Is the ‘Tiny Home’ movement finally catching on in Britain?

Guest Blog Post by David Blackhurst

For those who don’t know what it’s all about… There is a global trend which is growing in popularity around the world. The UK is now catching up! The basic premise is around minimalism, what do you actually ‘need’ to live and be comfortable?

When you start to strip away the shiny baubles, what we actually need/use on a regular basis surprises most people. I lived on a narrowboat for three years, but soon had to adapt to the ‘limited space’. At first I had things in storage, but over time I came to realise that (after six months) I hadn’t actually needed anything which was in the storage unit I was paying for.

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Keep the High Street Shops ALIVE… help them THRIVE!

In November 2019, Eco Store, Weigh of the World, in Northwich opened – THIS was a game changer for me! Local, and a brilliant concept! (you can read my blog post here). In addition to buying my fresh fruit & vegetables from John Griffiths’ Green Grocers in Northwich, between the two of these shops, I found that I had 99% of what I needed!

However, many small, independent shops, both in Northwich and elsewhere, are experiencing a massive decrease in sales, despite remaining open during the lockdown – people are doing their main shops in supermarkets.

Before your supermarket shop, visit your local, small businesses first! Then only go to the supermarket if there is anything which you are unable to obtain!

It is more important than ever that we support our local businesses – especially through this time of crisis! Furthermore, buying locally reduces food miles, helps alleviate our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce air pollution and cuts back on greenhouse gas emissions.

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COVID-19: Staying Home, Staying Safe and keeping up with your Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Part 6

Keeping safe within your home

The Government guidelines on all aspects of reducing the spread of COVID-19 are clear. The symptoms to look out for, and guidance for managing them, are regularly updated on the NHS or WHO websites.

In addition to my previous posts about wearing a mask, creating different zones in your household, washing hands and using hand sanitiser, etc. in order to reduce the spread of this awful disease and protect your household, family, friends and the public, there is an overview of other things you can keep in mind (what myself and my carer do), for your convenience below.

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Product Review: Lavandi Organic Vegan Lip Balm

Lavandi were kind enough to provide me with some of their Lip Balm for testing. This is a product which I have absolutely LOVED…. definitely a favourite of mine!

What I liked most is the fact that Lavandi are based in Northwich, Cheshire, where I live! Lavandi have seen the need for change and have created a range of recipes that are all-natural. Lavandi’s Organic Vegan Lip Balms are made from certified Organic ingredients, we have combined some of the best Botanical infusions, Unrefined Oils and Butters to create a range of Organic Vegan Lip Balms, that have incredible Moisturising, Repair and Taste.

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Product Review: Salt of the Earth

This product intrigued me – not only is it plastic free, but it also consists of the subject of my PhD: Salt!

Salt of the Earth crystal deodorants work by leaving an invisible layer of mineral salt on the skin which work to inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria. This is a good product if you wish to avoid plastic packaging!

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Product Review: Reusable Sanitary Products

Periods: not the most pleasant thing to write about, but a monthly occurrence which, for the majority of UK women, results in repeated purchases of sanitary towels and/or tampons. This included me until this week.

I had ordered a number of sanitary towels (and a menstrual cup) from Peace With The Wild to be delivered (and they arrived just as my period came). Such a colourful array of colours! I was quite excited opening the package!

I received:

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Bamboo Toothbrushes

I have bought a variety of Bamboo Toothbrushes over the past 6-9 months, all of them wear well, do the job, are nice to hold, and I can dispose of them in good conscience. I have to admit, though, my favourite so far has been the Bamboo Toothbrush with Charcoal Bristles by TEVRA - my teeth feel a lot cleaner with the charcoal bristles! Additional Attributes Plastic-freeZero waste - ie packed in all recyclable material!Dentist Approved: Not only is this toothbrush excellent for the environment, but it is also good for you. The toothbrushes all feature high-quality dental grade bristles, just like your plastic toothbrush at home. You will get the same clean, healthy teeth without any of the waste.Medium Bristles: They are stronger but gentle enough to not to cause enamel damage while delivering plenty of polishing power. GUARANTEED – If you do not like this toothbrush, TEVRA will refund the full purchase price - basically, you have no excuse not to try it! They also have their own Vegan Dental Floss and Refill Pack! This will be reviewed later! EDIT: I have recently read that the toothbrushes which I bought most, and favoured, from Tevra are "BPA-free Charcoal" - tested with a flame, and they melt rather than burn, so I suspect that there is some polyester in them. So, It is sadly it is not 100% compostable - despite what is openly advertised . I did, however, find a blog post on this subject which may be…

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Product Review: Koh

Whats all the hype about?

I became aware of Koh at the end of 2018, when I saw an advertisement, with the below video, on Facebook. I watched it – how could I not be interested?!

“The Koh Universal Cleaner replaces over 20 household products and brings a much needed calm to cleaning”

https://youtu.be/xk08DoWLXjY
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Product Review: Vegan Scourer Brush Ecococonut

When shopping on Peace With The Wild, I found some Vegan Sourer Brushes – Ecococonut.

100% plastic free, they came in a two pack of scourer brushes and are composed of sustainably sourced coconut husks with stainless steel wire. I was pleased to find a more eco-friendly and biodegradable alternative for washing up and cleaning ovens, and these are much more “scrubby” than the scourers I made from jute hessian and cotton.

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