Mr Rob Penn, a renowned journalist and author who has cycled around the world traveling through over forty countries on five continents, we couldn’t have been more excited when we found out he wanted to test ride our Spencer Ivy electric bike.

As well as writing several tomes, Rob also produced his own BBC documentary that followed his world-famous book “It’s All About the Bike: the Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels”.  The book entertainingly tells the history of the bicycle, its evolution, and leads to Rob’s journey around the greatest bike parts manufacturers in the world to build his perfect bike- two of which, we are proud to use ourselves -the UK’s very own saddle makers, Brooks, and tyres from Germany’s Continental.

Having left the bike with Rob to use in between his busy filming schedule, we asked him what he thought about our Spencer electric bike-

‘Sharp looking and lovely to ride’,  Rob Penn.

Spencer Ivy Electric Bicycles is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Nappy Basics – a washable nappy system will consist of an absorbent part and a waterproof part.  It may also need a fastener such as a nappy pin and a liner to help dispose of the solids.

Types of Nappy

2 Part Nappy – a nappy system that has separate absorbent and waterproof parts, normally a fabric nappy and a pul or wool wrap.  Can come in a range of styles, such as birth to potty / sized or flat / shaped. 

Pros

- very easy to wash and dry

- waterproof wrap can be wiped out and reused several times before washing

Cons

- a little more fiddly to use than an all in one nappy

Brands include: Mother-ease, Flip Nappies

All in One – A nappy that contains both the absorbent part and the waterproof part in one, so it goes on and off the baby much like a disposable. 

They may fasten with Hook and Loop tape or poppers.  They are normally sized, meaning you need to buy more nappies as your baby gets bigger, but some birth to potty versions are now available.

Pros

- easy and convenient to use

- great for babies looked after by childminders / nursery / grandparents

Cons

- can be expensive

- can take a long time to dry

- you need to wash the whole nappy (waterproof and absorbent parts) each time the nappy is used.

Birth to Potty – a nappy that will fit a baby from birth to potty training, usually taken to mean 8lbs to 35lbs (3.5kg to 16kgs).  The actual range will depend upon the brand of nappy and the shape/growth pattern of the individual baby.

Pros

- you should only need to buy one set of nappies

Cons

- you may find that they are bulky on a newborn baby

Brands include bumGenius Nappies, Mother-ease nappies

Flat Nappy – name used to cover Pre-folds and Terry Squares.

One size Nappy – see birth to potty nappies.

Pocket Nappy – A shaped nappy that works much like an all-in-one nappy except that the absorbent part is stuffed into a pocket in the nappy, between the lining and the waterproof cover.  This means you can add as much or as little padding as you need, and it comes out for easy washing and drying.

Most pocket nappies have a fleece lining so there is often no need for a paper liner.  Many are one sized, so you can adjust the size of the outer and the padding to fit your baby as it grows and changes shape.

Pros

- easier to put on baby than a 2 part nappy

- you can adjust the padding to suit your particular child

- much quicker drying than an all-in-one

Cons

- you will need to wash the whole nappy each time it is used

- will need to be stuffed each time, though this does only take a few seconds

Brands include: Wonderoo Nappies, bumGenius Nappies

Pre-fold Nappy – a rectangle of fabric that is folded and placed into a nappy wrap and topped with a liner before putting on the baby.  The nappy forms a pad between the babies legs.

The nappy is not fastened onto the baby – it is held in place by the waterproof cover.

Pre-folds come in a range of sizes and are easy to boost up if you need more absorbency.

Pros

- highly cost-effective

- very durable nappy so great if you are planning on using cloth on more than one baby

- you can wipe out and reuse the wrap, so you don’t need to buy as many

Cons

- can be more fiddly to put on than shaped nappies

- some parents report more leaks than with other nappy types as the fabric is only between the babies legs

Shaped Nappy – a fabric nappy that is shaped to fit your baby.  Looks a little like a disposable nappy, rather than a square of fabric. 

