Podcast appearances and mentions of malcolm rands

New Zealand's richest people might be getting wealthier, but the same cannot be said for the rest of us. Malcolm Rands, co-founder of ecostore brand, and member of 'Sharing Wealth" (the NZ version of Millionaires for Humanity) join us to talk about the wealth gap and the rich listToday the failed 3 Strikes law is brought back from the dead by this uninspiring government who seems determined to attempt to reuse failed policy thinking it'll give them a different result...that...or they know the buzz words make for good bumper stickersActing Prime Minister David Seymour, was on Herald NOW this morning talking school attendance and the three strikes law=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

The Green Party is suggesting an overhaul of the tax system in their alternative Budget. It includes taxing wealth, inheritance, gifts, and private jet journeys, and they say it would bring in $88 billion in revenue over four years. New income tax rates of 39% on income over $120,000 and 45% on income over $180,000 would be introduced, and the corporate tax rate would be raised to 33%, 3% higher than Australia's current rates. Malcolm Rands is the spokesperson for the ‘Open Letter on Tax' released in May 2023, in which 97 people leading “financially comfortable lives” expressed their willingness to pay more tax. He told Kerre Woodham he thinks people who can afford more aren't contributing as much as they can. He says taxes don't just fund social welfare and education, but also things like climate change and the infrastructure bills being passed that will need funding. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A somewhat surprising twist in the tax-debate, with some of New Zealand's wealthiest supporting tax hikes for the rich. A group of around 100 inspired by the initiative Millionaires for Humanity, have signed a pledge calling on the Government to increase their taxes. It believes the current tax system contributes towards the gap between poor and the wealthy. Signatory and Ecostore Founder, Malcolm Rands told Mike Hosking he's worried about our preparedness for the future and we have to start somewhere. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A somewhat surprising twist in the tax-debate, with some of New Zealand's wealthiest supporting tax hikes for the rich. A group of around 100 inspired by the initiative Millionaires for Humanity, have signed a pledge calling on the Government to increase their taxes. It believes the current tax system contributes towards the gap between poor and the wealthy. Signatory and Ecostore Founder, Malcolm Rands told Mike Hosking he's worried about our preparedness for the future and we have to start somewhere. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greenwashing is when a company purports to be environmentally conscious for marketing purposes but actually isn't making any notable sustainability efforts. A USA survey recently found 95 percent of so called green products violated the common principles we are going to talk about. Hidden Trade-off: a claim that a product is "green" based on an unreasonably narrow set of attributes without attention to other important environmental issues. paper, for example, is not necessarily environmentally-preferable just because it comes from a sustainably-harvested forest. other important environmental issues in the paper-making process, including energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and water and air pollution, may be equally or more significant.No Proof: a claim that cannot be substantiated by easily accessible information or by a reliable third-party certification. Vagueness: a claim that is so poorly defined or broad that its real meaning is likely to be misunderstood by the consumer. "All-natural", for example isn't necessarily "green". arsenic, uranium, mercury, and formaldehyde are all naturally occurring, and poisonous but certainly not green. Or 90 percent biodegradable. What does this mean. Even nuclear waste is biodegradable if you wait a few hundred thousand years. Worshiping False Labels: a claim that, through words or images, gives the impression of a third-party endorsement where none exists.. Marketers make up their own label or the whole packaging looks like an eco product even though it's not Having said that, a reputable third party certification can be the solution to greenwash by giving certainty that the claims are true Irrelevance: a claim that may be truthful but which is unimportant or unhelpful to consumers seeking environmentally-preferable products. Again, a good example is the over use of biodegradable and compostable. Especially now around plastics that would only biodegrade in a commercial compost facility but makes you think you could throw them in your own compost bin. Lesser of Two Evils: a claim that may be true within the product category, but that risks distracting consumers from the greater environmental impact of the category as a whole. Like organic cigarettes or a new V8 sports car with slightly better fuel efficiency. Fibbing: a claim that is simply false. This is the rarest sin in NZ as the competitors will quickly let the commerce commission know. The big danger here is that people think they are doing the right thing for the planet and they are actually doing very little. It's a distraction from making real change. The other danger is the people become disillusioned with all green products and will just give up trying to do the right thing. The solution is to do a bit of research yourselves. Check out the company website and see if they can back up their claims with specific data and searchable references And look for real third party certification.

I love the story told to me by my friend Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, the book that helped launch the circular economy movement in the early noughties.He says, what would happen if you take all the humans on the planet and put them in a big pile and then take all the ants and make a pile next to it. The ant pile would be bigger. But no one says , too many ants are ruining the planet. Quite the opposite, the recycling work they do make them almost the best circular economy practitioners around. So the problem isn't too many humans but our day to day habits. Imagine when we get so good at looking after our world that extra humans would mean an even better planetThere are quite a few reasons that we are not yet taking the climate emergency seriously.I have tapped into the thinking of Art Markman, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas writing in the Harvard Business Review. He says ‘If people are motivated to avoid threats to their existence now, why is it so hard to get people to act on climate change'.There are four main reasons. For most people it is the difference between long term and short term thinking and this is the hardest trade off for people to make.People don't save enough money for retirement preferring to spend now, they can over eat in the present and even smoke while actually knowing that long term, this is bad for their healthIgnoring climate change unfortunately has short term benefits. You don't have to change any habits, business can still make climate unfriendly decisions and make more money now and even the government won't upset voters now to make hard decisions because of the next election coming upSo what can you do here. Recognising the behaviour is a big part of the solution. We can save for retirement and also give up bad health habits. So we can also change our habits to stop climate change.Business can be encouraged to do the right thing through your buying behaviour and by asking for the climate friendly products you want. Even politicians do listen to their electors if you take the time to let them know what is important to you.Secondly, climate is a non linear problem. people are already good at making judgements of linear trends. I spend $5 a day on coffee. Therefore I can understand the implications without setting up a spreadsheet. But but when things start slowly then accelerate this causes a problem. People will still think linearly. A few cigarettes a days ok but it's the accumulation of years of smoking that does the damage . Then the health issues suddenly sneaks up on them.Likewise it's been a long time until any obvious impacts of climate change have appeared. But we can see them now.The third issue is distance. Most of the problems are happening to others far away. Research shows that people conceptualise things from a distance more abstractly than what's happening to their own neighbours. So it losses impact and is not seen as important.And fourthly the future is actually very abstract. We don't know what will happen. We love to live in the now, and maybe the past but don't trust what will happen in the future.And I add a fifth reason. Many, mainly men, think we are so clever, that science will come up with a ‘get out of jail card' that will sort all these problems. So we don't have to do anything but wait for these clever scientists to save us. This is quite common thinking , including among media commentators who will rubbish cycle lanes and other green initiatives because of of this thinking.This is wishful and or even magical thinking. Not rational at all, like these blokes like to think. Should we keep smoking and over eating and wait for science to save us. We actually have all the scientific processes right now to reverse the climate emergency , we just need to change our habits and put them in place.So what else can we do?Well just start doing more activities that will make a difference and try and con...

Prince Harry is in a video released this week starring Rhys Darby, David Fane and Rena Owen. The premise is not that the destination we go to is rated on how green it is, but that we as tourists are rated on our carbon footprint whilst there. How do you rate yourself at present and how could you improve your score? Well first let's still talk about a NZ holiday. How do we get there? I'm afraid air travel is the most carbon burning option followed by driving. Driving gets an even worse rating if you are by yourself in the car without friends and family. So a lot of people in a vehicle is a much better option which is why bus or rail comes out on top. Unfortunately, it is not so convenient in NZ …yet. I loved the train journeys I've had overseas. Train tracks are much less obtrusive than roads and you end up in some remarkable situations, even looking into the locals backyards at times. Fascinating insights on local culture.  So, what about electric? It is possible to rent electric cars now and yes, even electric camper vans. Because of our low carbon electricity in NZ. This option wins hands down. Go online and look for these options. Get a cheap second-hand Nissan Leaf with a small range for commuting and shopping from home. They are getting very cheap because the first ones have such a short range, but that's fine in a city where you can recharge at home or work. Then for your weekend adventures or holidays, hire. Now you have arrived at your destination, what's next? If you have arrived by plane, and if I'm going to Queenstown from my home in Northland, I'm going to fly, then when you arrive you have the option to hire an electric car. Or take the airport bus into town and do without a car. This is where bikes start to look good. You can get part day, full day or multi days deals. And those of us you think we may not be fit enough, there are now electric bikes.  Reward the accommodation providers that are making a difference. There are independent environmental accreditations or certifications, like the Toitu programme, Qualmark EnviroGold rating, or EarthCheck certification. And in any accommodation * Hang up your towels – it's the universal sign that they don't need to be washed and you're happy to reuse them * Leave the ‘do not disturb' sign on the hotel door to reduce unnecessary washing of linen, vacuuming and the use of other chemicals for cleaning * Take your own toiletries (and toothbrush) to reduce the single use of those tiny hotel bottles of gunk * Use your own plastic free water bottle not the free single-use stuff LISTEN ABOVE

Malcolm Rands chats to Jack Tame about regenerative agriculture and how to apply it to your own backyard.LISTEN ABOVE  

What is permaculture?When we started our eco village in 1987, we also took on the practice of permaculture as the discipline around the use of land here. Permaculture was inventing in the seventies by two Australians David Holmgren and Bill Mollison. When we designed the products for ecostore back in the early nineties, permaculture was the bar we were always trying to meet There are many principles in permaculture but I will share some of my favourites that we all can use in our homes: Nature doesn't have a handy gardener coming along fixing up things that can't look after themselves so when you set up systems always try to have them look after themselves Being a gardener can easily become a ‘make work' situation, so how can we get rid of some of those jobs? A classic example is that nature never tolerates bare dirt. So adding mulch not only keeps out weeds and traps moisture but as it decomposes it adds food to your plants. Another example is the zoning system permaculture uses. Zone 1 is plants you visit every day whilst through to zone 5 maybe visited annually. Thus, the herb beds should be just by the kitchen door, the salad garden also close. But in my case, the forest we have planted for future timber use is zone 5, about 20 minutes' walk away.  Choose plants that really suit your local ecosystem - I like to think of this as discovering useful weeds.  Silverbeet is a great example, wack it in and it almost looks after itself.  The way to find these plants is to talk to your local garden clubs about what plants they have found with these qualities.  When you grow a crop, the plant that is healthiest, don't harvest but let it go to seed and plant these seeds next year. After a few years of using this technique, you will have developed your own variety that loves the local ecosystem where you live. When I arrived at the land where we founded the eco village it was covered in kikuyu grass. Very virulent and a terrible neighbour for vege garden or young trees. Everyone said to use roundup, which I wasn't prepared to do. Now grass is one of the world's only monocultures as it has many ways of driving out competitors including poisoning them and taking away their moisture. In fact, I never use grass in an orchard situation for these reasons and end up with unstressed disease-free trees. But the grasses have an ancient enemy. The pioneer tree which has evolved just to get into grass, grow tall, then shade out the grass so others trees can then come in. In NZ this is the Manuka and Kanuka. The bane of grass farmers. LISTEN ABOVE

