Home grown celery

Fresh fruit and vegetables are fundamental to a healthy diet and we are lucky to have such a stable and various supply available all year round. And nothing would seem as innocent as purchasing a nice fresh apple for the produce section of our supermarket.

But that one small apple is far removed from its humble begins, it has been picked, processed, packaged, stored and trucked or shipped across land or sea to reach its final destination.

Our modern world loves to provide us with packaged convenience and perfection and the fruit and vegetables available from our supermarket are no exception.

And yet many of us are making the switch to local produce as a means to have a more sustainable and positive impact.

When we eat, buy and act locally we can contribute in many positive ways to our community and the health of the planet. Changing the way we shop can be daunting especially when we have come to expect a certain availability, price and convenience. Yet the advantages of buying “local” far outweigh the initial disruption to our usual shopping routine.

“Local” produce is a rather flexible term and can be used to describe any produce grown in our own backyard, our own community and further still the region or even country where we live. By buying local we reduce the amount of packaging, processing and transportation used to provide fresh produce. This in turn reduces energy and resource consumption and the associated waste and pollution.

Most of our supermarket produce is picked before ripening, stored and transported across country. Local produce on the other hand is often produced on smaller farms; meaning they can harvest frequently when the produce is ready; providing a tasty and more nutritious product. And because the produce is grown locally you often are able to purchase it within days of picking, meaning the product retains much of its beautiful taste and nutrition.

Local farmers markets provide a great opportunity to purchase local fruit and vegetables.

Although buying local is not a guarantee of organic produce; when we buy direct from the farmer we get a better understanding of where our produce comes from, how it was farmed and are able to ask questions. Supporting our local community and rural areas by buying locally grown produce is a great way to contribute to our local economy and the welfare and sustainability of communities large and small.

If you do not have access to a farmer or community market try to buy fruit and vegetables that are grown close to where you live; if not your local region then within the country. If purchasing produce from overseas look for fair-trade certification to insure the farmers received a fair price and that the produce was farmed in a way that supports their local community and environment.

In saying all this by far the best way to “go local” is to grown our own! Fruit and vegetable gardening is fun, rewarding, economical and a great way to reconnect with nature. All of us should be able to grow even a small amount of fresh produce, from potted herbs to fruit trees, depending on where and how we live. If you are limited with space consider joining a community garden, many cities and towns offer wonderful community spaces where you can grow your own produce alongside other like minded people.

Buying local is healthy and nutritious, environmentally conscience and supports the sustainability and welfare of local communities.

As a quick guide to going local consider the following:

• Where was the produce grown?

Local produce is considered anything grown from your own back-yard, the immediate community, surrounding area, region, state or country.

• Try to visit local farmers and community markets

Most communities whether large or small, rural or urban, will have some form of community market. Often selling more than produce, visiting your local market can be a wonderful experience full of fantastic opportunities to buy locally crafted and grown products and produce. Putting money back into your local community is a very positive and sustaining action.

• Can’t find or don’t have time to visit a community market?

In your supermarket look for produce grown close to where you live, if your supermarket doesn’t provide information on where their produce comes from make sure to ask. If buying produce from overseas try and look for fair trade certification.

• Reduce Packaging

When buying from supermarkets and markets look for fruit and vegetables that are not packaged in plastic wrap and containers. Consider using reusable cotton bags to transport your produce home instead of unrecyclable plastic bags. These are available online are washable and a fantastic investment.

• Grown your own!

Gardening is fun, easy and economical!! As mentioned above this is a fantastic way to ensure the fruit and vegetables you eat are the freshest and lowest impact produce around! If you are not already a gardener finding the time and know-how may at first seem daunting but the advantages are far-reaching!!

Although we may not be able to source all our fruit and vegetables from local producers; working to ensure we consider the impacts of our choices can help to reduce our reliance on over packaged, processed and long range transported produce.

There are significant benefits to buying local that outweigh the convenience of supermarket shopping. For me a trip to the local community market or an afternoon in my garden is a much more welcome experience than an hour or so spent in a busy, crowded supermarket.

If you haven’t already; consider making the switch to the healthier, yummier, more sustainable and community minded option of going local and see what the change can do for you.

