Ali Clifford, Author at Incredibusy

How to remix reels, a duet on instagram

17/04/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

I’ve been dabbling with REELS for a while now, not particularly committed to doing these regularly, however, I have noticed a marked increase in views of my @incredibusy instagram feed when I’ve dabbled – so have a go!

Meanwhile, just to confuse us all, instagram have introduced ‘ REMIX’ – so if you particularly enjoy someone’s 15-30 seconds dance moves, you can ‘REMIX this REEL’ to make a duet, basically a new REEL with your own REEL showing up adjacent to the existing REEL!

If this makes no sense at all, please watch this video tutorial.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ali Clifford [incredibusy] ™ (@incredibusy)

Hopefully the captions will be automatically generated so that you can join in and have some fun.

As with most social media apps, instagram is always evolving, some things are worth playing with for a bit of fun, others, just too time consuming to do more than once, but as so many of you asked how to do this I thought I’d dash it down on a post, and make a video to embed… enjoy.

If you’d like to know more about how social media works, or fancy a bit of one-to-one training with me, give me a shout via email hello@aliclifford.co.uk or DM me on @incredibusy or @sogoodineveryway, my two main instagram accounts.

If you’d like to have a go at a duet with one of my REELS, once you’ve followed my video ‘how to’ click here, and don’t forget to tag me so that I can share!

how to make a remix of reels in instagram like a tiktok duet

New #sgiew project = #sgiew_SpringForward

16/04/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

Spring is here, it’s Earth Month, and we have a new photo theme (AND EPIC PRIZES) for @SoGoodInEveryWay (#sgiew in acronym form) if you would like to join the fun on instagram, the hashtag to use is #sgiew_SpringForward.

This theme, #sgiew_SpringForward, will be live for two weeks (until May the 4th 2021). The idea for this theme prompt came from our wonderful guest host, Atia @TheBrightBlooms – as we look forward to moving out of lockdown we are reflecting on the time we have spent at home, and things we may have enjoyed – and we hope that our choice of prizes will inspire you to join in.

We have a pair of ethically sourced slippers from 1. Tanri, (we’ve all been wearing a lot of indoor shoes!).
A litter picker from 2. Water Haul, (made from recycled ocean plastics). 3. A box of plastic-free, sustainably sourced coffee from bluecoffeebox. 4. A selection of beautiful hand embroidered cards from Sarah Becvar so that you can carry on your correspondance with friends and family. 5. Some organic skincare (£30 to spend) from Shea Butter Cottage to help you to look after yourself. 6. A gorgeous peat-free large Monstera 23cm house plant from Harriet’s Plants (worth £40) – we’ve ALL been embracing the plants right??
So in keeping with that, 7. lovely plant-themed embroidery kit from Nicki Franklin, plant design and an embroidery toolkit (needles/hoop/scissors) – a new skill🧵!
8. And a gift set of natural soap, soap dish and nail scrubber for those hard-working hands from Castaway Scotland (worth £20).
9. Planet Organic are giving you an additional 15% saving across all their Planet Organic shopping using this link and the code GREEN15 until the end of May, and a bundle of organic, plastic-free goodies too.

The Rules

The rules are simple, follow @incredibusy and @SoGoodInEveryWay, and @TheBrightBlooms instagram accounts, and any of the PARTICIPATING eight prize giver accounts that you like the look of – and don’t forget to add #sgiew_SpringForward on your photos before the end of April, we want to see your celebration of spring, and what you may be doing to gently get back into real life post-lockdown – with a nod to what you’ve enjoyed during these last 13 months of flux – walking, eating, house planting, litter picking! Show us with the hashtag #sgiew_SpringForward.

BONUS PRIZE

Earth Day is the 22nd April so we will have a bonus prize if you tag @SoGoodInEveryWay on that day with #sgiew_SpringForward.

Atia @TheBrightBlooms has the most amazing instagram account(s) do check her out, give her a follow and say ‘hi’ and here’s the list of our fabulous prize givers too – so far EIGHT prizes for EIGHT lucky people who will win prizes from:

Prize givers

@tanri.live 100% merino wool, artisanal and eco-friendly slippers for your home & office created in Central Asia

@WaterHaul_co Intercepted from oceans. Redesigned for adventure. Eyewear and outdoors equipment made from 100% recycled fishing nets

@bluecoffeebox sustainably sourced, plastic-free coffee box

@sarahbecvardesign – Textile artist specialising in freehand machine embroidery

@sheabuttercottage multi award winning organic/vegan beauty with ethical + fair trade values.

Harriets-Plants-Harriet-herself — @Harriets.plants Grower~Indoor plant specialist. 🌴The only peat free commercial houseplant grower in the UK

@nickifranklin_needlework The Stitchery. Hand-embroidery subscriptions and kits and online tutorials.

@castawayscotland Handmade Scottish Soaps, Drawings & Accessories

@planetorganic Planet Organic Nut Butter and Vegan Truffles.

