Could you be Self Sufficient-Ish?

It's been great to focus on recycling this week. However, there are a couple of guys who take recycling to the next level. If you don't know them already, I'd like to introduce you to Andy and Dave Hamilton of selfsufficientish.com.

I first came across their site last year when I was looking for ideas about how I could recycle or reuse the good old bread bag. I wasn't disappointed. In fact there were 66 ideas on their website, ranging from storage solutions to bird scarers. There are also some suggestions that will help raise a big smile on a rainy day, highlighting their light-hearted and fun demeanour.

The latest news is that after much hard work the self sufficient-ish twins have turned their ideas into a great new book, The Self Sufficient-ish Bible, which was published by Hodder & Stoughton last week. It's a lovely big chunky book, that you can't miss, so look out for it in the "Green Section" in your local bookstore.


As the subtitle states, it's an Eco-living Guide for the 21st Century and offers lots of inspiration for living a sustainable lifestyle in an urban environment.

The Self Sufficient-ish Bible has some great ideas for recycling. Not only can you find out more about recycling food waste with bokashi and building your own wormery, but you will also discover ways of recycling other things that are not associated with landfill, including waste water.

There are also excellent guidelines on how to reduce all that packaging by growing your own food, plus there are lots of wonderful recipes for delicious meals, home brews and toiletries.

Indeed it is packed full of ideas about every aspect of living a frugal, organic and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

I'm not quite ready to keep chickens, ducks or pigs but if you are serious about giving it a go, the book even has tips for managing livestock.

I'm really enjoying my copy of The Self Sufficient-ish Bible and am proud that I've got hold of a first edition. I am now inspired to give our council a nudge to see how it is getting on with our community's request to provide local allotment facilities.

So if you're keen on being green, it's a top buy that won't disappoint.

By the way, I haven't forgotten about my "just one thing" recycling challenge that I set on Monday. I've got my one thing, which I will reveal next week. I would also love to know how everyone else fared. If you don't want to go public, just drop me a line at enquiries@therubbishdiet.co.uk.

Next week, I will also reveal how things are going one month after Zero Waste Week. What excitement eh. I don't know how I can contain myself. Hope you have a great weekend.
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