The Green Familia » Made in the UK

Children’s Knitwear from Picaloulou

erica — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:16:50 +0000

I’m a big fan of traditional hand-knits for children. All Picaloulou’s knitwear products have been designed in the UK, then hand crafted by a team of hand knitters,working from home around the UK. Their natural, breathable yarns come from UK farms and have been processed and hand dyed in a British mill, using Soil Association approved dyes. All their knits are machine washable on a gentle wool cycle, so there’s no fiddly hand-washing or expensive dry cleaning.

Cable knits have been big this winter and it looks like we’ve got some cold weather to come. This OXO Cable Cardigan (you can see the OXO in the cable pattern) looks chunky, warm and cosy. It’s made from 85% British Merino/ 15% British Alpaca fibres and the smart ribbed collar and contrasting stripey buttons add the finishing touches. Sizes run from 1-6 years and there are 2 colours: grey and sky blue. Normally prices start at £60, but there’s a sale currently so you can pick one up from just £36.

This Reversible Cable Scarf is delightful. The lime green of the scarf brings some colour to a cold day and the merino/alpaca mix will keep the chill out. With the cable pattern visible on both sides this scarf works well either way round and the moss stitch sets off the cable nicely. The medium size will fit adults too and is priced at £32.

Jewellery from Woodland Treasures

erica — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:00:48 +0000

Woodland Treasures have a wonderful range of high quality wooden jewellery and combs that are hand carved in the Highlands of Scotland from reclaimed timbers. The timber used is salvaged, reclaimed or recycled offcuts of British hardwoods. All the paper and card products used for stationery and packaging comes from recycled sources.

I love this tree motif necklace made from cherry wood and Scottish marble. It makes a stunning pendant and there are a range of trees available made from different woods and stones. Prices start from around £68 and vary according to the materials used to make the piece.

There are some gorgeous brooches available too. This tree web brooch in walnut and amber caught my eye. It’s a simple, organic design which showcases the beauty of the wood and the amber. Again the same design is available in various woods and with a range of stones. This one is priced at £55. There are a number of other jewellery products available from bracelets to earrings and it’s worth taking a look at the lovely decorative, yet practical, combs on offer.

Tree Clips from Tree Twist

erica — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:07 +0000

TreeTwist have some lovely woollen products which are all designed and made by hand in the UK. TreeTwist plant a tree or a seedling for every product bought. They work with Trees for Life, who are specifically dedicated to restoring the Caledonian Forest to a target area of 600 sq miles in the Scottish Highlands.

I adore this very cute Owl TreeClip. The Owl TreeClip measures 11cm high. It’s a hand knitted owl with flecked tummy, a little blue beak and great big eyes. It would make an eye-catching keyring or bag clip. When you buy an owl, you’ll also be funding the planting of a tree which seems good value for £25.

Other designs are available and if you have a smaller budget, you could choose the BlueOak TreeClip which is priced at £15. As well as a handsome leaf clip, a seedling will be planted on your behalf in Scotland.

Another favourite of mine is this very sweet Mouse TreeClip. Again by buying the Mouse TreeClip, you are planting a tree. This mouse measures 12cm long, not including the tail. The mouse is hand knitted with a pale blue flecked tummy, matching ears and twisted tail. He’s priced at £25.

Housey Things from Love Eco

erica — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:34 +0000

Love Eco have some very interesting and slightly quirky pieces in their collection to add something a little different to your home. Love Eco, as the name suggests, sell a range of eco friendly products which are often sourced from small suppliers using recycled materials.

I love their range of chicken doorstops, particularly the one pictured here: Barbarian the Chicken. He’s made from reclaimed, vintage fabrics and has a slightly retro feel. He measures about 15cmx16cm. To be ready to go, he just needs to be filled with rice and zipped up. Handmade in the UK, he’s normally priced at £13, but is currently on sale for £9.99.

These funky Bottletop Magnets would add a stylish touch to any kitchen fridge or office whiteboard. A range of designs are available and each box contains a random selection. They’re made in the UK from recycled bottle tops and they come in boxes of 4 priced at £5.

Blankets from Donna Wilson

erica — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:00:59 +0000

Now that the evenings are drawing in and the Indian summer seems to have flown away, I’m wanting some more cosy things around the house to snuggle up with: a blanket on the bed or a throw for the sofa. Donna Wilson is a favourite designer of mine and there are some lovely blankets and throws available on the Donna Wilson website.

Fox faces and leaves alternate on this fab Fox Leaf Blanket. The colours are beautiful, singing, peacock shades and the faces and leaves are stylised in a complementary and intricate pattern. Made from 100% lambswool, it will keep you super cosy throughout the autumn and winter months. It’s a generous size too as it measures up at 215cmx150cm. It’s priced at £249.50.

This bright and cheerful blanket is from Donna Wilson’s Nos Da collection. The wool used to make the blanket was dyed and spun in England and the throw was woven by a traditional mill in Wales. It’s a beautiful design and it measures 230cm x 200cm. It’s priced at £189 and comes in 3 colours: moss, licorice and mint.

Ethical Dinosaurs

erica — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:49:37 +0000

As regular readers will know, I’m in the process of moving house at the moment and I’m just starting to plan my son’s new room. One of our potential themes is dinosaurs, as he’s keen to be a dinosaur hunter when he grows up. I’ve found a few items that follow the dinosaur theme and have the bonus of being ethically produced too.

How about this wonderful dinosaurs wallpaper? It’s got some great silhouettes of a whole range of dinosaurs and it’s a fab colour too. Made in the UK to order, it’s printed on FSC Accredited Sustainable forest paper. Available in blue, white and green, as well as purple pictured here, and it’s priced at £74.50 per roll.

