Ideas

Here are a few ideas on how we can all make a difference. Please feel free to leave Comments/ideas/suggestions below.

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Local Trading

The Local Multiplier is a way of understanding how money moves around a locality so that the whole population benefits.  When independently owned businesses and individuals buy from each other locally, then the money accumulates and multiplies within that local economy.  For example, if an independently owned shop stocks food from local farms, those farms will then make profit that they can spend locally, in, for example, other local shops, or another farm for supplies like hay.  If owners of these shops or farm live locally they are likely to spend their profits on, perhaps, rent, the barber, window cleaner or in more local shops. As these in turn spend their profits in the pub, vet, further local shops, babysitter, farmers’ market etc. the money multiplies as it keeps on circulating in the locality. 

This multiplication can be measured.  Every £1 spent in a supermarket is worth £1.40 in the local economy, but each £1 spent on a local farm vegetable box delivery scheme, becomes worth £2.59 in the local economy – nearly twice the value of the pound spent in the supermarket.  And everyone in the town benefits from a strong local economy – not just the shop owners.

But on the other hand, if nobody uses local shops they close down and shoppers then only have supermarkets to shop in, often a drive or taxi fare away. Most supermarkets are owned by their shareholders who may live anywhere in the world, so the profits will be lost to the local economy, resulting in fewer jobs, less money to spend locally and yet more small businesses closing down.

Becky Richards

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Act on CO2

Reduce your CO2 emissions today.

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Green Cleaning

Five thrifty top tips to give your home a green gleam:

1. Baking soda oven cleaner – Remove oven shelves, wipe or brush out loose bits. Shake the baking soda thickly over the bottom of the oven and spritz with water. For the sides mix a thick paste of baking soda and water and daub on. Leave for several hours or overnight, occasionally dampen with more water. Wipe out baking soda and spray with vinegar to dissolve any residue.
2. Vinegar-spray shower descaler – Spray white distilled vinegar from the top of the glass (or tiles) down and leave for 15 minutes or overnight. Rub over with a cloth, have your shower, dry off panels.
3. Citric acid toilet reviver – Every couple of months pop two tablespoons of citric acid (available from pharmacies or online) in the toilet pan. Leave overnight. Most of the limescale will float off or remove with toilet brush.
4. Lavender oil instant lavatory wipe – Lavender oil has antiseptic qualities, so use a few drops in water to dampen a cleaning cloth and wipe. Always dilute oil as it is potent and can irritate skin.
5. Baking soda fridge deodoriser – Baking soda absorbs odours so put a small cup of it in the fridge.

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Get Composting

Composting is a natural process of decomposition of organic matter, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings and fallen leaves. The result is a nutrient rich, peat free material, ideal for feeding and improving garden soils and helping plants to grow strong and healthy. Compost can be made in approximately 8 weeks but it can take a year or more depending on the materials you use and the amount of effort you put in. The more attention you pay to making an efficient compost bin, the quicker you will get results. You can use: fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, cut flowers, bedding plants, straw and hay, vegetable plant remains, straw/manure, hedge clippings, soft prunings, perennial weeds, vegetarian animal bedding, autumn leaves, sawdust, wood shavings, hair, vacuum bags, cardboard and newspaper to name a few.

If you would like to read further information about how and why we should compost see this link to Kent BTCV.

http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/kent_compost

Fiona Houghton http://www2.btcv.org.uk/kent_training.pdf

Kent Compost Adviser/ Project Officer, BTCV  www.btcv.org/kent

To download the latest training brochure: www2.btcv.org.uk/kent_training.pdf

INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES

Kent has its own composting advisor, Lindsay Wayman, via the Recycle Now campaign.

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Recycling

Canterbury City Council have a useful basic online recycling resource page – click here.