What is wrong with meat?There are health issues with eating too much, especially processed meat but today we are talking about the eco and humane side of meat eating.So, what's the problem?Deforestation to make room for mainly beef farming is a global issue.Then factory farming , and yes even some cows in NZ can be fed indoors, using off farm grains and even orangutang jungle destruction palm oil by products. Palm kernel expeller. This is a very inefficient use of land compared to feeding these plants grown straight to us as food.Fossil fuels used for transportation, farm equipment, building, maintenance and heating the factory farms add to the eco burden. Methane emissions from the animals, especially cows, which is a very potent climate gas.And for factory farming the inhumane treatment of the chickens, pigs and now cows trapped in small pens living in their own filth. If you have ever raised your own stock and poultry, you know what a tragedy this is for these amazing animals.You have choices. Do nothing, buy only free range, choose only organic and regeneratively produced meat, go vegetarian or vegan or just reduce your current meat consumption. Probably some combination of these is practical for most of us.Our family eats some meat and here are some of the tips we use to reduce meat consumption.Don't make meat the main event. It can be the side dish with more emphasis on the starch and vegetables.Beans and lentils are just so healthy. And so affordable. It's really just about the recipes. Maybe time to buy that vegan cookbook or search online. Funnily enough, I know my usual recipes are a bit old-fashioned and could have been cooked by my Mum and definitely feature meat. Melanie is our plant-based cooking wonder but I'm getting better. It just needs to become easoer, then a habit.Maybe start once a week with a meat free day. Then add more days.Stews, soups and casseroles are easy to make and then just reduce the percentage of meat in them.Eat more whole foods. Brown rice, baked potatoes with their skins on, same with fruit eat the skin too . More nuts and seeds. The extra fibre in these helps stave off hunger pangs and we all know the health benefits of whole food.Have a weekly food plan. If it's 5pm and you suddenly need a meal, then you will revert to the old tried and true.Don't think of this as losing meat but what new delicious meals you are about to discover.I personally think the right regeneratively raised animal proteins can have a positive impact on climate change by trapping more carbon in the soil. And the animals are encouraged to behave like they used to in the wild so are much happier. Unfortunately not many farmers have adapted these practices as yet. But the reward will be guilt free meals when you do include this type of meat.LISTEN ABOVE

Malcolm Rands gives his tips on what we can do about the mounting waste from Covid.LISTEN ABOVE

One of the questions I get asked all the time is ,'why don't we grow food on the grass beams on our street'One of the biggest users of water and chemicals is actually our love affair with grass. Let alone the energy and petrol used to mow it.Back in European history, us peasants who came from there, used to have vegetable gardens and only the lords in their manors had lawns kept short and neat by sheep and groundsmenNow we are all lords and ladies but this has a high ecological cost. So change your own lawns to veges, flowers, ground covers and natives for bird lifeAnd this flows on to the beams along our streets. We are getting less backyard space as we concentrate our housing, so what is possible with our public landLet's look at the problems and regulations and see what solutions are out thereStreets are full of dirty polluting cars that will make any food grown there inedibleA very good point but some streets have very low traffic and food could be grown. In all others there are plenty of options.Fruit trees with thick skins like citrus or feijoas are being planted successfullyGrow pollinators especially for the local bees. We are talking here of all sorts of flowering ground covers, shrubs and trees. And native plants for our birdsWe will end up with rotten fruit all over the footpath and bred verminIn successful plantings locals make a pact to be the guardians of specific fruit trees on their street. This has been working successfully in many areas of NZ. Some councils have even put online where the current ripe fruit is availableAnd if this doesn't work and the council isn't prepared to do the cleanup then, pull them out and change to bee and bird friendly plants.And the vermin problem hasn't eventuated in areas with these schemesThe maintenance men are always digging up the streetsYes they are and you just need to be prepared to lose these plants and start again . And be careful of the types of trees near access points and key infrastructureIt's dangerous if the footpaths aren't clear, safe and accessible for all usersThis is true and must be considered in the design of the planting. Especially if the tree chosen may become too big. Don't plant pears or plums unless they are a miniature varietyThe roads are for cars to drive and mustn't be covered in rotten fruit and especially people on the road picking that fruitTrue again and this is a combination of local guardians keeping the trees trimmed and collecting excess food, plus initial design of the plantingThey will get vandalisedTo an extent but so far their hasn't been much of this happening. We look after our own streets if we have an attachment to what is happening there.And around NZ these problems have been overcome. Council often don't have clear policy on this so it will pay to contact them. However, I do know a few people that are in the guerrilla gardening mode, they just act now and ask for forgiveness later.If this is too hard Council can be approached to let some land in the local park be used for community garden.And the prize is, more community togetherness, possible common compost schemes, free seasonal food, better bird and bee life and a generous more liveable city life.LISTEN ABOVE

One of the easiest ways to make a difference in the climate emergency is composting your organic waste rather than throwing it in your rubbish binOrganic matter in your rubbish goes into the landfill where is starts composting in amongst your paper and plastic waste. This causes methane to build up, which is a strong greenhouse gas, and can also reintroduce some of the nasty chemicals and heavy metals back into our environment. Not good.If you have no room you can use a worm farm or bokashi bin. Jack has been using a worm bin for years in his balcony gardenToday we will talk about a backyard compostMany people are a bit afraid or concerned that it will take too much time to compost and be messy. Let's talk about how easy, and in the end satisfying, composting can beWhat do you needFirst of all find a handsome closable container that can sit on your bench and take all the scraps as you prepare your meals and then scrap off your plates after eating. We also have a larger bin on the floor that operates by a foot action to open the lid,. This is for bigger meals, corn and harvest season and when you have visitors and are eating a lot of food.A garden fork is handy to own and best for turning the compostCollect green materials, usually grass clippings , coffee grounds and if available manure from horses, cows, chickens or sheep. These are high nitrogen additives that will kick start the microbes breaking down your waste. The green items also include your kitchen waste including egg shells, tea leaves etc.For your brown materials wood chips from the local garden contractors are perfect. Other “brown” options include shredded cardboard, dried leaves, straw or hay, all of which should be well mixed with other items so they don't compact and impede air flow.Then find a space in your yard for the bin, preferably in the shade. Bins come in many shapes and sizes. Find one that suits your habits and spaceCompost requires four main ingredients: water, oxygen, nitrogen — from “green” items — and carbon — from “brown” itemsA compost pile should be damp, like a squeezed-out sponge, but not dripping, and the more often you turn it and give it oxygen, the faster the microbes can break the materials down to an earthy-smelling, chocolate-brown amendment for your soil. You don't have to turn it at all, but it will take much longer for all the materials to break down.1. Start with a 8 to 15cm layer of untreated wood chips or small broken branches at the bottom of a bin or just on the ground. This will help absorb odours and provide air circulation.2. Add a 8cm layer of green or nitrogen items, such as vegetable trimmings and eggshells.3. Add a 3cm layer of a high-nitrogen activator such as manure, brew waste or coffee grounds. If you use grass clippings, make sure to mix them in with other items so they don't compact.4. Add a 8cm layer of brown or carbon ingredients, such as wood chips, shredded newspaper or cardboard, straw or hay, pine needles or dry leaves (well mixed with other ingredients so they don't mat).5. Water those layers well so the pile is thoroughly wet, and if you have enough ingredients, repeat the same layering process, watering again to ensure all the ingredients get wet.6. Turn the pile monthly by forking ingredients from the bottom of the pile to the top. When you add food scraps, cover them with wood chips or some other brown material to absorb odours and deter pests, but try to keep an even balance of greens and browns and make sure the pile stays moist. If the pile gets too dry, decomposition slows and it's more likely to attract ants and other pests. Add more greens and water, and turn. If the pile starts smelling or gets too wet, add more brown carbon material and mix it well.7. Once you fill a bin, let it “cook” for a few months (turning it monthly will speed the process) and start a second bin or pile nearby so you always have a place to add your food waste.If you are in an area with a rat prob...

We are having a fabulous summer and where I live on the Tutukaka Coast of Northland we get lots of wonderful visitors from all over NZ. And their dogs.  Now, we are dog owners and at our eco village we actually have kiwi roaming between the houses at night. Quite noisy actually, always calling for each other. There is a ‘no uncontrolled dog' policy at the village so it was with quite a lot of trepidation that we finally got a puppy two years ago. We were still four days a week in Auckland and our daughter was a co-carer. So, we put plenty of training into her, she only stays on our section inside the village, she is on a lead walking outside our section and never outside after dark. It seems to be working well. Because I hate to say dog lovers, the main reason Kiwi are still declining in most parts of NZ is attack by dogs. Habitat destruction was a big one. Then Mustelids, ferrets, stoats, weasels and wild cats can kill 80% of kiwi chicks but once they are six months old they can defend themselves, but never against dogs. Kiwi are very smart, have strong legs and claws. They live a long time and can have more than one egg a year. The terrible 80% kill still means that kiwi could prosper if we keep dogs away Dogs can't resist the smell of kiwi and because kiwis are flightless, they have very weak chest bones and a dog picking them up, will break their chest and they die. And even your little poodle cross can do this damage. The poodle is actually a bird dog. And once they are in a pack, yes just two dogs, look out as their behaviour can change radically It's in their nature, you think you are taking your dog for a walk, they think they are out on a hunt. Conservation workers, who are often avid dog owners themselves have come up, with some rules for when you leave the city and are at a beach or the bush Know what dogs are doing at all times. A kiwi safe dog will be in your sight at all times and will always come straight away when called, no matter what the distraction. Now this isn't that common for most dogs I'm afraid but you can always follow these guidelines from the Kiwi Coast organisation.  Never let dogs roam uncontrolled. Unless you are in a secure fenced off dog section When out and about, keep dogs on a lead at all times. Kiwi shelter in unusual places, and can be caught and killed in seconds. Use a short non-retractable lead when walking dogs. Kiwi have been killed on roadsides by dogs walked with retractable leads. Please take special care at night. Keep dogs confined and accompany them on a lead if they need to go outside. Consider using a muzzle - they are easy to use and effectiveThe good news is that here on the Eastern Cost of Northland kiwi are off the endangered list, and are in fact expanding so that the current challenge is making special wildlife corridors to join up the different areas You are welcome to visit us, just control your dog. LISTEN ABOVE

Our eco-man Malcolm Rands has been thinking about New Year resolutions you can actually keep that will help our planet:Each New Year many of us make grand resolutions for the coming year. What if these resolutions were actually climate friendly actions that were easy to keep?It's not all about sacrificeSometimes we look at the activists that are doing extreme and energy draining activities and although these people need to be applauded, we don't have to go there. Focus on the impact of your actions rather than the efforts. Some are actually very easy. change your power company or KiwiSaver , boycott an climate destroying brand and let them know why, email your MP. it's all about the impact of these actions rather than the effortHave funThe climate emergency can keep you up at night with worrying. But we have to find friendship, love, pleasure, and laughter not just alongside our efforts on climate, but ideally as an integral part of them. The good news is that whether it's riding a bike or attending a protest, there are so many sources of joy to be had that it's hard to know where to start.You are not aloneWe are lucky in NZ to have quite a communal culture. Don't think of your actions as an individual taking on the big powers but rather a boycott by you and your friends and family. If you want more partners there are many organisations you can join and be part of a team. Maybe one day you and your best friend may end up, handcuffed to the gates of a agrochemical plant togetherBe kind to yourself and even the so-called othersGuilt is a terrible emotion and can drive many peoples actions. The other side of this is shame, and shaming others. This can cause you to loose your power and just alienate people. Be careful to identify who is really responsible for the climate emergency, for example just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions, so let's not point the finger at each other. We can however boycott those companies and get them to change.Systems thinkingIt's not all about your individual actions, or what government and industry are doing. It's a combination of all. But you can look at the systems in your life to make things easier to do the right thing. Yes still pressure for that bike lane and also look at the barriers that are stopping you. Have you got all weather clothes, is the bike easy to access at your home or is it even the best bike for the task.The same is true of almost any climate-friendly behaviour we might want to adopt. Stop berating yourself for not doing it. Instead, examine what holds you back, and then change it.With all New Years resolutions, it is often the small and numerous ones that happen whilst the big challenging change of life stuff, often doesn't even last to the end of JanuaryLISTEN ABOVE

