Читать книгу The Organic Garden - Allan Shepherd - Страница 17

 Do I need it? This is a classic example of an obvious question often overlooked. How many times do you buy something on impulse and then realise that you could have done very well without it? This may seem a bit puritan to people who like shopping without boundaries, but the first step to ethical living is think before you engage credit card.

 Can I make it at home? In Chapter one I rattle on about a garden bench I made. It’s not a particularly amazing bench but, because I made it, it’s the best thing since unsliced bread. Making stuff yourself is the best ecological option. You can choose the materials yourself and put it together in the least energy wasteful way.

 If I can’t make it myself, can one of my friends or swap buddies make it or offer me another solution? Check out www.freecycle.org for a national network of swapcrazed freeloaders.

 If I have to buy something, can I buy recycled, secondhand or reused?

 If I have to buy new, can I buy products that are sustainable, local, natural and carry an approved symbol? (Be it a Soil Association, Forest Stewardship Council or other ethical standard.)

 If I can’t buy local or natural, can I buy sustainable from the UK or Europe and from an ethically minded national company?

 If I can’t buy from Europe, can I buy fair trade, organic and sustainable from developing countries?

 If I can’t buy within these criteria, should I bite the bullet and buy it or is there another solution I hadn’t thought of?

This sounds like a laborious process but actually after a while you can make these decisions quite quickly. It’s just another skill to learn.