Today we’re talking food. Specifically vegetables. But maybe not in the way that you might expect.
We’re all increasingly familiar with the narrative that we need to eat more veggies, and less meat and dairy, both for our own health, and also for the health of the planet. But today we’re talking about specifically about eating vegetables that are in season – why that’s important, and how we can actually do it. Because I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard sometimes to figure out what’s in season when, because it’s all available all year round in the supermarkets. I know the obvious stuff like strawberries and asparagus, but after that I have to confess to getting a bit lost.

It was great to chat to Dan Parker who is the chief exec of not for profit Veg Power – some of you might have seen their ‘eat them to defeat them’ ad campaign for vegetables  in cinemas a little while back.  Veg Power are on a mission to increase the UK’s veg consumption and whilst eating more veg at any time of the year is great, knowing what’s in season when, can have significant benefits when it comes to cutting carbon emissions too.

Enjoy!

• Veg Power
  - Website
  - Facebook
  - Twitter
  - IG
  - 5 reasons to eat seasonal veg
  - Seasonal Veg Calendar
• Eat Seasonably Poster
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Check out the Veg Power Seasonal Veg Calendar - see what's in season, and then click on the veg name to be whizzed straight to some recipes!
• See if you could a week or month only eating what's in season (doing this in the late summer/early Autumn is easiest!)
• Show your kids the calendar and talk about seasonality and why it's important

We've had a few episodes on the podcast exploring 'climate education' where I've chatted to various people about the brilliant projects they're involved in to encourage and facilitate education around climate issues in schools. But we haven't heard from any of the young people currently in the education system! This episode hopefully helps to rectify that as I'm chatting to not just one young person but four, all from the UK Schools Sustainability Network, along with Dr Jess Tipton, head of Youth Networks at Global Action Plan, the charity who are hosting the project.

The UKSSN was created in Spring 2021 as an umbrella organisation for the regional student sustainability networks that were starting up around the country. It provides students and staff with a way to connect with peers, share ideas and resources, collaborate on local, national and international initiatives, and develop personal, social and workplace skills. They have quickly become a force to be reckoned with and are actively involved in talks with the Department for Education about their review of, and plans for, climate education in schools, and had a team of representatives at COP26 in Glasgow at the end of last year.

I am in absolutely in awe of these young people and their passion, eloquence, resilience and determination. 
At the same age, I was in no way engaged with the world in the same way that these students are - my main concern was getting home in time to watch the Home and Away/Neighbours double bill. I am hugely inspired by them, but at the same time find myself feeling guilty and so incredibly sad that this is something that is a part of their lives and their consciousness. That they have this huge, complex, terrifying issue looming over their lives, when they should be thinking about going out with their mates, studying for exams, and looking forwards to an exciting future.

I'm very aware of not falling into the narrative that says "Hurray for the young people, for they will save us!", because that's not fair. It's our generation and those before us that have created this crisis, and it's very much on us to do everything we can to cut carbon and sustain a liveable planet for future generations, but I don't think you can listen to this episode and not feel inspired and hopeful that these young people are part of the conversation, and are helping to create solutions. 

Enjoy!

• UKSSN
  - Website
  - Twitter
  - IG
  - at COP26
• Global Action Plan
  - Transform Our World on Global Action Plan
• Jess Tipton on Twitter
• Jess Tipton on Linked In
• [098] - EcoSchools with Lee Wray-Davies
• [117] - Transforming Education with the Ministry of Eco Education
• [130] - More Climate Education Good Stuff with Paula Malone
  
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Share this episode with any young people you know who might be looking to connect with people on the same journey as them
• Ask your local school if they're aware of UKSSN and/or want to join
• Let the young people you know who are engaged with climate action that you're very much with them, are supporting them, and importantly taking action to help

I was very excited towards the end of last year asking if I would like to chat to anyone about Earthshot - a book that addresses the challenges facing the planet and that explores some of the best solutions that exist to turn the tide on the environmental crisis.

Many of you might have heard of the Earthshot Prize - which is an idea that came from Prince William, to encourage innovation and funding of climate solution. Here in the UK, there has been an accompanying TV series, as well as a series on Radio 4, and there was a very glitzy 'green carpet' event to announce the winners for this year that gained lots of media coverage.
 
The book has been co-authored by Colin Butfield and Jonnie Hughes, who are both superstars in the fields of wildlife documentary making and whose studio has produced the likes of Our Planet and A Life on our Planet with Sir David Attenborough. I jumped at the chance to chat to Jonnie, and confess I was a little starstruck to be attempting a sensible conversation with someone who regularly chats to the likes of Prince William and David Attenborough - I hope I didn't embarrass myself too much...

Do have a listen, check out the book and the series, which is still on i-player (and hopefully will stay on there!). I made a point of encouraging the kids to watch this series, as I think it's so important foe them to see the hope. To see the solutions that exist and are in progress, and the army of people who are devoting their lives to finding solutions and creating a brighter future - a lot of climate programming can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing, but this was the opposite.

Enjoy!

• Earthshot
  - The book (I've linked to it on World of Books, but it's available anywhere you can buy books, and do ask your library if they have a copy!)
  - Website
  - TV series on i-player
  - Radio series on BBC Radio 4
  - 2021 winners
• Studio Silverback
  
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Read the book/watch the TV series/listen to the radio series, and get inspired by all the amazing projects out there!
• Use the book or series as a springboard for an optimistic climate conversation with friends and/or family
• If you've got kids of school age, how about suggesting a school-wide 'Earthshot Prize' competition..!

I was delighted to finally get the chance to chat to Sophie Unwin after literally years of following each other online!
 
Sophie is the director and founder of the Remade Network - a Glasgow based social enterprise with a mission to build a repair economy from the ground up through the creation of a  network of repair social enterprises that create jobs, tackle climate change and reduce inequality - how's that for a win, win, win!

Sophie is an absolute inspiration - she's got a brilliant back story of how she came to be so passionate about reuse and repair and an amazing track record of setting up successful repair projects. Her vision for not only the Remade Network in Glasgow but also how this model could be replicated and rolled out other cities and towns is incredibly hopeful and at the same time feels totally do-able! Sophie is proving that these enterprises can be viable businesses that contribute to the local economy at the same time as tackling waste and climate change.

Enjoy!

• Remade Network
  - Website
  - Facebook
  - Instagram
  - Twitter
• Repair Cafes
  
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Think about how you can incorporate repair and reuse into your life! Could you mend or fix the next thing that breaks?
• If you're lucky enough to live near any of the Remade Networks projects in Glasgow, pop along and pay them a visit!
• Think about what you might be able to do in your community or workplace to start the conversation around repair and reuse.

The more I hear about and read about 'climate education' the more I think that this is such a vital part of the jigsaw, and how we're really doing our children and young people a huge disservice by not a) educating them about the world around them and how it's changing, and b) empowering them to recognise and realise the power and agency that they have to create positive change.

I've previously chatted on the podcast to Lee Wray-Davies from Eco Schools England, and to Paul Turner from the Ministry of Eco Education, and am delighted in this episode to get a chance to speak to Paula Malone. Paula wears many many hats, and is doing so much amazing stuff. She's a mum to her 6 year old daughter, a UN accredited Climate Change Teacher, she works for Energy Sparks - a schools energy education programme, is a trustee for Wicked Weather Watch - a charity that brings climate education into schools via actual Arctic explorers!, and is a governor for not one, but two schools!

In this episode we chat about all of Paula's different 'hats', her experiences of bringing climate education into everyday teaching, and Paula shares lots of ideas and tips for how we might be able to support and 'nudge' any schools that we have involvement with to take climate action. 

Enjoy!

• Paula on Twitter
• Energy Sparks
• Wicked Weather Watch
• UK Student Sustainability Network
• Transition Network
• The sisters who challenged McDonalds and Burger King to ban plastic toys in Happy Meals
• 10 year old campaigning to end plastic toys on children's magazines
• Children change their parents' minds about climate change
• Global Action Plan - Dirt is Good
  
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Have a look at the Energy Sparks website - you can find schools local to you and check out their energy usage!
• Have a look at some of the brilliant resources on the Wicked Weather Watch website - I think that the Arctic is one of the themes in the English primary curriculum!
• (Gently!) ask your school what sustainability actions they are taking (and if they need any help!)

In this episode I’m chatting to Ben and Petra who are both trustees of Zero Carbon Guildford which is one of a growing number of Climate Emergency Centres that are starting up all over the UK.

Zero has an amazing community space in the centre of Guildford where they have a zero waste shop and a vegan café , and  and also host a brilliant array of projects from a baby clothes library through to climate cinema and a community fridge. And super importantly they are working to bring local community groups together around a shared goal of by 2030 by developing a community-led climate action plan.

This is yet another super inspiring episode, and I have my sneaking suspicions that many of you will listen to this and think “Yes! I want one of those where I live” so I tried to ask as many questions as possible about the logistics of getting something like off the ground.
For any of you who are interested in finding out more, Zero Carbon Guildford are running an event on the 10th Feb both in person and live streamed, in conjunction with the Surrey Climate Commission sharing how they have created climate hubs in Surrey, with tips for how you can do the same where you live. 

It goes without saying that I love, love, love what these guys are doing – I hope you’re as inspired as I am, and it would be amazing to think that maybe someone listening to this podcast now has the spark of an idea for creating something similar where they live – do get in touch and let me know if that’s you!

Enjoy this episode, and as ever, please do leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts – this is how we get more ears on the podcast and more people hearing about brilliant projects like Zero Carbon Guildford.

Enjoy!

• Zero Carbon Guildford
  - Website
  - Facebook
  - Instagram
  - Twitter
  - Events
• 10th Feb - Creating a Community-Led Climate Hub - in-person and livestreamed
• Climate Emergency Centres website
• The Knackered Mums Eco Club
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Listen and get inspired!
• Look and see what local climate-y community groups there are near you 
• Pick a project to trial that you think would bring people together (Repair Cafes and swishes tend to go down well!)

Today is another cracker of an episode and is about something that we haven’t really dived into before on the podcast – eco anxiety.

I’m chatting to Megan Kennedy Woodard, a coaching psychologist, and one half of Climate Psychologists, alongside her husband Patrick. Together they have co-authored Turn the Tide on Climate Anxiety, a brilliant book wth the tagline “Sustainable action for your mental health and the planet”

It’s a pretty safe bet that if you’re listening to this podcast then you will probably have run the full gamut of all the climate feels – from anxiety, to rage, to despair, and everything in between. In this book Megan and Patrick explore the science behind climate anxiety, the whole range of emotions we might be feeling, and crucially, what we can do about it. It’s more than simply a book about climate anxiety, it’s kind of a workbook to help you to explore, and identify your emotions related to climate stuff, and then it’s packed with tools, tips and ideas to help move you from climate anxiety to climate action.

I think this is a super important episode – we see more and more studies saying that more and more of us are feeling anxious about the state of the planet, and that can leave us in a state of overwhelm and despair – and it’s very hard to take action from that place. Please do share with family and friends – this, as with all climate stuff, is something we need to talk about more.
 
And As ever, if you enjoy this episode, and the podcast in general, please do leave and rating and a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Enjoy!

• Climate Psychologists
  - Website
  - Facebook
  - Instagram
  - Twitter
• Turn the Tide on Climate Anxiety
  - Please do support your local independent bookshop! Or see if you can get a copy from your local library
  - Or you can buy it direct from the publishers here
  - Find it here on World of Books
  - Or here on Hive
• The Knackered Mums Eco Club
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• See if you can get hold of a copy of the book! Ask your local library if they have a copy - if they don't, they will often order new books in
• See if you can start a conversation about your climate feelings with a friend or family member
• Remember this phrase from the book: "Perfect gets nothing done"

Today we're talking all things reuse and renew with Daniel Carolan and Samantha Carty from SUEZ. 
SUEZ are a waste management company here in the UK, and are responsible for the collection and sorting of household waste in many areas around the country, including Greater Manchester Combined Authority, where they're spearheading a super exciting project - a Renew Hub!

The Hub and the donation containers at recycling centres across Greater Manchester divert people's unwanted but still usable or fixable items from landfill. They're collected, cleaned and repaired if needed and then sold on at an affordable price in three Renew shops. All of the money raised goes to good causes, including the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity tackling homelessness and Recycle for Greater Manchester community fund, helping community groups in their local area that are focussed on reducing waste. 

The Hub also provides employment and training opportunities for people who for a variety of different reasons might be struggling to find work.

It really feels like a win-win-win scenario, and I couldn't help thinking that every region in the UK needs one of these schemes!

Have a listen, and do let me know your thoughts in the comments!

• The Recycle for Greater Manchester website
• The 'Renew' section on the website
  - Facebook page
  - Instagram page
• If you're local to Manchester, you can find the three Renew shops here:
  - Woodhouse Lane, Recycling Centre, Altrincham, WA14 5TB
  - Arkwright Street, Oldham, OL9 9LZ (entrance next to the recycling centre)
  - Boysnope Wharf, Recycling Centre Liverpool Road, Eccles, M30 7RH
• Nothing New in '22 - blog post
• Nothing New in '22 Facebook group
  
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Have a look and see what 'renew' resources you might have locally
• Have a go at mending or repairing one thing this week - You Tube is your friend if you're not sure where to start!
• Look for the next thing you need to buy secondhand

Those of you who have been following for a loooooong time might remember that my 'journey' into all things Sustainable(ish) started with My Make Do and Mend Year - a year of buying nothing new with my family.
2022 marks the TEN YEAR anniversary of that life changing (I know it's a cliche, but it genuinely has changed my life!) year, which feels absolutely bonkers.
10 years ago our kids were 4 and 1, and I remember saying at the time that it would undoubtedly be a whole different experience with older kids/teenagers. So now I'm going to give it a go...!
And I'd love you to join me - are you up for #NothingNewIn22?

Listen in to hear more about our experience first time around, why you might want to join in, and how it all works.

• Nothing New in '22 Intro Video
• Nothing New in '22 - blog post
• Nothing New in '22 Facebook group
• The Day the World Stops Shopping - podcast episode
• My Make Do and Mend Year - all the blog posts from the original year!
  
• The Knackered Mums Eco Club
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Come and join us!

In today’s episode we’re discussing 'IRL' (in real life!) Sustainable(ish) Christmas’s in all their glorious imperfections and with all the compromises that come with trying to keep everyone happy whilst trying to simultaneously save the planet.

With this episode I wanted to hear from real people, people like you and me, who are trying really hard to do the right thing, but at the same time feel that push pull of consumerism and family and societal demands at this time of the year. To hopefully alleviate any guilt you might be feeling and to share the idea that this is a tricky time of year for lots of us.
I  recognise at the same time how privileged we are to be able to have these conversations about being overwhelmed by too much stuff, and too much food, when there are so many struggling with the exact opposite.

• Christmas-sy podcast episodes
  - 12 not so fun festive facts
  - Make a start on a sustainable(ish) Christmas
  - The carbon footprint of Christmas (and what we can do about it)
  - Conscious gifting
• Christmas-sy blog posts
  - 12 not so fun festive facts
  - Beginner's guide to a crap-free Christmas
  - 12 easy ideas for a Sustainable(ish) Christmas
  - How we just about survived Christmas buying nothing new, and how you can too
  - Sustainable(ish) options for nativity costumes 
  - The (festive) waste hierarchy
  - Gifts for children that aren't stuff
  - Plastic-free(ish) stocking fillers
• The Full Freezer
• Play 'n' Choc
• Recycled sari gift wrap
• The Knackered Mums Eco Club
• The Sustainable(ish) FB group

• Enjoy your Christmas!
• Meet me back here in the New Year for a sparkly new series of episodes - I've got some great guests lined up