I like this cuddly, large stegosaurus toy. Even brave dinosaur hunters need something to cuddle up to at night afterall. This stegosaurus has a cute, smily face and has been crocheted by hand. It’s 40cm long and 15cm high and machine washable. It’s fair trade too and is priced at £37.50.

Eco Cleaning Products

Hannah B — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 08:00:50 +0000

You may not be aware of the fact that pollution from conventional house hold cleaning products can actually cause more overall environmental damage and destruction to eco-systems then pollution! It is therefore of the highest importance that you purchase eco-friendly cleaning products that do not harm the environment or wildlife and are bio-degradable meaning that they do not contain bleach, enzymes and other potentially harmful chemicals.

To help you ensure that your cleaning products are eco-friendly TGF have selected some of the best online Eco Cleaning Product websites, where you can purchase an array of cleaning products:

Greenbrands Cleaning Cupboard- Greenbrands Cleaning Cupboard creates and sells eco-friendly cleaning products and accessories that combine green principles and fabulous scents at bargain prices. The company have a product for just about every domestic cleaning need such as for the laundry, for washing up, the kitchen, bathroom, air fresheners and many others.

Suma- Suma produce environmentally friendly household cleaning products that are non-toxic and safe for use around the home. Their products range from toilet cleaner,multi-surface cleaner, laundry liquid, fabric conditioner, hand soap and washing-up liquid,with all products being created in the United Kingdom and are all competitively priced.

M&A environmental- M&A environmental supply their very own toxic free range of eco-friendly cleaning products ensuring that all your cleaning products are phosphate free. M&A environmental specialize in stocking businesses across Britain with eco-friendly cleaning products so if you are interested in making your business eco-friendly then M&A environmental is a good place to start!

Silk and Wool Bodies from Dam Tam

Hannah B — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:00:22 +0000

Here at TGF we are big fans of Dam Tam and their clothing range for young children. Dam Tam offers a variety of eco-friendly clothing products at very modest prices. Throughout this Winter your youngsters would love nothing more to be nice and snug so TGF have selected wool and silk baby bodies that will ensure their comfort.

Wool and Silk long sleeved baby vest – The wool and silk long sleeved baby vest is made from 70% living wool and 30% silk making the vest pure luxury! Even though the vest may cost £18.99 which is slightly expensive, it really is worth every penny. You will find that your youngster will not wear anything else in the cold of the weather. As part of Dam Tam’s New Year sale you can buy two vests for the price of £30.00.

Bee Organic Cotton Sleep suit- The Bee Organic Cotton Sleep Suit washes amazingly well and is sumptuously soft. You will also be astonished by the soft texture of the organic cotton within the sleep suit. Sizes range from new born to twelve months and from one to two years. You can purchase this item for only £11.99.

‘I recycle my tantrums’ fair-trade organic cotton play suit – The organic cotton playsuit is created by Little Green Radicals and is made from super soft fair-trade cotton. With fun logos on the front, these play suits are fun and make great presents for parents and will bring a smile to their faces when the baby is living up to the logo! Sizes range from new born to twelve months and the price is £12.50.

Eco Cups

Hannah B — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:00:17 +0000

Eco Cups are a truly effective solution to the growing problem surrounding the manufacturing and disposal of traditional coffee and plastic cups. As the majority of cups used today are made from Styrofoam, plastic or paper board this means that lots of resources are needed to manufacture the cups which is the exact opposite of eco cups. TGF believe that eco cups really are the way forward and will ensure that even when you are enjoying a drink that you are eco-friendly, we have therefore selected the top eco- friendly cold cup and coffee cup available to purchase online at the moment:

Eco-Friendly Cold Cup 200ml (7oz) – Eco- Friendly Cold Cups by Enviro Pack are made from 100% biodegradable PLA material. Polylactic acid is a highly versatile material and is manufactured from 100% renewable resources such as corn, wheat and other products rich in starch. A pack of 2000 Eco-Friendly Cold Cups cost only: £59.36.
100% Biodegradable Coffee Cups - 100% Biodegradable Coffee Cups by Garraways believe that going green in your workplace, coffee shop or your home does not need to be expensive. Garaways have launched an eco-friendly 100% biodegradable coffee cup made from plant extracts and no oil at all meaning that the cup is truly biodegradable. The price of a pack of 1000 100% Biodegradable Coffee Cups is:£47.45

Mozzarella Cheese Produced in the U.K.

Hannah B — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:00:03 +0000

Even though Mozzarella cheese is usually associated as Italy’s most famous cheese due to its soft, mild and fresh flavouring, several companies across The United Kingdom are producing and selling delicious mozzarella created purely from U.K. produce which severely challenges the taste of the renowned Italian mozzarella.

British producers believe that mozzarella produced in the U.K. has a distinct advantage over Italian mozzarella as in Italy, most buffalo whose milk is used to create the mozzarella are not free range and do not graze on open pastures whereas in the U.K. the majority of mozzarella companies ensure that their buffalo live outside enabling them to enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

It is clear that due to the mozzarella being produced within the U.K. it almost has zero food miles as it is not imported meaning that the mozzarella will be of the highest quality. So why don’t you have a taste of British mozzarella and see which you prefer? TGF have selected a number of online cheese shops which sell the best of British Mozzarella.

Laverstoke Park Farm: Laverstoke Park Farm was one of the first British companies to attempt to produce serious buffalo mozzarella, and they certainly did not disappoint! Laverstoke Park ensures that nothing is added to their produce to lengthen shelf life, and it is simply made with buffalo milk fresh from the diary.
The Mozzarella Shop: The Mozzarella Shop is primarily used to purchase online mozzarella cheese made in the U.K. You can also browse mozzarella recipes; find shops in your local area in which you can purchase mozzarella cheese produced in the U.K and also for mozzarella lovers to share their passion for the delicious cheese!