If you or a small business you know, would like to be a prize giver, please contact Ali Clifford at hello@aliclifford.co.uk
details here. The hashtag to use is #sgiew_SpringForward if you would like to join the instagram fun.

With thanks to my #sgiew_SpringForward co-host Atia https://thebrightblooms.com/ for collaborating and helping me to source these Earth Month prizes.

Harriet’s peat-free house plants

07/04/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

House plants are so on trend right now, but have you ever asked yourself ‘are these peat-free?’

During “Lockdown”, the whole world seemed to go house plant mad. Our desire to reconnect with nature, and to nuture another living thing, while many of us were isolated, went into overdrive. Today we caught up with Harriet Thompson the founder of Harriet’s Plants to talk about all things greenery and her peat-free plants.

Peat-based products are costing the Earth

For a woman selling the plants, the rise in house plants sales is wonderful!

It means that more people are understanding and appreciating the amazing power of plants to enrich our lives. However, Harriet is more than a seller of plants, all of her peat-free house plants are grown by herself in her glasshouse in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

She is the first and only commercial peat-free houseplant grower in the UK and being peat-free is hugely important to her and the business.

For those new to gardening, peat isn’t something we’ve perhaps ever really thought about. It’s just compost, right?

No, it turns out that keeping peat where it belongs in peat bogs is a huge ally in the fight against climate change. Peat stores massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and when it is harvested, that carbon is then released. The link to read more about why she is peat free is as follows; https://www.harrietsplants.co.uk/blog

So how did Harriet get so passionate about peat?

Harriet didn’t always want to grow houseplants. In fact the self-confessed “naughty school girl” didn’t really know what she wanted to do at all. She was always drawn to nature and mused about being a farmer’s daughter when she was little. However, growing up in the Midlands she also longed for adventure. In her early twenties she travelled the globe and it was a chance job in a café in Tasmania that set her on her amazing journey into the fascinating world of horticulture.

The café owner was also a Peony Farmer and at the age of 23, Harriet had caught the ‘growing bug’.

Returning to the UK

Soon after her visa ran out forcing her return to the UK. Harriet brought the appetite for growing with her and enrolled in a horticulture degree at the Eden Project in Cornwall. When asked what she wanted to achieve after the degree she initially thought she would grow vegetables and solve world hunger – she’s that kind of awesome.

During her time in Cornwall she got to work in some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK including Chelsea Physic garden, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Eden Project and Tregoose. She now offers her gardening services to areas in and around Lichfield, Staffordshire.

During her studies she supported herself financially running little pop-up shops selling house plants and Harriet’s Plants was born. With no formal business background, at first it was a simple case of buying and selling houseplants. However, it was in these early days that she saw a gap in the market. After learning about the detrimental effect of harvesting peat, she was keen to buy peat-free. But there were simply no peat free growers of houseplants anywhere in the UK. In fact the majority of houseplants were grown outside of the UK and this didn’t sit well with environmentally aware Harriet. Even at the smallest scale of business she wanted to be as sustainable as possible.

Following her studies in 2018 she returned back home to her family in Staffordshire to set up her greenhouse in Lichfield. She knew she wanted to be a completely sustainable business and it’s been a huge learning curve for her to really see and live the sustainable life.

Her ambition is to be 100% self-grown from seed or propagated from her existing plants thus reducing unnecessary transportation. She is currently in the process of planting 100,000 seeds in the glasshouse which is a HUGE task in itself.

Plastic-free

All of her packaging is 100% biodegradable and of course she is also peat free. Many of her peat-free house plants are grown and sold in coir pots. Where she does use plastic it is recycled from other businesses waste. It is important to her that Harriet’s Plants is the number one place to go to for sustainable, plastic free and peat free house plants.

Harriet is active on instagram and now uses her growing platform to educate more people on how to grow in a sustainable way. She posts tips and tricks to grow at home. This inspiring female founder is on a mission to be the largest sustainable and peat free commercial house plant grower in the UK.

Moving to peat-free wholesale

Now at a level where she can sell wholesale she is changing how the UK buys and grows houseplants one plant at a time. Harriet’s Plant’s has already achieved an unrivalled reputation for quality sustainable houseplants and has caught the attention of leading industry figures.

When lockdown is lifted Harriet is most looking forward to opening her greenhouse to the public. This will mean that she can run workshops and also to get on the road and meet new people at fairs up and down the country.

Until then she is focussed on growing and gardening. You can find out more about Harriet on her website www.harrietsplants.co.uk or follow her on instagram @harriets.plants

EARTH MONTH GIVEAWAY

If you would like a chance to WIN a couple of peat free house plants from Harriet, please sign up for our newsletter here.

PETITION

The Wildlife Trusts have a petition running currently, if you would like to sign click here to call upon Rebecca Pow, Environment Minister, and Lord Goldsmith, Minister for International Environment & Climate to act at once to progress a ban on peat-based products in shops.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, you may also like this one.

Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake recipe

23/03/2021 By Ali Clifford 1 Comment

I went hunting for a Lemon and Poppy Seed cake recipe, having had a request from a hungry teenager for a ‘cake with poppy seeds in it’. I found several Orange and Poppy Seed cake recipes online, including the famous Nigel Slater recipe (recommended to me by Anna Koska during our interview earlier this month).

Lemon-Poppy-Seed-Cake-recipe-incredibusy

However, I couldn’t find an easy bake option, too many syrups, confits, and processes to follow, and it had to be Lemon and Poppy Seed cake (as we had no oranges on the fruit bowl, and like many of you, we are avoiding visiting shops on a whim at the mo).

Lemon and poppy seed cake recipe, makes two: one to eat, one for instagram

So I dug out an old recipe favourite of ours, a lemon drizzle cake with almonds, if you visit the KidsChaos blog, you’ll see HOW long ago we wrote that one up! Links to this, and the Nigel Slater recipe later, I don’t want to distract you from the epic recipe I’ve hashed together (and tried several times for you, to make sure it works!).

So here are your ingredients:

Lemon-and-Poppy-Seed-Cake-recipe-incredibusy

🍋 Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake 🍋
(makes two; one large cake to eat, and one to photograph!)

350g Fairtrade caster sugar
350g organic butter
2 unwaxed lemons
6 free range eggs
200g self-raising flour
150g ground almonds (OMIT if allergies)
30g poppy seeds
Icing sugar to decorate

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 180C/160C fan.
Line two loaf tins with unbleached parchment paper.
Beat together the caster sugar and the butter, and the finely grated zest of two unwaxed lemons.
Add a pinch of salt and beat in the eggs one at a time.
Sieve the self raising flour and fold in, add the ground almonds and 30g poppy seeds. (again, not essential if there’s a nut allergy in the house)
Pour into your lined tins.
Bake in the oven for about 40 mins, until your knife pulls out dry when you test it.
Leave it in the tin to cool, then ice accordingly.

Decorating the cake

Whilst the cakes are baking, we like to mix some sifted icing sugar with a small amount of the lemon juice until it makes a thick silky paste. When the cake is fully cool, drizzle the icing across the cake in zig zags…

Top Tip – don’t make the icing too runny or it won’t have the strong visual effect you’re looking for.

Dust lightly with icing sugar (use a small icing sugar sieve or shaker). Not too much, you don’t want to hide those zig zag lines! (see example at foot of this post of heavy handed teenage use of icing sugar… that’s the ‘eat now’ cake not meant for photographing…)

Lemon-and-Poppy-Seed-Cake-recipe-Ali-Clifford-packs

If you’ve a spare lemon, grate some of the zest over the cake, so that the delightful lemony-yellow confetti adds some joy to your cakes.

Oh have fun, enjoy, and if your lemon and poppy seed cake doesn’t all get eaten in one go, it will last for a few days in an airtight tin.

Original recipe adapted from the incredibusy teenagers over on https://kidschaos.com/lemon-drizzle-cake-ground-almonds/

Nigel Slater’s orange and poppy seed cake recipe appeared in The Guardian here.

Follow me on instagram.com/incredibusy for more fun stuff, and if you’d like to pin any of these photos go right ahead x

For a chance to win a bundle of amazing eco kitchen and household products, click here.

If You Care products are carefully and deliberately crafted to have the least environmental impact and the lightest carbon footprint and are stocked here in the UK at Waitrose & Partners, The Ethical Superstore, Abel & Cole, and Lakeland.

Right to Repair – those fridge freezer drawers

10/03/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

It hadn’t really crossed my mind to write about some of the household ‘fixes’ we have achieved over the last year. However, reading this morning about the ‘Right to repair’ law which is to come in this summer, had me thinking about our washing machine door, the downstairs loo seat, and our ancient fridge freezer drawers. All of which between us, we have mended with the aid of a few spare parts, and youtube tutorials!

I wasn’t forward thinking enough to take photos or videos of Paul fixing the washing machine door when it jammed full of wet washing, or when he repaired it, and then replaced the washing machine door! And I didn’t think to take photos of the toilet seat maintenance either (nobody wants to see that surely?

However, I WILL link to the YouTube post that saved my life later in this article).

Fridge Freezer broken drawers

However – I did manage to get some snaps of the fridge freezer drawers. We have had this giant fridge freezer for about 15 years, and the drawers have cracked and broken one by one, from heavy handed use, and general ‘old age’.

I tried to replace them, however the cost was exhorbitant and there was no real way of knowing if they would fit as the model is now obsolete.

My neighbour had some out of date Sugru in her fridge, so I thought I’d try it – and so far six months later – they are still holding fast – I’ve told the kids to be gentle with the drawers and use two hands to open and close them (should have suggested this same method years ago!) and so far so good.

