famous landmarks have joined the global community in showing leadership on a resolution to climate change.
The recently released Earth Hour 2010 video, viewed at www.earthhour.org.au, provides a powerful and inspiring montage of the world's most recognised landmarks contributing to the greatest display of civil action the world has ever witnessed.

City Getaway

SUSTAINABLE CITY GETAWAY
Michael Mobbs has taken his commitment to sustainable living to the highest level.After building a fully sustainable house in Chippendale, Sydney complete with an organic garden, he’s opening it to the public to stay on Saturday nights. Arrive anytime after 2pm on any weekend. Includes breakfast from the garden and local farms. Starts from $280 per couple.
Information available from: www. sustainablehouse.com.au