Can fasten with poppers, hook and loop tape or nappi nippas.

Can come in a range of styles, such as birth-to-potty, pocket, all-in-one etc.

Pros

- easier to use than a flat nappy

Cons

- more expensive than flat nappies

Stuffable Nappy – see Pocket Nappy

Terry Square – a square of terry towelling fabric that can be folded in a number of ways to create the ideal nappy shape/size for your baby.

The nappy is folded around the baby and fasten with a nappy pin or nappi nippa before a waterproof wrap is put on over the top.

Pros

- cost effective and very durable

- with a little practice, you can achieve a range of folds that will suit every need

Cons

- seen as being difficult – it does take a little practice to get it right

- will need to be used with a liner and a waterproof wrap

Sized Nappy – a nappy that comes in a range of sizes to cope with growing babies.  Most sized nappies come in 1 or 2 sizes. 

Pros

- easier to get a good fit as the nappy is always the right size for your baby’s weight

- less folding, so quicker to put on

Cons

- more expensive as you will need to buy more nappies as your baby gets bigger

Waterproof Wrap / Nappy Cover – the waterproof part of a nappy system.  Generally made of a breathable PUL fabric but also available in organic cotton or wool.

With all in one and pocket nappies, the wrap will be attached to the body of the nappy, with a 2 part system, it will be separate.

Nappy Fabrics

Bamboo – a fabric made from the bamboo plant.  Bamboo is seen by many to be better than cotton as it requires less water and pesticides/fertilisers and is more absorbent than cotton.

Some parents do find that it takes longer to dry than cotton.

Cotton – the traditional choice for nappies, and still very popular today.  It washes and dries well and is very durable. Many nappies are available in organic cotton, which is better for the environment, the farmers and gives a softer fabric.

Flannel – a smooth, usually cotton fabric that feels like brushed cotton.

Hemp – very popular a few years ago due to its high absorbency but now superseded by bamboo.

Micro fibre – a synthetic fabric that is very absorbent, dries very quickly and is durable.  Some parents prefer to use a natural fibre, others love the easy to use properties of micro fibre nappies.

Minky or Minkee – a very soft, synthetic fabric that feels lovely to the touch.  Often used to make wraps.

PUL – the waterproof fabric used in the majority of wraps and waterproof covers.  Modern PUL wraps are soft to the touch and not crackly.  Many are breathable, meaning air can pass into the nappy to keep the baby cooler and reduce the risk of nappy rash, without causing leaks.

Terry – a towel like fabric that is often used in nappies.  Can be made from cotton or bamboo.

Wool – can be used to make nappy wraps and covers.  The wool actually absorbs some of the moisture and the lanolin in the wool helps to prevent leaks.

Nappy Accessories

Booster – an extra pad that is put into a nappy to increase the absorbency.

Liner – made of paper or fabric, to help dispose of solid waste and protect the nappy.  Paper liners can be either flushed away or put in the bin, fabric ones can be washed along with your nappies used time and time again.

Nappi Nippa – a plastic device with 3 arms that hook into the nappy to hold it in place.  Used instead of nappy pins.

Nappy Pin – a large safety pin that is used to hold several layers of nappy together.

Nappy Bucket – a lidded bucket or pail used to store nappies in before washing. 

Nappy Fresh /Nappy San – a cleansing agent that can be used to wash real nappies.

Nappy Mesh / Laundry Mesh – a net bag that goes inside your nappy bucket to make it easier to transfer the nappies into the washing machine.  There is no need to take the nappies out of the bag, just make sure the top is open and the nappies will work their way out in the machine.

Wet Bag – a waterproof bag used to hold nappies when you are out and about.

Reusable Wipes – washable baby wipes – squares of fabric that you moisten and use to clean your baby at nappy change time.  They are then washed along with the nappies.

Nappy Terms

Aplix / Velcro / Hook and Loop Tape – a fastening often used in real nappies.  Aplix and Velcro are brand names.  A quick and easy method of closing nappies and very adjustable.

