Green Goals for 2011

A new year provides the perfect opportunity to be more green. If you’re new to the eco-world, here are several tips to keep in mind in 2011; for veterans, these serve as friendly reminders, since the best of us forget once in a while that it’s our planet on the line.

Try green cleaning
There’s no need to bring any more chemicals into your home, even in the name of getting rid of bacteria. You can invest in bleach- and chemical-free green cleaning sprays and scrubs (Seventh Generation is a reliable company), or you can make your own with cheap materials you probably already have in your pantry. White or apple cider vinegar, baking soda, Borax, and lemon juice are the key players here. You’ll save tons of money and make your home a safer place for kids and pets. Plus, now that your cleaning materials are safer for kids to be around, maybe you can recruit a few helpers on cleaning day. Check out The Daily Green website for cleaning recipes: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303?click=nav

Install CFLs
One CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulb lasts about 10 times longer and uses 75% less energy than and incandescent bulb, which could mean $30 savings over its lifetime (including the initial $5 cost of the CFL bulb).

Use power strips to eliminate ghost energy
It might be news to some people that even when not in use, electronics like cell phone chargers and computers use power if left in the socket. This can cost you about $200 a year for just one flat-screen plasma TV left plugged in. Plugging it into and turning off a power strip can eliminate this ghost energy.

Take shorter showers
I’m a bit of a clean freak, and I love being doused with boil-a-lobster hot water on cold winter mornings, but in an effort to waste less water, I tried this trick: If you have an iPod dock or an old CD player, listen to your tunes while you shower. Since each song is about 3 to 6 minutes in length, try keeping your shower to a maximum of three songs at first. Three days later, limit your shower to two songs. Work your way toward one song per shower.

Rely less on the A/C
While the winter months last, turn down the heat and put on a sweater. If your ceiling fan runs in reverse, try it, as this will bring the warm air back down since it has a tendency to travel up. In the summer, set your temp for warmer than you’d call ideal but open the windows on breezy days, draw curtains closed around sundown when rooms tend to get really heated up, and use that ceiling fan. Put ice in your water (and drink lots of it) to stay cool. Squeeze a lemon or orange into a pitcher of water for those extra hot summer days.

Buy used books
If you’re a book worm, avoid going to Barnes & Noble and either check out the library or, if you insist on having your own collection like I do, check out a used bookstore or swap books with some friends. If you’ve got your eye on a book on Amazon, try buying used instead of new. Many of the major book publishing companies log rain forests for trees unsustainably and illegally (this includes Harper Collins, and Random House isn’t much better). Check out this pocket guide that lists major book publishers in terms of which companies are doing more (and less) for the environment: http://ran.org/sites/default/files/rankidsbooks_pocketguide_media.pdf

Buy used clothes and household goods
Instead of buying new clothes or things around the house you think you need, go to thrift stores before checking out department stores. Second-hand shopping keeps old items in circulation (and come by a lot cheaper than new items), which means that no more trees need to be cut down or oils melted into poisonous plastics to make what you need. It’s also important to not buy new non-organic cotton; more workers in developing countries die in a year due to the pesticides used in its production than you could ever imagine. Check out this video for more on how you can keep your wardrobe green in 2011: http://www.bbc.co.uk/thread/video/.

Written by Maria Renier
Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at Online Schools.

A bio-dynamic winery

The Domaine Chandon de Briailles has been owned and managed by the same family for 7 generations and now it is François de Nicolay’s turn, assisted by his sister Claude. The vineyard is located amidst three different villages in the heart of the Cote de Beaune: Savigny les Beaune, Pernand Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. It has a total of 13 hectares, almost all Premier crus and Grands crus.

Here at the Domaine there has always been a great respect for the environment, especially within the two last generations. François’s mother, Nadine de Nicolay - who trained the vineyard from 1984 to 2001 - had decided to stop the weed-killers in the 1990’s and re-start ploughing the soil. Since 1995, the wish to use more and more organic products and techniques against diseases has become an integral part of their philosophy.

The big decision was taken in 2005 to work all 13 hectares in the bio-dynamic method and even some horse ploughing was introduced. “Life has come back in our subsoil and we don’t fight against the diseases anymore, we cope with them…” Every year, new experiments are carried out, knowing that it will take 10 years to completely establish the method.

Today, the Domaine is in process of certification for both Ecocert and Demeter and, in 2011, they’ll be able to say it on their back label!

For more information contact :

Mme de NICOLAY Claude
Domaine Chandon de Briailles
1 rue Sœur Goby
21420 Savigny les Beaune
Tel: +33 380 21 52 31
Fax: +33 380 21 59 15
contact@chandondebriailles.com
www.chandondebriailles.com

Contemporary Garden Accessories in the UK Allow You to Create Your Very Own Green Wall.

By Felicity Waters, Director and Landscape Architect, Garden Beet



Garden accessories have been quietly evolving over the last couple of years. Many gardening products are now addressing people’s desire to grow their own plants in cramped urban spaces with super eco- chic style. Move over terracotta pots space age planting is here.

You may have stumbled across a green wall on one of your travels around London. The Athenaeum Hotel has one and so does Anthropologie on Regent Street. Or maybe you saw one in Paris, Tokyo or Melbourne?

Green Walls are the new black and uber architecture requires plants to almost morph with the building (green walls are also referred to as living walls or vertical gardens). Plants are being applied to interior and exterior facades like living wallpaper however the application is a tad more complicated.




Large scale green walls are very expensive to install and also require specialist knowledge to ensure their success. Corporations wanting to project a green ethos are certainly willing to shell out the costs to install these dazzling rock ‘n’ roll gardening installations. Many big businesses have engaged, Patric Blanc the French botanist and artist. He is the founder of the vertical gardening movement and he is certainly pushing the traditional gardening envelope with his amazing designs.
Thanks to artist Miguel Nelson and his Woolly Wally Pockets it is now possible for most people to create their very own green wall with only the most basic gardening skills.

Nelson has created a clever wall planter (a Woolly Pocket) that can be used on its own or in groups to cover most walls. They can also be used indoors and outdoors. They promote healthy plants whilst conserving water and are easy to install.
Each pocket is made from recycled plastics and holds approximately 10 litres of soil. The material is like a felted fabric and is made to military standards. The concept is simple, beautiful and it works.



Garden Beet in London, UK stocks the Woolly Pockets and many other contemporary garden accessories made from recycled materials.
Garden Beet is 100% on-line and ships worldwide. They can be found at http://www.gardenbeet.com.

Be sure to check out their range of hand crafted recycled planters made from old tyres and their garden clocks made from recycled coffee cups.

The ‘Green heart’ of Italy

Hiking holidays have to be, at the heart of things, just about the most pleasant holidays in the world.