So – a quick post to share this, and add the links to the EU’s rules for cutting energy and bills, and reducing the new need for replacing fridges, washing machines and televisions. From 2021, firms will have to make appliances longer-lasting, and they will have to supply spare parts for machines for up to 10 years.

Right to repair updated

Appliances such as fridges, washing machines & TVs should last longer and be cheaper to run under new rules. Implementing EU rules aimed at cutting energy and bills – and reducing the need for new materials. https://bbc.co.uk/news/business-

The move could directly save €20bn on energy bills per year in Europe from 2030 onwards – equivalent to 5% of EU electricity consumption.

Chloe Fayole of environmental group Ecos said: “From the US to Europe, people are demanding their right to repair things they own because they’re tired of products that are designed to break prematurely.”

The UK Green Alliance‘s Libby Peake told BBC News: “These new standards are a massive step in the right direction and could result in nearly 50 million tonnes of CO2 emissions savings.”

Photo Chloé Mikolajczak Campaigner, Right to Repair Europe

The UK government says that after Brexit the UK will continue to “match and even exceed EU eco product regulations” as part of its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

If you enjoyed this post – check out Caroline ‘Kittie Kipper”s Affordable Upcycled Home Ideas.

External helpful links

How To Install Soft Closing Toilet Seats.

How to Release a Stuck Washing Machine Door

Click here for The European Parliament details on the “right to repair” rules, making it easier to fix broken devices and reduce e-waste. “To be sustainable, products must be repairable, so that they can remain on the market for as long as possible. It is time to stamp out practices which prevent or hinder product repairs”.

Coverage in the BBC of the Right to Repair movement.

So Good In Every Way {s g i e w} – a celebration of spring folklore #sgiew_folk

09/03/2021 By Ali Clifford 1 Comment

So spring is almost upon us, and it’s so good in every way {s g i e w}!

We are celebrating with a new hashtag #sgiew_folk on instagram and encouraging folks (groan sorry) to share your photographs celebrating your spring habits, traditions – your folklore if you like (or just hit us with hellebores, daffodils and cherry blossom!)

It’s a celebration of spring folklore! An instagram community hashtag challenge with #sgiew_folk

As ever this hashtag challenge is hosted by me, Ali Clifford, @incredibusy and this week we have Gemma @Folk.And.Kin joining as guest host, and (star) prize giver.

Gemma is kindly giving away a £700 small business photo shoot package which is an INCREDIBLE prize and includes:

Telephone discussion & mood board collaboration
Full day photographer rate
25 guaranteed styles edited images
High resolution image files with unrestricted commercial printing and sharing rights
Online gallery & cloud storage for 3 months
Worth £700

Other prizes are equally wonderful, and this week, our #sgiew prizes amount to over £900 in value:

For the #sgiew_folk photo challenge, add the hashtag, and if you fancy winning any of these a celebration of spring folklore prizes, do give them a follow too:
(1) Flour Scoop hand carved from reclaimed wood, by @elliotthamerdesign
~
(2) Organic Cotton Meditation Pillow from @ekotexyoga
~
(3) Dahlia Workshop 31 March @commonfarmflowers
~
(4) Little piece of precious art from Victoria @featherandwild
~
(5) ‘Small Business’ Photo Session – @folk.and.kin worth £700 (yes!! 🌟 STAR PRIZE 🏆)
~
(6) @vida.haus.cafe a lovely flower press 🌸
~
(7) William Morris scarf from @_winifredj_
~
(8) @burinandplate are giving away an ‘Amelie’ linoprint

So to enter, and for a chance to win, make sure you are following the hosts, Ali (@incredibusy) and Gemma (@Folk.And.Kin), add the #sgiew_folk hashtag and if you like what you see over on the prize givers posts, do give them a follow and some support with a comment too – every little helps these independent brands.

Other bits

If you would like to follow up on my IGTV LIVE interview with illustrator Anna Koska, please click here.

And if you’d like to sign up to our newsletter please click here.

AND if you like what you see, and would like to be involved as a sponsor (prize giver) on #sgiew (So Good In Every Way) please drop me (Ali Clifford) a line at hello@aliclifford.co.uk

From Field and Forest, Anna Koska | Meet the Creative

06/03/2021 By Ali Clifford 2 Comments

Until I read Anna Koska’s book this week, I didn’t realise that I clearly yearn to relive my childhood; from field and forest (or in my case, my Grandpop’s allotment, and the bit at the end of my parent’s rambling garden we grandly referred to as ‘the orchard’). (breaking all of the SEO rules RIGHT here with the longest opening sentence a blogger could ever write, followed by another one right here too).

Episode 3 of #MeetTheCreative with guest Anna Koska @Gremkoska talking about her life as an illustrator and a sneak peek of her book 'from Field & Forest'.

I chatted to Anna about her life as an illustrator, a smallholder, and now published author of From Field and Forest.

We discussed how our very different living environments have delightful overlaps – her ‘harvesting’ her bees’ honey, me foraging in the back alley of my mid terrace London house for my neighbours’ overhanging mulberries, and occasional fig-treasures.