Related posts:

1. Balance and consequence : Clean up with simpler and safer cleaning products
2. Balance and Consequence : Choosing beauty products that meet our own healthy, ethical and environmental standard
3. Balance and Consequence : Our Modern Consumer Lifestyle

Many of us are eager to keep our homes clean and safe for our families. We use various products to disinfect, deodorize, sparkle, shine and sanitize every room, appliance and piece of furniture. Unfortunately when we rely on conventionally cleaning products we quite often expose ourselves and the environment to potentially hazardous and toxic chemicals.

We need to consider the fact that we often come into close contact with cleaning products, especially laundry detergent and surface cleaners. Although the associated health risks from these chemicals, when we are exposed through typical household use, are likely to be low; the long term health effects and possible associated allergic reaction can be unknown.

Some cleaning products can contain neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens and heavy metals; all of which are associated with health problems. Stronger cleaning products will come with health warnings and we keep these locked away, out of reach, but don’t hesitate to spread them round our homes, when its’ time to clean, releasing toxins into the air and washing them down the sink.

Any of the toxic chemicals found in cleaning products; particularly phosphate, non-biodegradable synthetic ingredients, bleach and ether-type solvents are hazardous pollutants. When these chemicals are released into the air or washed down our drains they can have adverse effects on our natural environment and wildlife.

Fortunately many of us are making the switch to low toxic and environmentally conscience cleaning products. By simply reducing our exposure to these conventional cleaning products we can eliminate any possible ill health or environmental effects associated with their toxic ingredients.

Luckily it is easy to clean up the majority of everyday household mess with a little natural soap and water or with simple ingredients like bi-carbonate soda, vinegar, lemon juice and a touch of elbow grease.

Quite often pulling out the big guns like disinfectant, bleach and chemical cleaners is overdoing what can be wiped away with simple ingredients. It is possible that we rely too heavily on these chemical cleaners because they are labelled with such persuasive slogans of fresh, clean, germ free homes. But we owe it to ourselves and the environment to try reducing our use of potentially harmful and polluting products; especially when the simpler alternatives are cheaper, safer and usually just as effective.

How we can choose safer and effective cleaning products

Try using simple ingredients:

• Natural soap and warm water is often all that is need to keep our homes clean
• Also try bi-carbonate soda and vinegar to shine and clean in the bathroom and kitchen
• Lemon juice and natural vanilla are fantastic and effective deodorizers as is a little bi-carbonate soda sprinkled onto fabric and then vacuumed up
• Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil are fantastic natural disinfectants and smell great too
• Check online there are great recipes using simple ingredients for all kinds of household jobs

For the tougher jobs there is an every growing amount of products available from great companies that use environmentally conscience ingredients and practices. Look for products with certified labelling and be wary of the every present greenwash, companies will quite often make vague or unclear claims as there is little regulation over terms like eco-friendly and green.

When purchasing cleaning products look for ones that:

• Are certified readily biodegradable
• Avoid the use of chemicals such as phosphate, non-biodegradable synthetic ingredients, bleach and ether-type solvents
• Are certified cruelty free, because many cleaning products contain chemicals these are quite often tested on animals, it is important to always look for products that state otherwise
• Contain ingredients made from renewable resources such as biological based solvents from citrus, seed and vegetable oils
• Have reduced or recyclable packaging and buy concentrate and refillable containers when available, this reduces waste and saves on energy

By choosing safer products, supporting environmentally conscience companies and giving simple ingredients a go we can reduce our exposure and the Planets exposure to potentially harmful and polluting substances.

It is easy and economical to switch to simpler methods of keeping our homes clean and a much safer alternative to conventional products. We can avoid the need to buy into slogans of fresh, super clean, super fast, ease and perfection and adopt a simpler approach to clean, happy and healthy homes.

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1. Balance and Consequence : Choosing beauty products that meet our own healthy, ethical and environmental standard
2. Balance and Consequence : Fruit and vegetables and the benefits of “going local”!!
3. Balance and Consequence : Our Modern Consumer Lifestyle

Have you ever considered our disposable lifestyle, how many of the products we use everyday are designed to be thrown out after as little as just one use? Tissues, toweling paper, razors, coffee cups, drink containers, food containers, nappies, tea bags, plastic shopping bags are all manufactured, packaged, transported and sold to be used once and then discarded, sometimes within a matter of minutes.

