Thinking Green For Valentine’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day.  It’s all about love so that’s a beautiful thing.  It’s unfortunate then, that as with many of our celebrated events, that it has become all about unnecessary consumption and cost.  A dozen roses might look lovely on the sideboard while they last,  but as with most commercially produced flowers, they have a very large impact on our environment.  With the enormous water usage that goes into producing them, the insecticides and fungicides that keep them looking perfect, and the travel miles from greenhouse to flower market to florist, these roses suddenly look a lot less romantic.  The energy that goes into producing all the dozens of red roses dispatched in the name of love worldwide on February 14th must be phenomenal.

Luckily there are always other options.  Here are a few tips for Valentine’s Day.

1. Choose Fairtrade – These days it’s not hard to find lovely Fairtrade products.  Even the supermarkets stock Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate.   You can find lots of information about Fairtrade products, plus lists of stockists by region on the Oxfam NZ site.  www.oxfam.org.nz
2. Keep it Green, Buy a Plant – Roses and flowers are boring, predictable and outrageously expensive.   For a lot less cost, give a beautiful and  long-lasting living gift.  What’s more romantic than a houseplant (or tree) that will grow and flourish along with your love? 
3. Choose Recycled Products – Each year, up to one billion Valentine’s cards are sent worldwide, second only to Christmas in popularity.  Help the environment by purchasing recycled cards, there are lots of them to choose from in the shops.  Or send an e-card that counts.  www.ecards.com and www.care2.com are two sites that support worthwhile organisations.
4. Ethical Jewellery – If you are of a mind to buy jewellery for your loved one, take a moment to think of its origin.  Again, look for environmentally considerate products.  Choose vintage or antique jewellery, there are lots of great buys at second-hand jewellery stores.  Although you can buy ‘green gold’ products, which are produced with no human or environmental exploitation, it accounts for only about one percent of the gold trade.   Greg Valerio, founder of Cred Jewellery in England,  estimates that for one 10 gram gold wedding ring, three tonnes of toxic waste is produced.  That’s not romantic.  Check out the jewellery website here www.credjewellery.com or Greg’s own website for more information on this topic http://gregvalerio1.wordpress.com
5. Dining ‘a deux’ – Spending some quality time together is really what Valentine’s Day is all about.  Luckily, this year it falls on a Sunday, so there is plenty of time to prepare for a romantic meal.  You don’t have to go crazy preparing a Michelin standard 5 course extravaganza.  Plan ahead, take in the local farmer’s markets on Saturday or Sunday morning and prepare something simple with fresh, local produce. 
6. Pick the Perfect Wine – Complement your meal with a great New Zealand wine, there’s so many of them there’s no need to buy something from overseas.  If you are unsure of what goes with what, ask at your local retailer, any good merchant will be able to help you out.  Or, you can check out the vast resources of the internet which offers many food and wine matching tips and suggestions.
7. A Wine-Lover’s Gift –  For him, her or as a couple, if you are based in Auckland or Wellington, take a wine course with Master of Wine, Bob Campbell.   Find out more information at www.bobcampbell.co.nz or read his wine reviews at www.bobswinereviews.com Lots of these types of courses are run throughout the country, check out your local vineyards, they probably run courses and tastings as well.
8. Take a Hike – We really are spoilt for choice here in New Zealand, wherever you live, there’s not a great distance to travel to the great outdoors.  Go hiking or simply stroll along a beach or through the park.  Hire kayaks or bikes and get moving.  You’ll feel closer as a couple through shared activity and work up a healthy appetite for a romantic dinner.
9. Just Relax – Book into, or buy vouchers for a his and her spa package.  Ease away the stress of everyday life.  Many spas have accommodation packages as well.  Don’t feel obligated to squeeze in on Valentine’s weekend, any time that suits is perfect for a romantic getaway.  If you are in, or heading to the far north, check out this Eco Wellness Resort in Kerikeri.  www.oraoraresort.co.nz
10. Be Yourself – Above all, pick Valentine’s gifts and activities that suit you best.  Remember the spirit of the day, it’s not about buying things or feeling obligated to conform to any traditional notions of what is romantic.  Not every country focuses on romantic love, some also celebrate the love for friends and family.  There is no point buying something crap that won’t even be appreciated.   Well chosen words, quality time and a small, thoughtful gift will be better remembered.

More Hoya Photographs

Here are two more of our hoyas.  They’ve done so well this year. I really love the Hoya minibelle.  It is a very smart looking plant with long thin leaves, it’s a really good variety for a hanging basket and it gets covered in cute umbels of small flowers.  

Hoya minbelle

We have a large plant of Hoya obovata and this season it was just covered in long lines of flowers.  The leaves on obovata are lovely as well, very rounded, with the grey flecks that a lot of different hoyas have.

Hoya obovata

Obovata Plant

 

Making The Most of Herbs

Most of the herbs that I use on a regular basis are fast-growing and seasonal.  It simply isn’t possible to use it all, and in the winter I can’t just pop out and pick what I need, so while the plants are at full production I am starting to store them away for the winter months.   

This year I am using two main methods; drying and freezing.   Tonight I started drying my first lots for 2010, bay and basil.  I am using a dehydrator overnight and then storing in airtight jars.  I prefer a dehydrator for two reasons, first, you don’t need to pay as much attention as if you were drying them in the oven where they need to be turned now and then, and secondly many of the herbs that I use are too moist to dry by hanging, and in the humid air of the north they would just go mouldy.   

Bay Leaves in the Dehydrator

 

 If you don’t have a dehydrator and prefer to dry your herbs in the oven, simply set the oven to 100° Celcius.  If you have a fan oven this will dramatically speed up the process but you must put stems in as the fan will blow single leaves all over the place.   Turn the leaves periodically.   

For those who have a microwave, layer between two paper towels and microwave on high for 2 minutes.  Check how dry they are and if not quite dry enough another minute should do it.   

Store the dried leaves and airtight jar, I leave them whole and crush into the dish when I’m cooking.   

For my parsley and chives I will chop them finely and add one tablespoon to each ice-cube compartment.  Once frozen I put them in a named freezer bag.    

You can store any herbs by freezing or drying, I’m sure they taste better than the horrible old dry leaves that you buy at the supermarket.