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.

10 Top Water Conservation Tips for Summer/Dry Gardens

Sweet, sweet rain.  Yes it’s raining today.  This can only be a good thing as we are having one of the driest summers in our region for  a while now.   It won’t be as much rain as we need but still it’s something.  With water restrictions in place in many towns, keeping the garden looking fabulous can really be a strain.  Here are my 10 top tips for keeping that summer garden in great shape.

10 Top Water Conservation Tips for Summer/Dry Gardens

1. Keep the soil in great shape.   Adding in compost not only improves the soil structure and provides nutrients and aeration,  but increases its water retention properties. 
2. Mulch.  Mulch. Mulch.  Makes a huge difference to dry gardens.  A good layer of mulch, at least 10 cm deep will help moderate the soil temperature, keep the garden moist, control erosion and prevent weed growth.  It doesn’t matter what you choose to use; bark, woodchips, stones, even crushed shells. Whatever suits your gardens aesthetics and your budget.
3. Choose Your Plants Wisely.  By considering the environment that you live in you will save yourself money by not buying and planting things that will only become stressed and/or die.  Ask around at nurseries or garden centres and look at other local gardens.  What works for them?
4. Water Wisely.  Keep plants that have similar watering needs grouped together.  Water early in the morning (before 9am) when it is cooler to avoid unnecessary evaporation and burning of leaves.  Water on calm days to prevent wind drift and evaporation.
5. Water Where Needed.  It seems obvious, but a lot of water is wasted with incorrect placement of hoses or sprinklers, or by hose watering of the upper leaves of plants.  You will save yourself a lot of problems if you…
6. Choose Smart Irrigation.  Sprinklers waste a lot of water, By using soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems you will be watering smarter.    With sensible placement the water soaks right into the roots slowly where it is needed.  If you do not have water restrictions in your town, great, soak away.  If these do occur in your area you may need to look at…
7. Rainwater Tanks.  An extra rainwater tank for your garden is just the job when water restrictions come into place or to save money on water if your water is metered.  The amount of moisture that comes of the roof is quite amazing.   It will cost a little to get a professional tank installed but you can get that back by putting in a nice vege garden.  Otherwise do it yourself by directing your downspout into a barrel or other large container.  Protect your water with a screen to keep out leaves, insects and to keep pets and other animals safe.
8. Greywater Systems.  Laundry, kitchen and bathroom water are all wasted when they are flushed away.  You can use them safely on your garden.  Not on vegetable gardens though.  If you have the money get a greywater tank installed, they are expensive but really good for the environment so definitely worth it.  If you don’t have the funds look at getting a greywater diverter.  These attach to the outflow in your kitchen, laundry or bathroom and then use the soaker method to run through the garden.  If you do use greywater systems then please be aware of the products that you are using.  Choose garden-friendly products.  These will be low in phosphorous and salt and will be biodegradable.  In New Zealand I would check out the EcoStore range of products.  We use them at home and they’re great.   www.ecostore.co.nz  Also if you are bleaching or washing items such as nappies, turn your greywater diverter off.
9. Water Storage for Hard to Reach Areas.  For areas that are hard to reach e.g gardens down driveways, set up a rainwater storage.  At home we use some very large  round plastic tanks that we also keep our waterlily’s in.  An empty one here and there soon fills up with rainwater and we bucket it on when times are dry.
10. Limit lawn area.  A dry, patchy lawn can be quite distressing for some people.  If it is going to be wasteful or impractical to keep these areas watered in the summer months then consider lessening the area.  You are better off with a nice paved or gravelled area that requires no attention.  You can put some nice containers with plants to keep the area looking green.  Containers come into their own in summer and are easy to keep watered.  Keep a tray underneath to conserve water.

Download this information as a pdf: 10_Top_Water_Conservation_Tips_for_Summer

 I hope that these tips are found to be useful.  I would love any feedback or tips and stories about how you have solved your own dry gardening problems.