I’m a huge fan of a good book and there are some brilliant ones out there for helping to be more environmentally friendly. There is an over-whelming array of excellent offerings on offer but I have compiled a list of some that we have really enjoyed and found useful.

For children
First up is the most beautifully illustrated children’s book, The Bear In The Stars by Alexis Snell. Written for her young son and featuring her own stunning, hand-cut lino print images, this story is perfect for gently instilling in children the idea that we are the only ones that can change the future for our planet. It really is a treat to read and look at together.

Next we have a book that looks at lockdown and the lessons we have hopefully learnt this year. Just One World, Nature’s Lockdown Lessons by Debbie Bartlett has bright, bold illustrations and talks about the changes for the better that we have seen since the world shut down and the changes we can keep.

Christmas
Very in keeping with the time of year is Green Christmas by Eilidth Gallagher. In the run-up to Christmas, it is all too easy to get overwhelmed by the rush to buy last-minute presents or feel pressurised into buying far more food than you can ever eat. At the same time, you know that tonnes of plastic will be making its way into landfill as a result of unwanted gifts or broken baubles. Not to mention the miles and miles of wrapping paper.

If you’re ready for a change this December, then Green Christmas is here to help you bring the focus back to happiness and togetherness.

Year Round
Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a brilliant way of cutting down on your food’s air miles, your pesticide consumption and ensuring good quality fresh produce. It’s also a lovely way to get children involved in the process.

Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month by Huw Richards is packed full of glorious imagery and tells you how to grow everything you need for year round fresh vegetables in just one raised bed. Perfect for small space gardens.

The New Complete Book Of Self Sufficiency: The Classic Guide For Realists and Dreamers by John Seymour is an updated version of the 1970s classic, which covers growing your own, keeping poultry and other livestock, dealing with waste, conserving energy, living off grid and even teaches you how to make things from wood, metal and leather.

A must for any bookshelf, my parents had the original when I was growing up and it taught them so much about being self-sufficient.
Remember to search second-hand shops for some great pre-loved titles and pass on your books for others to enjoy when you’ve finished them.