And it doesn’t stop there, nearly all consumer products have a conceived limited lifetime. In a society that places so much value on the ‘latest’, ‘greatest’, ‘up to the minute’ fashion and trends it is not surprising that we often find ourselves throwing out or replacing many household and lifestyle items year in year out. Computers, televisions, whitegoods, clothes, shoes, cars, home wares, furniture and so many gadgets and ‘necessities’ of everyday living are repackaged and rereleased all the time, creating a false sense of obsolesce in the ‘out dated’ model.

This didn’t just happen, it was designed. Throwaway, breakable, disposable goods were originally conceived after World War II as a way of creating mass economic growth and we have embraced them for their convenience and perceived necessity.

And you’ve got to hand it to them, this revolution in disposable goods certainly generated an economic boom but at what cost?

• The earth is being forced to try and digest an ever growing amount of waste. Through landfill and pollution we are drowning the planet in toxic waste that, in the case of plastics, can never be entirely broken down.
• We are relying on cheap oil to manufacture and transport all these goods for our convenience and immediacy but how much longer will this be an option?

Consider the amount of garbage one household generates… how much of our trash is made up by disposable, convenience items… plastic toothbrushes, pens, lighters, batteries, containers, cleaning cloths, oven trays, wrapping, packaging and so much more.

We need to consider the environmental impact of these items and weigh it up against their convenience.

• Plastic is non biodegradable which means after it is thrown out it does not breakdown to a natural state and will more often than not end up as pollution either in landfill or quite often in our oceans and waterways
• When plastic waste is incinerated it creates toxic fumes that pollute our air and environment
• It takes large amounts of chemical pollutants to create plastic, as well as significant amounts of fossil fuels
• Although biodegradable the paper industry also contributes to air and water pollution, energy consumption, water consumption and deforestation

When we look at the facts above it may be worthwhile considering an alternative to throw away and disposable items. Weigh up the very negative long lasting environmental impact of a disposable item’s real lifespan against their designed use of a few minutes, days or months and an imbalanced picture begins to emerge.

But, as always there are alternatives readily available and with a few changes in our habits and product choices we can reduce the need and reliance on an unsustainable disposable lifestyle.

To limit our dependency on disposable items and our overall consumption and resulting waste; consider the following:

• Use reusable items whenever possible this includes reusable shopping bags, pens, lighters, razors, food storage containers, refillable drink bottles, coffee cups, washable dish cloths, cloth napkins, hankies, nappies etc. And this doesn’t necessarily mean going back to the days of old, there are new exciting reusable items available from sustainable forward thinking companies for nearly every item imaginable.
• Avoid the use of plastic wrap and disposable sandwich and freezer bags by investing in quality glassware storage containers to refrigerate leftovers.
• Always reduce, reuse and recycle and look for items made from recycled products or with recycled packaging. Be inventive, any item that can be washed out and reused saves on waste and consumption.
• Before replacing an item consider the option of repairing it or replacing it with a second hand item. Is the need to replace it based on a conceived obsolescence? Can you make do with the item for a little longer?
• Try not to be over influenced by fashion and advertising. When it comes to clothing, foot ware and gadgets consider the impact of your choices before buying into fashion and fleeting trends.

We owe it to our planet and ourselves to escape from this unnecessary throwaway lifestyle. Make a simple change next time you are faced with the option of disposable or reusable and see the difference. With a little imagination, creativity, forethought and care we can move towards a sustainable and positive future.

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1. Balance and Consequence : Our Modern Consumer Lifestyle
2. Balance and Consequence : Fruit and vegetables and the benefits of “going local”!!
3. “I hear what you’re saying but…” : overcoming that little voice of doubt and haste

Hmmmm “Beauty Products” … cosmetics, lotions and potions… I have a few tucked into my bathroom draw as I’m sure most of us do. Moisturiser, toner, makeup, perfume… these are things most of us probably use every day to a varying degree.

And this is no coincidence; the beauty industry is a multimillion dollar money making machine, churning out ‘new’, ‘improved’, ‘fresher’, ‘longer lasting’ promises of perfection and enhancement!! It is only natural that in a society that places so much worth on outward appearance that many of us find ourselves investing in products that promise to perfect and preserve our ‘beauty’.

But do you have any concerns over the kind of impact your beauty regime may be having to your health? Or what kind of ethical or environmental impact your choices have?

Let’s take a closer look at these products and find out a little more about their impact on our health, ethical views and environment.

