Interest in UK farmstay holidays has more than doubled in the past year* according to the world’s leading online ethical holiday company, responsibletravel.com.

The 106% increase in enquiries for the company’s UK farmstay accommodation collection – many of which are certified as organic – reflects a growing trend as more and more UK farmers are turning to travel and tourism – ‘agro tourism’ – as a means of subsidizing incomes**.

The news is announced during the Soil Association’s Organic Fortnight (6-21 September) and is welcomed by co-founder of the company, Justin Francis:

“Agro tourism is already very popular in many countries in Europe but I don’t think it has received the recognition it deserves yet in the UK. Across all industries, whether it be food or tourism, consumers want to have a more local and authentic experience. A farmstay holiday is a great chance to really experience life on a farm. They also offer the visitor a great opportunity to stay in beautiful surroundings, often in historic buildings and the chance to sample delicious local produce.”

Lizzie Myers, owner of Huntstile Organic Farm in Somerset, said:

“We’re an organic farm, producing organic oats for Jordan’s breakfast cereal and organic milk thistle for Neal’s Yard, among others. We’ve definitely noticed an increase in visitors this year. In particular, we’re seeing more young families with children who come to see where their food comes from and learn about growing food. They help us dig potatoes and collect eggs – the children love it! The income from the B&B helps us to continue our renovations on our fifteenth century farmhouse.”

Farmstay holidays

Autumn is a great time of year to visit a UK farmstay. It’s also the traditional time to head out into the countryside and go foraging for blackberries, chestnuts, sloes, mushrooms and the like. Check out five of responsibletravel.com’s best UK farmstay escapes below…

Peak District self catering cottages – from £250 – £690 per cottage, per week
This traditional farmhouse on an organic dairy farm in the beautiful Peak District National Park offers the chance to wake up to stunning views and the scent of fresh organic bread. The breakfast is lovingly prepared by your welcoming hosts, with homemade organic yoghurt and special local porridge, alongside food sourced from local and organic suppliers. Local honey is available too, and you can ‘Meet the Bees’ with honey man Mark.

Herefordshire farmstay accommodation  – from £40 per person, per night B&B
This award-winning self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation is based on a working farm in Herefordshire. The welcome tea tray typically comes with home-made baking and fruit from the orchards, a range of teas and suggestions of local places to eat out. Depending on farm commitments, Jon, the owner, enjoys taking guests around the orchards, talking about the ancient names of the fields, the crops that are grown and his life as a third generation farmer.

Lake District organic bed & breakfast  – from £58 per double room per night including organic breakfast
This grade 2 listed property and farm in Cartmel has been certified by The Soil Association and operates an organic fruit and veg box scheme throughout Cumbria and North Lancashire. Owners Paul and Julia actively encourage visitors to get involved in farm life during their stay.

North Cornwall luxury accommodation - from £45 – £65 per person, per night  including organic breakfasts
Situated near Bude this is the UK’s first certified organic B&B in a beautifully restored Victorian house and converted coach house. Sample delicious home cooked food in the restaurant prepared with fresh organic produce from the gardens.  Enjoy the chic and elegant ensuite bedrooms with roll top baths, crisp white linen and antique beds.

Organic farmstay accommodation in Somerset  – from £50 per room per night B&B
This is a fascinating 15th century farmhouse offering comfortable B&B rooms, well equipped self-catering accommodation, and a very peaceful camping and tipi field. Activities on the farm and nearby can include walking, cycling, fishing, falconry (1:1 private tuition can be arranged), Wwoofing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), and a Farm School.

See www.responsibletravel.com/farmstays

*Figures from customer data for the year September 2007-2008 compared to the same period in 2006-2007

**See DEFRA’s information for farmers on diversification: http://www.defra.gov.uk/FARM/working/diversify/index.htm

With rising food and fuel costs pushing UK inflation up to an 11-year high*, a quick trip to www.BigGreenSmile.com could help ease monthly outgoings. The new eco online store sells a wide range of green, recycled and eco-friendly products that actually allow you to save on the amount of energy and water you consume – helping you reduce your monthly outgoings.

BGS top credit crunch tips
BigGreenSmile.com sells the largest range of water saving products in the UK, including shower timers.  Shower timers monitor the time you spend in a shower and challenge you to reduce it. One extra minute in the shower uses around 9 litres of water, so by cutting down your lathering time, you also cut those nasty bills.

Wait until you have a full load before switching on the dishwasher and washing machine.

The weekly supermarket shop can be reduced by swapping washing powder for eco-balls, which are reusable for up to 1,000 washes and cost around 3p per wash, compared with 25p – 30p for traditional detergents.

