Eco Eric

Friday, 5^th December is World Soil Day. This year the emphasis is on taking care of urban soils which is something we can all engage with whether we live in the town or the countryside. Soil is an essential resource we can help to look after at all sorts of levels. For example by having a compost heap to recycle plant waste and improve to our own garden soils, and keeping them permeable and vegetated to absorb rainwater and reduce risks of flooding and runoff from hard surfaces. We can also engage with the planning system to prevent loss of green spaces or loss of good quality agricultural land to development. 

With all the charity appeals in the run up to Christmas do you feel you would like to give more but can’t afford it? “The Big Give Christmas Challenge”, open until noon on 9^th December,  allows your donation to be doubled at no extra cost to you, meaning it can have twice the impact! You can choose from a wide range of charities but you could consider the international Christian environmental charity “Arocha” which is raising money to mobilise and equip young people to care for the planet and understand the connection between creation care and the Christian faith. For more details on “The Big Give Christmas Challenge” see https://donate.biggive.org

Do you ever wish that Christmas could be less wasteful, less stressful, more enjoyable, and with more space to focus on what it’s really all about?  A new book published by BRF Ministries may have the answers and at price of £6.99, it’s not going to break the bank.  “Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Sustainability and creation care for busy people”,  by Olivia Warburton, has numerous practical tips for inspiration and encouragement. “I wanted to give families a tool kit for approaching Christmas differently”, she says, “and to show that Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive and wasteful, as well as hopefully removing some of the stress”. See: www.brfonline.org.uk/ for details.

Get creative with leftover food over Christmas. A third of Brits admit to having more food waste over Christmas than at other times and this is often due to having insufficient room in the fridge & freezer. Eat the food in your fridge and freezer in the run-up to the main event, leaving plenty of room for leftovers. If you need some inspiration for using leftovers, there are plenty of recipes online from pies & pasties to curries & noodle dishes and even Christmas pudding ice cream. If you’re visiting friends or family, why not take some containers with you so you can help share the leftovers and enjoy some at home.