Let me explain why. There is simply no other format out there that allows you to see so much of the countryside in such a gentle and thought-provoking way. Furthermore, it gives you time to enjoy the company of your fellow travellers, exercise semi-effortlessly and understand your destination in a way few other travel options would allow.

Had I been asked my opinion on this subject a few years ago, I would’ve instinctively thought of holiday hiking as the choice pursuit for the retired and yet around the hills of Italy all I see is people of all ages and walks of life (possible pun intended) with a genuine interest in nature and local history.

Umbria was not an accidental choice, it is most definitely one of the last bastions of unspoilt Italian countryside and every view is charming yet slightly wild and unkempt.

People refer to this area as the ‘Green Heart of Italy’ and a few days walking around here will show you why that is. Here, you’re neither in the middle of the rugged Alpine mountains of the north nor in the midst of manicured Tuscan hills. The level of difficulty is somewhere between the two, leaning much more towards the latter of course.

The routes are fairly well marked; there are some decent maps of the area available as well as specialist books in most book shops and available online. Generally speaking, the best routes are those marked by red and white ‘CAI’ markers, these are the easiest to follow.

They are regularly maintained by the ‘Club Alpino Italiano’ and, in some cases, follow ancient paths to towns and special sites. In the hills around Assisi several of the paths intercept the pilgrim’s route to the sanctuary on Mount Subasio. Local history has it that St Francis lived in a cave in these very forests, and the atmosphere is both beautifully natural and deeply spiritual. The odd moving bush or wild boar print on the ground, adds to the excitement of the route.


A walker's paradise
A little further south, in the area of Terni, I found my base at La Casella (www.lacasella.it), one of the first properties in Italy to think of eco-holidays with an eye on comfort. They provide the perfect place to rest and recharge after a hard day in the hills.

For those of a more adventurous disposition, they also run some wonderful organised events from canoeing to climbing and even simulated fox hunting (no foxes of course, just their best horse rider to catch!). The nearby Marmore falls (Marmore Website) are an absolute must; they represent an incredible natural phenomenon as well as a moving testament to how wild this region can be.

Other must-visit towns include Spello, Assisi and the obligatory day in Perugia, they will really open your eyes to the charm of this region. The food is spectacular and the hilly hikes will make you feel like you deserve those long leisurely lunches.

In Assisi try La Stalla, a really interesting and completely different experience, simple, tasty and so much fun (www.fontemaggio.it) In the winter you eat in the former stable which in front of a huge fire where everything is cooked. If you are in Perugia for an evening along the chic town centre then try ‘Al mangiar bene’, one of Italy’s first bio restaurants – they even have bio-pizza! (www.almangiarbene.com) The owners ensure that all their supplies come from local farms and the food is really special.

So… great food, great wine, fabulous views and a region with plenty to discover, all worth a little mud on the boots!

Going by gulet

As a keen sporting sailor, the idea of taking to sea in a slow antique fishing vessel was not something that appealed.

I held the belief that it would be for older American travellers looking for something they would call an adventure but most people would just see as snobbish. How wrong I was!

While clunky and ungainly from the outside, the interior of the twin-mast gulet (pronounced gulay) is quite astounding. Space is used ultra-efficiently and everything screams luxury. As someone who spends a lot of his time enduring the cramped conditions of life at sea, this proved a complete shock.

There were communal areas where you could stand up completely unobstructed (even at my 6ft 2in!), cabins with king sized beds, fully-tiled bathrooms and air-conditioning throughout. Add in the fully-stocked bar, handcrafted mahogany detailing and an excellent, helpful crew, it just seemed too good to be true.

On deck, spacious sun-bathing platforms complete with a large dining table provided top-level luxury. And the array of water toys such as kayaks and windsurfs was the veritable icing on what was already an exceedingly good ‘cake’.

Enjoying complete freedom to sail anywhere along the fantastically clear waters of the Turkish coast and Greek Islands, the weather is really the only limiting factor, with the Captain steering to its whims.

When in full sailing mode the boat is quiet and fast and completely clean – very ecological indeed. The odd times when the engine has to be on are rare and generally quiet and unobtrusive.

The Captain loves having people help out or get to grips with the big ship, which is just excellent for big kids like me and for the smaller ones too.

We visited several Greek Islands such as Kos, Symi, Rhodes and Bodrum, Göcek and Marmaris in Turkey. This is a pretty typical route as the sailing times are relatively short with plenty to see at every stop and a whole array of quiet bays to use as lunch spots.

The Archaeology in Rhodes is unbelievable. There are a myriad of fascinating ancient sites but my favourite has to be Lindos with its picturesque village and towering acropolis above.

In Turkey the feeling totally changes, with little village tavernas giving way to more stylish establishments and the gentle sounds of the sea interrupted by the bellowing speakers of local mosques. The food is also completely different with spices replacing simple Greek salads. Arriving in Turkey is an assault to the senses, but definitely a good one.

On the last day of the trip I slowly made my way across the walkway and took a long last look at the gulet. I knew I would eventually come back. It felt like I was leaving not just a boat, but my home on the sea.

Provence, a green (and purple) land

Not for the faint-hearted, the beauty of Provence has often reduced even the most passive visitor to tears.

Few regions in France have been blessed with as many wonderful sights, aromas and sounds as Provence.

As soon as you set foot in the region you’re enveloped in a swirl of sensations that will leave you breathless. Rich purple fields of lavender vie for your attention under immaculate sapphire skies, and a rhythmic choir of crickets leads a pastoral symphony.

Provence, like the whole of France, is blessed by a very fast and efficient train service. Plan ahead and you can load a bike to use as the principle mode of transport at your destination.

With so many villages huddled close to each other, biking to lunch is a fun and rewarding way to see the landscape whilst keeping your carbon footprint under control. It’s also worth remembering that after a couple of glasses of wine you can’t drive anywhere, biking on the other hand…

I based myself in St Rémy-de-Provence, a beautiful small hamlet with little more than a handful of shops, restaurants and cafes and where the weekend market is something of a major institution. St Remy has a whole array of great produce for sale from the wonderfully tasty olive oil to local wines and ‘must-have’ arts and crafts.

As well as its local products, St. Rémy-de-Provence is also renowned for its famous residents – including Nostradamus, Van Gogh and the poet Frédéric Mistral – and also for its lively Provencal festivals and traditions.

During my visit I happened to stumble upon the lâcher de taureaux, a localised ‘running of the bulls’, where a small bull is left to run wild in the streets whilst the local boys taunt and try to outrun him. It’s not a spectacle that will please everyone, but it is a part of the local culture nevertheless. The lâcher de taureaux runs from July 14 to the 25.

If being chased by a bull is not your idea of relaxation, there are more chilled out things to do here. The beautiful architecture and the preserved tight streets provide an enchanting stroll discovering the assortment of pavement cafes where you can sit, read and relax.

If you can drag yourself away from the hamlet, there are plenty of sights to see in the surrounding area. Check out the wonderful Roman ruins of Glanum or pay a visit to Van Gogh’s asylum.

