Organic Food Festival
To mark the start of Organic Food Fortnight (2nd – 17th September), The Soil Association are holding their annual Organic Food Festival at the Waterfront in Bristol.
Now in its fifth year, this extravaganza of all things organic just keeps getting better and better. Looking at the exhibitor list, almost every organic company I’ve ever heard of it going to be selling their wares from organic veg boxes to organic cotton knickers!
The festival is promising far more than just shopping though. There is a demonstration kitchen, talks and tastings of delicious organic food and drink, theatre walkabouts, music and even a photography exhibition.
Tickets cost £3.50 for adults and under 16’s get in free. The Organic Food Festival is open from 10am until 6pm on Saturday 2nd September and from 10am until 5pm on Sunday 3rd September.
Loads more information is available from the Soil Association website – www.soilassociation.org.
One for the girls...
Apologies for delving into the depths of feminine hygiene so early on in the life of Stripy Leopard but these things seem to have caught my attention so much in the last few weeks I felt I must give them a mention.
You have to admit that the time of the month really is a wasteful week. Traditionally, tampons and pads come with so much packaging, not to mention the chemicals involved in actually making the things in the first place. We women must seriously up our contribution to environmental degredation once a month.
What's the problem?
Most of our usual pads and tampons are made from cotton, a huge user of pesticides, poisoning land, water and farmers across the world. In addition, chlorine bleaching produces toxic by-products that have been linked to cancer and low sperm counts, amongst other nasties.
The Best Alternatives
There are alternatives though that promise to be better for our bodies as well as for the eco-system.
Sticking to the familiar tampon and pad family, Natracare have a complete range of organic cotton products that do not use pesticides, chlorine bleaching, synthetic materials or chemical additives. The packaging is minimal and biodegradable too. I've been using Natracare's products for years and can't find a bad word to say about them.
USA stockists - Mother Nature
UK stockists - G Baldwin & Co
If you're feeling extra adventurous, the most eco-friendly product I have found is the Mooncup. This 'cup' is made from medical grade silicone and is worn internally, just like a tampon. After a few hours you remove it, rinse it and reinsert it. Easy! There's no waste, no pesticides and no toxins. I have to admit that this is a product I have been meaning to try for years but haven't as yet managed to order myself one. If you need convincing though, their website is fabulous, with testimonials from tons of women who now swear by the Mooncup.
Be a better woman than me - www.mooncup.co.uk
If you're from the USA, Mother Nature also sells a reusable menstrual cup - Mother Nature
Feeling Fruity?
If you're looking for something a bit different this weekend, then why not head down to Fruitstock in Regent's Park, London.
Organised by lovely little drinks company Innocent, Fruitstock is a festival of live music, food, relaxation and of course, smoothies.
The music line up is enticingly diverse with Arrested Development and Norman Jay alongside jazz, a steel orchestra and the London Gospel Choir! Aside from the music though there's plenty else to do for you and the kids.
Innocent are promising a bouncy castle, circus skills classes and a paddling pool for the little ones; a farmers market, yoga classes and poetry slamming for the grown ups. Also, if you're in the market for a new relationship, there's even a flirting area to meet other chilled out happy people.
The festival is on from noon until 9pm on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August so have a break from the DIY and get down there. I've got an ageing relative's 40th wedding anniversary to go to so spare me a thought when you're sipping smoothies in the sun!
For more information visit www.fruitstock.com.