Use the minimum amount of water required when boiling water or use an eco kettle. That way you’ll save energy, water and money.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your hands or washing the dishes, this can save up to 6 litres of water per minute and shave £ off your bills.

Wash vegetables and fruit in a bowl rather than under a running tap and use the water collected for watering pot plants.
Eco-friendly bulbs, available on the site, use 25watts of energy but put out a daylight equivalent of 100watts and remember that a laptop uses 70% less energy than a desktop computer.

Nicholas Buhler, BigGreenSmile.com Director, said, "Today’s news about rising inflation rates means we really need to look at how we can save money. We sell a wide range of products that help change the way we consumer energy and water.

BigGreenSMile.com allows people to make small changes in the way they consume and shop so they can help cut their outgoings and protect the planet at the same time."*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7506940.stm

The disposal of waste is an ever increasing problem and one that is likely to get more and more expensive. It is not only a matter of financial cost but also environmental. However there is now a very natural solution for solving this problem, one that uses the power of some of natures hardest working creatures; worms!

For some years now, domestic sized worm farms have been used to reduce household and garden waste. These systems have become very popular in some European countries and North America. They are also rapidily gaining in popularity in the U.K. These units are easy to manage but lack the capacity that large gardens, estates and business need. This is now changing as several large gardens and estates are now using large scale Worm farms called Just Green Eaterys. The capacity of these Worm units is considerable compared to their domestic cousins. Once a unit is operational it can consume up to 45kg of waste a week depending on the material fed into it.

Eatery Diagram

The Just Green Eatery uses a flow through system. Waste is fed in through the top of the wormery in layers. The worms rise up through the waste digesting it. This significantly reduces the volume of the waste and leads to the production of Vermicompost, sometimes known as "Black Gold". This is a very high in nutrient compost full of beneficial micro-organisms. The Vermicompost is harvested from the bottom of the wormery by a moving grate. The Vermicompost can then be shovelled out through the harvesting door.

Composting worms have a very large appetite, consuming half their body weight in waste a day and will consume nearly all organic waste. It is not only garden waste that can be fed into the wormery. Kitchen waste will  be digested unless it is meat based and fatty foods are to be avoided. Paper waste can be added such as newspapers and shredded office paper and the addition of these in layers, actually improves the performance of the wormery. It is easy to see why an estate or business could benefit from such a waste disposal system. Waste from the gardens, kitchens and offices can all be digested by the worms and turned into a commodity in the form of Vermicompost. This can then be re-used on site.Dan Bennett of the National Trust at Hatchlands Park in Surrey has been responible for running their Just Green Eatery; " I feed the worms on staff kitchen waste and use the shredded paper from the office, about a bin bag a week". Their unit handles the waste from six households on site. It can take up to three months before the "Black Gold" [Vermicompost] is produced but the wormery is processing waste in this period. Hatchlands use their compost for adding to hanging baskets and containers. The only problem they had was an odour problem for a short period, this was solved by putting a layer of fresh earth over the wormery. Odours only normally occur when the wrong type of waste has got into the Wormery and can be corrected quite easily. Dan said that he would recommend the Wormery but advises users to be patient as the start up period can take a while.

Other sites that have taken a Just Green Eatery include; the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr in Yorkshire, the RSPB , garden centres and even a TV company for processing the waste from the actors canteen!

For more details contact Just Green on 01621 785088 or e-mail Julian Ives: jives@just-green.com

Controversy may be surrounding this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but in Twic county in southern Sudan, the true spirit of the Olympics is alive and kicking.

The county – ravaged by civil war for 25 years – has hosted its very own version of the Olympic Games, helping to bring peace and reconciliation to a previously conflict-ridden community.

The Twic Games, held annually and organised by Christian Aid’s partner the Sudan Production Unit (SUPRAID), include football, volleyball, tug-of-war and distance running. Teams from six districts compete for the winning trophy and a chance to host the following year’s event, but the real motivation for the Twic Olympics is peace.

The games aim to bring together people from the previously divided districts of Twic and give participants and spectators a chance to get to know one another in a friendly competitive environment. Peace and reconciliation education is also provided in the hope that any future conflict can be fought with words instead of guns.

The games also provide an essential opportunity for young people, returning to the area after a peace agreement in 2005, to become part of a team and integrate back into their communities.

One participant said: "The Twic Olympics challenges everyone who thinks nothing good can happen in Sudan."

FRANK Water Projects require Charity Trustees.