• Health Aspects

Beauty products are applied directly to the skin, allowing the ingredients to be absorbed into our bodies. Certain ingredients regardless of if they are naturally occurring or man-made can have adverse effects to particular skin types and sensitivities. It is important to be aware of potential allergic reactions to new products and particular ingredients.

In addition to this there is growing concern about the possible health effects of synthetic ingredients found in most conventional beauty products and cosmetics. Man-made chemicals are present in many products from perfume to lipstick, mascara, foundation, moisturiser and nail polish. These ingredients have been linked to skin problems, hormonal conditions, immune dysfunction and cancer. While we need to have some faith in the manufacturers and laws governing our health and safety, there is currently still debate over the absolute safety of these synthetic ingredients.

Admittedly it is hard to uncover definitive evidence for either their safe or unsafe use and this on its own is a concern. There is research being conducted and questions are being raised about the long term effects of synthetics and a call is going out for clearer information and labelling on products. In the end it needs to be an individual choice based on your own standards of a safe and healthy product. To find out a little more on these ingredients you can read the following articles Potentially harmful ingredients : the ugly face of chemical laden beauty products and Synthetic ingredients : the debate over synthetics.

Fortunately, for those with concerns, there are products that limit or avoid the use of these synthetic ingredients. If you would like to try an alternative seek advice from your Natural Health Store or visit one of the many online stockists to find a product that suits your needs. If you are concerned about the ingredients in your current products try a new one that may limit your exposure to synthetics. The post on Marketing Nature may also provide some helpful information on choosing a product that meets your own standard of ‘natural’.

• Ethical Aspects

Some of us may not consider, when choosing our beauty products, how these choices can have an impact on animal welfare. Due to the potentially harmful nature of the synthetic ingredients used in many of these products they are often tested on animals before being added to products and placed on retail shelves. Animal testing causes unquestionable harm, cruelty and abuse, is inhumane and for any caring consumer, intolerable. You can find out more on the practice of Animal testing here. If you would like to make an ethical choice; always choose products labeled as cruelty free. If you are unsure consider contacting the supplier.

In addition to animal testing, for those concerned with animal welfare, it is worth checking your product choices for animal derived ingredients. Although the industry is beginning to move away from these ingredients to use plant based or synthetic alternatives, they are still used in some areas and it can be very difficult to determine whether a particular ingredient is animal or plant derived or synthetic as they are often not ladled as such. Keep an eye out for collagen, elastin, keratin, tallow and glycerine as these are possibly derived form animals. Look for products that state clearly their ingredients and if you are concerned contact the supplier or manufacturer or seek out an alternative.

• Environmental Aspects

As a society we are increasingly dependent on synthetic and man-made materials. The manufacture and disposal of these ingredients and products are having a disastrous and widespread environmental impact. As mentioned above beauty products contain varying degrees of synthetic and chemical ingredients which through their manufacture or disposal can end up as pollutant in our environment. There is more detailed information on the environmental impact of synthetic ingredients in the article Synthetic ingredients : the debate over synthetics.

Another environmental issue to consider is the packaging of the products we choose. Many beauty products are packaged in a way to excite and entice our interest, this can result in unnecessary layers of wasteful packaging and materials. If you are concerned about waste and sustainability look for products that use minimal, sustainable packaging or recyclable materials.

While we need to be aware of the issues it is great that there are real alternatives out there for anyone who has concerns over a particular product. Beauty products are a part of our modern lifestyle and each of us needs to address what kind of product choices are right for us.

If you are concerned about any of the aspects outlined above consider the following when choosing beauty products and cosmetics.

• Spot test new products for any possible allergic reaction
• Check for synthetic or chemical ingredients; in particular the Phthatale Family, Lauryl Sulfate, Amine Family, Formaldehyde and Paraben Preservatives (see Potentially harmful ingredients : the ugly face of chemical laden beauty products for more detailed information)
• Look for “Cruelty Free” or “No Animal Testing” certification
• Check for animal derived ingredients
• Consider the amount of packaging and if it can be recycled

Once you have a guideline; finding products that meet your immediate needs of results, convenience and price as well as any health, ethical or environmental standards you may set is much easier.  It is possible to balance our needs with the consequence of our choices and make decisions that benefit our health and have a positive ethical and environmental impact.

