The Green Familia » Green Living

Eco Tourism in the Cape Wine Lands – South Africa

Brenda — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:58:13 +0000

Due to the global financial climate and dwindling natural resources, it is only obvious that South Africa would embrace ecotourism as a working sustainable answer to the problem. Being one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, the popularity of South Africa as a tourist hot-spot is on the increase.

What is Ecotourism?

Lately, “eco-everything” seems like the new fashionable craze, but what exactly is ecotourism about? The thing is, there is no universal definition to define ecotourism. It can be summed up in a nutshell as tourism favourable the environment, with a socio-economical implication but with little or negative impact.

To shed some more light on what exactly ecotourism entails, there are several principles surrounding ecotourism;

Enhancing bio-cultural diversity and harmony by protecting natural and cultural heritages and natural conservation schemes
Empowering local communities to achieve sustainable development and fight off poverty.
It promotes better understanding and appreciation of nature, the society and their culture.
Ecotourism supports the local economy and finances must be reinvested into the community.
Raises sensitivity to the country’s political and social climate
Provides a positive experience not only for the visitors, but also the host.

South Africa has whole heartedly embraced this practise, and has in many cases pioneered projects. What makes ecotourism unique from other incentives is the fact that the communities own the development while reaping the benefits.

This cannot be more obvious than in the breath-taking region of the Cape Wine Lands. It is one of the Western Cape’s most popular destinations, but needless to say, this leaves a massive environmental footprint.

Ecotourism in the Wine Lands

Since a very large percentage of the vineyards are spread over areas of native Fynbos and other uniquely indigenous plants, the wine industry made conservation of natural habitats their main priority. The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative managed to set aside larger areas for conservation in the Cape wine region than the total of the country’s national vineyards. In recent years, the wine lands managed the staggering feat of setting aside more areas for conservation than is used for vineyards.

Conservation schemes aside, the Initiative also focusses on giving back to the communities. If you ever ran into one of the very colourful natives of this stretch of land, you will know of the history of alcohol abuse and the lack of proper education and facilities. That is finally starting to change as the farms address the needs of their workers by setting up schools and day care facilities. Ecotourism is directly responsible for job creation within these communities. Not only are guides and entertainers local, but more often than not, previously disadvantaged. They are giving the right training and skill development to sustain themselves.

Ecotourism in the Wine Land is on the increase, as many visitors along this beautiful scenic route become interested in exploring the wealth of activities and cultural tours while they enjoy the world famous and practically unrivaled wines. Eco-tours promise to offer a highly personal tour and experience to small groups of visitors at a time.

The Wine Land is within easy driving distance of Cape Town, and the scenery will leave you awestruck. You will understand the deep seated need to preserve this stretch of land, and the fact that the wine is to die for has little to do with it. The wine region most commonly refers to the quaint towns of Stellenboch, Franschhoek and Paarl, with literally hundreds of wine cellars scattered between them, but there are many different wine regions close to Cape Town.

Whether you are wine connoisseur or not, a trip to the Wine Land is an absolute must. It is unforgivable to miss out on the rich culture wrapped in bursts of color and blue mountains as the backdrop. Old school Dutch colonial homestead surrounded by vineyards of green and orange await you. The area is alive with farmer’s markets, outdoor music festivals, hikes, bike trails and art exhibits.

Wine estates offer their own guided tours and rustic cellars, and more often than not, you can sip wine with the maker himself. Every cellar offers a completely unique experience, so you are sure to find something that appeals to you.

Another option worth considering is “The Alternative Wine Land Tour” by the Dreamcatcher organization. This tour deviates off the beaten track, showcasing instead the life of the laborer responsible for the wine you are enjoying. While exploring the many estates, you will also have a first-hand cultural experience with the local people.

All revenue generated by these activities are ploughed right back into development programs.

Jeff Cammack is the traveler in chief at http://www.safariguideafrica.com and spends much time in South Africa. Safari Guide Africa helps visitors create South African safari vacations many of which take visitors through the Cape Winelands.