Join this young grassroots International Development charity run by a small and enthusiastic team based in Bristol. Our aim is to provide sustainable clean water projects for communities in India and Africa. Previous charity experience preferred.  Expertise in either finance, public relations, marketing, water technology/provision overseas development or law required. Attendance at quarterly Trustee meetings and some other input expected (Max approx.4 hours a month) For more information please visit www.frankwaterprojects.org or ring 0117 3700999 .

Please send CV and letter explaining your interest by email to hello[at]frankwaterprojects.org by the Monday 8th September.

Fairtrade is a subject that has been extensively discussed and this article will examine some of the wider issues of ethics and organic cotton. Twenty years ago Organic cotton pioneers built their own supply chains from scratch and created a new model which was based on a concept of partnership. Farmers made a commitment to supply organically certified cotton and retailers bought at a reasonable price, because the crop had to have organic field certification to qualify for the final label on the garment a link between the farmer and consumer is established.

Farmers who have converted to organic cotton are seeing benefits in terms of their health and the environment and for the first time enjoying a closer relationship with retailers. But this relationship is now facing challenges as mainstream retailers are placing huge orders, whilst this can bring opportunities to expand and benefit farmers, it will depend upon whether the major companies continue to use the ethical and equitable trading practices set up by the pioneers who are mainly relatively small businesses.

Sometimes it pays to look behind the advertising. For example a well known high street retailer was recently having a huge marketing campaign based on their tee shirts being made from Fairtrade cotton but this did not extend to the garment manufacturing. So it is very easy to put a ‘spin’ on things with clever marketing and things are not always what they seem.

Production of cotton is a crucial part of the economy of many third world countries with millions of people dependent on it for their livelihood. Fifty years ago ‘white gold’ was seen as the great hope for developing countries but these dreams have faltered with cotton farmers barely able to make a living and in debt to pesticide suppliers. Chemically intensive cotton production and mono culture has contaminated soil and water resources and reduced fertility of the soil. Effects on the environment and workers health has been devastating. There is very little known about the chronic effects of being continually exposed to pesticides. It has been suggested that deaths as a result are underestimated as few workers have access to medical diagnosis and treatment.

Only over about the last twenty years have the social, environmental and health impacts of cotton begun to be considered. This is due to the complexities of the supply chain for conventionally grown cotton which makes it difficult for consumers to be aware of the beginnings of the chain. We have now been made aware of the issues faced by traders who buy from spinning mills who deal with traders worldwide. Fibres are blended and are not traceable to their point of origin. In the case of organic cotton the fibre needs to be separate from conventional cotton fibre and cannot therefore enter the same supply chain. With conventional cotton there is such a long chain of buyers and manufacturers clothing retailers shop around for the cheapest fabric and the growers at the end of the chain are squeezed to the maximum so that the price of their product falls. They see the only way forward as increasing their yield with increased use of chemicals; eventually pests begin to develop resistance and the yield decreases. American and European subsidies push the price down even further and this way third world countries are kept poor and in debt to the Agrochemical giants who maintain a healthy profit.

Benefits of organic cotton to the environment and growers are well documented but what is not so often recognized is the fairer supply chain due to the work done by the organic cotton pioneers. Pioneering cotton companies have also undertaken to share the risks which are daunting. Agriculture is subject to forces which we are not able to control in terms of adverse weather and climate. There is no safety net for third world cotton farmers and banks that see them as high risk charge exorbitant interest rates for loans and overdrafts. Pre financing by arranging input advances during the growing is a central aspect of a Fair trading model.

Now that the high street giants have seen the marketing potential of organic cotton there are new challenges to be faced. Will these giants continue with the trading standards set up by the organic cotton pioneers or will they expect to continue with the practices they have always imposed on their suppliers such as making them wait 90 days for payment? It is imperative that they set up new ways of working and do not rely on their size and power to impose unfair conditions. It is also important that they continue to uphold the pre finance support, listen to what farmers say and understand and develop the principles of the organic agricultural model. It is critical to fair and ethical practice that we continue to have clarity throughout the supply chain.

By Linda Sones, Sones UK

What could be more rock‘n’roll than strumming away on an electric guitar pretending you’re a famous band member?  Well budding musicians everywhere can now save the planet whilst showing off their skills by investing in a made-to-order electric guitar crafted from recycled plastics.  Guitarist Tom Jarvis from indie rock band Reverend and The Makers was thrilled to be playing one at all the festivals this summer.

Conventional guitars are often made from endangered hardwoods but Simon Lee has produced the ones made from recycled materials, using environmentally sound processes wherever possible.  The Cyclotron guitars are available to buy on http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/.

