Huggins-Cooper - Live organic: Brilliant ideas to purify your lifestyle and feel good about it

Careful now

Organics, and the organic way of life, have become mainstream, no longer associated with knitting your own yoghurt and mud (of course, if you do knit your own yoghurt from mud, this book has something to offer you too). Weve all become much more aware of the environment and of our impact on it. Here youll find suggestions for reducing your impact on the world, and reducing the impact the modern world has on you. Keep an open mind, be careful, be informed and tread lightly.

Now, though the contents of this book were checked at the time of going to press, the Internet is being updated constantly. This means the publisher and author cannot guarantee the contents of any of the websites mentioned.

Copyright Infinite Ideas Limited, 2008

The right of Lynn Huggins-Cooper to be identified as the author of this book has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

First published in 2008 by
Infinite Ideas Limited
36 St Giles
Oxford, OX1 3LD
United Kingdom
www.infideas.com

All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of small passages for the purposes of criticism or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP, UK, without the permission in writing of the publisher. Requests to the publisher should be addressed to the Permissions Department, Infinite Ideas Limited, 36 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD, UK, or faxed to +44 (0)1865 514777.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781905940578

Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Designed and typeset by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford
Cover designed by Cylinder
Printed in India

The paper and board used is chlorine free and was produced from sustainable forests. This book was printed using vegetable-based inks.

Brilliant ideas

Organic: its a term thats emblazoned on packaging (minimal, of course) and shrieks from chic menus but what does the term organic really mean? Learn to decipher the jargon.

Whats in your food? Before you push another forkful into your mouth, can you say for sure that there are no nasties lurking in the lettuce or hiding in the hummus?

Most of us enjoy a square of chocolate now and again. But did you know that non-organic chocolate may contain traces of the pesticides lindane, methyl bromide, naled, glyphosate, hydrogen cyanide and pyrethrins?

Organic food is all very well for a treat, but how can you cook organic food on a regular basis without having to take out a bank loan?

How can water not be organic? When its full of pesticides, heavy metals and other baddies, thats how. Find out how to clean up your act.

A chilled glass of Pinot Noir; a rich plummy Merlot or a light, fruity Zinfandellovely. But hold on, because there are hidden nasties even in the nectar of the gods.

Feeling the need to blitz-clean your house? Before you reach for the bleach stop! There are milder organic alternatives.

Adding water makes any garden more relaxing and beautiful. Forget the pond chemicals you see in garden centres with an organic pond you can build a healthy ecosystem and ditch them.

Organic box schemes represent quality, locally produced organic food which promotes sustainability and enriches the local economy. Its the ethical ideal.

Most of us like to start the day with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. But are there dangers lurking in that brew?

Do you slather your armpits in the hope of avoiding an awful odour? You might want to choose carefully. Find out why conventional deodorant reeks.

Fresh herbs at your fingertips what could be nicer than growing your own in pots or in your garden? Growing them organically, of course!

Milk and dairy products seem like some of the most naturally good-for-you foods, just as they come. So why should we bother with organic versions?

With increasing public concern about dioxins in sanitary products, many women are looking for alternatives. How easy is it to find something fitting the green bill which is comfy, secure and convenient?

In the organic kitchen the utensils and pans you use can be just as important as the ingredients in terms of health.

Organic gardenings ounds very lofty and as though it takes a lot of thought and effort. In reality, there are just a few principles to stick to in order to reap the benefits.

You may not have thought about it, but that beautiful bouquet from the florist may not be so green and can even have harmful effects on the environment and your health

Grow your own fruit in pots, indoors or in mixed organically gardened beds, theres something for everyone.

Dental care products can be full of all sorts of chemicals so why not try organic alternatives?

Weve all taken on board the message about protecting our skin from the sun. But just how safe is the sun cream were using?

Grow your own vegetables in containers, raised beds or a vegetable plot and youll taste the difference!

When you have a baby, you want only the best for your child and the organic baby gets the best.

Love it or hate it, we all have laundry. But do we really need the baffling array of cleaning products that stare back at us from the supermarket shelves?

We all want lovely locks, and many of us men included use all manner of dyes, potions and lotions to make it happen

If youre worried about the chemicals in the bath products you buy, why not harvest some herbs, find some flowers and make your own?

The things that you put on your skin enter your bloodstream so keep the nasty chemicals out, and pamper yourself with some organic skin care products.

We want the best for our babies and toddlers. As food scares about BSE, GM foods and pesticide usage increasingly make the news, many people are turning to organic baby food.

Theres nothing nicer than a light airy bedroom and crisp, clean sheets to give you a good nights sleep so why not go the whole hog and make bedtime an organic experience?

Weve all thrown open windows to make a well-ventilated spaceto escape the fumes caused by decorating. Now, at last, there is an alternative!

Tonnes of chemicals are spread on lawns every year to keep them green and supposedly healthy.They are tracked into the house where residue lingers on carpets and floors.

Organic bath-time treats contain no chemical nasties and smell great. Whats not to like?

Organic weed control can be hard work covering, pulling, slashing but there are shortcuts you can take to help you to avoid even a splash of heavy-duty chemicals in your garden.

A little bit of powder, a little bit of paintbut at what cost? Look closely at whats lurking in . your make-up bag.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, extracted from plants, to improve your general well-being. Does it have any beneficial effect, or is it just raising a stink about nothing?

You worry about what you put in your mouth, but do you think about what you put in other, equally sensitive places? Theres always an organic option

Why not try organic sprouted seeds? They are easy to grow, tasty and nutritious.

Organic juice. You can buy it in every cafe and supermarket but have you thought of making your own?

Hemp is for hippies, right? Wrong! This incredibly versatile material is about to go mainstream.

Dont forget Fido or Kitty when you are seeking a more organic lifestyle! From food to bedding, its all out there.

Smoothies are delicious and nutritious and organic smoothies are even better!