And remember beauty is only skin deep, all these potions, lotions and cosmetics won’t enhance our true beauty; the beauty that lies within : )

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1. Balance and consequence : Clean up with simpler and safer cleaning products
2. Marketing Nature; finding real natural alternatives
3. Balance and Consequence : Our Modern Consumer Lifestyle

Using natural products sounds like a great idea and a better alternative to your standard off-the-shelf product. However be warned, there is no legal definition for the term ‘natural’ when used in marketing. This can be confusing, especially when we ask ourselves exactly what do we want from a ‘natural’ product anyway? Are we drawn to the impression of ‘chemical free’, environmentally friendly or simply the idea that a ‘natural’ product must be a safer and healthier option?

We need to realise that just because a product is labeled ‘Natural’ does not in any way imply that it is free of potentially harmful synthetic ingredients or that it is an environmentally friendly alternative. The term is used so loosely in marketing it is difficult to determine exactly what any given brand means by implying their product is natural.

A ‘natural’ product can contain anywhere from 0 to 100% synthetic ingredients. And we must remember that any ingredient be it synthetic or non-synthetic has the potential to be harmful. There are naturally occurring substances that are harmful and poisonous, just as there may be some synthetic substances that are relatively benign.

The reason why we are drawn to natural products in the first place and why it is such a great marketing angle is that it allows us to think of beauty and nature and helps to distant a product from its origins in a chemical laboratory. But we must acknowledge that a product brought off a shelf will more often than not contain some amount of synthetic ingredient.

It is up to us, the consumer, to be informed as to where these ingredients come from and what possible negative effect they may have.

Many synthetics are used because they are cheap and produce a desired effect like overzealous foaming or that ‘oh so’ clean smell. We have been conditioned to expect our products to ‘do’ certain things and as a result shun anything that does not perform to these, if you will, un-natural standards.

But we need to realise that while synthetic ingredients are prevalent in our products; they are causing harm to our environment and potential harm to our health.

So it does make sense to be drawn to a ‘natural’ product and there are real alternatives available that use safer, more environmentally sustainable ingredients and manufacturing practices.

And how to choose a real natural product or a better alternative to a conventionally synthetic laden product?

Well there are two factors we can consider when looking at a list of ingredients:

1) What possibly harmful effects do these ingredients pose to my health

2) What possible harmful environmental impact do these ingredients have

If we aim to determine whether a product is natural, by looking at its impact on our health and the health of the planet , than we can set our own standard and definition of ‘natural’.

By this definition a product with minimum negative impact could be considered a more natural choice. This definition is based on the belief and understanding that natural products should not have a negative impact on nature itself.

We as informed consumers have the ability to choose products that meet our own individual standard of natural.

To do this, we need to take into account not only the ingredient itself, but its origin and the manufacturing process. Being informed as to how ingredients are manufactured and the research on possible harmful effects to our health and the environment helps determine if we consider the product to be natural.

The most important thing to remember is that we all have the right to a better choice, and that the best choice is an informed choice. Decide on standards with which to evaluate your product choices, base them on facts and the things that are important to you. A natural choice can be one that meets your immediate needs of results, convenience and price, but also be considerate of the effects it has on your health and the environment.

If you can’t find the perfect product, don’t be disheartened, stick to your own standards and evaluate what may be a ‘better’ choice. Most products will contain some form of synthetic preservative, so learn about the possible negative effects of some of these ingredients and make an informed decision. Look for phosphate free, cruelty free, biodegradable and products that have sustainable packaging.

Try your natural pharmacy, health food store or health section in the super market. There are many alternative products available, look online for specific products or ask at your local retailers, if they don’t provide an alternative ask why. The more people who decide to make a better choice, the bigger impact we can have.

To learn more about the synthetic ingredients found in consumer products read the article on petrochemical and oleochemical synthetics. Take the time to become informed as to their possible negative impact on your health and the health of the planet.

Be aware of the environmental and ethical implications of your choices. There are many companies out there producing products that are safer and more environmentally sustainable; so why not try an alternative.

Check the ingredients not just the labels, think about your options and evaluate the use of packaging and the brands ethical and environmental commitment. Look for real natural products, choose the ones that meet your own individual standard of natural that is based on facts and not marketing spin. It can be as simply as trying a different product and knowing that you are making a choice for the better.

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1. Balance and Consequence : Choosing beauty products that meet our own healthy, ethical and environmental standard
2. Balance and consequence : Clean up with simpler and safer cleaning products