Artists we admire

We talked about our mutual love of Rothko, and Anna’s morning chilly sea swims and the visual relationship with the vista of the stillness of the sea.

The delights of discovering Georgia O’Keeffe (one of my first ‘Art Posters’ as a teenager), and I mentioned an article I’d read a few years ago about what a ‘difficult’ person they were to interview. I dug it out, have a read: “For art-history student Alex Sutherland, finally tracking down the great American artist was only the start of the challenge” And how Georgia O’Keeffe’s work has been perhaps much misunderstood and represented as cliched celebrations of the female vulva by male art critics.

Georgia O Keeffe Autumn Trees_The Maple 1924 Oil on canvas_Photograph_Georgia OKeeffe Museum — Georgia O’Keeffe Autumn Trees – The Maple 1924 Oil on canvas Photograph: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

We chatted about bees and bikinis, knickers and bras, (delightfully illustrated by chef Tom Hunt with emojis 🐝👙🍓 in case you missed that).

Please do watch the interview over in instagram, and if you have any further questions do drop me a line in the comments below.

Richard Jefferies The Story of My Heart with woodcut illustrations by Gertrude Hermes — Richard Jefferies **The Story of My Heart** with woodcut illustrations by Gertrude Hermes

For those of you who asked, the books Anna mentioned were by Richard Jefferies The Story of My Heart with woodcut illustrations by Gertrude Hermes.

Anna also mentioned the book written by Charles Bayne called Exploring England. Another charity shop beauty – which was illustrated by another wood engraver (Anna says: “actually an even better one for my style of pen and ink”) C F Tunnicliffe.

And Anna’s go-to book for identifying flowers. Given to Anna by her mother. Used to belong to her grandfather (one of the story’s ‘for the love of flowers’) The Concise British Flora in Colour – W Keble Martin 1965. “Grandpa’s old book.“

W Keble Martin 1965 Flower illustrations

Episode 3 of #MeetTheCreative with guest Anna Koska @Gremkoska talking about her life as an illustrator and a sneak peek of her book ‘from Field & Forest’. WATCH here on instagram

We also discussed So Good In Every Way – my ‘side project’

This week’s photo challenge prompt is #sgiew_folk – tag us with your own photos, show us what you are up to for spring, your traditions, and fun – you could win a copy of Anna’s book From Field and Forest, or a hand tied bouquet of British flaars from @commonfarmflowers, a vase and vintage bottles from @amandarusselldesign plus @vesta_living are giving away some gorgeous eco goodies – reusable kitchen roll, what’s not to like!

Order your copy of Anna Koska’s book here From Field and Forest*

Follow her on insta @gremkoska.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it with a friend, either by copying the link https://incredibusy.com/from-field-and-forest-anna-koska-meet-the-creative/ in your browser, or if on instagram, please click and share here.

Accessories Admin

Ali wears:
Dress by Lowie
Long sleeved vest: Organic Basics*
Necklace by Amanda Banham Ceramics
Earrings by Pivot
Mug by Emma Lacey Ceramics

Cat optional.
*Affiliate links experiment x

Mobile Zero Waste Shop Milk Float Delivery – TOPUP TRUCK

02/03/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

A Hackney-based mobile zero waste shop “TOPUP TRUCK”, made world news this week. Ali Clifford caught up with founder Ella Shone to find out more about this Mobile Zero Waste Shop Milk Float Delivery initiative.

How do we get more people to lead a sustainable lifestyle? The pandemic has brought about an increasing number of new eco initiatives.

Ella’s background is in food and sustainability (and prior that, marketing). And was working for Rubies in the Rubble* before setting up TOPUP TRUCK the mobile zero waste shop, during lockdown.

What is TOPUP TRUCK?

It is a mobile zero waste shop which enables you to do your refill shopping on your street. We aim to bring plastic free shopping to a wider audience.

How did you get the idea for TOPUP TRUCK?

When I was working in food previously, I started thinking about how much packaging waste is incurred up and down the supply chain and I was constantly having ideas for closed-loop systems. Then the pandemic hit and I was on furlough leave last year, I was volunteering for Made in Hackney** delivering meals to people who were shielding and that really made me want to feel better connected to my local community. As I was getting paid to not work, it made me get creative so all this came together to form TOPUP TRUCK.

How does it work?

Customers book a slot, tell their neighbours when and where the TOPUP TRUCK is coming to… and when the truck arrives, they file out onto the street and shop using their own containers.

Who are your customers typically?

People who actually book in the TOPUP TRUCK have usually shopped in a zero-waste shop before, but many of their neighbours who join the booking haven’t, so it does reach new audiences and it is always nice when people say they are new to it all as it’s working in driving awareness of plastic pollution and why we should lead a low waste lifestyle.

What are some of the most popular products you sell?

I sell a lot of household liquids – one of the main benefits of the mobile aspect is that people can stock up on all the heavy stuff without lugging a heavy load.