If you have your reservations about their quality, fear not.  The maple neck, heavy recycled plastic body and top quality hand-wound Bare Knuckle pickups (as used by Matt Bellamy and Lenny Kravitz) combine to give it amazing sound.  Five way switching allows for a variety of sound combinations suitable for different musical styles.

Sheffield based band Reverend and the Makers burst on to the scene last year with their album ‘The State of Things’.  With their debut single ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ becoming the anthem of the summer, Tom is well placed to deliver his professional verdict.  So don’t keep us in suspense, what’s it really like to play?…

"Playing a guitar made from recycled materials is definitely a change but I was pleasantly surprised.  It played really nicely with a gutsy bluesy and retro sound.  I’m impressed it’s made with bits of crushed CDs too – genius! "

Each guitar is made to order for each person and rockers can choose between the Cylotron Benton – a more traditional telecaster shape for £815 – and the Cyclotron Webster which is a bold new design using the timeless combination of three single coils for £850.

If you’re looking to be different, look no further.  Available in six unique funky materials which will give you the edge:

Marble: Reclaimed plastics from food production industry. Semi-translucent with black veining. Has the appearance of a very heavy marble.   

 Snow: Factory reject yoghurt pots with foil fragments from lids embedded in a white stone like material. Polishes to a hard shine.

Pirate: Sparkling fragments of crushed CDs suspended in translucent blue from office water cooler bottles. The CDs were seized by Trading Standards during a raid on illegal CD production facilities. 

Superfresh: Domestic bottles and containers of all types. Gives very vivid splashes and streaks of colour moving through the material. It even has a fresh soapy smell when first machined.

Chilli: Off cuts from industrial pipes. The mixture of colours produce a hot volcanic effect.

Espresso: Vending machine coffee cups which show as chips of cream and beige in a grey/ black base. This material polishes well to granite like appearance.

Now all you need is your record deal, happy strumming.  Check out a clip of Tom playing the Simon Lee eco-guitar at http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/simon-lee-guitars/simon-lee-recycled-guitar-(cyclotron-webster-)/ (scroll down).

Brighton based print management company Four Corners has created a free reporting service for print buyers which highlights measurable environmental benefits for any print job – giving peace of mind to both brands and consumers.

This service has been used for the first time by cleaning product company Ecover. Ecover have formed a 3 year partnership with WaterAid to provide sustainable access to safe water for communities in rural Ethiopia. The partnership will be featured on-pack, giving consumers the chance  to order  a free Warercare pack, which will include a leaflet informing them about the partnership and encouraging them to use water wisely at home in the face of worldwide shortages. This leaflet will feature the unique tracking service which records the entire lifecycle of a printed item  – from paper source and print process to delivery and use.  

When a print job fulfils the strict environmental criteria of Responsible Print it will obtain a unique reference number. The Responsible Print logo and stamp of approval is displayed discreetly on the printed material, enabling anyone to go online, input the number and view the environmental savings resulting from the print buying decision.

"The Responsible Print scheme focuses primarily on environmental benefits achieved by print buyers and brands making a positive choice and producing marketing material in a sustainable way. Often print buyers who opt for FSC paper or insist on vegetable based inks think they have done enough, but Responsible Print looks at the bigger picture and takes the whole supply chain into account. This is particularly relevant to ethical and environmental organisations who wish to promote their products and services without harming the environment, in line with their ethical commitments." says Lena Johansson of Four Corners Print. She also says "We are especially proud that Ecover supports our new initiative with such a high profile publication."

The service is completely free of charge and it is hoped will become widely used.  The Responsible Print scheme is currently available exclusively from Four Corners who are delighted that Ecover has become the first organisation to recognize the importance and benefit of showing complete transparency to the public in their choice of printed material.  The WaterAid brochures have been printed on 9 Lives 55 Silk supplied at a special rate by The Paper Company, leading suppliers of environmental printing papers in the UK. Four Corners have passed on the saving in the form of a donation to Ecover’s WaterAid project.

Clare Allman, Marketing Manager for Ecover UK says "we’re delighted to be working with Four Corners unique tracking scheme.  We take a wide variety of ecological criteria into consideration with every decision we make so it’s fantastic to be able to tell our consumers the environmental benefits of our printing choices."

To see the Ecover/Water Aid environmental report simply click on http://www.fourcornersprint.co.uk or http://www.responsibleprint.info/ and input the code GDA570382.

Responsible Print is a registered trademark owned by Four Corners Media Ltd.

Cornwall’s greenest day out, The Aarati Festival, is to be held on 31^st August in the beautiful grounds of Lanhydrock House near Bodmin.