Most of us have now come across Secret Santa either with our extended family or workmates. This is actually a very eco activity, swapping out lots of small presents, that often are never used, to one well thought out gift, mainly within a price range. This can be given out randomly, this was the job of the youngest member of our family, or someone takes on, secretly letting everyone know who they are buying a present for.My families have now moved on the a more competitive version. Sometimes called Pirate Santa. Everyone is given a specific number, equal to the number of family present. The gifts are all put in the middle of the room.Number one chooses from this pile and opens it for everyone to see then places this present in front of themselves.Number 2 now can choose another present or take the present off number 1. If this happens number one has to choose another present.By number 3 they can take the present from 1 or 2 or choose a new present. If say number 2 has their present taken they can choose a new present or take the present from number 1.By the time you get to say number 11, there can be multiple instances of presents being taken. The only thing is you can't take a present that has already been taken in that round.I have had my favourite present taken and then got it back up to six times during one of these sessions.It's a lot of fun and quite revealing of the characters of your group.Secret Santa gifts can also be played around with.You can choose themes - the idea that an experience is more valuable than an object can be used.Make the gifts all experiences. A visit to the movies, a home cooked meal, an offer to do chores at the persons house. Let your imagination go wild. This secret Santa can still be played in any of the versions we have talked about . Probably works better with family than work matesMake the gift ridiculously cheap, say $2, but at the same time magical . This works best if it is the version that you know who you are buying the present for. Time to let those creative juices flowThe gift can be a food item that you have made yourself although if it's open to all, you may have to make it vegan and gluten-free. You can present this in a beautiful container which is part of the giftMake everything second hand - junk shop treasures.I guess Xmas gifting is a great time to be true to your values. Let your friends and family see you can walk the talk.I read something recently that said normalise fruit trees, sourdough starter and favourite recipes as gifts. Give something that can keep giving for generations.LISTEN ABOVE

Which is the most eco and healthiest of the milks (and yummiest)?  We live in a world where the old milk aisle at the supermarket now also has soy, almond, rice, oat, coconut and even hemp milks. Macadamia milk seems to have come and gone at my local. Many people are changing for health reasons, mainly lactose intolerant and others because of the revolt against peak cow ruining the environment. So, what are the facts here? Let's look at good old dairy, the product that some would say, made our nation great. Cow's milk is a good source of high-quality protein and is naturally rich in calcium, B vitamins and many minerals. But, the protein in diary is a common allergen and about 65% of the population have difficulty digesting lactose, a type of sugar in the cow's milk. And Dairy emissions per glass are 0.63 kg, land use is 1.79 square metres and it takes 125.6 litres of water to produce that one glass of milk. From now on, I will use this as a comparison rather than give you lots of figures. Also, we are so used to the taste and texture of milk we kind of use this as a standard. It took me a long time to find something else to put in my latte. Coconut milk This is squeezed from the white flesh of a coconut and is safe if you have a nut allergy. It has a third the calories of milk, but no protein and half the amount of fats. These fats however have been linked to heart health benefits. They have an eight of the emissions of milk and also have the benefit of storing carbon as the tree grows. They need very little water. Can be a sweet distinctive taste that not everyone loves. Soy This was the first major alternative and has been around for decades. This comes closest to cows milk as they have a complete protein and its nutritional profile closely resembles that of diary. Controversy has come about as so much soy is genetically modified and also soy isoflavones can bind to estogen receptors in the body. This is still not completely understood but does put many off it. It has one third the emissions of dairy, 14 times less land needed and 22 times less water needed. Almond This is made by soaking almonds in water then blending them and staining away the solids. Unsweetened almond milk is low in calories and much lower in carbs than dairy but also low in protein. Beware that many brands have added sugar in them so check the labels. Also, many brands use carrageenan to thicken and stop separation. Lab tests have shown carrageenan to promote intestinal inflammation and damage. It has a third the emissions of dairy and also captures carbon as the tree grows. It uses one sixth the land but over 7 times the water usage of the other plant-based milks. Only dairy uses about 30% more again. Oat Oat milk is naturally sweet and high in carbs. Its soluble fibre makes it creamer and also absorbs water and turns in to a gel which slows digestion and keeps you full longer. This fibre may also reduce your cholesterol levels. It has about a quarter the protein of dairy which make it second here, behind soy. It has a third the emission of dairy, uses eleven times less land and thirteen times less water is needed. Plus, it can be grown easily here in New Zealand. And this has been the winner for me. I buy a local brand called Otis which grows its oats here in New Zealand and makes a damn fine latte too. In fact, in the UK nearly 50% of the population have now changed to oats in their café coffees because it froths so well in the expresso machines; again, that magic fibre it contains. LISTEN ABOVE

Eco-man Malcolm Rands updates Jack Tame on how the COP26 Summit is going. LISTEN ABOVE

With the climate summit beginning this weekend, eco-man Malcolm Rands goes over the most important changes you can make to help our planet.LISTEN ABOVE

This week is organics week, which is a chance to look at what organic actually means.   What is it good for us? It's about what's NOT in a product, rather than what is. Organic farmers don't use synthetic chemicals including fertilizers, pesticides, weed sprays and antibiotics. The products are also free of GMOs and artificial ingredients. Eating organic drastically reduces your exposure to pesticides. Many studies have now shown the health risk from pesticides and especially important for pregnant women and children.  Why is it good for the environment? Organics creates less pollution, especially protecting the health of our waterways. Good organic soils store significant amounts of carbon which is so important in our fight against climate change.  But it's too expensive! Latest research shows it's only 7.5% more expensive than conventional food. And there's ways to make it cheaper. Firstly, eat quality but less of it. For example the cheap chicken or bacon has a much higher water content. Being tricked into thinking you have more is rife in the grocery industry. You can also grow your own. Fresh vegetables, minutes from being picked out of your own organic garden, is like a health explosion. You won't need those supplements if you eat fresh organic nutrient dense food.  It's good for our economy. The Organic sector is a fast and sustainable growth area for NZ exports. Many countries are looking for safer foods.  How do you know if something is organic? Organics has an international certification system. Certified producers are audited every year by respected certifiers, who themselves are audited by international peers. LISTEN ABOVE

Kids garden  The children are our future and one of the best ways to instil them with healthy eco values is through gardening. It will also change their attitude to food, and may even make some of the old ‘I won't touch' foods into favourites.   This can be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone and provides unlimited learning opportunities for kids and adults.   Here are some tips:  Keep it simple, and probably small. Gardening doesn't need much space and in fact many successfully garden out of containers. Use just a few easy to grow vegetables, maybe some flowers. Simple means less stressful and more likelihood of success. Choose the right plants. Some veges you can plant straight into the soil because of their large seed size. I suggest peas and bush beans. These both can be eaten raw straight from the plant. Peas have the wonderful ‘open a present' thing happening. Watch them become a kid's favourite. If you have room you could try a rambling melon, rock melon or watermelon. Radish are easy and produce very quickly but may be too spicy for some kids. Other easy plants include lettuce, sunflowers, marigolds, carrots, cherry tomatoes and parsley.  Make the layout suit the kid. You can have raise beds, containers, or just walk between rows. Make sure the rows are close enough together that your child can reach the middle of the garden without stepping on the soil and compacting it. And make one area which they have complete freedom to experiment themselves.  Let them have their own tools. These don't need to be expensive or new. Can get kid sized gloves, shovel and watering cans.  Get them to decorate the garden. Seed markers, special rocks and shells, drift wood. This can be an art project as well. LISTEN ABOVE

Green kids in lockdown Lockdown is a special time - It can be an opportunity to reevaluate what's important. There are plenty of eco habits we could start, and it's a special time to spend with the kids.   We are going to look at some fun and educational games, projects to do with the kids.   Kumara in a jar  You can grow beautiful green vines anywhere you want them, and any time of year.    You need: kumara, toothpicks, a jar or glass, non-chlorinated water.  1. Wash the kumara thoroughly but gently 2. Make sure the kumara can fit at least a third of its length into the jar 3. Insert the toothpicks a third the way down it 4. Place in jar and fill with water  5. In-between 10-14 days the kumara will start to bud. Make sure the kids are aware of this process.  Now for three to six months vines will grow from these bud. You can let them dangle or train them to go where ever you choose.  Egg shell people   There is a long tradition of starting your seedling in empty egg shells. The egg shells are a fertiliser and will add calcium to the garden - plus you are recycling!  Our idea is more for decoration.   1. For a week or so be careful how you crack eggs, leaving half to two thirds and put back in the carton.  2. Wash the eggshell seed pots with warm soapy water and punch a hole in the bottom with a heavy needle or similar, for drainage. 3. Use non-toxic makers and get the kids to draw faces on them. Maybe of people you know like granddad or grandma.  4. Put them in egg cups or the old egg cartoon and explain that the strength they have is because of the shape of the egg even though the egg shell is very delicate.  5. Fill with sterile seed raising mix, and seeds that will come up with lots of small stems, like mustard, cress, or alfalfa. This will look just like hair! 6. Place them in filtered light and keep the water up, and wait for the results. You can do exactly the same thing to start your spring vegetables, herbs and flowers. With these, once they have more than 2 true leaves, they could be transplanted into your garden.  LISTEN ABOVE  

De-clutter your life (and help the planet)   There's no denying that most of us are buying too much stuff. It's fun to go shopping! But this mindless consumerism is bad for the planet, and it's cluttering up our homes. This issue has spawned a whole new industry, storage facilities, where we can leave all this excess stuff that we've bought. Many a friend has retrieved the things they spent a fortune storing only to find they don't really want this ‘treasure'.  So let's look at a few areas where we can reduce clutter, and help the planet at the same time.   BOOKS This is going to earn me some criticism from my friends and family. I love books, they are a valuable resource, and we can only encourage kids to read more. But do we have to buy them all? How many books that you own have never been opened? I'm afraid that to actually achieve personal growth, you need to do more than just buy the latest book on how to change your life.  If you LOVE a book, especially kids' books that you will read often to them at bedtime, then definitely buy and treasure them.  But you can use the library for books you'll only read once or borrow them from friends.   Clearing out books you don't want * Sometimes your local op-shop will take them.  * Drop them at one of the local small free libraries that are in parks and community centres for someone else to enjoy. Pick up something new to read while you're there!  KIDS CLOTHES AND TOYS This is another category that can quickly get out of hand, thanks to kids that just keep growing!  If you're wanting to clear things out, there are always the usual suspects: passing on to friends and families, op-shops, and Trade Me.   Clearing out kids' items you don't want * There's a great charity called Little More (www.littlemore.co.nz) that will take used items for kids 0-12 months for families that need them. * Sometimes your local maternity ward will take newborn clothes.  * Your local toy library will often take any good quality toys. Extra points for this option because then you're cycling toys through many different families.  FASHIONIn the thirties, women had an average of nine outfits, now it's over thirty. In England there are an average of 22 unworn items in a woman's closet.   Here is a method to figure out what you aren't wearing anymore.  At the start of the year turn all your hangers the opposite way that you usually have them. Swap them over as you water that piece. At the end of year, you will see what you actually wear.  Clearing out clothes you don't want * Same thing as kids clothes – they can be sold or donated.  * For work clothes, Dress for Success (dressforsuccess.org) will take new or near-new clothes that women can borrow to wear for job interviews, or to help them re-enter the workforce. LISTEN ABOVE 

