Top tips for ethical living

[yourcruisedirector]

I'm about to move house to a lovely new home in a small village. For the first time, we'll have a big garden and will be able to grow lots of food. I'm also thinking about how we can reduce our outgoings and environmental impact.

Please can you share your best tips for sustainable, ethical, inexpensive living?

I'm already veggie and we use cloth nappies and buy second hand where possible. We have eggs from MIL's hens and we plan to grow lots of fruit and veg (we've been growing a few things on our patio).

We need to redecorate completely so I'm also thinking decorating/furnishing tips as well as washing, growing and gardening.

Please share!

Has anyone tried Biowashball? It seems a bit, erm, magical juju...

Bump

Proper insulation throughout is the number one ecological and economical thing to do.

White vinegar and bicarb of soda seem to be the workhorses of housekeeping cheaply and ecologically.

Waterbutt from your roof? And if you have a flat roof anywhere, you can make a "living roof" of it, for insulation and feeding the bees.

Cork flooring rather than petrochemical-based lino or various veneers.

I'd love to do some of this, but am certainly not up for risking my tenancy deposit with them or, in the best case, investing in someone else's house!

Thanks nomad! We'll be getting water butts and reclaimed parquet floor, but had thought about temporarily replacing Lino, so perhaps it's better to leave it!

Thanks for the cleaning hints.

Insulation - the survey said we could improve insulation so maybe we should prioritise it too

Some interesting ideas and resources on this thread.

Ty