The Ginkgo Guild

19/07/2023

💚 ACTION ON CLIMATE 💚

Excited to be attending Frome Town Council Action on Climate and Biodiversity meeting Cheese and Grain, bringing together some of the incredible individuals and organisations in Frome, working towards a greener, healthier future for all.

Pictured are Mandy, Rosa and Chloe from Frome Wardrobe Collective. We are working towards our first clothes swap event on Sept 30th, as part of Sustainable Fashion Week. Save the date and follow us for further updates!

Hazel 🌱x

06/06/2023

🌍 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 🌍

Ok, so I'm a day late but every day should be world environment day, right? ☺ World Environment Day puts a global spotlight on the pressing environmental challenges of our times. This UN international day has become the largest global platform for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.

This year's focus is on beating plastic pollution at every level, from government legislation, to large scale corporations, all the way down to individuals like you and I. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas. Today, plastic clogs our landfills, leaches into the ocean and is combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to the planet.

As individuals it is easy to feel helpless in the face of such information. Do not be disheartened! Small changes made by many add up to a big difference, so do what you can, when you can. Here are a few of the things that I do:
• Use reusable shopping bags. I'm looking forward to making some more and giving them away as part of the Morsbags Sociable Guerilla Bagging movement (see image 3 for the bag I was kindly gifted).
• Shop at my local refill stores. Not every day and mainly for items we buy in bulk, but it means I can reuse containers over and over again.
• Recycle soft and hard plastics through local recycling schemes. Check out Recycle Now for your local recycling options.
• Use a reusable water bottle and thermal cup. I LOVE my new Neon Kactus Japan cup so much! I'll do a separate post on it soon.
• Carry a reusable set of cutlery, including a straw to avoid using plastic options when eating out and about. Widely available in small carry bags but you could create your own from what you already have at home.

I'd love to hear what you do to avoid plastic pollution. Please share below 👇

Hazel 🌱 x

📷 First image credit Ellastrated
📷 Second image credit UN Environment Programme

31/05/2023

Don't let your old appliances end up in landfill! Donate them to a worthy cause 👍

Trying to get rid of your old appliances? We would love to take them off your hands!

We need your unwanted home electrical appliances that are in good working condition or repairable, for our HomeKIT project - in particular we currently need microwaves!

Our HomeKIT project re-homes essential home appliances donated to us to people in need around Bath, through our partner charities including

We're always on the lookout for donations of items including:
🧹 Vacuum cleaners (compact, like Dysons/Henrys/small pull alongs)
🥘 Microwave ovens
💡 Lamps (especially smaller/bedside type)
🥛 Blenders
🥪 Toastie makers
📻 Digital radios

Please pop us an email at [email protected] if you have any questions, you can find out more about our HomeKIT project and other items we need through this link:
https://shareandrepair.org.uk/homekit/

Thank you for your support!

18/03/2023

💚 MEET THE TRADER 💚

This is my other business! Very much focussed on ethical and sustainable values, I love how transparent Neal's Yard Remedies are about what goes into their products. I'll have some gorgeous samples available for you to try so you can feel for yourself just how good they feel on your skin, including the brand new Women's Balance Body Balm.

I'll also be making gifting organic this mother's day super easy with a range of ready to go, boxed gifts 🎁

17/03/2023

💚 MEET THE TRADER 💚

Shirley will be bringing with her the award winning range of planet friendly household cleaning products from . I am always keen to find ways to improve the cleaning products that come into my home, to reduce the levels of toxicity whilst not compromising on efficacy so I'll certainly be interested in what Shirley has to offer.

17/03/2023

💚 MEET THE MAKERS 💚

I love to be able to use the Green Bath platform to offer local groups the opportunity to raise awareness of the valuable work that they do Joining us on Saturday is .bath who provide support for adults who are deaf or deaf- blind with additional needs. The service users use a variety of repurposed materials to create craft and art items to sell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll have some of their cute little wooden/ironmongery robots amongst their offerings this Saturday! 🤖

17/03/2023

💚 MEET THE MAKERS 💚

Next up we have Amanda from Midsomer Crafts. What this lady doesn't know about knitting and crochet isn't worth knowing! She'll be at the event tomorrow with a selection of recycled and cotton yarns, along with some cotton bags she has crafted with her own fair hands! Come check them out!

16/03/2023

💚 THANK YOU! 💚

600 followers! Wow, thank you! Every like, comment, share and follow is very much appreciated. 💚

Hazel 🌱

16/03/2023

💚 CERTIFIABLE! 💚

A few weeks ago I did a carbon literacy course with the wonderful Jen Gale of . 8 hours over two days (other options available) of accessible learning regarding climate change, carbon footprints, greenhouse gases etc. Hard going at times because the future of the human experience on planet Earth could potentially be pretty s**t if we don't get our act together, yet simultaneously empowering to know that WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, and that we need to start having those difficult conversations NOW.

Jen's course is fully accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project and you get a lovely certificate once your individual and larger group action pledges have been approved. I have two larger group actions that I am working on; the first is a fabric and haberdashery swap in association with (watch this space for more info coming soon), and the second is becoming a carbon literacy trainer myself! It may be a while before I can start offering out the course as I have to create it first (!) and then have it approved by The Carbon Literacy Project, but once that is done I will be working with small to medium businesses to help them cut their carbon emissions. So exciting!

Can I encourage you to do one small thing today to reduce your impact? How about walking that short distance instead of driving? Why not try repairing that item instead of buying new? Try buying local and sustainable items instead of ones that have to travel a long way. How about having a meat free meal? What one small thing will you commit to today? 👇

Hazel 🌱
Then Another

15/03/2023

💚 STALL AVAILABLE! 💚

Due to a last minute cancellation there is now a stall available for the spring market this Saturday. If you have an eco-friendly business and would like to bagsy this last minute opportunity then message me asap!

Hazel 🌱