Green Round-up: The Waltons edition

 

Is it a month already? The kids are back at school and all green mamas are harvesting produce and turning their kitchens into something the Waltons would be proud of.

The more industrious of us might be planning our home made Christmas present list, knitting into the evenings while those like me are probably just going for the mantra ‘it’s the thought that counts’ before getting on with some meaningful procrastination.

Well I don’t know about you but I find some people’s blogs incredibly inspirational and it’s reading about other people’s lives and experiences that can often kick my procrastination into touch.

This month I’m sharing a delicious recipe, some ideas for parties and celebrations as well as an invitation to join me on a decluttering mission.

Cauliflower cheese soup

The other month I waxed lyrical about slow cookers and now I’m at it again.

I know a hearty stew or casserole doesn’t quite hit the mark in the height of summer, but I think you’ll agree that soup is welcome ANY time of year!

Over on Simply Being Mum, Jo shares this delicious and simple Slow-cooked cauliflower cheese soup recipe.

Which means you have more time to erm, knit some Christmas presents…

Less is more!

How many of you get frustrated at your kid’s Birthdays and Christmas because, in all honesty, you don’t want more STUFF in the house?

Well-meaning friends and relatives love to shower our little ones with gifts but for some of us it’s a balancing act between being grateful and wishing they wouldn’t.

Tara has written about this topic with “teaching our children to be happy with less” and it encourages you to begin by looking at your own behaviour.

Reusing old cd cases

We all know the three Rs by now – reduce, reuse, recycle, but did you know they are in that order for a reason?

Yep, recycling comes LAST on the list, because the more you can reduce and reuse, the less resources we need to use up!

Leta has been pondering on how to reuse and recycle pesky items such as polystyrene and has found a funky reuse idea for old cd cases.

Check out ‘How can we reduce, reuse, recycle this?’

Decluttering

Over the summer holidays I set myself a mission – project declutter!

I have an inner minimalist waiting to be released but I live with a hoarder husband so it wasn’t easy.

The hardest items were the sentimental ones; to keep or pass onto someone else who can love them?

Fortunately, Zoe from Eco Thrifty living was on hand with her “barriers to decluttering and how to overcome them“.

Alternative party bags

Call me grumpy, but as well as receiving too many gifts I have a thing about party bags too!

I can’t stand the things – full of plastic tat that ends up in landfill; tell me I’m not the only one who dreads them?

Mummy Zen has come up with a couple of alternative ideas; the kids still get something to take home but it has a lower impact on the environment.

If you’re looking to connect with more Greenies head over to some of the Brit Mum’s groups: Green parents, Allotment bloggers, The Simple Life or the gardening group.

What about you – Have you written about something green and eco this week? Add your post to the linky below so we can procrastinate about what we should be doing a bit longer while we read your stuff…