For the green traveller, there are a multitude of attractions. In the nearby village of Le Baux de Provence you can visit an incredible winery with a fantastic organic and biodynamic reputation.

The tiny, family-owned Mas de Gourgonnier has set the standards in ecological land management and wine production. Don’t forget to visit the shop to buy some delicious biodynamic wine, prize-winning olive oil and homemade jams and sauces.

In the same village (voted one of the prettiest villages in France) you’ll find the Cathedrale d’Images, an astounding art concept with something of a cult following. A disused quarry is used as a giant ‘canvass’ onto which works of art are projected. The spectacle is mind-blowing.

Not far from St Rémy, another quarry has been turned into a unique troglodyte house. Family photos, wonderful furniture and gloriously preserved farm equipment paint a vivid picture of farm life from bygone days. Contact Mas de la Pyramide on 04 90 920 081 and ask Lolo to show you around.

Of course Provence also incorporates the sea, so it would be ignorant not to make a detour to the coast. A great eco hotel is rapidly gaining popularity in the area just a stone’s throw from the beach. Facilities at the Ferme d’Augustin include a pool, spa and wonderful home cooking.

France happens to have some incredible islands in the Mediterranean and, whilst we all know Corsica, very few people know about Porquerolles and Port Cros. These two gems have been described as the ‘European Caribbean’ and in terms of green travel visiting them is an absolute must.

Port Cros was designated a national park in 1963. With well-maintained hiking trails, glorious beaches and crystal clear waters vibrant with colourful marine life, it’s a true natural paradise for those wanting a wild escape on the fringe of civilisation. Regular ferries operate from Hyeres.

Provence certainly provides a treasure chest of sensory experiences with wonderful food and wine and mesmerising scenery. And although tourism is definitely big business in the region, it’s never too hard to find your own private patch of paradise amidst the lavender-freckled landscapes.

For more information on visiting Provence, see www.visitprovence.com

Product Review: Freeloader PRO

Part of me is still amazed by the fact that what seems like a simple panel, left sitting in the sun, can store enough power to charge an ipod or a phone. There is something almost supernatural about using this kind of free energy, a feeling I really like!

A little while ago we decided to look for the ultimate personal solar charger, a unit that would do it all and do it in style. Our research took us to Freeloader, arguably the forerunner in personal solar technology. Their solar chargers are well known in the outdoor/adventure community and their new Freeloader Pro is regarded as the top expression of the art of personal solar technology. We decided to put it to the test.

It should be pointed out at this point that we carry a lot of technology on some of our trips. The nature of what we do and the areas we do it in means that we need a whole array of gear from portable GPS devices to the humble ipod and of course phones, laptops and cameras.

The Freeloader Pro is a welcome addition to our traveling gadget shop as it really is very portable; the shell is well designed and folded up takes no more room than a first generation mobile phone or PDA. We were rather worried at first, our research brought up a whole array of negative reviews on the first generation Freeloader model, people were getting varied results, especially in the UK and part of me felt the Freeloader Pro would have the same shortfalls, on the other hand it is the PRO version so expectations were high. That being said I packed it along with the all important camera battery charger, the AA battery charger (an optional extra) and finally the right connections for my iphone, now to find some sun!

This test was carried out in the middle of July in Europe so it probably won’t compare to what you would expect on a typical winter’s day in England, on the other hand it is designed for travel usage so some lucky people will end up using it on the move on some lovely tropical island. I allowed the charger its first full charge via USB (as specified in the instructions) then used it to power-up my camera battery which it did very well. The next charge was going to be fully solar. On a remote beach in France I set the panels for the first proper solar test (a little red double LED shows you the correct charging status) and sat the unit on my towel whilst I went about the typical tourist thing… I gave the unit a whole 6 hours of charge in direct light after which I checked the battery status: 2 out 4 bars on the light ‘halo’ (a neat charge indicator). Not a huge amount but it felt like it would be enough to power my iphone. At the end of a busy beach day I connected it all up and, hey presto, the phone lit up, in a few minutes I was able to charge the phone from half battery to full, for free. Very exciting for a solar newbie!

The next 4 days the solar charger was charged in a similar way, never really ever getting close to full charge, it powered my iphone (notoriously power hungry), my camera once and a portable usb speaker that was always fully charged in a matter of minutes. For my type of usage it turned out to be a nifty little gadget and well worth the investment. The price is a little on the high side when you compare it to the Freeloader and the AA/AAA battery charger as an optional extra seemed a little much but overall you do get the feeling the products are well designed and they don’t feel cheap in anyway.
I think that all in all it can make for an excellent addition to anyone’s travel packing list, it works extremely well as a backup charger and will give you that extra safety net when you are in a remote location. It would not be something I would rely on as my only means of power though, the AA charger never really worked for me, the charge was always minimal and never enough to keep the GPS unit’s high capacity batteries running. On the other hand, I will most definitely be packing it on my next trip, let’s hope it’s to a lovely Caribbean island!

Available from www.solartechnology.co.uk for £69.99 inc VAT

Technical Specification:
Technical Specs Freeloader Pro
• 200mA premium quality crystalline solar cells
• 1600mAh environmentally friendly Li-ion battery – typical battery life is 2 years.
• Freeloader’s solar panels can charge its internal battery in as little as 8 hours or 3 hours when using the supplied USB charging cable
• Supplied with a Master Cable for connecting to a device or CamCaddy and for charging Freeloader Pro from a computers USB
• Supplied with ten adaptors to fit the following:
1) iPod, iPhone, iPhone 3g, iPhone 3gs iTouch, Nano etc
2) Nokia phones using both standard and mini adaptors (2 supplied)
3) All current Samsung phones (2 supplied)
4) All current LG phones
5) All current Sony Ericsson phones
6) Nintendo DS Lite / DSi
7) Mini USB adaptor for Motorola phones, Blackberry and most smartphones, Garmin /
SatMap and most GPS, Bluetooth headsets, PDA’s
8) 4mm tip for Sony PSP, Archos and most MP4 players, 2 way radios, portable DVD players, e-books, digital cameras and PDA’s
• Impact resistant, rust free aluminium body.
• Freeloader holds its battery charge for up to 3 months
• Supplied with detailed user manual

Size – 150 x 63 x 20mm
Weight – 174g

CamCaddy (Included with FreeloaderPro)
• Max operating voltage – 9.5v
• Max battery depth – 67mm

Size – 130 x 71 x 30mm
Weight – 68g

Monkeys, Pythons, and Leeches, Oh My!