By Malcom RandsYes we do live in disposable times. I heard managers at big box stores saying they wanted the public to be able to buy anything they wanted out of one pay packet. So that meant a radical decrease in quality to make this possible. So things don't last long, and hey, for the retailers and manufacturers it means you will be buying from them again, real soon. And the eco impact of manufacturing and transportation all these products that soon become waste is enormous.  Back in the day we bought from a local store, often only one of each item, and the retailer wanted it to be the best, so they were looking after you, their valued and regular customer. When I was young I thought these cheap prices were amazing, bought some garden tools, some only lasted a few days before they bent. As an alternative, I still have some tools from my great grandfather, manufactured over 125 years ago, and still in great condition. And we call this progress.  So what do we look out for in buying something that will last. And to be fair, you may have to save up for a few week to afford it, but in the  long run it is much much less expensive.  1. What are the materials and workmanship that make this more durable than its competitors  2. Look into reviews from customers and independent commenters 3. Is it manufactured ethically and has sustainable materials  4. Is there an aftercare program, including spare parts  5. Is the design timeless, especially around items that are fashionable like clothing or interior design  6. Can you buy it second hand, maybe left over from somebodies else's great grandparents  7. How long is the guarantee, some are lifetime.Some examples Kitchen:  Cast iron cookware: I first went flatting with this awful aluminium cooking set. And I wondered why cooking was hard work and I keep burning things and hated the dishes. I love cooking on quality cast iron fry pans and casserole dishes. The heavy bottoms smooth out and retain the heat . As they hardly every burn I will just rinse them out in hot water then hang them in the kitchen for next time. And yes, definitely able to be passed on one day. We even have a new business, the Ironclad Pan Company, making the highest quality cast iron ware here in NZ.  Knives: We recently bought top range Japanese cooking knives. It's like a revolution, the blade just slipping through those tomatoes.   Toasters, electric jugs, mixers: There are now brands that will replace parts and repair. Often stainless steel will be the go-to for many kitchen tools.  Home:   Quality pens Linen Covers  Leatherman or Swiss army multi tool   Garden:  Strong and guaranteed   Mens: I don't shave much now, just cheeks and lower neck, but when I'm finally finished with the refill pack I'm into an old fashioned razor and razor blade set. A good friend swears by it and he has a very thick beard when it grows.LISTEN ABOVE 

Until around 1916, making soap at home was commonplace. Using wood or plant ashes and leftover animal fats, families produced their own soap for cleaning their clothes and themselves.During World War I, when animal fats were in limited supply, German scientists developed synthetic detergents — and commercial soap was born. Homemade soap became less of a necessity, and gradually the practice dwindled. In recent years, back-to-the-landers and simple-living adherents have revived the homemade soap-making process. It's not only in favor with those who leave the big city for rural life or those with an anti-commercialist bent. For anyone interested in living as self-sufficiently as possible, it makes good sense to make your own soap.  Homemade soap is good for your wallet: you can make big batches of soap from scratch for less than it costs to buy bar after bar at your local drugstore, and you can reuse leftover bits to make new soap. It's good for your body, without all the potentially harmful chemicals in commercial soap, homemade soap is of superior quality. People with sensitive skin often find relief when they stop using store-bought soap and start making their own.  Homemade soap is good for the environment: it lacks the synthetic materials in conventional bar soaps that eventually accumulate in our waterways and put natural resources at risk.  There are many recipes on the web and lots of different techniques. Here are some general tips: * Make sure you have all the ingredients and tools assembled before you start. It is quite an exacting process and you don't want to be running around looking half way through.* Rubber gloves and protective eyewear, such as goggles or glasses.* Two large mixing bowls made of a material that will not react with lye: strong plastic, stainless steel, glass, enamel. Do not use flimsy plastic, aluminum, tin or wood. One bowl with a lip for pouring will be helpful. * Accurate measuring tools and good stirrers.  * Sodium hydroxide, which is used to saponify the oils is very caustic. You'll probably buy stuff normally used to clean toilets or drains. Always add the caustic to the water, not the other way around. This will then start warming up from the reaction with water.  * Measure every ingredient accurately. Getting it wrong and you end up with foul smelling or sloppy soap.  Once you have done this a few times then you can start experimenting with different techniques including hot mixes. And then you can also invent new shops using different added ingredients and essential oils.LISTEN ABOVE   

EcoStore's Tony Morpeth has been making environmentally friendly household cleaners for more than 20 years. Back then he was a pioneer, working for Stephen Tindall and then Malcolm Rands. Now his products are in pretty much every supermarket, from here to New York. So what goes into an eco-cleaner, and what stays out? And how can EcoStore can stay ahead of the competition and keep driving to green, but very clean world?Plant & Mineral-Based Home, Body and Baby Care | ecostore NZ

Busting supermarket myths   Most of us believe certain things about the cleaning products we buy, but they've actually been planted in our heads by years of advertising.   So let's bust some of those myths.   Myth 1: The best shampoos, toothpastes and dish liquids foam well. In many cases scientists figure out how to do something, then make a feature out of it. Lots of research has gone into foam, and making it last as long as possible. It doesn't make things any cleaner, we have just been taught to think so.Myth 2: My clothes need to smell clean to actually BE clean: No, you are just smelling the persistent synthetic perfume added to the laundry product. And for people with allergies perfumes are one of the worst offenders. Then, these chemicals in your laundry products don't all rinse out and are up against your skin 24/7. Even if you sleep naked, they are in your sheets and pillow slips.  Myth 3: Whiter than white. For many generations there was a competition about who had the whitest clothes. Early twentieth century there was an ingredient called Blueo, that you added to the final rinse to get this affect. Then in the fifties scientists came up with optical whiteners / brightners. These clever chemicals stick to your clothes. When invisible UV light hits these chemicals, they have the ability to change the waves length of the light into the visible spectrum. Suddenly, a lot more light comes off your clothes. Whiter and brighter. Especially new clothes in a store everyone is attracted to the brighter not dull garment. Make sure you wash these when you get hone as these chemicals will also stick to your skin.  Myth 4: Super sized and low priced, what a bargain. At one stage, I managed to get the category manager for Woolworths Australia to right one of the these  problems. Supersize and cheap is misleading because brands just water down the liquids and fluff up the powders. A one kg of laundry powder used to have only four washes in it when I started. We had 32 washes in one kg but people thought we were the expensive one. So I convinced him to demand the number of washes should be printed on the pack. He did this and it meant that everyone in Australasia changed as they didn't want to print two different packs. That's the power of the supermarket....if they do the right thing.LISTEN ABOVE 

Not everything can be recycled ...  We’ve talked about things you can recycle, here are the things to keep out: Plastic bags, food and garden waste, hazardous waste and chemicals, polystyrene trays and packaging, coffee cups, batteries, nappies, clothing window glass, mirrors or light bulbs, cookware, electrical items, building waste and medical waste.  But even things that can be recycled will go straight in landfill if you’ve put it into plastic bags, because no one wants to puts their hands into these.  Washing containers is important. Make sure they’re empty of liquid or residue. They need to be rinsed out but not spotless. Clean enough for optical sorters so they know which type of plastic it is.  ...but these things can be!  At the moment, manufactures are getting off scot-free. When the new plastic and packaging started coming out, business managed to talk local government in thinking it was their problem, so there was no economic reason for brands to make it easy to recycle.  But some brands are starting to make it easier to get rid of trickier packaging.  * Terracycle’s website has details on how you can recycle Gilette Razors, schwarzkopf products, alt and vape products, colgate, Gillette colgate, sealed pouches … to name just a few. What happens to them? Things like the Sealord pouches are shredded, cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. Razors are broken down and separated by material. Plastics are cleaned and pelletised to be recycled into new products, and metal materials are sent for smelting and conversion to new alloys. If you go onto their website, you can find your local collection point or create your own. * Expol collects polystyrene, collection points on their website. They collect over 300 cubic metre per month. * Nespresso takes back coffee pods - although it’s better to just use a reusable one in the first place. LISTEN ABOVE

Reuse, Reduce, Rethink, Recycle. Recycle is at the bottom of the chain as there are much better ways for cutting down on waste. But when we do recycle then let’s do it well.  Different councils have slightly different rules. Often smaller councils don’t have the infrastructure to handle some products. In the bottom of South Island, they find it’s not worth shipping glass all the way to Auckland. Unless they pay the extra, it is use as aggregate in roading material or capping dumps. It can even be ground right to back to sand. Same with the tetra pack family of containers, only big councils have the gear to recycle these which are then sent overseas to be processed.  What do we recycle easily?  Plastic bottles, containers, and clear food containers 1 to 7. 1: PET plastics, soft drink bottles the most famous. These are recycled in NZ. The clear ones can be made in to anything. Coloured ones are less useful. They can be made into clothing , polyester etc. 2: HDPE, bathroom and laundry products. Slightly cloudy variety, often in milk bottles, is the most valuable. As soon as colour is added then these have more limited use. Ecostore uses recycled and carbon capture sugar based HDPE for its range. 3-7: Less wanted, often baled and exported or even sent to landfill for PVC and 7’s All bio plastics, unless going to a specialist collection, goes to landfill.  Soft plastic This can only be recycled at soft plastic recycling stores, never in the recycling bin. Auto equipment means plastic bags gets wrapped around gear and workers have to go in with angle grinders to fix this every day.  Aluminium and glass Can be recycled infinite times because they are pure elements, aluminium and silica. Steel cans are also fine.  Paper Products like mail, newspaper and magazines, paper and cardboard packaging and egg cartons.  Keep these out of your recycling Plastic bags, food and garden waste, hazardous waste and chemicals , polystyrene trays and packaging, coffee cups, batteries, nappies, clothing window glass, mirrors or light bulbs, cookware, electrical items, building waste and off course medical waste.  You need to think of the workers and machines that are sorting this stuff. Stuff you have sorted already into plastic bags, and put the whole thing in the bin will go straight to landfill because no one wants to puts their hands into these. Washing containers is important. Make sure they’re empty of liquid or residue. Rinsed out but not spotless - just clean enough for optical sorters so they know which type of plastic it is.  Pizza boxes: a bit of grease is okay, a few crumbs is alright - but masses of cheese no good. LISTEN ABOVE 