Keeping Your Kitchen Green

Brenda — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:01 +0000

Kitchen appliances can be made environmentally friendly to save energy in a home. From dishwashers to refrigerators, the kitchen can go green by installing new energy efficient appliances. Before installing a kitchen appliance, you should check the efficiency rating to make sure that it meets the government guidelines for being energy efficient. However, most appliances on the market today meet these guidelines. Dishwashers are a convenience that many people choose for their homes today. With new technology, dishwashers have become more eco-friendly since they use less water per load of dishes than hand washing a sink full of dishes does. The new technology senses the amount of water needed for cleaning making the new dishwashers more energy efficient. Another tip to save on energy when using a dishwasher is to make sure that it is completely full each time it is used. Washing just a few of the dishes at a time will require more energy to operate the dishwasher. Refrigerators are one of the biggest energy users in the home. Older models will need to be replaced to conserve energy. When shopping for a new refrigerator, you should choose a size that is appropriate for his or her needs. Choosing one that is too large will only use more energy and take up more space. An empty refrigerator will also make it more costly to operate since a well-stocked refrigerator uses less energy than one that is empty. Therefore, if you chose a refrigerator that is too large to meet his or her needs, he or she will need to invest in more food to fill up the refrigerator to save on the energy bill. Using a microwave oven whenever possible can be an energy saving device. For example, if you are only going to cook a few potatoes, it can cost less to cook the potatoes in a microwave instead of the conventional oven. Conventional ovens will take longer to use as well as heat up the kitchen. This means that you will be using more energy to cook the food and cool the room. Another alternative for cooking to save on the cooling costs is to use a countertop toaster or broiler oven to prepare some of the food. They do not produce the same amount of heat as the big ovens, and they cost less to operate. However, the conventional ovens are needed at times. The newer models can be found with energy saving technologies to make them better for keeping a kitchen green. Choosing the eco-friendly models can help keep a home energy efficient. To keep a kitchen green, you will need to consider all of their appliances. From the large appliances to the small appliances, homes can become environmentally friendly with just a few changes. Check out the blenders, mixers, electric can openers and any other electrical devises used in the kitchen to make sure that they are all energy efficient devises. Saving energy can improve the environment over time. Author Bio Appliance City are specialists in kitchen appliances including a huge variety of stoves range cookers as well as including the popular American style fridge freezers. For more information visit Appliancecity.co.uk

Guest Post: How To Save Money By Going Green

Brenda — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:48:01 +0000

If you would normally shy away from environmentally friendly products because you think they are too expensive then think again. Adopting a greener lifestyle doesn’t mean having to spend more money. On the contrary, you can actually save a lot of money by being green.

Living a green lifestyle is easier thank you may think. You can make small changes in your home which will have a healthier impact on the planet as well as saving you money. By changing all of your regular light bulbs to either fluorescent or energy saving bulbs you can save up to $100 every year. Make sure that your home is insulated to ensure it stays as warm as possible during the winter months. The outcome of this will be that you do not have to use as much heating during the colder months and this will save you a considerable amount of money and of course you will also be reducing your carbon emissions. Likewise by turning down your thermostat by just a couple of degrees you can save on energy.

Solar Power is always an option
If your budget will stretch to it you could have a solar power generator installed in your home. Your home will then be powered by the energy of the sun. Although you will have to pay for this installation initially, you will soon reap the rewards of your investment as you will stop receiving electricity bills and your heating costs will be lower as solar energy will be heating your domestic water as well as lighting your home.

Think small to act big
There are things you could do immediately in order to be greener and save money such as placing a low-flow showerhead in your bathroom to reduce your water consumption. When you are doing laundry, wait until you have a full load and use a lower temperature setting on your washing machine. You should always try and peg your washing out on a clothes line or hang them on an airer rather than using a tumble dryer. This is far kinder to the planet as well as being kinder to your wallet.

Recycle your electronics correctly
Make sure that you recycle your electronics in a responsible way. Do not simply throw them out with the garbage. Take them to a recycling plant or make extra money by selling them to a company which buys unwanted electronics for spare parts. It is worth knowing that a single home computer adds around three pounds of hazardous waste to landfills.

Car tyre pressue checks
If you own a car remember to check that the tyre pressure is correct. By doing this every few weeks you will save money on gas because a car is more fuel efficient when the tyre pressure is correct. If you drive to work you could perhaps consider cycling or walking, or if this is not an option then you could join a car sharing scheme.

