The principle of care is one of the tenets underpinning organic agriculture. IFOAM indicate that Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations as well as the environment. Most organic consumers I speak to are keen to extend this fundamental principle into other areas of their daily lives. Saving energy in the home is one of the surest ways we, as individuals, can reduce the load we place on our precious planet. Choosing energy efficient lighting sources can result in significant reductions in household green house gas emissions. So, having some understanding of energy efficient lighting tends to be useful for most organic consumers. But what...

Halloween is the time of year when decent size pumpkins and squash are in demand. Not necessarily for their eating qualities but always to carve out the mysterious and haunting faces of Jack O Lanterns and Will O the Wisps. Apparently this year holds no promise of an easy delivery. Most of the Northern hemisphere has experienced unseasonal levels of Summer rain which has contributed to a poor crop. A lot of pumpkin farms were forced to dig out their vines months ago. In terms of what’s currently available, don’t expect to find the beautiful gold and orange specimens. A lot of the imported ones are still green and need to be treated with artificial heaters to ripen in time for the main event. Many Organic Guide readers will prefer...

Most Governments throughout the world, albeit reluctantly in many instances, are beginning to accept the fact that adverse climate change, brought about in large part by green house gas emissions, has the capacity to seriously erode the quality of life we currently enjoy. But as an individual, it’s sometimes difficult to know what practical steps to take in order to minimise the impact our actions have on the planet. Faced with the problem of where to begin, we thought it might be worthwhile considering a few practical steps that we can all take to ensure the survival of our planet for future generations. One of the best places to start is to gain some sense as to the magnitude of your current carbon footprint. Carbon what? Carbon footprint....