Getting rid of E-waste Oh, we love our phone and laptops, our toasters, blenders, vacuums, hairdryers, smoke detectors and everything that plugs in. We couldn’t live life without them! They unfortunately aren’t necessarily made to last a long time, and at the end of their lives they are all e-waste - you can’t put any of these in your recycling and shouldn’t put them in your normal rubbish. This is obvious with the larger items like TVs and washing machines , but smaller items need careful disposal as well.  We are looking at around 80,000 tonnes of e-waste generated each year and only about two percent is recycled. This is one of the highest per capita amounts in the world. Also New Zealand is one of the only countries in the OEDC without a national e-waste scheme.  The Ministry for the Environment has an initiative to create a product stewardship process for electronic waste, with results expected later this year. The insides of electronics are full of toxic materials. A Cathode Ray tube TV or monitor may contain up to 3kg of lead.  With the rise of technology, we are seeing more fires from Lithium-Ion batteries. When these get compacted in the rubbish or recycling truck, the casing breaks, and the battery mixes with whatever else is in the truck. The same thing can happen with car parts or gas canisters from barbeques. This puts everyone including the fire service in danger.  But electronics are also full of treasure, the rare metals that products and the new generation batteries need. Specialty recyclers are growing their capacity to take electronic waste in New Zealand. There are lots of places that are eager to get your computer or TV screen, refurbish it, and pass it on to a small business, school, or charity in need. They help keep these materials out of landfill, which also lessens the demand for new rare earth materials. Items that can no longer be re-used are dismantled by recycling technicians. The components are separated and graded as either general scrap metals or e-scrap. All e-scrap is exported under Environmental Protection Agency permits to facilities in Asia and Europe to be return into base elements to be used again.  The other way to look at this issue is through product guardianship. In a circular economy there is no waste. So products are designed so that the manufacturers will welcome them back for the valuable components inside. This philosophy would completely change how we design our products. Some European countries are looking at only ever renting out large appliances, then the companies know they will take them back and make sure they are useful when they return.  Auckland-based company Computer Recycling is hosting 30+ e-waste drop-off days around the city in 2021, providing opportunities for locals to divert their e-waste from ending up in local landfills including one today (Saturday 17 April). Computer Recyclingis working with neighbourhood group to facilitate over 30 of these collection days – dubbed “CR E-days”. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE    

Second-hand shopping like a pro Clothing is a huge part of our unnecessary consumer habits. I would have been shocked as a young person if someone bought a new outfit to wear only once (unless it was the school ball). Now it is quite common!   The International Panel on Climate Change has estimated that fashion is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as excessive use of water and synthetic chemicals to produce and finish textiles.  Second hand clothes are an eco-answer to having the variety you need in your wardrobe. Here are some tips on how to buy well: Dress Comfortably: Wear clothes and shoes that are easy to take off. This might sound like strange advice, but if you're in and out of changing rooms, it makes a big difference to be able to try items on with ease. You can also wear clothes that you can try things on over – like leggings and a tank top. it is a good idea to know your body measurements by heart or have them stored on your phone for quick reference – and bring a tape measure.  Know What You're Looking For: Because there are so many options at a thrift store, keeping an ongoing list of items you need helps to narrow down the search. (It's still a good idea, though, to keep an eye out for those unexpected gems.)   Know Your Personal Style: Try saving pictures of looks you like to a private collection on Instagram or Pinterest. Reference this when in doubt about what might look good.   Look for Quality: You need to develop a critical eye when shopping secondhand. Scan items for stains (particularly underarm), spots, holes, loose threads, missing buttons, broken zippers. Make sure the seams are strong and check that the material isn't worn thin in places. Sniff the item to make sure it smell fresh and clean. Ask yourself, "Would I walk out of the store wearing this?" Depending on your style, many thrifted items can actually look better than new. Think of soft graphic tees, cozy sweatshirts, and trendy ripped jeans that already look like you've put in the years of wear.   Choose Natural Fibers Whenever Possible: Natural fibers, such as cotton, hemp, wool, and linen, tend to age better and pill less than synthetic and blended materials. They do not release microplastic particles when washed, and they will biodegrade at the end of their life. They're generally easier to repair, too. (Learn more about the benefits of natural fibers here.)  Seek Out Children's Clothes: If you have children, secondhand is a great way to dress them. Kids grow and go through clothing so quickly that it becomes prohibitively expensive to buy new items for them. Look for clothes, outerwear, sporting gear, boots, and shoes at the thrift store, and continue the cycle by donating whatever they outgrow that's still in good condition.   Go Online: You will be surprised what’s out there  LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE  

Saving water  Now we’ve looked at collecting your rainwater (more detail here) and using rainwater (more detail here) let’s look at how to use less water in the first place.  Bathroom * Get tough on those who spend hours in the showers, have a timer with loud alarm so everyone in the house can hear. * Put a bucket in the shower as you wait for warm water, then use in the garden. I've been doing this for years, because when you manage your own water, and don’t rely on the council, you realise how precious it is.  * The bath is a luxury. If you have one share it someone you trust to be not too dirty. I also go second.  * Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Wet the brush, turn it off, then rinse it at the end. This may save your household up to 750 litres of water per month. * Flush your toilet on the short flush where you can. If you have an old-fashioned cistern, you can get a bottle of sand and water, and put it in. Cuts down the water used each time. Laundry * Choose machines with good water ratings, definitely a front loader, as its uses only a fraction the water  of a top loader. You get a better wash too. * Only run loads when they are full.  Garden * If you know me I always say: “mulch mulch and then some more mulch”. It keeps the water in the garden and the weeds out. Nature hates bare soil and will put something in it if you do not. You never see bare soil in healthy nature sites. * Water long and not often. A little water with the hose of an evening fells like you are doing good but all you are doing is training the feeding roots into the top of the soil. Then these will suffer when you go on holiday or forget for a while. Long watering, penetrating the soil, trains the roots deep and then you can do it only once a week.  And while you’re at it …   * Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water . Only use the hose to rinse off. Use ecostore dishwash then you can wash the car on the lawn and the detergent will feed the soil rather than poison  * Check your house for leaks. Be suspicious if your water bill goes up suddenly. Some councils will even subsidise a repairman to come and fix your leaks. 

Once you pull the plug and the water disappears you are using your grey water system. This goes into the council system, and often to a treatment plant to take out chemical cleaners and other contaminants. It’s then discharged into the rivers or sea.For example, the chemicals that are put into products just to make them foam more are a pollution that has to be taken out. All of this process costs us as ratepayers, and we’re flushing away water you could use again: laundry, bath, shower and basin water. Don’t worry, we’re not walking about toilet (black water) or even kitchen sink and dishwasher, where there could be contaminants from food, e.g. old chicken germs. Why should we use grey water? Grey water use reduces the need for and reliance on the mains water supply system.Reduces the wastewater peak flows discharging to council’s wastewater system.Allows gardens to be watered during drought periods.How do you use grey water?The main uses are in the garden. Unless you are an extreme eco warrior I don’t recommend the vege garden or herb garden. This is because the chemicals in every day products can be quite toxic and eco-destructive. During my time at ecostore I spent a lot of time weeding these chemicals out because even some plant-based products are harmful, like the foaming agents I mentioned before. You can use this water on your lawn, hedges, ornamental gardens and orchards.Also best practice is to put in a storage tank with a filter that can take out the laundry lint and if you have synthetic clothes it can also capture the micro plastic that literally come out in millions of tiny particles with every laundry wash. But I’m sure you have all switched to cotton, wool, linen and other natural fabrics by now! This storage tank can then have an overflow that goes to the municipal grey water system, if you find yourself not using it all. You should contact your local council here as different local authorities have different rules. The other great use is to use this water to flush your toilet. This uses about 17% of your water use so there is a great saving right there.How much water could I save?So collecting your rain water should see around a 50% reduction on your water useage. Flushing with grey water would see 17% and using grey water on your garden could see 18% reduction. Those are some serious reductions on your water bill!  

This time of year, we think about lack of water and extra water bills. Would having your own rainwater tank be wise or affordable?  Doing the numbers  An average kiwi homes use 150,000 litres a year. There is usually a fixed charge for being in the system then a usage charge for the number of litres you use.  In Auckland that’s $190 fixed and about $500 usage.   If you got a 5000L tank, this would be refilled every time it rains. Estimate this saving at least half your water use or around $250 per annum. A 5000L tank can be as cheap as $950. Or top of the line fancy slim tank that fits anywhere or maybe an in ground tank, $3500 So in 4-10 years (water prices are only going up) you have paid for it and you are saving that amount of money every year.  How to collect rainwater? My favourite way is to a system that collects water for a while, catching pollution and bird dropping sfrom the roof. You then ditch this, and the cleaner water is sent to your tank If you don’t trust the rain water then it can be directed to toilets, washing machines and  garden, or just put a water filter in the system.   Check your council bylaws about your rights here. I know Auckland city has just made it a lot less bureaucratic to install one. They need the help! Often all they ask for is a backflow prevention device to keep your water out of the common supply.  If you are just considering some extra water for your garden then you can go much smaller and simpler and cheaper of course.  It'll save your council money too If everyone did this it would considerably lower the city infra structure costs: piped water in and out of your property. That means lower rates for all?  You also reduce the stormwater runoff which in storm periods can mean the grey water invades the sewage system and this ends up in our public waterways and beaches. 

Green sun safety  With the high temperatures of the past week, we've all been flocking to the beach. But what are the most environmentally-friendly ways to keep sun safe at the beach? First off, stay out of the sun between 10am-4pm, September to April. The beach is wonderful early in the morning or late afternoon. If you’re at the beach outside of these times, sun shades you put up are a good idea. Make sure you get a good one, not a cheap throw away.  If you need more protection, you'll be slapping on the sunscreen. But which kind? There are two varieties: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreen absorbs UV light to prevent it from causing damage. But the chemicals; like oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone and homosalate, have been identified as being particularly dangerous for eco-systems. There's evidence they have been making coral more susceptible to bleaching, deforming baby coral and degrading its resilience to climate change. Hawaii is now looking at banning these chemicals. They are also proven hormone disrupters that can seep through human and animal skin into other bodily tissue.  And it’s not just the environment: Oxybenzone was recently found in 96 per cent of the population by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. That’s an alarming statistic when you learn that this chemical can affect a man’s sperm count and contribute to the development of painful endometriosis in women.  So you might like to consider physical sunscreen, which sits on top of the skin, using the minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.  The Cancer Society says whether it’s a chemical or physical sunscreen, check the sunscreen you’re using does the job it’s meant to do. It needs to be broad-spectrum (which protects from UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant, SPF30+ and meet the Australia-New Zealand standard. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Wrap it up Doesn’t it bug you to see the mounds of plastic ribbons going into the rubbish on Christmas morning? Or make you uncomfortable to wonder just how they make wrapping paper so shiny and colourful, who made it, and where? In fact, much of that glossy stuff isn’t recyclable. The glittery and metallic papers contain plastics, so they need to go into the rubbish. But gift wrapping gives us the same challenge as dressing fashionably. You want it to look sophisticated, neat, and stylish, just without all the waste, exploitation, and environmental impact. That is not always the easiest thing to pull off. * I love the Japanese tradition of furoshiki fabric wraps. and you are now seeing some progressive stores doing this for you. And much of the material may be found already at your home * Kids art work or get the kids to paint some the material that comes into your house , like online deliveries, paper grocery bags etc. Then decorate it with string and shells, greenery from the garden, or re-purposed pacific lei.  * Xmas cards can be changed to Xmas tags * Second hand store are a great start for packaging: Scarves, tea or kitchen towels, decorative brooches, vintage cards, old maps, jars and cookie tins * Mum always keep the best wrapping paper to use again in the future and we do the same. A secret to making this work is in how you wrap the paper so it is easy to salvage it again. For example, hemp string instead of cello tape overkill. Also having a special storage area saved for this purpose in your home to keep it out of the way and undamaged. we have old ribbons, cards and paper in a basket.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE       