Unplug appliances
Make a conscious effort to unplug appliances when they are not in use instead of leaving them on standby. Switching your computer off at the wall every night could save you over a hundred dollars a year. You could also save a lot of money and have less household waste by using a refillable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. These plastic bottles are very bad for the environment and are expensive.

Extend your thinking to food
Thinking about the meals you make can also save money. Instead of throwing things away, think about whether there is anything you could make with this waste. Breadcrumbs can be salvaged from stale loaves of bread and frozen. These can later be used to thicken soups and stews, make stuffing, burgers and much more. The price of meat and fish has sky rocketed so perhaps you might consider only eating meat and fish once a week to save money. Vegetarian food does not take as long to cook so you would be saving on energy as well.

Have a look around your home today and try to implement some of these green ideas. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much satisfaction it will give you, not to mention the money you will save.

About the author
Mike Sorensen is a structural engineer and master cabinet maker and the author of www.AcousticFields.com/blog audio blog. He provides tips for soundproofing homes using environmentally friendly sound production methods and generally tries to do good by mother Earth.

5 Ways to be Green and Frugal

Jo — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:29:29 +0000

Unfortunately we are living in an era of austerity and during tough times like these we are all looking for ways to save money. However, here at TGF we also want to do so in a green and ethical manner.

Here are our top 5 ways to be green and frugal:

1. Showers Instead of Baths

Using less water can help to save money and with the threat of hosepipe bans still prevalent it is important that we all do our bit. Taking showers instead of having a bath can make a huge difference. Another good tip is to make sure that your washing machine and dishwasher are full before switching them on, and just check that you are using the most efficient energy and water settings.

2. Turn off Lights

Just remembering to turn off the lights when you leave a room is a simple but effective act, and if you haven’t done so already, changing to energy saving light bulbs is an easy green money saving idea.

3. Reduce the Heat

Turning down the thermostat could save you a significant amount of money, and now that the warmer weather is on the horizon just reducing the temperature slightly shouldn’t be too much of a hardship.

4. Unplug Appliances

Flick the switch and turn off your TV, computer, mobile phone charger and other appliances when you are not using them.

Once you have started implementing ways in which to save money in a green way, you will then need to find somewhere to store your savings that will give you easy access. Our final tip is:

5. Online Banking

Making simple choices about how and where you put your savings is important, and one way in which you can benefit the environment is by using online banking facilities that have savings accounts available. Green banking reduces the carbon footprint, saves paper and reduces printing costs. As more and more of us are adopting environmentally friendly attitudes, so are more banks adopting green philosophies.

Save wisely in a green and eco-friendly way and help save our planet.

Make your home eco with help from Nigel’s Eco Store!

Will — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:25:00 +0000

After an article from the Independent inspired Nigel from Hove, Sussex, to move from eco publishing to eco selling in 2005, ‘Nigel’s Eco Store’ has gone from strength to strength in establishing a wide customer range and a long list of eco friendly products. Nigel’s Eco Store went from a home based online store in February, 2005, to moving to a part time shop in 2007, to now being a full time website selling energy saving, sustainable and re usable products. The products are entirely for your personal use and making you greener, more cost efficient and an energy saving citizen.

Nigel’s Eco Store offers a myriad of products for saving energy at home, the office and abroad. In the ‘Home & Garden’ section you can find a thousand ways to cut down on the heat lost in your house in winter – from draught excluders to inflatable chimney pillows, for keeping out cold air. As well as Home & Garden, there is a whole section dedicated to solar energy – essential travel gadgets such as phone chargers and even a wind up MP3 player, for those intrepid musicians/explorers.

For more inspirational money saving and environment saving devices, click here for Nigel’s Eco Store.

Here is a product that particularly took my fancy, and think could be very useful to anyone. Since we all love tea so much and often waste a great deal of energy boiling far too much water than we actually need, Phillips has developed a kettle designed to boil only the water you need. Whether making pasta, making tea or filling up a hot water bottle the Energy Efficient (1.7L) Kettle boils only what you need.