Poppers – plastic poppers are often used to fasten washable nappies.  They are harder for toddlers to undo than hook and loop tape.

Wet Pailing – storing used nappies in a water and sanitiser solution before washing.  Can be used to soak nappies.  Some brands of cloth nappies advise against soaking and wet pailing.

Dry Pailing – storing your nappies in a dry bucket before washing, so no water is added.  If you are worried about smells, you can put a few drops of essential oil on a cloth (not the nappies) and put in the bucket.

The Natural Nursery is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The Nordic Centre offers you a refreshing break and the opportunity to learn more about environmental and personal sustainability in superb natural surroundings, with personal tutoring in pottery, glass fusing and painting. Including organic and healthy traditional food is a major part of the experience. With our own produce, including fresh eggs daily and home grown vegetables, meals will be an event to savour. Fresh and local fish, traditional Swedish dishes and food from local farms will be the mainstay. This is a largely undiscovered part of northern Sweden, where nature is the predominant feature all year round. We are also interested in simply having people stay here without necessarily joining a course. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2881.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

In the words of a grumpy old gent: “I do not believe it”.

Before I hit the streets fervently spreading the Wikaniko word in the new year, I felt I should be using (and hopefully loving) a fair few of the products.

One of the easiest eco-friendly products to “test” was the Wikaniko Deodorant Stone.  Also, one of the hardest.  To be honest, it took a wild leap of faith to go without my trusted anti-perspirant spray.

Here goes, human guinea pig, hubby scoffing quietly that it must be some kind of witchcraft (again).

Slightly surreal, rubbing a scentless stone in your arm pits.  (Yes, unlike the gentle ladies responsible for most of the anti-perspirant advertising on TV, I am happy to say “arm pits” rather than the relatively-newly-invented and somewhat feeble-sounding “under arms”).

The pure natural rock crystal eliminates odour-causing bacteria allowing perspiration without body odour.  It does not block pores. Its ‘active’ ingredients are simply natural mineral salts. There is no Aluminium Chlorohydrate which has been causally linked to breast cancer, it contains no parabens and has not been tested on animals.

And all that to one side, it works.  It. Works. A. Treat.

I’d be lying to say I wasn’t a little nervous leaving the house to do a mornings-worth of chores and a strenuous and energetic dog walk.  I resisted the urge to put the anti-perspirant in my bag in case I started to whiff.

But it didn’t actually cross my mind again until the following morning post-bath when I remembered that I was using it!

For those of enquiring mind (and occassional sloppy hygiene) like myself, it works (for me) for about 48 hours… OK, so I’m the only one prepared to admit to skipping my morning ablutions and spending a day doing housework in my PJs?  Never mind.

After 48 hours of no washing and no reapplication of said super environmentally friendly, skin friendly wonder stone, (and that’s 48 hours of running about and chasing a toddler and dog and doing endless tidying up etc) I still didn’t stink, I was just mildly aware of being slightly-less-than-fresh: my long-suffering Dad confirmed he couldn’t “smell me” when I wafted around under his nose (sorry Dad).  So no worse than skipping washing and conventional anti-persirant for a day or so.

And again, flying in the face of those doubters who say it costs the earth to save the earth, the Wikaniko Deodorant Stone costs rather a lot less than my previously-loved aerosol can of anti-perspirant and apparently lasts for months… kicking myself that my scepticism held me back for so long!

Thin people, stop reading now, the final paragraph will only distress you.

Post script for fat people: for those of us who have various crevices and creases around other parts of our bodies that could possibly also get a little hot and sticky, this product is an absolute must.  A quick whizz over with the natural deodorant stone and you’ll be confident that you are super-fresh wherever and whenever… you know what I mean, I shan’t spell it out.  All the skinny people will have read on, regardless of the warning, and are now feeling shocked and faint.

EcoLike.Me is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more