Green Gift Guide  Studies have shown that 25% of gifts and thrown out between Christmas and New Years’ Day, so lets give things that people can treasure and find useful.  Most people already have keep cups and reusable bags in their cars, so here are some new sustainable gift ideas:   * Beautiful container with lid that can sit on the kitchen countertop and you put your compost scraps straight into. * Reusable covers for bowls. Often now made with bees wax  * Solar powered phone charger * Natural based lip balms, hand creams or other beauty products.  * Collection of eco-cleaners. Ecostore does a gift bucket full. Start at the batch and end up using them everywhere .. people need to try to be convinced that they work as well. * Really beautiful shopping produce bags, preferably ones that can fold down and live in your bag or car.* Cookbook looking at no waste, reusing leftovers etc.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE  

Vinegar  To make wine, the sugar has to be converted to alcohol in a process known as fermentation. After the sealed bottle has been opened, there’s a second kind of fermentation that happens. During this process, the alcohol is turned into acetic acid, the main compound in vinegar.  Acetic acid isn’t the only compound in vinegar, but it’s the one that makes vinegar acidic. In fact, with a pH of 2.4, distilled white vinegar is a pretty strong acid, more acidic than coffee or orange juice, but still less acidic than your stomach juices or, say, the liquid inside batteries (luckily).  Vinegar’s acidity is what makes it such a good cleaner. Because vinegar is so acidic, it can counteract some icky buildups. It can dissolve away soap scum, brines left by hard water, and glue left behind by stickers.  Vinegar is great for giving windows and mirrors (use a combination of vinegar and water and wipe with a newspaper instead of a paper towel to avoid streaks), no-wax floors, and wood paneling or cabinets an extra-clean shine.  Another use for vinegar? Getting rid of stubborn stains. Lots of stains, whether from sweaty armpits or grass, are slightly acidic, which means they will dissolve away in the presence of another acid, like vinegar. Cleaner recipes  Scented All-Purpose Cleaner One part white vinegar One part water Lemon rind Rosemary sprigs Combine the above ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then let infuse for a week before using. Once done, you can use the natural solution to remove hard water stains, clean trash cans, wipe away wall smudges, and much more. Besides a fresh scent, the lemon rind may help boost cleaning power. Caution: Do not use acidic cleaners on granite, as they will etch the stone. DIY Glass Cleaner 2 cups water 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 70% concentration 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil for smell (optional) The next time you need to wash your windows and mirrors, combine these ingredients and pour them in a spray bottle. Hint: Don't clean windows on a hot, sunny day, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks. For mirrors, spray the solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first before wiping. De-clog a drain Clear a stubborn drain by pouring a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects (remember DIY volcanoes?). Wait five minutes, then flush with hot water. Stain and smell remover A paste of vinegar and baking soda can dissolve set red wine stains. Vinegar can even get cat or dog urine out of carpets or other cloths and, bonus, that pungent smell can keep pets away from places you don’t want them to go.    LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE  

Back in 3500 BCE, the Ancient Egyptians used baking soda as a cleaning agent and to dry out bodies for the process of mummification. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, it's actually a salt. Go ahead and try it; you’ll find that it tastes like a milder version of the salt in your shaker. It is slightly alkaline (the opposite of acidic), which is key to understanding why it’s such a good cleaner.  Keep your fridge smelling nice: Baking soda absorbs odors, so just leave a box of it in your fridge. That’s because most odors are acidic and, because baking soda is alkaline, it reacts with the acids in the air to neutralize them.  Unclog your drains: Baking soda reacts with vinegar, and this acid-base reaction is the reason baking soda and vinegar are cleaning partners in crime. The baking soda and vinegar volcano might be a science-fair classic, but that same explosive chemical reaction can do wonders in your kitchen or bathroom. Pouring baking soda and vinegar down a drain can unclog it; slathering a baking soda paste inside your filthy oven and then splashing a little vinegar on it cuts through grease and leaves it gleaming.  Use it instead of soap/jiff: It’s slightly abrasive. For some things, baking soda works better than typical soap. Although both are alkaline (not acidic), soap contains fat molecules that make it less harsh. Baking soda, on the other hand, is abrasive, which gives it the grit to dislodge particles and remove stains from a number of surfaces. Use it as a fire extinguisher: It passes gas, carbon dioxide, the same stuff you exhale. When baking soda is heated above 300°F, it releases the gas. That makes baking soda a great fire extinguisher (and the only way to put out a grease fire) because the influx of carbon dioxide cuts off the oxygen that had been fueling the fire. Use it for pest control: It’s a great nontoxic form of pest control, because when ingested by cockroaches or ants, gas builds up inside their hard-shelled bodies and causes their organs to fail. And that’s not all - it can also clean your veggies, revive stale-smelling sponges and scrub a BBQ. Recipe: Kitchen Cleaner and Deodorizer 4 tablespoons baking soda 1 litre  warm water To clean kitchen counters, appliances, and the inside of your refrigerator, all you need is baking soda. "It makes a great deodorizer and can be used to shine stainless steel sinks and appliances," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. To deodorize surfaces, use the solution above or pour baking soda straight from the box and into your drain or garbage disposal to remove odors. To shine and remove spots from stainless steel, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it with a damp cloth and rub gently in the direction of the metal’s grain. Rinse and buff dry. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

Bokashi  New Zealand households throw away 157,389 tonnes of food a year. That is equivalent to 271 jumbo jets of food that has to go somewhere to rot, instead of being eaten. All of this food is worth about $1.17 billion each year. That amount of food could feed the population of Dunedin for nearly three years!  So why not investigate turning your food waste, at home, into soil gold by the little-known method of Bokashi.  You will all have noticed how foods like sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha have started to dominate the supermarket aisles. What they share in common is they are fermented foods that have been shown to have a healthy effect especially on your gut bacteria.  This is the special thing about Bokashi, instead of your food waste being decomposed to make a compost or even worm casting, it is fermented.  I love composting and have been doing it for almost forty years. It adds structure and humus to my gardens and make the plants healthier. But the decomposing process loses the majority of its carbon and energy in the process. This is through it heating up, gassing off and it even loses its nitrogen as nitrous oxide and ammonia. Put all your scraps into a sealed container. The fermentation process means you can put significantly more kinds of food than with composting. Even cooked food, meat, fat, cheese, and citrus waste are pre-digested to enable soil life to consume them. And you don’t have to worry about rats eating these scraps as it is a sealed container. The food scraps are inoculated with Lactobacilli. This comes contained in prepared grains that you add to the mix. This converts some of the carbohydrates to lactic acid by homolactic fermentation. The scraps are fermented anaerobically (without air) for a few weeks, much like making sauerkraut. This mixture can then be added to the soil or stored for later use As it is mixed into the soil, it is exposed to the air. The partial lactic acid in the mix oxidises to Pyruvate, a fundamental energy carrier (provides energy to cells) in biological processes. The soil life goes to work and the worms go crazy. Often the soil ends up looking like worm castings. And super fertile.  Because the fermentation process breaks no carbon bonds and emits no gas it retains all the goodies of the original food scraps but passes these on to new plants. The Bokashi bins also produce liquid, Bokashi tea. In this it is different than say worm bins where this is a stand-alone Fertilizer. Bokashi tea is best added to where the rest of the Bokashi solids are as it can be a bit acidic by itself.  The batch size after a few weeks can be 5-10 kegs and it is best to only add new material once a day to keep the anaerobic process going.  The other advantage of the lactic acid production is that lactic acid is a strong natural bactericide. We used it in ecostore toilet cleaner, for example. Thus, the process is inherently hygienic and will kill off bad bugs.  Adding it to the soil can be done by digging a trench where you later want your vegetables, you can designate an area of your garden for creating amazing soil that you later spread to places it is needed.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE               

Malcolm Rands has bought his first electric car, and he's got some tips for anyone else who's in the market. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

Electrical bikes  Most car trips are less than 10 kilometers, and roads are clogged while bike lanes are expanding. But it seems too hard to grind your way to work through hilly New Zealand, and then to turn up to work all sweaty and needing a shower and change of clothing.   Bikes used to be just considered just fun, recreational, mucking around with the kids or partner on the weekend, and for some fitness/sport.  But with electric bikes, they can finally be considered transportation.  Compare the efficiency. Let’s look at some scenarios, which include petrol use but also the extra food fuel you have to burn up if you are cycling. Normal small runabout, say a Corolla, gives you 17km per litre. Now a cyclist eating local food gives equivalent of 144 km per litre, quite a lot less if the food is international. An e-bike with local energy and food is equivalent of 570 km per litre.  Tips for electric bike newbies:   * Nervous about the commitment? Consider renting one to see if it works for you. Then when shopping round take the opportunity to test ride all sorts.   * Think carefully about how you will mainly use it.  * You get what you pay for. You don’t want to skimp here and can be looking at between two to four thousand for any sort of quality. Look carefully at the retailer, is there a good warrantee, and do they provide service. Buy from a local retailer, not the time to get that online bargain.  * How far will they go on a charge? The average is now about 25 kilometres, but this is changing fast as the batteries improve. They are not any faster than normal bikes, just so much easier on your stamina. And funnily enough recent studies have shown people are getting fitter and healthier if they own an e-bike compared to ordinary bike. They just are using them more. 

Green habits become second nature   When we first arrived back in Auckland in 1997 from our eco village to build ecostore to the next level, we were amazed at the habits of some of our peers. We were so used to being surrounded by like minded eco people. Now over twenty years later it’s interesting to see the change in myself and society and reflect on what habits are now so ingrained that they would be hard to break.   Here are some things I do without thinking – and I’m starting to see the rest of the world do too.   * Bags and containers: I always have a keep cup on hand, but you can also take your own tupperware to takeaway places. I put unused napkins in my pocket for later. And lately found they are the best doggy do containers. 100% breakdown. And we can use reusable bags not only at the supermarket, but at clothing shops and other stores too.   * Plant based food: Many of us don’t think twice about at least one meat-free meal a week, and free-range is becoming standard for lots of families.   * Plant based cleaning products   * Clothing: Don’t wear synthetic clothing. One of the biggest sources of micro fibres from every time you wash them, and wash clothes less.  LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

Getting your kids outdoors  We often complain about the amount of screen time our kids have. Studies show time outside is very healthy from them. The curiosity about nature leads to a lifelong love and more likely to care for our planet. So the next present you buy for your kids, could be tools to get them out of the house.  Bike: And the younger the better.  This is a profoundly liberating skill for children to have. It gives them mobility, independence, exercise, and speed.   Pocket knife: Teach them how to use it (always cuts away from body).  Start whittling, making bow and arrow. Skills for a lifetime!  Wet weather gear: It does rain a tad in NZ. Get good stuff, extends the outdoor time and can even have water play.   Shovel: Make forts at the beach, or channel for water to run.  Bug collector and magnifying glass  And under supervision …   Matches: Kids will find them anyway.   Boat: I was obsessed with this idea as a kid. Ended up using a lilo with my baby brother on the front.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

Wild your backyard It’s time to un-garden the garden and de-lawn the lawn.We are entering the sixth mass extinction. 40% of insects are declining and a third are endangered. The rate of extinction for insects is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds, and reptiles. At the rate insects are declining, they could vanish within a century.Food Your habitat needs three types of plants or supplemental feeders, ranging from berries to pollen to bird feeders.Water Your habitat needs a source of clean water for wildlife to drink and bathe, ranging from a stream to a birdbath to a butterfly puddling area.Cover Wildlife needs at least two places to find shelter from the weather and predators, ranging from a bramble patch to a log pile to a roosting box.Places to Raise Young Your habitat needs at least two places for wildlife to court, mate, and then bear and raise the babes, ranging from nesting boxes to host plants for caterpillars.Sustainable Practices Finally, you need to employ practices which include:* Soil and water conservation (for example, reducing erosion, limiting water use, or using mulch).* Controlling exotic species (for example, using native plants and reducing lawn area).* Organic practices (for example, eliminating synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers).Food Your habitat needs three types of plants or supplemental feeders, ranging from berries to pollen to bird feeders.Water Your habitat needs a source of clean water for wildlife to drink and bathe, ranging from a stream to a birdbath to a butterfly puddling area.Cover Wildlife needs at least two places to find shelter from the weather and predators, ranging from a bramble patch to a log pile to a roosting box.Places to Raise Young Your habitat needs at least two places for wildlife to court, mate, and then bear and raise the babes, ranging from nesting boxes to host plants for caterpillars.Sustainable Practices Finally, you need to employ practices which include:* Soil and water conservation (for example, reducing erosion, limiting water use, or using mulch).* Controlling exotic species (for example, using native plants and reducing lawn area).* Organic practices (for example, eliminating synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers).