Nigel seems to have got everything ready to perform in his Eco Store. The products available can potentially save you hundreds of pounds in energy bills, so get saving and head over to Nigel’s Eco Store!

Guest Post: Are You Furnishing a Green Office Environment

Brenda — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:47:13 +0000

If your small business has been looking for a way to save money and do something positive for the environment, purchasing green office furniture is a great way to go about that.

For the business owner that is considering buying environmentally-friendly office furniture, keep in the mind that there are a number of benefits that go with such decision making. Among such benefits:

Furniture produced with lower emissions and a reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOC);
Furniture that is built with sustainability in mind, especially that which is built with recyclable materials;
Furniture that over the long haul will save the company money;
Furniture that you can promote as using to your clients. Showing yourself to be a pro-environment business owner can only help your image among customers.

If your business is considering purchasing green furniture, keep the following in mind:

Seek furniture built from sustainable certified or reclaimed wood. It is best to avoid furniture made of non-certified exotic woods;
Furniture and fabric coming from the plant bamboo is a great option;
Look for furniture that comes from recycled metals and plastics;
Purchase durable furniture you will be able to repair. By doing so, you improve your long-term investment.

If you want to buy refurbished furniture for the office, you can find such items that are refinished from a manufacturer and then resold as new. This can turn into a great option in the event you require a large quantity of furniture pieces such as desks, chairs, cabinets, bookcases and more.

Also, in the event you don’t want to spend the money on brand new green furniture for your business, you can also search for recycled furniture. If you choose this route, look for furniture that can be found in second-hand and antique shops, along with yard sales, and online sites/forums.

Lastly, adding new green furniture to your office means that you will likely have some items to get rid of in order to make room for the new products.

When you have office furniture you want to do away with, look for a furniture liquidator that will purchase the items from you, then turn around and resell to other businesses that can reuse it. By doing so, you are getting some money in return, plus aiding the environment at the same time.

At the end of the day, making for a greener office environment allows you to improve both the health of your employees, along with that of the environment.

Photo credit: o5.com

Dave Thomas, who writes on subjects such as business plans, writes extensively for San Diego-based Business.com.

Guest Post: Our Guide to Planning the Perfect Family “Staycation”.

Brenda — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:10:48 +0000

The term ‘Staycation’ first came into use in the UK around 2009, as the value of the pound dropped and the savings to be made by holidaying at home just kept rising. There are many brilliant holiday locations right here in the British Isles, so if you are smart enough to ‘staycation’ this summer you will be getting great value for money, whilst benefiting the environment by reducing carbon emissions and getting to know your own Isle that little bit better. With the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee just around the corner, making this a special summer of celebration, there is no better time to start staycationing!

Before you begin it is useful to decide what you want to get from your staycation. Is it great walking in the hills, time by the coast, or cultural activities and excursions? Perhaps food and eating out are the most important things for you, or visiting historical sites? Then pick an area that has plenty of what you are looking for. If you want hill walking try the Peak District or the Lake District. If your holiday simply must be about time by the sea, look to the Southwest, try Cornwall or the lovely Devon or alternatively if these are too far from you the Gower Peninsula in South Wales is fantastic too.

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If you are looking for cultural activities, you could try a staycation in one of Britain’s cities. London has more free art galleries and museums than anywhere in the world, but don’t forget to check out Liverpool, home to the Liverpool Tate gallery, and Birmingham which has a lively theatre scene and many interesting museums. We really like the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The gallery is home to the largest public Pre-Rapaelite collection in the world, as well as art from over seven centuries. It is home to such a varied and broad selection of artefacts that there is sure to be something there to interest everyone.

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Edinburgh is a great city to head to if you are looking for culture and history and being over the border will also give you a feeling of being a little further away from home! Whilst you are there try a visit to the famous castle, built upon its own volcanic rock – listen for the one o’clock gunfire, which has gone off daily since 1861. Hit the city centre for a spot of shopping at Edinburgh’s brilliant range of shops. There is an area for everything, from high street brands to the top designer stores. After that how about a visit to the National Museum of Scotland, where you can see everything from the complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex to rare specimens collected by Charles Darwin, all under one roof.

