Book of Leaves

Giorgia Anile is the founder of The Toy Library, a wonderful peer to peer lending platform that not only saves on resources needed for new toys, but creates a sense of value in the sharing community for all ages. Keep an eye for in person swap events as well via their website or socials: Instagram @thetoylibraryireland or Facebook.

Their next in-person swap event is Sunday the 8th of December which you can get tickets for here.

[03:25] An intro from Giorgia and her journey from corporate work

[12:45] How The Toy Library came about

[15:55] What is a Toy Library?

[18:45] Statistics of toy emissions & waste

[23:30] Other services TTL offers

[27:05] Giorgia’s hope for the future of TTL & the benefits of a ‘White Label’ app

[31:15] What Giorgia thinks need to happen bottom up and top down for de-growth to happen

[39:35] Tips for adults who want to get children gifts this Christmas in a sustainable, circular way

[44:05] Imagining the future

Also mentioned:

Less is More book

Rethink Ireland

Sharetribe

Plausable Analytics

Jiminy

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Keith McDonagh is a member of the Galway Traveller Movement and manager of the social enterprise Bounce Back Recycling which specialises in recycling old mattress. They send the various materials to businesses in Ireland who repurpose them. It's a wonderful initiative that not only diverts thousands of waste from landfill each year, but provides members of the Travelling community with employment opportunities. Stay up to date with their venture on Facebook or Instagram @bouncebackrecycling.

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[05:30] An intro from Keith

[07:30] What they do with the various mattress materials

[10:15] How travelling communities have always applied circular living practices

[12:55] The social benefits this enterprise has had on the travelling community

[18:40] The future of BBR

Also mentioned:

Recycle IT

Interview with Roisin Markham on Circular Economy

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Virtue is the maker behind sustainable fashion brand Emerald and Wax. She is passionate about creating quality clothes that can become heirloom pieces, while also incorporating the colourful designs from her home country of Ghana. Keep an eye on her socials for upcoming markets via Instagram @emeraldandwax or Facebook.

As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend x Find my depop profile @cearadc!

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[02:45] Virtue’s experience of the fast fashion exports to Ghana and how Emerald and Wax came about

[15:15] What goes into the creation process of Virtue’s pieces

[19:05] How the fabrics are sourced and ensured to be sustainable

[22:30] The psychological importance of wearing colour

[28:00] Other tips Virtue has for living lightly on the planet

[32:00] Imagining the future

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John Carrig is one of the many volunteers behind The Barn Owl project. He's been vital in spreading awareness of what people can do to help the red-listed species, and we delve into all of that here. You can donate, volunteer, and/or sign their petition on rodenticide to help the cause. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter/X or Instagram @barnowlprojectireland.

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[04:00] An intro from John and how the Barn Owl Project came to be

[08:15] What/who inspired John to care about animals, & the biodiversity crisis in Ireland

[15:10] How barn owls live

[26:15] How farmers can help barn owls

[29:25] Rodenticide & how it affects wildlife

[37:50] How the public can help the project

Also mentioned:

• Ireland’s Wildlife Photographer
• The Barnowl Trust
• Birdwatch Ireland
• Raptor protocol
• Dr. Barry O’Donoghue NPWS
• Bat Rehabilitation Ireland
• Swan rescue

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Arran Murphy is a fashion designer who channels her skills into empowering people to have a circular mindset with their clothes, through her work at the Rediscovery Centre. The Rediscovery Centre is an AMAZING example of how circular living is fun, beautiful, functional, and not to mention how great it is for the planet and community in every way. I implore you to visit the centre (and book a tour!) if you haven’t yet. The Instagram accounts you can follow are @rediscoverctr and @relovefashion. If you're a young person, you can register your interest in the Relove Fashion competition here.

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• [05:00] An introduction of the work of the Rediscovery Centre and what a circular economy means
• [09:25] What inspired Arran to be conscious of where our clothes come from
• [14:00] How the Rediscovery building itself incorporates circularity in its design
• [17:15] What the social enterprise of Rediscover Fashion entails
• [22:50] Some stats and facts on the damaging fashion industry
• [28:10] The work Relove Fashion does with young people
• [35:50] Other general tips Arran has for being sustainable
• [38:55] Some eco Irish designers & makers that Arran loves
• [42:05] Imagining the future

Also mentioned:

Moon Wood jewellery

DANA

All About Love by bell hooks

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Shauna Harris is an actor, poet, and global citizen education officer. She also has a keen interest in researching Black studies and having an intersectional approach to her activism, especially towards people who have been racialised. You can stay up to date with all her life bits on Instagram @shaunaxrose

She has two upcoming shows you can catch her in as well; Monsters (8-15 Sep) & Blanchardstown Resonance II (20 Sep)

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• [02:40] An introduction from Shauna & the importance of theatre & art in activism
• [07:05] What global citizenship means & how it’s beneficial for everyone
• [13:10] Shauna’s tips for people who want to make positive local (and therefore global) action!
• [15:00] How Shauna got involved in taking positive social action in the first place
• [20:25] Other things Shauna does to live more lightly on the planet
• [31:25] How she minds her mental health in today’s world