A Treehouse Experience In a Rainforest Ecosystem;
by Amy Hale

In a recent quest to find eco-friendly accommodations that would also yield a unique and hopefully adventurous experience in Thailand, I learned that it would be possible, if not a flat-out de rigueur experience, to stay in a “rustic” tree house deep within the jungles of Khao Sok National Park. My mental evaluation went along the lines of: “Jungle + Tree house = I’m there!” At this point I should mention that it’s a running joke within my family that I must have been a tree sprite in a former life. Though the habit should have faded about 20 years ago, I still can’t seem to pass a tree without clambering into, around, or up it. Naturally, I leapt at the opportunity to sleep in one and booked our 4 night stay at “Our Jungle House” (http://krabidir.com/ourjunglehouse/) in Khao Sok National Park near Surat Thani (http://www.khaosok.com/)


Khao Sok National Park is advertised as offering “…an adventure for environmentalists, naturalists or anyone interested in exploring plant and wildlife in a rain forest.” Forty-eight confirmed mammal species including monkeys (gibbons and long-tail macaques), the rare Malaysian sun bear, Asian elephants, civets (leopard cats), flying fox, and the endangered barking deer, along with reptiles (including 46 different kinds of snakes, among them blood and reticulated pythons, king cobras, pit vipers), birds (over 300 species including the majestic hornbill!), 38 species of bats, thousands of insects, and of course leeches all rely upon the trees of the Khao Sok rainforest as shelter, safe haven, food and habitat. In addition, some of the world’s oldest and rarest plant species are found here, including the largest (and perhaps smelliest) flower in the world, the endangered rafflesia, which can bloom up to nearly 3 feet in diameter for only 3 days once a year.

I should have known I was in for a true “jungle immersion experience” when immediately after arriving, I climbed the stairs to the roofdeck atop our treehouse, overlooking the Sok river with a view of the expansive limestone cliffs on the other bank, to find a recently shed snakeskin, approximately 5 feet in length, casually draped over one of the two built-in benches. We assessed the snakeskin and deluded ourselves into believing that it had likely been there for ages and its former inhabitant was long gone and would have no cause to return to our place of residence, at least in the short 4 days we’d be calling it thus. We should have known better. The snakeskin was simply a sign of more wildlife, yet all inhabiting their skins and very much alive, to come.

I shifted my focus to the property and 25 acres of private rainforest and was impressed to learn that all of the accommodations on the property were constructed from local, natural materials in a sustainable fashion; either between two trees or on raised platforms atop stilts to minimize environmental impact. Our Jungle House is only a short 10-minute walk away from the national park; no motorized transport is necessary once you arrive at Our Jungle House (via Surat Thani bus on the main road and then a connecting local tuk-tuk or passing car). Although there is electricity and a minimal level of running water in all of the treehouses, there is no hot water, the toilets cannot accept any paper of any kind, and “brown-outs” were frequent and more often than not, the rule. I took more than one (cold) shower by torch. There was no air conditioning though there was a fan (though it often was not in use, see above); which meant due to the humidity and heat, that using the washroom and attempting to sleep were adventures in their own right! Because the ambient air is always humid, the sheets and towels never fully dried and also smelled vaguely of mold. By the time we left, all of our belongings had attained a base level of dampness.




Even as we felt the boundaries of our personal comfort zones being tested, our adventures were just beginning. On a guided midnight jungle hike, we trekked through wild fruit orchards and ate mangosteen, bananas, lychee, and mangos straight from the trees on the way into the depths of the jungle. We were then treated to a very rare sighting of the elusive civet cat bounding up a tree, and the even rarer sighting of the endangered tiny barking deer amidst a stand of trees deep off the path. Our guide, “Dang,” shod only in flip-flops, a thin t-shirt and shorts scrambled up the difficult and steep terrain of the jungle, often scampering “off roading” into the forest in pursuit of some nocturnal creature or another he believed he spotted or heard, blithely unconcerned with the probability of stepping on any number of sharp rocks, twigs, let alone feeding leeches, mosquitoes, or the very real possibility of a snake in repose across his path!

The night safari closed out spectacularly (we thought) as we came upon a mother and baby porcupine. Back in the safety of our room, there was more wildlife spotting to be had, on this and subsequent nights, as we discovered a skink (we think, or possibly a snake), making its home between the roof of our abode and the metal exterior rain covering, that would occasionally slither down and show various lengths of its tail through the central hole in the roof through which the mosquito net was hung, and innumerable lizards, spiders, geckos and insects (most of whom were thankfully confined outside the mosquito net)… until I realized that those that weren’t were gaining entry through a variety of gaping holes at various points within the mosquito net. We came to do a routine “wildlife check” as soon as we entered the treehouse, hoping upon hope that the snake of the former rooftop skin would not have taken up residence inside, or worse, in our bed. Upon one of these thorough checks we actually discovered (with great delight) that a baby bat had flown in and roosted below our bed. At this point we knew we were part of the jungle!

Of all jungle creatures to cross or potentially cross my path, I admit I was most concerned about the leeches, given the time of year we were there, their prevalence in the area, and our proclivity to trek, hike, bushwhack, and swim in the rivers and lakes. We were pretty much guaranteed to “experience the leeches,” and indeed, we did not escape unscathed. In the most well-known book about this area, “Waterfalls and Gibbon Calls,” conservationist Thom Henley writes: “Perhaps by now you too are a living part of this rainforest ecosystem – even if not by choice… more than likely you’ve provided a meal for a hungry leech. Take comfort in knowing that your few drops of blood have quickly become part of the oldest living ecosystem on Earth.” Although I appreciate Henley’s reassuring and calming explanation of suffering a leech bite, I’m happy to adhere to certain limits at my ecosystem contributions. Henley continues: “If you are trekking in the rainy season, leeches may become your preoccupation. Rather than let leeches spoil your experience, try a little game with your hiking companions. The Khao Sok point system is simple: attached leech = 1 point, drawn blood = 2 points, fed & escaped = 5 points; inside undershorts = 10 points. Whoever scores highest gets treated to Bloody Marys back at the bungalow.” …I won, hands down.

See more of Amy's thoughts @ "Making the Easy Choice" http://www.amyehale.com/

The Perfect Eco Car Wash?

Yes, from time to time I am forced to drive to places. I choose to do so in a very low-emission car and only drive when there is no other option… I would rather use a bike or walk any day! That being said, sometimes there is no option. A few days ago I drove to the mountains to see a friend and on my return I noticed the car looked a total mess. There was dry mud from my friend’s driveway, there were countless bugs from going along the rural roads plus a weird film left behind from the drizzle of rain I caught on the way back. Safe to say it needed a wash!

So I decided to approach this in the most environmentally responsible way possible, in the hope others will do the same. I used rainwater collected in my garden cistern and I bought a Green Earth Technologies ‘5-Pack Car Care Kit’.

The care kit came complete with: 4oz. G-Wash Heavy-Duty Hydrophobic Car Wash, 4oz. G-Glass Organic Glass Cleaner, 4oz. G-Wheel Brake Dust Removing Wheel Cleaner, 4oz. G-Tire Ultimate Tire Shine, 4oz. G-Wheel Brake Dust Shield and a Green Earth Technologies license plate . I felt that I had all the bases covered so I got to work.