The event promises to be a fun-filled and inspiring day out for adults and children with over 60 workshops, demonstrations and classes on offer. Organisers, Aimee Blackman and Rhoda McGivern, have put their all into making this event something special for Cornwall; "Aimee and I have three businesses each to run and kids too." explains Rhoda, a yoga teacher from Newquay: "The festival is a full time job in itself. But so many people have come forward and volunteered their time, it’s almost taken on a life of it’s own! We’re so excited to be part of such a fantastic Cornish event."

Funds raised from the event have been pledged to Cornwall based charity, The Global Natural Healthcare Trust, whose focus is treating and helping thousands of people afflicted and affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. In addition to the GNHCT, money will also go The National Trust, to which Aimee and Rhoda emphasise have acted above the call of duty in their support for Aarati; "We’re so lucky the NT have given us Lanhydrock. It’s so beautiful and has such an amazing energy. People can come and have just a lovely, chilled out day and enjoy the surroundings."

Adopting a wide approach, the eco-friendly event will play home to an eclectic mix of personalities offering their expertise on a very diverse range of subjects. Brigit Strawbridge, founder of The Big Green Idea charity and star of the BBC series ‘It’s Not Easy being Green’, will be opening the event. Throughout the day she will also be giving out advice on how to adapt homes and lifestyles to fit a greener way of living. Other speakers include Peter Bunyard, founder of Ecologist Magazine and Howard Curnow, expert on climate change and Cornwall.                                                                                                       

Workshops include Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusura and Kundalini yoga led by respected teachers in the yoga tent and out in the park. Lettie Vantol, author of Crystals Strong and Beautiful and founder of The Crystal Healing Federation, will headline in the Healing Tent which will also feature talks and demonstrations from a wide range of different healers.

For those interested in wildlife and the outdoors, the Traditional Skills area will offer demonstrations and workshops on Ray Mears style bushcraft, willow hurdling, tracking, wildlife photography and nature awareness. A blacksmith will also be on site all day.

In addition to hands on, practical features, the festival will comprise a feast for bellies as well as eyes. Cornish and organic traders and producers will be on location forming an eco-friendly market with a large range of products available to buy. The food tent boasts a wide range of produce and will play host demonstrations and workshops from the likes of Slow Food Cornwall and juicing and raw food expert Janey Drysdale-Wood.

Kids will be well occupied with Aarati’s large children’s area. Workshops, games and events, storytellers, face painters, wildlife experts and musicians will make for a fun packed day for the young and young at heart!

Aarati is a one-of-a-kind event with a ‘something for everyone’ ethos. All workshops are included in the ticket price: 25gbp per adult. Children under 16 go free, although spaces per child need to be booked in advance.

For tickets and more information, visit http://www.aarati.co.uk/

For further information on The Global Natural Healthcare Trust, visit http://www.gnhct.org/

Ecover, the world’s leading manufacturer of ecological cleaning products, has launched a three-year partnership with international charity WaterAid.  This partnership supports a project in Ethiopia, providing sustainable and ongoing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Ecover and WaterAid share the objective to provide effective, sustainable solutions for the hygienic needs of people around the world, and it is this common interest that has led to the formation of the partnership. This is the first time WaterAid has worked with a business where both parties are actively working together to drive change. Ecover has always recognised that water is a precious commodity, and this is considered alongside total environmental impact at every stage, from product concept to final delivery to the store.

Ecover was founded in 1980 in Belgium, and today has ecological factories in Belgium and France.  Ecover has been a trendsetter from the very start: as a pioneering company, it marketed a phosphate-free washing powder even before phosphates were branded as a problem. Based on plant and mineral ingredients which biodegrade quickly and completely, Ecover products minimise the burden on the global water supply and aquatic environment as they require significantly less water to neutralise after use than conventional alternatives. If 5% of families in the UK switched to Ecover Biological washing powder from a conventional product, in excess of ½  million Olympic swimming pools worth of water would be safeguarded against pollution in a year.

The partnership will focus on the area of Hintalo Wajerat in the Tigray region where only 22% of the population currently has access to safe water and just 6% have access to adequate sanitation. More shocking is the fact that 17 out of every 100 children will die before they reach their fifth birthday. On completion of the project 14,750 people across eleven villages in the region will have access to safe water and effective sanitation.

The partnership was launched at an event for media and friends and from the end of June will be promoted on 1.5 million Ecover products across 10 lines. Two members of staff from both Ecover UK and Ecover Belgium have also travelled to Ethiopia to see the issues first hand and WaterAid’s project work that is being funded by the partnership

For more information on the project visit http://ww.ecover.com/wateraid