Resources mentioned:

• Hot Brown Honey (Hive City Legacy Dublin Chapter)                  
• Dr. Ebun Joseph - Black studies
• Dr Lucy Michael - expert on inclusion & equality
• Audre Lorde
• Kimberlé Crenshaw
• Reni Eddo-Lodge (Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People about Race)
• Me & White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
• The Good Ally by Nova Reid
• Black, Listed by Jeffrey Boakye
• For Black Boys Who’ve Considered Suicide
• Black is Beautiful by Chronixx

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Merschon and Craig own the beautiful reduced waste store that is Flourish Minimal Waste Grocery. Have a listen to hear how they came to be small business owners and tips they have for people trying to reduce waste or improve their health. Their website is www.minimalwastegrocery.com and you can stay up to date with them on Instagram @minimalwastegrocery or Facebook.

As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend x

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• [03:30] An intro to Merschon and how they came to take over MWG
• [06:30] Shopping reduced waste: price & quality
• [09:45] Minimal vs Zero waste – perfect is impossible
• [14:40] Most popular & effective swaps for laundry, beauty care, cleaning, and on the go.
• [34:30] Minimal waste crisps – Spudos!

Mentioned:

• Tru Eco
• Keegan & Co
• Bodhi Blends
• Put a cup in it
• Spudos – eco crisps!

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Welcome to the first live podcast recording of Book of Leaves! When I asked around as to who a good guest would be to interview as part of the Stoneybatter Festival, Kaethe's name kept coming up, and rightly so! She has been integral in community building and waste reducing in the wonder that is Stoneybatter in Dublin 7. You can stay up to date with her via @kaetheburtodea or @bi_urban_desireland on Instagram. Make sure to check out www.biurban.ie as well!

The Climate Camp I mentioned takes part from August 7th to 11th.

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[04:30] Kaethe introduces herself and the work she does

[08:15] The childhood that inspired Kaethe’s activism

[10:45] Moving to Stoneybatter in the 1980s and utilising unoccupied land

[18:15] Creating an ecological corridor in central Dublin

[28:05] Rain gardens

[33:10] Bí Urban – looking at blight resistant wonky potatoes and eco friendly crisps

[46:30] Competition to win a jacket that turns into a tent

[47:45] Kaethe’s final leaf to share with listeners: waste

[50:20] Imagining the future

Also mentioned:

• Stop Food Waste - keep an eye out for composting courses
• Street Feast
• Teagsc
• Dr. David Shaw - blight resistant potatoe developer
• The Soil Foundation
• Ciaran Cuffe
• Wilding Film

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Vanessa Conroy works for The National Women’s Council of Ireland in addition to being a member of Community Work Ireland and a lecturer in Maynooth. Today she'll be talking about the research Feminist Communities for Climate Justice has done into the intersection of climate action and gender inequality in Ireland. You can follow her on X @miss_Nessa_C.

As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend x

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• [04:00] Vanessa introduces herself and journey into gender studies and climate action
• [12:10] How does climate change & climate action affect various genders in Ireland? Care
• [18:15] Transport & gender in Ireland
• [25:20] Solutions for transport barriers to caregivers
• [26:55] How other marginalised genders in Ireland are affected by climate change
• [33:00] What can regular citizens do help achieve system change in this area?
• [38:30] How the traveller community in Ireland is affected by climate change
• [43:45] Tips for engaging with people who are sceptical of gender inequality in Ireland
• [47:20] Advice for people who want to get involved with Feminist Communities for Climate Justice
• [50:45] Meal planning & climate cafés
• [54:20] Imagining the future

Also mentioned:

• International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
• Sinead Mercier
• Mary Robinson (Mothers of Invention)
• Book: Climate Justice – A Manmade Problem with a Feminist Solution
• Book Feminist City by Leslie Kern
• Amnesty International
• CATU Housing
• Community Law & Mediation group
• Pavee Point
• PDF Report of research

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Aidan Ring is an artist and activist I’ve come to know through attending various climate action events together. He’s a great example of the multiple ways we can take part in making the world a better place. I've outlined below what we chat about, and you can follow him on Instagram @tornaido.fireperformer

As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend x

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• [03:00] Aidan introduces himself and the forms of activism that he does
• [07:15] What inspired him to become eco conscious
• [10:00] The rising thirst for nature-based therapy
• [14:30] The work of the Gaelic Woodland Project & Croí na Cré
• [21:20] The work of Fairtrade Ireland
• [39:20] Other ‘leaves’ from Aidan’s book
• [46:30] Imagining the future

Also mentioned:

• Young Friends of the Earth
• Eco UNESCO
• Save the Boyne campaign
• Eco Therapy Network of Ireland
• Candlelit Tales
• NARA Undercover pig farm investigation
• National Geographic article: This is Your Brain on Nature
• Fuinneamh Festival

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