Where does the milk float come from?

The float is an old electric milk float. I bought it from an electric vehicle specialist in South East London – it used to be part of the Milk & More fleet. It was imperative that the TOPUP TRUCK Mobile Zero Waste Shop Milk Float Delivery be an electric vehicle because air pollution is both a huge health problem in London which disproportionately affects less affluent communities, as well as contributing to CO2 emissions. Re-use over buying new where possible is a core value of mine and of the business so it made sense to use an old repurposed float – plus it evokes a huge amount of nostalgia when people see it around the area.

Tell us what a typical week looks like for you.

I am on the road Friday to Sunday. Thursday is when the TOPUP TRUCK is TOPPED UP at Re:Store and Monday- Wednesday are for planning, admin, customer service, marketing and a bit of chilling (although it is quite hard to fit in any actual chilling as it is a LOT of work!)

How has Covid-19 impacted your Mobile Zero Waste Shop Milk Float Delivery business?

We have had to modify our model for lockdown and take preorders only – which means the dried foods are in brown paper bags. It has been a bit win some lose some: We have had more bookings but not so many people at each booking because many don’t like pre-ordering – although for customers who now pre-order, it has made a lot of them realise how many different products we stock which they didn’t know before so it isn’t all bad.

What would be your advice to budding sustainable entrepreneurs?

We need as much innovation as possible to tackle plastic pollution and the climate crisis and there is a sense of deep satisfaction that comes with aligning your purpose with your values.

What made you choose all the bright colours on the Mobile Zero Waste Milk Float branding?

People are drawn to bright colours (whether they like them or not) and one of the main goals of TOPUP TRUCK is to raise awareness. I wanted the truck to be eye-catching so that people take it in. I also want to extend the reach to new audiences so there is an element of wanting to take it into the mainstream as well.

What is the big vision?

The big dream is to play a part in creating a new circular economy where we design waste and pollution out of the supply chain. We are also forging a new social way of shopping and encouraging people to form local TOPUP TRUCK communities – so I would love to see these communities spreading further afield!

Do you know how much plastic you have saved so far with the Mobile Zero Waste Milk Float?

At the last calculation, we have saved over 12 thousand pieces of plastic from being used! To get this figure, we take how much of each product we have sold, divide it by the typical pack size for each product that would normally come in plastic and make necessary deductions for instances where our bulk pack is or contains plastic. We really hope we can continue to build this figure!

What is next in the pipeline?

We are launching a crowdfunder Tuesday (2nd March 2021) to raise what I believe or hope is a pretty humble £7k to transform the milk float into a ‘proper’ zero waste shop on wheels. I have been working with a fab local designer who has carefully designed a new setup using renewable materials and the crowdfunder will hopefully pay for this. If by some cosmic force we manage to exceed that target, then this will go towards our expansion so we can hopefully bring this to even more communities.

Be sure to follow TOPUP TRUCK here:
Instagram: @topuptruck

Website: www.topuptruck.com

And to contribute to their crowdfunder click here:

Other zero emissions deliveries we’ve spotted this week:

intune drinks, deliveries via their own revamped milk truck.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by INTUNE (@intunedrinks)

Resolutions, in February – a photo challenge

25/02/2021 By Ali Clifford Leave a Comment

Resolutions a photo challenge in February? Yes – little did we know what an amazing success this would be.

When Janice Issitt and I started an instagram photo challenge for my instagram account @SoGoodInEveryWay (sgiew) in January 2021, under the guise of ‘resolutions’ – we didn’t anticipate working with over 30 eco brands in just eight weeks. Astounding!

Pink house in Wimbledon village on Wimbledon Common taken by Ali Clifford incredibusy

We resolved (see what I did there? resolved – resolutions…) to be more eco, and to encourage and share with our combined 79,000 instagram followers, the many alternatives there are out there to the big corporates, and the amazons of this planet.

It was a call to the community to add #sgiew_resolutions to your photos, but more importantly it’s about growing a network of likeminded ethically responsible people.

Myself and Janice would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our amazing sponsors, I will list them below at the foot of this post.

Janice has a beautiful instagram feed, you can find her here: @janiceissitt_life_style

January and February are always tough months, yet during this lockdown, we hope that you’ve enjoyed this ‘resolutions’ photo challenge.