At first I found myself a little confused, the GET products look like normal car cleaning fluids, sure it may not be as foamy as the stuff I have used in the past but it had that chemical look about it. I had to stop a couple of times to re-read the information on the pack just to make sure it really is an eco-friendly product. I guess it should be read as a measure of success that GET products look like any other car washing fluid.

According to the literature, all of the “G”-Branded appearance products are produced from American-grown plant base oils, making it safe for the environment, including ground water. The material explains that they use the power of ‘nanotechnology’ (the field of applied science at the molecular scale) and continues to explain how it is designed to help you not only get the car clean, but also to keep it that way as long as possible. And it certainly worked for me.

After the first wash the Hydrophobic car wash was doing its thing, repelling water into little droplets, the organic glass cleaner was shining nicely and the tire shine worked a treat. The little bugs were hard to remove - though it might have been more of question of how many there were rather than how successful the cleaning product is - it definitely did a decent job in the end.

My favorite product in the pack had to be the 'Brake Dust Removing Wheel Cleaner', the wheels came out perfect and should remain so for longer than usual thanks to the Wheel Brake Dust Shield. In the end, I found myself with a pretty clean car and happy that the products washing away on my drive were ecologically safe, which is an amazing achievement I think. Now to wash my bicycle with it!

Green Earth Technologies ‘5-Pack Car Care Kit’ is available on www.amazon.com for $15.88

For more information see: www.getg.com

Test results at a glance

Pros: Pretty effective and very gentle on the environment. The kit is well priced and comprehensive

Cons: The license plate in the pack is a fairly superfluous addition.

Product Review: Aquapac Wet & Dry 25L

Our Thoughts

OK, I have to point out from the onset that I am a lifelong Aquapac fan, their products have followed me all over the world and have been there when I needed them most. Aquapac protected my Ipod in the Patagonian freezing rain, it saved my camera from the humidity of central India and it even saved my handheld GPS from a certain drowning whilst sailing in the Med last summer, you can definitely say that I am a grateful customer. I am also very fond of their ecological principles and their continuing efforts to become more efficient and greener using the latest available technologies. So, when the chance came to test one of their new limited edition products I was very excited indeed.

At first glance the Aquapac Wet & Dry is a very plain rucksack, there are no external pockets and no dangling elastics or bright crazy colours, it is a very pleasing and simple design that appealed to me straight away. It is also incredibly light, something that I have grown to consider extremely important, especially when you have heavy gear to carry or you have a long way to carry it to. Having used the classic waterproof canoe bags, I was already very familiar with the 3-roll seal, the idea being that on the last turn you clip the bag shut and create a simple yet very effective waterproof seal. And effective it really is, I had it with me through a grand storm in France just 2 days ago and if that wasn’t enough I then brought it back home and dunked it in the bathtub. Nothing, not even the slightest bit of moisture went in, very impressive.

I think you would have a tough time getting water in this bag when fully sealed and I would be very confident to take it anywhere in any weather. Inside the bag the spaces are divided through an inner and outer lining allowing you to store wet clothes away from dry or sensitive items. At the top of the bag there is a key pocket which I found very useful for storing money and other loose items, you do suffer a little for the lack of outside pockets (or mesh) and there are times when you might find yourself wondering if a second key pocket inside the bag would have been a useful addition.

On the outside there are plenty of places to attach things (GPS, water bottles, etc) through carabiners, one of them is supplied with the bag too. The back support can be removed to make the whole thing even more supple and to give you space to store a hydration bladder. The bag is fitted with a sternum and waist strap which are great for keeping the bag steady on rough terrain but are also the source of my only disappointment with the sack. I do wish they had been made to be removable; there is nothing more annoying than loose waist straps when you don’t use them and someone who is unlikely to use the bag for serious hiking is going to be forced to cut them off, which is never advisable. The price is also a little on the high side but then again you are paying for some serious technology!

RRP in the UK is £65.00 and in the US $95.00.
Click Here for US, Here for the rest of the world

Test results at a glance

Pros: Fantastic waterproof system, all weather and all terrain bag, perfect for any outdoor activity, stylish too!

Cons: Straps cannot be removed, slight lack of pockets and a touch on the expensive side

The Green Credentials (straight from Aquapac)

The backpack itself was designed to do a unique job (keep wet and dry separate), whilst using as little material as possible. This is with a conscious effort to reduce the usage of manmade materials, and also weight in shipping (and thus fuel).

Without giving away too many trade secrets, we specify all our materials from sources which provide an ethical and environmental code of practice. We do not use PVC or other harmful materials, and where we must use plastics we try to use those with the least harmful impact (TPU instead of PVC for instance).

We comply fully with EU end-of-life rules, and offer a recycling service for all Aquapac products at the end of their life.

We use minimal packaging - the backpack for instance is supplied with a single A4 sheet of recycled paper, printed locally to avoid fuel costs.

And perhaps most importantly, let's not forget that Aquapac is in the business of prolonging the life of electronics and other equipment, which otherwise might end up in landfill or polluting watercourses after it was damaged by water. Our cases have a small impact in order to gain a much greater saving on our environment.

For more information Click Here

Latest feedback from Acquapac:

You'll be pleased to know that v2 of the backpack, which is coming very soon, has a removable waist-strap, an internal key-pocket in clear material (so you can see into it), a yellow inner bag (so you can see to the bottom easily), and external mesh-pockets for water bottles or bicycle pumps. We took on board all the early blog and beta-tester reviews and we hope that v2 is the every-man bag that you all wished you could get.

Product Feature: Volvo S40 DRIVe

As the season for driving holidays is firmly coming along, climate worries as well as fuel efficiency and running costs are high on the agenda and for that reason we figured we would show you one of the greenest cars in current production.

The Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe, featuring the new Start/Stop technology, has some very interesting green credentials that have helped it scoop up the ‘Green Car of the Year' award at the prestigious 2009 What Car? Green Car Awards.

The Volvo S40 DRIVe beat the BMW 118d and the Renault Megane to the top spot in the Small Family category and then stormed ahead to achieve victory over all the other category winners, including the Audi A8 and MINI Cooper S. The Volvo offers exceptionally low CO2 emissions of just 104g/km and returning up to 72.4 mpg on the combined cycle, What Car?'s judges praised the S40 DRIVe's unique combination of low emissions, practicality, safety and driver enjoyment as key reasons for the win.

Steve Fowler, What Car’s editor, heaped praise on the car. He said: “Volvo’s S40 DRIVe is one seriously appealing eco-friendly car. Its low emissions don’t come at the expense of quality, safety or driver enjoyment and it’s great value, too. It’s everything we look for in a Green Car of the Year.”