If you are into historical sites, Wiltshire is a great location – home of Stonehenge and many other ancient relics, and a number of great National Trust properties as well. These sites can be great to explore and learn more about the history of Britain, and the properties offering indoor access can also be useful if the weather doesn’t hold its own! We love the magnificent Bowood House and gardens and the lovely Wilton House, made famous by the films Sense and Sensibilty and Mrs Brown.

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A great option for accommodation whilst staycationing can be self-catering holiday lets. You can really relax in a space that is set out for your comfort and it can be great value for money as it enables you to cook for yourself. This is a lovely way to really unwind and enjoy the company of your friends and family.

A staycation really is a great way to beat the check in queues and enjoy your holiday with a little less impact on the planet this summer. So we think you should get out there and explore the best of what the UK has to offer!

This post was written by Late Lettings who offer a brilliant service for listing and finding the best last minute cottage deals at discounted prices.

Guest Post: How to Get Started Recycling Old Electronics

Brenda — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:00:33 +0000

There are all manner of household items that you may choose to recycle, from the cans and bottles that once contained your food and beverages to the clothing, furniture, and home goods that are still in good enough shape to be useful to someone else (even though you’ve outgrown them in one way or another). But when it comes to your old electronics; the televisions, tape decks, and computer components that comprise e-waste; you might be scratching your head as to how to go about getting rid of them. You’re pretty sure they can’t go in the trash, but you don’t have the first clue as to how to recycle them. So here are just a few tips to help you get started and put you on the right path when it comes to discarding used electronics.

The first thing to consider is whether or not these items are still usable. If they are still working (albeit outdated) you may be able to do away with them through donation. There are all kinds of charitable organizations that will accept goods. Many have thrift stores that they use to sell these items at a low cost to underprivileged individuals that can’t afford to buy them new. Or they may sell or auction the items to receive some amount of cash value for their organization. In some cases, they will simply pass such donations along to needy families for free. Whatever happens to your old electronics after you donate them, you should get a receipt to see if you can claim them as tax deductions.

Of course, you could also opt to sell used electronics that are still operational in order to see some return on the money you put into them. You’re not likely to get anywhere near what you spent on them, but you might just recoup a few quid to use toward the purchase of newer items. Just list them on classified sites like Gumtree or Blazing Monkey and wait for interested parties to email you. If you want to get rid of items quickly, just list the price as “you haul”. Otherwise, set your price and see if you get any nibbles. And don’t forget that you can also try to pawn electronics or simply set them out as part of your annual garage sale.

Okay, so what if your old electronics are no longer in working order? If they only need simple repairs but you just don’t want to pay for them, you may be able to drop them off with vendors that specialize in refurbishing and selling antique or retro electronics. But these retailers could be hard to find. It might end up being easier to simply call the trash company for a hazardous materials pickup. Although this service generally comes with a cost, you may be able to take advantage of one free pickup each year (just ask your trash company if they offer this) or annual free drop-off days.

No matter how you choose to recycle or dispose of your old electronics, there are ways to scratch your eco-friendly itch and possibly even make a little moola in the process. It probably won’t be enough to cover your new TV or get you the best broadband service, but keep in mind that switching to energy-saving modern electronics will save you money. So you’ll likely be ahead on both your utility bills and your carbon debt.

Guest Post: Enjoy the world around you while saving it too with green travel

Brenda — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:21:49 +0000

We all want to make an effort to get greener, but many people are unwilling to sacrifice their precious holidays in order to save the environment. However, with the advent of green travel, people are no longer forced to make the difficult decision between saving the world around them and enjoying it.

When it comes to eco-friendly travel, thinking about the actual transportation you are using has got to be the first port of call. If it is at all possible, swapping planes for trains will do wonders for your carbon footprint, and with the Eurostar up and running, there is no reason you cannot get to most places in Europe by rail. Some travellers may be deterred from using trains by time constraints, but why not think about the journey as part of the trip?

Plane passengers see nothing on their journey other than the inside of an airport and a plane, as well as plenty of duty free shops. However, on a European train journey, people can watch the diverse scenery rushing by, observe how it changes, walk around and stretch their legs in the cabin, interact with other passengers and spend some time in a variety of cities. All in all, train travel is not just more environmentally friendly, it is more daring, and getting around this way, you are sure to have some adventures to write home about.

As with all holidays travel insurance is essential, and you can still keep this green too! If you have an email address you can use a travel insurance provider that only emails your policy documents to you, cutting down on the costs of postage as well as all the paper involved.

Upon arrival at your destination, is your first step usually a trip to the car rental shop to pick up a motor? You’re on holiday, so why not take a break from behind the wheel and rent a bicycle instead – a thoroughly much more enjoyable, and healthy way to travel. You never know, you might like it so much that you decide to invest in a cycle back at home too.

If you’re staying in a hotel, there are plenty of ways you can contribute to saving the environment here too, from turning down the heating and air conditioning, switching appliances off standby and using towels and sheets for more than one day in order to reduce laundry. Other ideas are to use your own toiletries instead of the expensive miniature ones provided by your accommodation, and minimise waste by using recyclable bags, as well as recyclable batteries for cameras and gadgets. You can also give the hotel feedback, suggesting ways it could improve its green credentials.

As people who are dedicated to green travel will tell you, there are also plenty of eco-friendly hotels and lodges around the world. These accommodations typically pay a high level of attention to recycling programs, energy expended on laundry, contributing to local communities and other methods of energy efficiency.

Yeo Valley – A great family day out

Brenda — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:08:46 +0000

When you think of Yeo Valley, you instantly think of their delicious organic yogurt or dairy products, but do you really know how they are made and the extent of what goes into making that scrummy pot of yogurt?

This week I was lucky enough to be invited down to the Yeo Valley farm and get a personal guided tour from Les and the Yeo Valley team. I have to say that it was my favourite day out in a LONG time. Even though it meant a very early start and the weather was not as kind as it could be, nothing could detract from the enjoyable day I spent out on the farm.

Our day started at Will’s Barn an old outbuilding which has been converted to an educational centre where the tours start from. From an eco point it is FANTASTIC, it is off-grid and so they produce all their own power from solar panels. They have spent a lot of time in the planning of this building making eco decisions that are low impact and that work! They break down all the eco point into bite-size knowledge points which are not only informative to adults but for children as well.

Outside we got a guided tour by Les and Graham of the Mendip hills and Yeo Valley land, starting with a history tour of how it came to be. An explanation of wild flowers and trees that have been there for many hundreds of years. I do not think I have ever since so many Bluebells in one day! I also got to taste some wild garlic which was amazing! Luckily we are in lambing season so walking in the same fields as ewes and their baby lambs was also a magical aspect to the day. We also got to experience the dipping in and out of the fog in the Mendips. Les assured us there was a big lake in the distance which a few minutes later did magically appear as we kept on walking.

Lunch was back at Will’s Barn and was after we had been given a demonstration by Tina on how to build a dry wall. The explanations of why and how you build these walls were very interesting and our feeble attempt of trying to build one was fun. The food throughout the day was top notch, all made with the finest local products you could not find tastier food elsewhere. The earlier yoghurt tasting session was also very popular. My favourite without a doubt was the Rhubarb yogurt, quickly followed by the Coconut Greek Style.

After lunch we went out for a long walk to cross the Mendip plateau’s again to get an appreciation for all the conservational work that Yeo Valley as a firm are doing, which helps them to farm the land in an organic manner. You can see that a company that is as big as they are, take their custodian responsibilities as a huge importance in all of their farming decisions.

All in all I had a fantastic day and would thoroughly recommend you to take up the opportunity this summer to go visit Yeo Valley for yourselves. They are running open days throughout the summer, for both farm and garden tours. Dates are available from June til September and it really is an opportunity not to be missed!

The dates for the Farm Tours are:

29^th June
6^th July
20^th July
28^th September

The dates for the Garden Tours are:

10^th July

24^th July

4^th September

18^th September

Yeo Valley’s Farm Tours and Garden Tours are both all-day events priced at £30 per person.

For more information and to book visit www.yeovalley.co.uk.

For me Yeo Valley tick all the right boxes and are a company that we should all get behind and support. They are a British family owned company, who have values and are producing organic healthy food that is scrummy.