How to raise green kidsUnderstanding their food: Where does it come from? Perhaps grow some together, visit a farmers market, pick fruit and preserve it. You will find all of this also helps picky eaters Understand waste: Make them the boss of it all, getting them to understand why we recycle, sorting out food scraps and compost, and get them to take out the rubbish Help with the laundry: If they understand the work involved, then maybe they will wear that clothing a bit longer and be more careful Talk about plastic: The impact it has, when it is not really necessaryLISTEN ABOVE

Looking after your clothes We buy 60% more clothes than we did 15 years ago, and almost all of them end up landfill. We can’t pretend people shop at the chains for heirlooms to pass down the generations, fast fashion has taken over. There is some good news though.  The eco-industry is looking at new materials than will be more recyclable and regenerative. One is made from milk waste and another from algae. But right now, we need to slow down, take time to reconnect with our clothes and appreciate them again.  And there are some things we can all do:* Buy quality, natural fibre and timeless styles * Buy expensive designer second hand * Use a gentle but efficient laundry product. Harsh cleaning wears your clothes out * Re-dying our old clothes. Synthetic dyes can give you an exact colour match but does have toxicity issues. Glove up well! There are a huge number of natural dye options out there and it is becoming a fast growing hobbyist field. Many everyday plants can be used and the pre-European Maori used. * Find your local cobbler and local tailor - many clothes and shoes can be repairedLISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE    

Green pets In these days of limited resources, anti-meat farming and issues around waste, can we still have pets in our lives? A resounding YES! Studies have shown for those who live alone, owning a dog can decrease your risk of death by 33% and their risk of cardiovascular-related death by 36%. Chances of having a heart attack are 11% lower.  A 2019 review found dog ownership lowers your risk of dying from any cause by 24%.   Other studies have found similar statistics for cats as well, and having pets reduces allergies and boosts immune function. They up your fitness quotient, reduce stress and can lift your mood. So if you look at the eco-impacts of not having this in your life, (especially around health services and medications) then it becomes a good deal.  Food * Real food is always better. Scraps are how they first came into to human partnership, so don’t deny this.  * There are great recipes out there for making your own food. With my last farm dog I made a brew using rice and silver beet and scraps of meat. * Grains need to be monitored as some animals will react to them. * Processed food from your table is not a good idea. * With a biscuit product I always try to feed at a different time to raw meat. The stomach of a cat or dog will change pH to strongly acid to dissolve bones. Having grain-based product in the same feeding time can confuse this response and the bones mightn’t break down properly Poo * Obviously we are all getting better at picking up after our pets. I don’t like the idea of it all going to landfill , even in a biodegradable bag. The solution is at home placing it under thick mulch that you keep under your fruit tress. * There is a pipe system you can bury in the garden. The bags go down this and the worms take care of it. And a couple of other green pet tips * Avoid choosing a fancy bred that is known to be unhealthy or comes from a “pet farm” * Please keep cats indoor at night especially if near native bush  LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Plants that clean your air   Now we are locked up for winter, we are even more exposed to environmental contaminants. Many modern building materials, carpets , even toys can give off formaldehyde and other harmful gases. Cleaning products can also be full of nasty chemicals, that was a major reason for us setting up ecostore. I always recommend leaving windows open, especially when cleaning, but that is possible this time of year. In fact, modern house building and some techniques of insulation can make your house too airtight. If you often get condensation on the inside of your windows that is a sign of a non-breathing house.   Luckily, in the late 80s, NASA began testing house plants to see whether they can do more than remove carbon dioxide and create oxygen. These then can be used on the space stations. They mainly tested for volatile pollutants formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, ammonia and trichloroethylene. They came up with quite a few, which you can look up.   Some of my favourites based on how easy they are to look after, the number of chemicals removed and just good looks:  Peace Lilly (Spathiphyllum/Mauna Loa) Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) - this can stand low light  Lady palm/bamboo palm (Rhapis excelsa) - can handle low light and may grow up to four metres tall  Florist chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) - Come in many colours and mainly found in gardens. They can be grown indoors in strong light.   Then taking out most pollutants are:   Mother in law’s tongue  Dracaena  English ivy  Weeping figLISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

Eco-man Malcolm Rands has been giving Jack some tips on keeping the house warm this winter, without hurting the environment. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Remote working The advantages of remote working are obvious, and also good for the planet in many cases. Many of us now have experience of this through the lock down. Fossil fuels use has plummeted as a result, and the atmosphere was noticeably clearer.  It's not all smooth sailing, so here are some tips for making it work long-term. Loneliness: This is especially an issue for the singles, and more extrovert personalities. Naturally, communal work spaces are a good answer to this problem.At the very least, schedule yourself some time to get out of the house every couple of days, even if it is just working from a nearby cafe or a library for an hour or two. Join local groups if you can. Something as simple exercising with friends once a week can do wonders to keep you connected. Being 'on' all the time: You can be always on, especially if your workmates are across different time zones. Some people invent their own version of a commute, like a separate room (if you are lucky enough to have the space) or the local café. Or a ritual like dressing for work then at the end of day making a big deal of shutting down the computer at the same time every day and changing into more comfy clothing.Distractions: Although these do happen in the modern open plan work places, but at home it is your kids or cat, or maybe putting on a load of laundry. You can invest in noise cancelling earphones and if you haven’t a spare room then make a special space that is only used for work.  Communal serendipity moments: In-person communication is better suited for “shower thoughts” and unplanned idealisation. So it is important to have some face-to-face time and when that occurs make it creative, brainstorming time as well as business as usual. Communication: Video chat tools like Google Hangouts and Zoom have improved tremendously, but they continue to suffer from connectivity issues, background noise, and “the loudest voice in the room” dynamics. A new etiquette is evolving, for example in a long meeting it is good to give people permission to turn the video off to remove the pressure of being unnaturally always “on”. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Ecoman Malcolm Rands is back with Jack Tame, and he's been looking at how life's changed under lockdown, and the aspects of the lifestyle he'd like to keep.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Malcolm Rands has been looking at how the current Coronavirus Pandemic could have an impact on climate change. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE    

Ecoman Malcolm Rands shares his tips with Jack Tame, listen above!Water and feed and weed then mulch, which is extra important now with the drought over much of NZ.Feed seaweed and fish liquid fertilisers.Stopping competition and trapping the water in give extra health benefits to your plants so you wont have to reach for the chemical spray can.Harvest and save with bumper crops coming in now.Wash cut and freeze. If you have the time and inclination, then old fashioned bottling works too.You may still get one last harvest of dwarf beans and all your fast herbs like basil , coriander, rocket and parsley can be put out under the shade of your exiting big crops in the garden to handle the hot sun.Plant for winter and spring.What took me ages to learn is now is the time to plant your winter and spring crops. I use to wait too long and wonder why they never prosperedSo that’s cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage , kale , silver beet . celery which will be eaten all winter and plant leeks for spring.And if you are really on to it, you don’t harvest your most successful and healthy plants but let them go to seedCollect this seed and over the years you will develop a special variety of these crops that suits your particular bio region and wont need bug or fungal sprays.

Ecoman Malcolm Rands speaks to Jack Tame.LISTEN ABOVE

Ecoman Malcolm Rands has been looking at how to choose the best sunscreen for the yourself - and the environment.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Eating well without meatWe are being told that we can halt climate change by swapping to a plant based diet, at least a few meals a week.So what are some of the best ways to go about eating less meat? * Tofu and Tempeh - Organic and GMO free certified as if not its likely to be a GMO product. Tempeh is a fermented product made from soy beans increasing its nutritional profile. Cooking tip - blanch your tempeh first to make the flavour milder. * Hemp seeds - high in protein and omega 3s, make milk with them, put them in smoothies, breads, pancakes, and sprinkle them on salads. * Lentils, beans and chickpeas - there are 100s of different varieties of these little protein packed gems and so many different ways you can cook, sprout and blend into your recipes. * Nuts and seeds - favourites are almonds and hazelnuts, think nut butter, nut milk, almond cake, use them as a crumb or eat them plain and simple as a snack. Little bird make amazing activated nuts to solve that delicious protein snack on the go solution.* Quinoa - high in protein grain  1 cup has over 8 grams of protein. * Potatoes - a large baked potato has 8 grams of protein. Serve it with some dark leafy greens, avocado and a tahini dressing and you'll have around 16 grams of protein on your plate. * Rice and Beans - this is a staple in many countries and provides you will all the amino acids you need to make a complete protein, a regular beans and rice meal can easily get you around 20 grams before you even start adding on those protein rich veggies. Blend black beans and rice together to make a protein rich burger patty rather than reaching for that 20 ingredient long list of fractionated ingredients and additives to make mock meat.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

Wishing you a green ChristmasHow do you go about giving gifts that won't harm the world? Malcolm Rands has a few hints. Buy Second hand: It’s fun exploring second hand stores or even online at Trade Me. Can give a much more expensive and long-lasting gift that way too. Buy re-purposed: Get crafty. So many ideas out there online, and it comes from your own efforts. Home made foods in lovely reusable containers. Again, there are so many ideas online or recipes handed down from your parents.Give experiences rather than goods: Give a beautiful home-made voucher that promises the trip to the country together, the movies or such like. Even better, a voucher that you will come and do some work for them. Clean the house, do the garden etc, give to follow your values. Choose from the eco or health issue you love. If you are pushing plant-based diet then give some delicious cookies and macaroons from Little Bird. Let them have a taste of the world they could be part of, or some gifts also give some of their profits to causes you support. Only give things that you would love to receive yourself.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE   

What do you use to line your rubbish bin now there's no plastic bags?Ecoman Malcolm Rands has some tips for life without plastic. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