Upon receiving the award, Stuart Kerr (Regional President of Europe, Volvo Car Corporation) said “Volvo has a strong commitment to its environmental activities and we have worked hard to reduce the carbon footprint on all our cars by focusing on health, resource utilisation and the ecological consequences right through from production, use to disposal”

The Volvo S40 DRIVe is pretty generously equipped with the entry level S specification featuring ECC (Electronic Climate Control), power windows, plenty of boot space and all the safety systems that people have come to expect from Volvo, including DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and Dual Stage Driver and Passenger Airbags. Prices for the Volvo S40 DRIVe 1.6D with Start/Stop range start at £17,495 for the entry level S specification.

You should also take note of the very reasonable running costs, with an annual tax disc cost of just £35, an insurance group 9 and a frugal diesel engine which gives a range of up to 800 miles between visits to the fuel station. Currently, drivers who are taking advantage of the Government scrappage scheme can trade in a car over ten years old and save a generous £4,377 on a brand new Volvo S40 DRIVe 1.6D S with Start/Stop, reducing its On The Road price to just £13,118.

How does Start/Stop work?

In order to reduce CO2 emissions to 104 g/km, the new S40 DRIVe has been equipped with a Start/Stop function that allows the engine to switch off when the car is at a standstill.
When the driver puts the gear lever into neutral and releases the clutch while at a standstill, the engine switches off. The next time the driver presses the clutch, the engine starts up again. Volvo's Start/Stop system also continuously monitors the comfort levels in the cabin and automatically reactivates the air conditioning if, for instance, the temperature increases in the passenger compartment.
This innovative monitoring system has been made possible due to an additional small battery which supports the larger battery by providing extra power. Thanks to this extra battery, Volvo's DRIVe models also feature particularly quick and smooth start-up. The audio system also remains unaffected when the starter motor is activated. This distinguishes Volvo Car's solution from other systems offered by the competition. The standard larger battery has also been upgraded to handle up to 175,000 Start/Stop cycles. The Start/Stop technology is also available in the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe and V50 Sportswagon DRIVe models.

For more information click here

Eco Lives: Seth Riney

Going The Green Mile

On New Year's Day circa 2003, while reading Natural Capitalism, a book on environmental entrepreneurship, I wondered why hired vehicles such as taxis and limos were still based on traditional platforms—everywhere I see Crown Victorias, Lincoln Town Cars and mini-vans commanding the streets. The only innovation of late has been to make the platforms larger by switching to SUVs. I thought, “Why are livery fleets, the largest class of public vehicles on city streets, comprised of mostly large, inefficient, gas-guzzling beasts while the rest of the world is going green?”

With that question, PlanetTran was born. My vision: an urban transport infrastructure that utilizes the most efficient transportation technology available. My mission: start a livery service based exclusively on the gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius, the most technologically advanced vehicle on the road.

I was previously consulting on web infrastructures, financial services and biotechnology applications for various clients. After working for a startup internet company, I realized that there are two types of people in the corporate world: people who make things happen and everyone else who works for them. I wanted to be someone who makes things happen. So, I utilized my software architecture experience to create an industry-leading integrated application to deliver a comprehensive online booking service.

What started with just one Prius quickly grew a loyal following and earned national press, establishing PlanetTran as the nation’s first livery service to exclusively use ultra fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. We’ve been able to serve individuals and organizations in the greater Boston and Bay area, and are now recognized as one of the most influential vehicles in reducing the carbon footprint of Corporate America.

I chose to focus on four key principals–the environment, reliability, value and technology–that have won us both accolades (voted Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in 2006) and a customer list that boasts a 98% return rate. In March we received financing from Cue Ball Capital, the Boston-based venture and early growth equity investment firm. This aided our mission to help local businesses and consumers become eco-friendly, making Boston’s mandate to “GO GREEN by 2010” even more realistic.

Being green has helped our branding substantially—since our hybrid fleet consumes up to 8x less gas than traditional car services, we are able to provide customers with a lower price point than black car services. With the recent economic downturn, companies have turned to us for a cost-effective alternative that also helps save the planet.
And I went the extra mile to add unique features such as free in-car WI-FI, electronic booking and receipts and an impact calculator with a summary of client’s greenhouse gas reduction from using PlanetTran over traditional car service.

We are continuously growing in Boston and San Francisco, with a recent rebranding on Earth Day. Our logo has transformed into a dragonfly, which is characterized as agile, elegant and efficient. Like the dragonfly in its natural surroundings, PlanetTran thrives in today’s transportation landscape. The icon embodies more than our green status, it communicates our dedication to delivering sophisticated, nimble and attentive customer experiences.
More than ever, PlanetTran has become a necessary component in the green movement, as well as the transportation environment. And knowing I help others green the earth is benefit enough! Stay tuned for new service announcements as we expand our capabilities and further enhance the reliability and value.

I hope you share this vision of smarter urban transportation services, and continue to contribute to the earth’s sustainability. Please check us out at Planettran.com!

R. Seth Riney, Founder
PlanetTran

Eco Lives: Marilyn Raftopulos

Spring 1990 brought us to the small island of Ithaca, in recent times known for little but its sheer beauty, but famed for its king and hero Ulysses who, history tells us, was the brains behind the winning wooden-horse idea that ended the long war of Troy. He then spent 10 adventure-filled years roaming the Mediterranean seas before returning to his island, and the ever-faithful Penelope.

Our purpose in leaving Australia was to spend two years building a holiday house on this island of our ancestors. Ah, the plans of mice and men! It’s 2009 and we’re just now finishing the ‘holiday house’, which has become home. Our plans have been slightly skewed.

Back to 1990 when an abandoned citrus orchard at the end of an overgrown pathway was the favoured adventure walk and destination for our two small children. They would run ahead of us, down the small roadway, onto a track, pushing past the enormous oleanders and agaves which grew wantonly over the ever narrowing path. Into a clearing under olive trees, behind a ruined stone house, over a dilapidated stone wall and into the orchard. The favourite tree, laden with sweet oranges, was long forgotten by its owners, but now daily visitors and admirers kept it company.

The tree grew amongst many on the steep hillside. Obviously once tended carefully the orchard, had an intricate system of irrigation. An open topped stone water tank was filled from a well. The overflow wound it’s way down through the orchard in open channels formed with cut stone, from one tank to the next, until the entire orchard was watered.

It was intriguing that one water channel found it’s way under a fence to a flat terrace behind the stone ruin and at the end of this one lonely channel, hidden by tangled blackberry vines, were the shattered remains of a large ceramic water urn.

As the children happily consumed their daily quota of oranges, using a large stone as their seat, admiring the panoramic sea view below kept us endlessly occupied. The bay displayed an enormous variety of blues and turquoises, different each day. It’s backdrop was a long headland, bounded by high limestone cliffs with fingers of Mediterranean maquis tumbling down the ravines towards the shore, marking out small beaches below the cliffs. The orchard became our resting and dreaming place.

Little wonder at our surprise 18 months later when we were told that the stone ruin was the birthplace of my father-in-law. The mysterious single water channel was the only source of water for the 16 people who had once occupied the small four room house with its dirt floor, outdoor oven and outdoor sleeping ‘room’ for the boys of the family during the warmer months. The house had been home for the family since 1860 when 18-year-old, newly-married great-great-grandfather had brought his 16 year-old wife to the valley. The broken ceramic water urn was at the end of the family’s vegetable garden, which was also the place where the women washed clothes.

Nineteen years later, the garden is again a vegetable garden, the house foundations have been given a new life, olive trees have been brought back into fruit, yet more fruit trees have been planted and an expansive garden of Mediterranean flora occupies the hillside.

This has been the result of our dreaming with the original house now having three neighbouring houses, built to be within the hillside rather than on it, and scattered around the terraces and groves. The ideas tumbled through the years so now there’s a coffee shop too, a salt water pool that appears to merge into the bay far below and that takes its design from ancient Greek architecture, hammocks swing from ancient olive trees and hidden in the forest is an al-fresco pavilion where the delights of holistic massage therapy are enjoyed to the tranquil backdrop of waves lapping the cliffs.

Levendis Estate fuses romantic, secluded and family-friendly holiday retreat with sustainable farming and organic food production.. It doesn’t fit any pre-conceived ideas of holidays in Greece. It’s on an island, yet the atmosphere is country, it’s not a villa holiday or resort, but accommodation and services are those you’d expect of a five-star hotel. Our emphasis is on restoring the soul through being in a tranquil setting within nature, enjoying natural fresh foods, rejuvenating your body through massage and natural body-care products, seeing children take pleasure in feeling free and secure, exploring at will, helping with farm chores, and enjoying family fun activities of swimming, snorkelling, boating during the warmer months, or exploring the island’s mountain pathways awash with wildflowers during spring.

Somewhat like Ulysses, an adventure which has taken years sees us on Ithaca too, but our adventure has been on his island, rather than wandering the seas around it.

Marilyn Raftopulos
Levendis Estate
Ithaca, Greece
www.levendisestate.com

Eco Lives: Chris Barclay

I first started coming to the Yangshuo area when I was living in Guangzhou in the mid 90's. I had a lot of expat friends who liked to get away and we had all heard about great trails & climbing in Yangshuo so we came out to explore. We started making regular pilgrimages and while we were staying in the quaint town each time, I thought it would be great if there were a place closer to the villages and pristine countryside. I also though it would be a great place to bring clients for team-building events, as at the time I was running a corporate training business that served many of the multinationals in China. In 1998, I began talking to local government officials about building a training center on some terraced rice fields by the Yulong River.

The government was extremely supportive and helped arrange a 30-year land lease for the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, which was to become a 30 room eco-lodge, serving as an educational center for corporate and international school clients. We opened in September 2000, and word soon spread throughout the expat community in China. Before long, we were receiving visitors from throughout the region and across the world.

From the beginning my aim was to promote and conserve Yangshuo's natural beauty, while supporting the local community. We hired staff from the surrounding villages as well as a full-time North American coach to teach them English and service skills. We have since grown from 8 to 20 staff and provide housing for them on-site. We sponsor local schools as well as provide scholarships for children of our staff. We also encourage guests to explore our staff's villages, having a meal there or even staying over night with their families.

In October of 2008, together with Yangshuo Mountain Retreat's Resident Manager, Little Fish, I opened the Yangshuo Village Inn, an 8-room boutique hotel in Yangshuo's Moon Hill Village, which has been a big hit with guests so far.


I really enjoy taking guests out on hikes or mountain biking, and showing them places where other tourists don't go. I have been lucky to have the support of the Yangshuo government as we open up tourism to the Yulong River Valley. As part of a trip to visit their sister city in the U.S. last year, I took some of these officials to national parks and historical places around Washington D.C., to help educate them about preservation and sustainable tourism. Since that trip, I've seen the government planning more strategically about protecting the valley from an overgrowth of road and river traffic.

It's also great to work with the local people, and help them share their traditional ways of life with our western guests. The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat began as a weekend project that is now a full-time ongoing business. I feel blessed to be able to work in such an amazing place and share it with people who can really appreciate its beauty.

See the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat here

Eco-Friendly Flying

When we think of recreational flying it would be hard to think of it as an environmentally friendly activity, yet one aircraft producer is proving the World wrong and doing it in style. Not content with winning a whole array of awards, including the super-prestigious NASA CAFÉ PAV Challenge 2007 and the NASA
GAT 2008 competitions for Personal Air Vehicles of the future, Pipistrel have now created the World’s first ever production two-seat electric powered aircraft. It seems like a small step, but we really are staring in the face of what could become the ultimate eco-friendly personal transportation device.

What makes this achievement all the more interesting is that it doesn’t cost any more than its closest combustion engine counterpart despite the incredible amount of R&D that the firm has put in. The Taurus Electro was built onto the company’s already very successful Taurus glider design; it uses a special lifting body shape concept and features enough room for an auxiliary, yet fully retractable engine leaving lots of space in the cockpit. The pilots in the Taurus are placed side-by-side for comfort and ease of communication, for added comfort they enjoy adjustable headrests, in-flight adjustable rudder pedals, separate vent windows and an incredible view - thanks to the large glass surfaces.

Pipistrel is a company that really cares about the environment and this product is not the only evidence of this. Their HQ in Slovenia boasts one of the most up-to-date research centres in the world designed to be completely emission free and self-sufficient. The heart of the building is Slovenia's largest solar power plant which, combined with a very sophisticated geothermal unit, makes for a totally energy-independent construction. Here at EHOTW we hope to see more aircraft manufacturers take on the environmental challenge and we salute Pipistrel for their excellent start!

For more info, click here

Natural Swimming Pond

What is a natural swimming pool?

A natural swimming pool/natural swimming pond is specifically designed so you can swim in pure, clear water with no chemicals. Its design can range from formal to entirely natural, and it is all at once a practical swimming facility, a beautiful landscape feature, and a wildlife sanctuary.

Natural swimming pools have the advantages of conventional swimming pools, but also look beautiful and respect the environment, offering a fresh and vivid display of nature in your own garden. They are the next step in man-made swimming facilities, combining design, an understanding of how ecological systems work, and the very latest in bio-technology to produce one of the most innovative and complete garden features available.

Case study

Foxhills is a 400 acre resort near Heathrow. We built a formally-designed 10m x 3m natural pool as part of their spa garden last summer.

Marc Hayton, Managing Director of Foxhills, says:

“Guided by our consultant, Michelle Hammond, we wanted to extend the spa experience into a beautiful private garden, enabling members to enjoy the space and fresh air. The Natural Pool combined the peace of water, the hydrotherapy benefits of cold water; being organic supported our focus on wellbeing and it's a real talking point. In a crowded market place, being the first club in the UK to have one didn't hurt, either.

Everyone loves it. Having an innovative product can lead some suppliers to focus less on the customer, but this is not the case when choosing GartenArt. Tim and the team were as excited about the Foxhills project as we were. They were a pleasure to work with and even attended the launch, following me into the pool one chilly November morning. True commitment.”

For more information contact:
gartenART Natural Swimming Ponds
020 7183 3333
www.gartenart.co.uk

A Director’s Green Dream

In the early 80’s, Francis Ford Coppola visited the fledgling democracy of Belize (formerly British Honduras) to try to convince the government to establish a satellite address and become a hub of communications. The government demurred, but Coppola fell in love with Belize, whose verdant jungles reminded him of the Philippines where he’d filmed Apocalypse Now.

Coppola visited an abandoned lodge called Blancaneaux and bought it. For more than a decade, his family and friends used it as a retreat. Then, in 1993, he opened his jungle paradise to the public. Coppola explains that having a resort in the remote reaches of the jungle didn’t intimidate him at all. It’s like being on location for a movie – you just bring everything with you or build it yourself. Coppola’s done just that – he is delighted that his laptop computer is run by clean, free energy that his river-powered hydroelectric plant provides.



Coppola sees his role as that of a conservator, preserving the pristine environment – loves the fact that the river water is pure enough to drink, and strongly supports Belize’s commitment to eco-tourism. In December 2000, Coppola opened Turtle Inn, his second resort in Belize, in the seaside fishing community of Placencia. Hurricane Iris swept it away into the ocean less than a year later. For the man who saw his production Apocalypse Now shut down by a typhoon, it must have been déjà vu all over again.

Turtle Inn reopened in January 2003 and once again, Coppola has taken disaster and turned it into triumph. “The new Turtle Inn fulfills my vision of a beachfront paradise” says Coppola. “I love being by the beach and in the water and our new incarnation of Turtle Inn provides the ideal balance between luxury and nature. There are things to do – or just do nothing.

And of course, the food is great – fresh, simple and absolutely delicious. I think our guests will enjoy it as much as we do.”

You can read more about Blancaneaux here

A Brief History of the Kasbah Du Toubkal by Mike McHugo

The highest peak in the High Atlas mountains in Morocco is Jbel Toubkal (4,167m) and is only about 80 km from Marrakech, the imperial city in the south of the country and a centre of commerce and tourism for over 900 years.
The original inhabitants of North Africa are the Berbers or Amizgh meaning Freeman in their dialect. Marrakech is a Berber city and the end of the trade route from the Sahara to Europe. As successive invaders – the Phoenicians, the Cathaginians, the Roman, the Arabs and the French colonised the countries of North Africa the Berbers retreated into the high mountains and eked out a subsistence living in this harsh environment.
In 1978 Mike McHugo battled his way up a dirt track for 20 kilometres to reach the Berber village of Imlil where he met Omar Ait Barmed a mountain guide. !0 years later Mike’s brother Chris met Omar in Imlil.


The following year they were both visiting Omar with their mother when they noticed a derelict building in a commanding position. As the management of a small UK tour operator with an overseas property in France another in Morocco seemed a small step.
Whilst not knowing what they might do with such a base the McHugo brothers felt they could be a safe pair of hands to help tourism to develop but with the local community – their 10 year friendship with Omar and other villagers – at the core of any initiative.

This pragmatic approach to tourism development has led to the acquisition and renovation of the ruined building, by small incremental steps, to becoming the award winning Kasbah Du Toubkal which Conde Nast Traveller said had the “ …. Finest rooftop views in North Africa” and the Cadogan Guide says “ It is worth flying out to Morocco for just one night in this remarkable hotel” and National Geographic Adventure lists in its Top 50 Ecolodges.


The Kasbah Du Toubkal now has 14 en-suite rooms and 3 Berber salons (dormitory / family rooms. It is open all year round, has a small conference room, 2 steam baths, no swimming pool and no road access. It charges a 5% supplement to its published prices which goes to the Village Association to provide rubbish clearance and incineration, 4x4 Ambulances for Imlil and the surrounding villages, a community bathhouse and improved flood defences.

All the staff at the Kasbah have been trained in house and the permanent staff now number 44 with additional guides and muleteers numbering over 50 on some days.

Many visitors to Marrakech come to the Kasbah for a day excursion arranged through their hotels concierge.

For those who like walking but do not like the roughing it out at night the Kasbah has 3 additional rooms in a remote valley 4.5 hours walk away. But don’t confuse the rooms when booking as 4.5 hours is very different from 15 minutes.

To see the Kasbah Du Toubkal listing in Eco Hotels of the World, click here

Eco Lives: Howard Carter

I have always been fascinated by travel and from a young age became engrossed with books on travel and any sort of program or film on exotic locations. Then later as an adult whenever the opportunity presented itself off I went exploring all sorts of exotic locations and meeting all sorts of wonderful people along the way.

These days, like everyone else, I'm much more aware of the necessity to reduce air travel and these days I travel much less frequently and embark on train journeys when possible. This HAS led to a whole new and dare I say it, even more adventurous journeys and all sorts of exciting expeditions. For example traveling throughout India by rail as I did 3 years ago is truly both a humbling and simultaneously an exhilarating experience.

In fact it was during one of my extended traveling expeditions that I developed incognito - the one product that every eco conscious traveler should not leave home without! I developed this after contracting both malaria and dengue while using the 'recommended' chemical products and medication THAT did not protect me. So, I came up with something that is kind for me, my kids and the planet and best of all it works brilliantly. Just using the spray (along with other incognito products), following the tips I wrote on the 'Avoiding Bites' and 'How To Use it' Pages on my website is a fantastic way to prevent mosquito and insect bites and stings.

In fact incognito is now being used by all sorts of travellers in the know from Charley Boorman to the England Cricket team. Best of all is when people re-order having used it the year before or on their last expedition -as in the case with Charley. It's the best satisfaction of all and makes throwing in the towel in my marketing career worth it. Try incogntio and see for yourself.

www.lessmosquito.com

News: ECOpreneuring Wins Gold!

ECOpreneuring Wins Gold!


ECOpreneuring by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist has won a gold medal in the Entrepreneurship category in the Axiom Business Book Awards. The goal of the awards is "to celebrate the innovative, intelligent and creative aspects of the books that make us think, see and work differently every day".

ECOpreneuring will show you how to make a life instead of just making a living, and how to do it in an eco-friendly, purpose-driven and sustainable way. It's an invaluable tool for anyone who dreams of a livelihood based on independence, creativity, passion and a commitment to green practices and sustainability.

For more information click here

You can other the book from either New Society or from Amazon.co.uk