Final week’s challenge

This final week’s inspiration for you is a ‘jolly, what makes me happy’ photography theme with prizes from:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1) @jollyallotment who is launching her new business and gifting her manifesto poster of wellness choices. Thank you Polly. https://jollyallotment.co.uk/

2) Some great eco cleaning liquids from @coltandwillow.
https://coltandwillow.com

3) An amazing pillow from @unaorganic.
https://una-organic.com/

4) A personalised commissioned print from @_sarasayer.⠀
https://sarasayer.com/

5) A copper water bottle backpack bundle from @globalwakecup.⠀
https://globalwakecup.com/

6) Delicious @kind.socks organic socks.
https://www.kindsockswear.com/

7) @BeautyKubes plastic-free beauty products.
https://beautykubes.co.uk/

8) Some organic cotton ‘arm socks’ from @rewclothing.
https://www.rewclothing.co.uk/

9) Yummy vegan fudge from @slabfudge on the Isle of Wight!
https://www.slabfudge.co.uk/

10) And some table linen/tea towels from @gzbadboysantiques

11) Plus an AALAND ceramic vase from @bvndesign.
https://www.bvndesign.se/en/

If you would like to join in, simply add #sgiew_resolutions to your photo on instagram before the end of February 2021. Do go and check out the eleven kind sponsors, and give myself @incredibusy and my co-host @JaniceIssitt_Life_Style a follow too.

Previous resolutions a photo challenge prizes have kindly been supplied by:

@lektowoodfuels
@artusjewellery
@margsrooke
@upcirclebeauty
@emmalaceyeveryday
@Thefuturekept
@retreatremedies
@josobjetsd.art
@joojonnie
@thorstenvaneltenshop
@duvethog
@theseepcompany
@theoldpotatostore
@katecullenstyle
@paperhighuk
@thestitcher
@LewesMapStore
@foundbotanicaldyes
@earthconsciousuk
@alpacacoffeeuk
@blubellecreative

To read more about #sgiew click here.

Ethical Jewellery Shopping Guide

07/02/2021 By Ali Clifford 2 Comments

Shopping for Ethical Jewellery

We’ve pulled together this Ethical Jewellery guide for you – covering ethical and sustainable jewellery shopping. Great timing right – as we rapidly approach Valentine’s Day. Which, incidentally, we are happy to rebrand as ‘Palentine’s Day, or Galentine’s Day’.

Whatever you call it, if you are considering purchasing jewellery as a gift, now’s the time to consider the origin of that jewellery.

Ah Valentine’s Day, do you celebrate it or not? We tend to mark the day in a rather understated fashion these days. But, we do exchange gifts. We admit that we love a beautiful piece of ethical jewellery as a gift.

But tend to choose pieces with a bit of a story to them. So, maybe a handmade piece, statement or vintage jewellery, or something new and small, made from recycled silver or gold. Like this (above) pretty handmade ethical jewellery from Artus Jewellery on over on etsy.

Valentine’s Day is a time when many people treat a loved one to a beautiful item of jewellery. But are shoppers aware of the ethics of the jewellery brands they are buying from?

Raw ‘virgin’ materials

One of the most challenging aspects of Jewellery is where the virgin raw materials come from – are the workers treated fairly? How are the materials mined? How far have materials travelled?

Supply chains are often incredibly complex, and it is often hard to trace the origins of materials. There are so many questions we have on this subject. Unfortunately too many to attempt to find answers to in this article. If you’d like to research and write a more indepth guest post for us, please get in touch!

Ethical Jewellery Shopping

It is important to remember that many of the poorest communities in the world rely on providing their precious minerals for jewellery making. This put simply means, ensuring raw materials have come from a fair source is vital. No

But, how can we do that? Founded in 2005, The Responsible Jewellery Council is an organisation keen to become the recognised standard and certification organisation for supply chain integrity and sustainability in the global, ethical jewellery and watch industry. Ensuring that Jewellery is fair, via an industry standard I think is essential.

Fairtrade Gold

Certified Fairtrade – if you’re looking for the ultimate ethical engagement ring – do check out Arabel Lebrusán, Award Winning Jewellery Designer.

Were you aware that Fairtrade gold exists? Fairtrade gold ensures workers and the environment are protected. Also, miners are paid a fair share.

There are 70 brands and 200 designers licensed to use Fairtrade gold currently.

UK ethical jewellery brand Harriet Kelsall, were the first jeweller in the world to be licensed to sell Fairtrade gold and be audited by the Responsible Jewellery Council.

They are audited annually in order to continue to use the Fairtrade Gold stamp.

Harriet Kelsall Fairtrade jewellery is well worth considering whatever the occasion you are shopping for.

With some stunning designs such as this ‘lockdown love pendant’ and the possibility to have a unique item made too.

Feel Good Ethical Jewellery

Shopping which makes us feel good, comes from knowing a purchase does good. Pivot was established in 2019 by Alice Moxley.

Pivot are a social enterprise working to create part-time, meaningful employment for homeless people. Makers are supported to learn to design, and make jewellery which is sold online, or in pop-up shops.

Materials such as acetate is donated to Pivot by spectacles company Cubitts. Pivot’s team use a band saw to slice it and then drill holes before they are filed by hand and turned into earrings, and these glasses chains.

Unique designs created by a whole host of designers, but, knowing that you will be helping a homeless person is perhaps the best thing. Getting them one step closer to moving out of a hostel, and finding a permanent home.

Recycled Materials

Have you ever considered buying jewellery made from recycled materials? Environmentally, recycling is very good – reusing what would otherwise be wasted. Giving new life to an old item. But, it isn’t always something we associate with jewellery.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth we discovered over on Instagram. Actually, a friend recommended them to us after being given a pair of their earrings! Hoops of recycled silver and brass, simple, stylish.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth’s Nicole Snepp uses recycled, or eco- silver to create the jewellery. Their designs are timeless, and could be worn with any outfits. We are especially keen on the Lotus Collection, partially due to the symbolism. In the muddiest of waters, Lotus flowers blossom.

Upcyling old family jewellery

Perhaps you have inherited jewellery from a relative, sentimental but just not wearing it? Have you considered having it re-made into something amazing that you just can’t stop staring at?

Eleanor Christine has a studio in Frome Somerset where she does just this. Stunning Ethical Jewellery work!

Recycle Your Electricals

It’s estimated around 95 tonnes of gold, silver and palladium – equivalent to £857 million – could be recycled from unwanted electricals each year.

Not-for-profit organisation Material Focus teamed up with sustainable jewellers Lylie’s to create the rings modelled here by Lily Cole, as part of their Recycle Your Electricals campaign. Their jewellery is crafted from Salvaged Gold and Salvaged Silver, 100% recycled from e-waste, dental waste and their scrap exchange service.

Who made my jewellery?

You’ve heard of the phrase #WhoMadeMyClothes? How about your jewellery?

Just Trade is a design-led accessories brand built around the interests of the people who make their products.

Just Trade are members of BAFTS – Fair Trade Network UK and founded by jewellery designer Laura Cave.

Working in collaboration with makers in Peru, Ecuador, India and Vietnam, Just Trade believe in a trading economy that prioritises producers, communities and the environment.

Fore Street, Exeter is the home of sustainable lifestyle store SANCHOS – Part of Sancho’s Elemental Jewellery Range – made exclusively for Sancho’s by Just Trade – made from Re-purposed Brass material.

Meet the maker

It’s always interesting to find out about the makers – and I very much enjoyed reading about Lines and Current designer Rebekah Johanson’s journey here.

They work very closely with their silversmith Jackie in Guangzhou. With his team of six others, they hand make each of Rebekah’s designs from 925 sterling silver.

Lines and Current also donate 10% of all profits and since the start of their work with SOS Children’s Villages, they’ve sent 64 African kids to school for year. Their donation has covered the cost of tuition, books and transport from 2017-2019. Brillian combination of combating poverty with education.

Diamonds and Pearls

We’ve been reading with interest about the ‘sky diamond‘ – A plan to create lab-grown diamonds – environmentalist Dale Vince talks of making these carbon-negative, laboratory-grown diamonds “made entirely from the sky”.

Dale Vince, the founder of green energy supplier Ecotricity, is working on the development of the world’s only cloud-sourced diamonds, to be made from carbon, water and energy sourced directly from the elements at a “sky mining facility” in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Further afield, meanwhile in New York

Aurate began by only using 100% recycled gold. Gold is an amazing resource, with the flexibility to be repeatedly reused without diminishing in quality and without creating any environmental decay.

Aurate take the same approach with their diamonds and precious gems. They track every single one from mine to workshop, strictly adhering to the Kimberly Process* and additionally insisting that our mines have acceptable working conditions, offer fair pay, and respect local indigenous communities.

Their pearls are sustainably farmed and sensitively harvested to ensure the wellbeing and biodiversity of the marine environment.

Each of their jewellery pieces is designed and handmade using ethically sourced and sustainably made 14K gold, 18K gold, and 14K gold-plated vermeil.

Pre-loved jewellery

Before lockdown, charity shops provided a wonderful place to find costume jewellery. Sometimes we all need a statement necklace.

With charity shops currently closed, remember many have online stores too. Online shopping may not be quite the same as a mooch around the shop. But, you might be surprised with what you find! Plus, you are supporting a good cause, reducing landfill and saving money too.

Many charity shops use eBay as a store front. You will lose several hours looking at all the jewellery! Oxfam has pre-loved jewellery online via their own Oxfam website. And also ethically sourced ‘new’ collection on their ‘sourced by Oxfam’ page here.

This Valentine’s / Palentine’s / Galentine’s day remember, if you’re shopping for yourself, or a loved one, stop. Take a moment to consider what you are buying. Choose with care, with love – it is Valentine’s Day after all.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this guide to Ethical Jewellery shopping from Ali at @incredibusy – from upcycled precious metals, to Fairtrade gold & ‘sky diamond’ production – please comment below to share more makers with us!

Find Ali over on instagram here

Reference and useful links:

The Kimberley Process https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/

Lab grown diamonds, Dale Vince https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/ecotricity-founder-to-grow-diamonds-made-entirely-from-the-sky

https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsiblejewellerycouncil/

More on the Recycle Your Electricals campaign over on My Green Pod https://www.mygreenpod.com/articles/five-gold-rings/