The art of compostThe key to a successful organic garden is a friable soil full of compost. If you want to do it at home, gere are the simple principles.Choose your bin. The classic kiwi is the 3 square open fronted boxes , often made of lod pallets, each one about the 2 metres cubed. This needs to be big enough for the heap to heat up and not loss all its heat to the sides.You want a mixture of ‘green’ ingredients. Nitrogen rich, like food waste, vegetable peels, hay, grass clippings, garden waste. My rule for food in compost is the leftovers from your kitchen that you would not consider eating yourself. This gets rid of the problem of rats trying to get into the bin. The edible scraps can be worm binned or Bokashi.Then an equal or greater amount of ‘brown’ ingredients. Fresh leaves, coffee grounds, newspaper strips, peanut shells, sawdust, straw, fruit scraps, bark, pine needles, tea bags, dryer lint, eggshells, hair.Ingredients I won’t use. Treated wood shavings, glossy paper and weeds that have seeds on them. The heat of your compost might not be high enough to kill these.At the bottom of the pile. At least 10cm layers of twigs or other material that will let air through. Getting air and moisture through the compost is essential. Then put in 10cm layers of green then brown ingredients right up to about 1.5m high. Each layer can be watered jut enough to make it damp but not soaking wet. Then sit back and wait for it to heat up.The 3 bin system means that you can turn the compost in to the bin next to it, making sure the outside material ends up on the inside this time and gets a good heat up too. The third bin can be used to store the materials you find before you make a fresh pile. Other types of compost bins. Each have their own pros and cons. Some of the large plastic based one you can feed from the top and they get pushed down chamber by chamber until you bring finished compost out the bottom. These often act as giant worm farms too. With compost piles you don’t have to bring in compost worms, their eggs are everywhere and in the right conditions they just turn up.LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-NZ JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";} There has been a general call out to drastically cut our consumption of meat to halt climate change. That's because a lot of tropical forest, especially in the Amazon, is being cut to graze more cows.In the industrialised counties, meat production has moved to industrial factory farms. These are very energy intensive, produce toxic waste, the feed is grown on intensive agriculture monocultural giant farms, and then there is the awful animal rights issues.This has even happened in NZ, with palm kernelate being used as supplementary feed. But it gives cheap meat because all these downsides are not factored into the true cost of this meatWhat can you do if you want to eat guilt free meat?* Eat less meat anyway and save it for a treat* Top standard is only organic and especially regenerative once this becomes more available* Find out more about where your food comes from and try to eat from local producers* Make those processed meats, bacon ham etc. a special treat and not a staple* Give up on factory food, who wants meat from animals tortured and living on antibiotics* Make free range your minimum standardLISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE

Being green at work Hidden power usageOk, we turn off the lights when you leave the room, use efficient light bulbs. But did you know, when you turn off your machines, computer, printer etc - if it is still on stand by mode it is still using as much as 15 to 20 watts? Studies of homes say standby mode uses 10% of all energy. This is the hidden price of a little more convenience. Paper55 percent: the amount of water saved by producing recycled paper as compared to virgin paper. Recycled paper also takes 60-70 percent less energy to produce than paper from virgin pulp.Do you need to print that? Is your machine set to print both sides as the default? Can you use one sided printed paper as your note paper for random thoughts and spontaneous mind maps? I kept a folder on my desk just to store this used paper.Lunch* Bring your own, and promote discussion of good food. * Don't eat el desko, eat with others. Introducing shared meals once a week was the best thing I did at ecostore.* If you bring food in from local cafes, take your own reusable containers like tupperware instead of the single use containers you usually get with takeaway.

Slow furniture Inexpensive store bought is often badly made with cheap materials like particle board, and the very cheap ones may give off formaldehyde.These materials take masses of energy to make, and they don’t last long, especially if there is any water damage.Solutions * Buy furniture made from whole materials, including solid wood, which while it may cost more up front, the resale value is substantially higher down the line. With wooden products, check whether it is sustainable, Forest Stewardship Council is a reliable certification.* Buy less and wait until the perfect piece arrives. A minimalist aesthetic is actually pretty cool. Don’t need to clutter up your place* Buy used. This can be so much fun hunting down these treasures. Manage to afford much higher quality this way. Used furniture holds its value much better than new as well, or even gains in value if you catch the trends. Often the older styles are much tougher and can handle rough treatment from kids or flatmates* Buy used. This can be so much fun hunting down these treasures. Manage to afford much higher quality this way. Used furniture holds its value much better than new as well, or even gains in value if you catch the trends. Often the older styles are much tougher and can handle rough treatment from kids or flatmates * Be careful of old upholstery or foam. Check out carefully

Ecoman Malcolm Rands knows a thing or two about washing clothes, after founding Ecostore with its range of green cleaning products.This week he joined Jack to talk about the best ways to wash - or not wash - your clothes. Wear it more than onceLevis say wash your jeans every 2 weeks instead of dailyDon’t iron things unless essentialHang your clothes as soon as the washing machine finishesUse an eco detergentPlant-based instead of petroleum-based surfactantsIf you choose the right brand it means you don’t end up with the residues of nasty chemicals up against your skin 24/7Use the most concentrated detergent Many are filled with fillers and water to make it look as though you are getting a bargainUsing something more concentrated means you save money tooWash by handMakes your clothes last longer tooUse an energy efficient front loader machine This uses half the water of a top loaderWash on cold cycle 90% of the energy goes into heating the water and only 10% in running the machineIf clothes are very dirty, then hot is goodHang your clothes out to dryNothing like sun dried clothes, it kills bugs tooIf you have to use a dryer, keep the lint draw clean and try a shorter dry timeDon’t dry cleanPerchloroethylene (also called "perc") is nasty stuffIf you have to, then search out a healthy dry cleaner or ask yours to change 

Here at the EV Podcast, we are not just interested in talking about cars, we are also interested in talking about the wider sustainable picture. This week Theo and Dee talk to co-founder and visionary of the Ecostore Malcolm Rands. How did it all begin and where to now? Eco Store - http://www.ecostore.co.nz/ Our Social Media Channels: https://www.instagram.com/evpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/THEEVPODCAST/ EVPodcast - WorldPodcasts.com This week's podcast is proudly presented by: ChargeNet NZ – Electric Vehicle Charging Network - https://www.charge.net.nz The NZ EV Podcast is also supported by: OEM Audio - New Zealand’s leading supplier of safe and reliable AC chargers and charging cables - https://evpower.co.nz If you enjoy our Podcast please support us by subscribing to the podcast on Patreon.com. The more support we get the more we can cover.

Want to grow your own garden but don't have the space for it?If you're like Jack Tame and only have a balcony's worth of space to use, then rest assured there is a way you can make the most of the space you have.'Ecoman' Malcolm Rands told Tame what you can grow to have a thriving - and healthy - garden. 

Almost two million tons of clothing are sent to landfill every year.Carbon emissions, chemical and plastic pollution and of course the social cost to the poor people, often in Bangladesh, trapped in a slave labour situation are a massive cause of concern.Eco-man Malcolm Rands joined Jack Tame to share his advice on what we can do to make sure we are buying ethical clothing and responsibly discarding unwanted items.LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE

Eco-man Malcolm Rands joined Jack Tame to discuss what to do with your food scraps. He told Jack that he was disgusted when he saw friends throwing their food scraps into their rubbish bins alongside everyone else. He says that New Zealand is getting of 340 tonnes of food a day that is going to the dump. Rands shared his tips on what to do with your food, including buying less. 

This week, Ecoman Malcolm Rands has been getting his property ready for some useful new pets some chickens.He has got plenty of room at his place but has some tips if you want a steady supply of fresh eggs at your house.Malcolm joined Jack Tame this morning to share his expert advice and ensure you will be waking up to a enjoy a Sunday morning scrambled eggs fresh from your own backyard!LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE

Schools across the country re open their doors next week, so one of the things many parents will be dreading is getting out the school lunchboxes again.A growing number of schools now have no-waste policies, and most parents are getting more savvy about reducing waste in their kids’ lunchboxes.Founder of the Eco-store and Fairground Foundation chair Malcolm Rands told Jack Tame there are several useful tips you can put into practice to ensure kids have a lunchbox which not only looks presentable, but has the right balance of nutrition."Where we start, its all about the lunch box. You want to have something which is unbreakable and very sturdy. It is worth spending a little bit more to get something which can keep for ten years or more."Making it visually appealing is really important, with lots of colours and a good ratio between sweet and savoury."LISTEN ABOVE AS MALCOLM RANDS SPEAKS TO JACK TAME

Alexx loves featuring the odd brand on the show, that is pioneering in some way in the low tox movement. Malcolm Rands started eco brand ecostore with his wife, shipping out of their garage some small batch products for home cleaning. Cut to today and it’s a huge business that Malcolm Rands the creator sees as only the beginning to the big picture difference he wants to make, facilitating more socially and ecologically conscious businesses and developing healthy and happy connected communities. It’s a super interesting chat with a very smart man, on a life long journey of doing good for people and planet. Find the show notes over at https://www.lowtoxlife.com/podcast/ 

Malcolm Rands talks about his journey establishing an eco-village, establishing global business Ecostore and his not-for-profit and entity, the Fairground Foundation. Plus insights into funding, ownership, competition and doing a TedX Talk. Please connect and send feedback via Twitter @NZ_Business, Facebook.com/NZBusinessPodcast and the official website http://NZBusinessPodcast.com Host and Guests: Paul Spain, Malcolm Rands Running time: 0:31:30

Eco-Man Today's guest is Malcolm Rands, co-founder of ecostore, a leading New Zealand-based company that offers a wide range of sustainable, eco-friendly household cleaning and body care products that are widely available in Australia and other international markets. Malcolm is also the author of the book "ECOMAN from garage in Northland to a pioneering global brand." Influenced greatly by his parents (along with the 'why not" written on his mum's car number plate), Malcolm grew up with a business mindset. Today, he is a conscious business owner who continues to bring quality, sustainable products to consumers. An eco-warrior for many years, Malcolm is truly an entrepreneur that gives a damn about the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Join our chat as we discuss: Malcolm's strongest influences in his life Ways to transition from your shy self to extrovert His philosophy on business, which he discusses during his TEDx Talk Merging not-for-profits and business together - Can you do this? The "why" behind ecostore How he's advocating the "no chemicals" campaign Where they manufacture all their products How do they keep being nimble as an organisation? How ecostore inculcates the culture into their organisation - The power of leading by example! The idea behind ecostore's mission statement How they went about branding the ecostore with black and white What the squiggle represents Why they're using palm oil in their products How do you know if a product is made sustainable? Coming up with capital as the hardest thing for an entrepreneur when starting up Deciding when and how to reduce their product range The one thing Malcolm knows about business now that he wished he knew when he first started What conscious businesses can do to educate the public about greenwashing Here's what Malcolm thinks about their copycats Malcolm's secrets to de-stressing   Twitter Quotes:   [bctt tweet="If something is worth doing, it's worth doing badly. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="It's your transparency and your authenticity which will overcome the greenwashing. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="Just get out there and try things. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="A world of good - that's where we want to live. We want to live in a world of good. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] Other Quotes to ponder:   Start doing things. You can't wait for something to happen or for the right moment. Even if you're not ready, just get out there and do it." - Malcolm Rands "If you can visualise where you're like your money to go in the future, it can actually help you stay on track with your business." - Malcolm Rands  "We are far from perfect but we can put our hands on our hats and so we don't know a better way to do it yet. But as soon as a better way comes along, boy we're going to be the first people who would jump on that ship." - Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU "Our mission statement... is we want to make it easy and pleasurable for you to make a difference." - Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU   Episode Resources: Check out ecostore NZ or ecostore AU Malcolm's book:  Buy the book here or grab a copy of the first chapter for free here Watch Malcolm's TEDTalks video, A New Model for Business Malcolm’s Twitter ecostore's Twitter   My three top learnings: Love copycats. Copycats show you that you are changing the world and creating an industry. There's never a perfect time to start. Just do it. Do it now. And don't wait. Narrow your ideas. make sure your ideas are really focused. Once you really know what you want, you'll be surprised by the opportunities that turn up Gratitude - I am very grateful to... Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter