When giving feedback it is important to have a balance of positive and constructive feedback otherwise the receiver may feel that they only ever receive one type of feedback. It is also important not to always link the two, especially in the same conversation - giving with one hand and taking away with the other.

Build an environment in which feedback is welcomed. This may take time if it’s not something that has been practised before. Try to give positive feedback whenever you can - this will help to build trust and make the person more comfortable when you need to give constructive feedback.

Giving good/effective feedback:

Be timely. Don’t leave it too long after the event to provide any form of feedback. Give feedback as soon as possible, otherwise the effectiveness of the communication will be lost.

Be aware of your body language, tone and the words that you use when giving feedback. Don’t use confrontational words or tone even if it’s likely to be a tough conversation. Be direct, open and honest.

Consider their frame of reference - it may be different from yours, which will affect the message that they receive. What are their values, attitudes and experiences?

Here are four steps to follow when giving feedback:

Be specific. What are the facts as you see them? Describe the specific situation with facts, events and behaviours that you observed. What specifically was said or done?

Your thoughts. What impact has the action had on other people, the business or you generally? What are your thoughts, opinions or conclusions as a result of the action? Remember they are your thoughts so state this - “I think that …”. Link what you observed to what you thought.

Your feelings. How do you feel about this situation (NOT about the individual) - frustrated, disappointed, pleased - “I feel…” not “you made me feel …”

The outcome. What is the result or outcome you want from this? What do you want to change, improve, stop or continue? Be clear about what you want so they can understand and know what they need to do to change or keep doing.

Once you have given feedback, allow them to respond. Have they understood what you have said? Learn to listen actively to what they say. [Contact me if you need information on Active Listening Skills].

Constructive feedback is more difficult to give than positive feedback but both forms need to be effective. Plan your feedback. Why are you giving feedback, when and where will you give it. It may take only need a few seconds or a few minutes.

Maintain a balance when you give feedback. Make sure that you let people know what they doing well and where they can make improvements.

If you would like additional information on providing feedback, active listening or how to deal with difficult situations please contact me to arrange a specific session to discuss this in more detail.

About the Author:

Clare works with busy individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Register to receive free Weekly Time Tips at www.clareevans.co.uk and receive her free monthly newsletter.

Copyright 2005: Clare Evans. Reprint permission by request. Do not alter the content and include the resource box without modification. You may format the layout of the article for proper display of the article in your website or in your ezine.

There are certain foods that contain high amounts of beneficial substances - antioxidant vitamins and minerals and beta-carotene that can help eliminate toxins, boost the immune system and help protect against cancer.

Apples & Pears - yes, the good old apple. These are full of vitamins and minerals and are great for cleansing, good for the skin and the immune system. Pears are high in iodine which can help thyroid function. Apples are good for reducing cholesterol and inflammation.

Bananas - has got to be one of the best all round foods. A great snack to boost your energy and easily digested. A good source of protein and fibre, high in potassium, a natural antibiotic and mildly sedative so good for helping you sleep and with PMS.

Beans & Lentils - a good source of protein for veggies and non-veggies alike. They provide a steady source of energy and contain plant oestrogens which can help stabilize PMS and are even used as an alternative to HRT. They are high in minerals and good for cleansing, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Red(dish) things - Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries etc.. - high in antioxidants so good for the immune system. Beetroot: cleanses and boosts the immune system, high in antioxidants. Carrots: great for cleansing, high in Vitamin A, good for the skin, best eaten raw. Peppers: high in vitamin C and other antioxidant vitamins, good source of zinc, good for the immune system, magnesium - good for energy. Tomatoes: high in water so good for hydration, lower heart disease, high in antioxidants good for the immune system, lycopene found in cooked tomatoes is good for cancer prevention.

Green stuff - Broccoli: high in vitamins (esp. B and folic acid), minerals and antioxidants, good for cleansing the liver and contains substances that help fight cancer. Cabbage: good for the digestive system, rich in minerals esp. potassium and phosphorus. Spinach: a powerful cleanser, good for the immune system, high in calcium - good for bones, teeth and gums, iron - good for the blood, potassium - regulates high blood pressure.

Garlic - good for infections such as colds, antiviral, antiseptic and antibiotic. Reduces cholesterol and is great for boosting the immune system, cleansing the liver and improving the circulation.

Nuts & Seeds - although nuts can be high in calories, they’re also high in protein and antioxidant vitamin E, zinc and selenium. Good for an energy snack - best raw not roasted. Seeds - rich in Omega-3 and 6 and a variety of vitamins and minerals, good for the skin, heart disease, cleansing and the immune system.

Oats - highly nutritious, easily digested and a good source of slow-release energy. Try porridge for breakfast with berry fruits. Good for bones and teeth with high levels of calcium and phosphorus. Good for the nervous system and have a relaxing effect, also help to stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol.

Oily Fish - such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. High in Omega-3 fatty acids. Good for memory and general brain function, heart disease and inflammatory skin conditions as improving dry skin. High in selenium which detoxifies and protects against cancer.

Soya - like other beans a good source of protein. Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol and good for fighting cancer. Contains plant oestrogens good for hormone related problems in women such as PMS and the menopause. Tofu is high in calcium and iron good for bone health and the circulation.

Yams & Sweet potatoes - good for slow energy release. Contain plant oestrogens so good for those hormone related problems again. High in antioxidant vitamins and minerals good for eliminating heavy metals. Protect against heart disease, cancer and good for the circulation. High in vitamin E which is good for the skin. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium good for bones, teeth and gums.

Yoghurt - buy only the live, natural version, not the ones full of sugar! Good source of protein and calcium. Easily digested and good for the digestive system, boosts the levels of friendly bacteria especially after antibiotics. Protects the immune system and good for urinary and yeast infection.

Buy fresh, local organic food whenever possible. Organic fruit and vegetables have a higher level of minerals and no residual insecticides or pesticides. I’m off for a healthy breakfast of muesli or possibly porridge and a topping of all the above - well, maybe just the berries!

For additional information on Health and Nutrition visit my website.

About the Author:

Clare works with busy, stressed individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Register to receive free Weekly Time Tips at www.clareevans.co.uk and receive her free monthly newsletter.

Copyright 2005: Clare Evans. Reprint permission by request. Do not alter the content and include the resource box without modification. You may format the layout of the article for proper display of the article in your website or in your ezine.

Get Ready

The first step is to prepare yourself mentally. Make a conscious decision to remember all the names of the people you are about to meet.

Listen

When you’re about to be introduced to someone, listen carefully and CONCENTRATE! How often does it go in one ear and out the other because we’re not really listening or our thoughts are elsewhere?

Repeat

If you miss it, ask them to repeat it. When you first hear someone’s name, repeat it straight away, “Good to meet you John” and try to use it three times during your conversation, “So, tell me John …” and when you leave, “Thank-you, John, it was good to meet you … If you realise you’ve forgotten their name by the time you come to end the conversation – politely ask them again? This will help reinforce their name in your mind. If it’s an unusual name ask how it’s spelled.

Association

The easiest way to remember someone’s name is by association.

· Do they remind you of anyone? A friend, relative, work colleague, actor or well-known person, living or dead?

· Do they have the same first name as someone you know? Does their first name or surname create an image in your mind?

· What type of person do they look like – a lawyer, an accountant, a typical …salesman, teacher … (what’s typical to you will be different from someone else, use your association)?

· Does their name link directly to an occupation in which case the image is easier to form – Baker, Gardner, Porter etc.

Create a picture

Now create an image with as many of the elements as possible – the person who they remind you of, a location, the image of their surname and the person you know with the same first name. Make it as visual, colourful, bizarre and as detailed as possible.

For example Michael White – reminds you of an accountant, visualise him with a massive ‘white’ calculator, pouring over a pile of papers and account books, surrounded by large, colourful numbers.

David Brooks reminds you of Woody Allen and has the same name as your Uncle David – visualise your Uncle David in ‘Manhattan’ dancing around in a ‘brook’ that meanders between the buildings.

Another obvious association is between someone’s name and a physical feature or trait. The shape of their face, a distinguishing part such as eyes, ears, chin, nose, hair colour etc. Alan Blackburn has big black sideburns (does that translate?). So emphasis the image – see your friend Alan (also called Alan) with big black sideburns or a large ‘allen’ key with great big Black sideburns.

The first thing you think of is the strongest association – use this, it will make it easier to recall later.

Practice

This might sound like a very long-winded and lengthy approach but the brain is amazingly fast, efficient and brilliant at recognising images. The more you practice, the faster you will get at making associations and the easier it will become. The brain works more effectively with images and the more bizarre they are the more likely you are to recall the information.

Try not to link the image to their clothing or something they are wearing such as jewellery, especially if you are likely to meet them again. They are highly unlikely to be wearing the same thing when/if you next meet them.

If you’re with a group of people for a whole day, linking to clothing can work while you get to know them better. It helps to keep recalling their names throughout the day and using their name when in conversation with them.

OK, my examples may not do it for you but hopefully you get the idea.

If you get introduced to more than one person at a time, for instance in a group, take your time, scan each face and find the association. The more you do it the faster you’ll become and the easier the associations will be to find.

Review

Another important key to remembering names and faces is to review them regularly. When you’re at a meeting or social event, you can briefly scan the faces in the room and recall the names. The more often you do this, the more likely you are to remember them. When you get home, recall their face. If you have their business card, recall their face linked to their card and if possible do the same the following day and a week later to get it into longer-term memory.

The more often you associate the face with the name, the more likely you are to remember them the next time you meet them. You know how good it feels when someone actually remembers your name and people are always flattered when you do.

Use these ideas and with a little practice you need never forget a name again.

About the Author:

Clare works with busy, stressed individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Register to receive her free monthly newsletter at www.clareevans.co.uk and receive free tips on managing your time.

Copyright 2005: Clare Evans. Reprint permission by request. Do not alter the content and include the resource box without modification. You may format the layout of the article for proper display of the article in your website or in your ezine.

It doesn’t have to be a long, detailed business plan, unless you’re planning to seek funding from a financial institution. Your business plan can be as short or as long as you like and in whatever format you prefer that will capture the essence of your business and what you plan to achieve.

Businesses that actually write down their plan with specific goals, objectives, strategies and tasks are more likely to achieve their goal and be successful.

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

You need to know the why, what, when, where, who and how for your business. While this might seem daunting when you’re just starting out your document is dynamic and will grow and evolve and your business grows.

Don’t write it, stick it on a shelf and never refer to it again. It will help you to plan and schedule to create a successful business.

Review it monthly. How are you doing in working towards your goals, what changes from month to month, year to year?

Use the following basic elements to build a business plan in one day.

1. Your Vision, Purpose, Mission.

Vision - an overall statement of what is possible for your business.

Purpose - What is the purpose of your business and why does it exist?

Mission - How do you plan to achieve your vision and purpose?

2. Your objectives.

Include biographical data about yourself, your business objectives and how you will succeed. Your goals for the business and different ways you will create income.

3. Your Customers.

Who is your target market?
Where are they?
How many of them are there?
How many do you need for your business?
What do you know about them?
How do they perceive your services?
What is the growth rate of this market?

4. Your Barriers.

Are there any current legal, ethical issues?
How will the current economic climate affect you?

5. Your Competition.

Who are your competitors?
How does your business compare to your competitors?
On what basis are you competing?
How do you differ from your competitors?
How will your customers see the difference?

6. Your Prospective Clients.

How will you market yourself?
How will you deliver your service?
How will you differentiate yourself in the market?
Do you have a brand?
What makes you unique?

7. Your success.

Why will you be successful in your business?
What skills, experience and attitude do you have to enable you to succeed?

8. Tools and Technology.

What tools and technology will you use to make your business successful?

Newsletter
Web site
Service delivery
Telephone services

9. Financial projection.

How will the financial flow of your business take place. What revenue do you need in order to cover your expenses and achieve a profitable margin.

Capital - how much do you have to invest to start your business.
Survival income - how long can you survive without income?
Start-up cost - what do you need? (if needed).
What are your monthly business expenses?
What other income do you have?

10. Long-term view.

What will your business look like in three-five years time? How will you respond to changes in the market, trends etc?

What other products or services might impact you?
How will your financial forecast change - improve or reduce?
How is your business structured to allow you to adapt and change?

Summary

Extract the key information from each section and create an Executive Summary at the beginning of the document.

Gather any information you need to create one page maximum on each of the essential elements. Note down your ideas and gather any additional information you need to complete each section. Is there anything missing?

The One Page Business Plan!

OK - so even that’s too much? If you’d like an even simpler one page business plan, email me at info@clareevans.co.uk and I’ll be happy to send you a template you can use.

About the Author:

Clare works with busy, stressed individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Register to receive her free monthly newsletter at www.clareevans.co.uk and receive free tips on managing your time.

Copyright 2005: Clare Evans. Reprint permission by request. Do not alter the content and include the resource box without modification. You may format the layout of the article for proper display of the article in your website or in your ezine.

When it comes to money we tend to fall into one of three main categories: spend less than we earn, spend what we earn, spend more than we earn.

Create some good financial habits by taking a look at where you are now. Where would you like to be? Follow these tips to help you get there.

Keep a money diary for a week. It can be surprising where all the ‘cash’ goes. You probably don’t really think about it on a daily basis. After all you probably just go to the bank when you need more and if you’re lucky and your account is still in credit, you get what you request. But what exactly do you spend it on? Where does it all go?

Keeping a money diary can help you get an idea of the flow of your cash out of your bank account. Whether it’s cash, cheques, cards or just those monthly bills.

Get a small notebook, carry it with you and write down every single thing you spend, as soon as you spend it, every day for the next week. Every bill, standing order, newspaper, snack, bus fare, coffee …

Your monthly expenditure. Work out what you spend monthly on everything: rent/mortgage, utility bills, food and essentials, meals out, entertaining, clothes, holidays, presents, credit card repayments etc. etc.

Gather together all your salary slips, receipts, bank statements, credit card statements, details of loan payments, mortgage, you money diary, etc… - anything which shows money coming in and money going out. Include any direct debits or standing orders from your bank accounts.

Including the basics, compare your total outgoings with your income. Where’s the fit? Are you overspending?

Create an Emergency Survival Fund. How much do you need to pay for the basics like mortgage, rent, insurance, bills, food and car each month? Aim to save at least three times your basic monthly outgoing that you need to survive.

Should the worst happen and you lose your job, go sick for a period of time or decide to have a change of career, you will have a financial cushion to support you. Place it somewhere with easy access but with

Reduce Your Debts. How much is your debt actually costing you? Decide that today is the day you’re going to take responsibility and you put yourself in a much better position to do something about it. What would you rather be spending that money on?

How many debts do you have - loans, outstanding credit cards etc? What interest are you paying on them and over how long? How many payments are outstanding and how much will you end up paying in total?

If you can create some spare income each month can you put it towards ‘busting’ some of your debt.

Save 10% of your income. Pay yourself first. As a minimum put aside at least 10% of your monthly salary. Set up an automatic payment straight out of your bank account into a savings account.

Initially, place it somewhere with easy access, preferably earning the highest rate of interest available. Never under the mattress! You never know when you might need it and you’re starting to invest in your future. The only way to get rich is to save and invest! Start thinking long-term for your savings - five years or more, not just saving for the next holiday.

Become a Savvy Buyer. Always take a little bit of time and effort to shop around for the best deals - don’t just buy the first thing that comes along. How often do you check out the best deals available for insurance, mortgage, fuel, credit cards? Check out all the brokers and online insurance companies for the best quote.

Use cost comparison sites such as www.kelkoo.com or www.dealtime.com. You can also save money by switching to a different energy supplier via sites such as www.uswitch.com.

Get Sound Financial Advice. While you can discover a certain amount from newspapers, magazines and the Internet, it’s always worth discussing your financial requirements with someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Talk to a Financial Advisor. They usually offer a variety of products from different companies. Find someone by recommendation or have an informal chat with one or two, to find someone you feel comfortable with.

Make sure you are clear about what you want from your investments. Are you looking for growth, future security or an income? Your requirements may change over time.

Use these tips and you’re sure to get better control of your money.

You can download a free extract of my ebook More Month Than Money at http://www.clareevans.co.uk

About the Author:

Clare works with busy, stressed individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Register to receive her free monthly newsletter at www.clareevans.co.uk and receive free tips on managing your time.

Copyright 2005: Clare Evans. Reprint permission by request. Do not alter the content and include the resource box without modification. You may format the layout of the article for proper display of the article in your website or in your ezine.

Brothers circumnavigate Britain on ‘tall bikes’

Two unusual visitors pedalled to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) on Tuesday 16 May, to share their story of a record-breaking mission. The visitors, two brothers from London, are cycling around the coast of Britain perched seven feet above the ground, on an expedition called Tall Bike Tour Britain.

Will and Ed Stevens are currently pedalling 4,500 miles around the British coastline on a pair of specially-built ‘tall bikes’, in order to raise money for three British cycle-related charities - Re-Cycle, Sustrans, and Cyclemagic Community Projects. They want to raise awareness too – about the environmental benefits of recycling, cycling and holidaying in Britain.

The brothers - both over six-foot tall themselves - left from Buckingham Palace on the 1st of April. They are charting their 5-month journey on their website with photographs and sound recordings, as well as keeping an online diary which they update regularly. So far they have covered over 1500 miles and when last seen they were at the Alternative Technology Centre in Machynlleth.

23-year-old younger brother Ed says, ‘Tall Bikes have never been ridden such a long distance before. It is not the most efficient form of cycling . However, the bikes attract enormous attention wherever we go. We are confident that the ride will be successful in raising bicycle awareness around the country, as well as raising money for the charities. The riding is hard going but the rewards are many. It is great fun pedalling so high above the hedgerows!’

More information about the brothers’ progress - and up-to-date photos of the trip - can be found on the brothers’ website, http://www.tallbiketourbritain.com

Dear EarthTalk: How could there ever be a “water scarcity?” Isn’t water the most plentiful thing on Earth? –Chris Carroll, Austin, TX

Ocean water may cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but thirsty humans rely on finite supplies of freshwater to stay alive. And with exploding human population growth, especially in poor countries, these finite supplies get quickly spoken for. Further, in places without proper sanitation, water can become tainted with any number of diseases and parasites.

According to the World Bank, as many as two billion people lack adequate sanitation facilities to protect them from water-borne disease, while a billion lack access to clean water altogether. According to the United Nations, which has declared 2005-2015 the “Water for Life” decade, 95 percent of the world’s cities still dump raw sewage into their water supplies. Thus it should come as no surprise to know that 80 percent of all the health maladies in developing countries can be traced back to unsanitary water.

Sandra Postel, author of the 1998 book, Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity, predicts big water availability problems as populations of so-called “water-stressed” countries jump perhaps six fold over the next 30 years. “It raises tons of issues about water and agriculture, growing enough food, providing for all the material needs that people demand as incomes increase, and providing drinking water,” says Postel.

Developed countries aren’t immune to freshwater problems either. Researchers found a six-fold increase in water use for only a two-fold increase in population size in the United States since 1900. Such a trend reflects the connection between higher living standards and increased water usage, and underscores the need for more sustainable management and use of water supplies even in more developed societies.

With world population expected to pass nine billion by mid-century, solutions to water scarcity problems are not going to come easy. Some have suggested that technology–such as large-scale saltwater desalination plants–could generate more freshwater for the world to use. But environmentalists argue that depleting ocean water is no answer and will only create other big problems. In any case, research and development into improving desalination technologies is ongoing, especially in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Japan. And already an estimated 11,000 desalination plants exist in some 120 countries around the world.

Others believe that applying market principles to water would facilitate a more efficient distribution of supply everywhere. Analysts at the Harvard Middle East Water Project, for example, advocate assigning a monetary value to freshwater, rather than considering it a free natural commodity. They say such an approach could help mitigate the political and security tensions caused by water scarcity.

As individuals, we can all reign in our own water use to help conserve what is becoming an ever more precious resource. We can hold off on watering our lawns in times of drought. And when it does rain, we can gather gutter water in barrels to feed garden hoses and sprinklers. We can turn off the faucet while we brush our teeth or shave, and take shorter showers. As Sandra Postel concludes, “Doing more with less is the first and easiest step along the path toward water security.”

CONTACT: United Nations Water For Life Decade, www.un.org/waterforlifedecade.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

Dear EarthTalk: Can you explain the “Zero Waste” movement in Europe, Australia and elsewhere that goes beyond recycling to reduce waste? How can we make it happen here in the U.S.?
— Neil Weiss, Methuen, MA

In essence, “Zero Waste” is a design principle writ large, whereby products are conceived, produced, packaged, distributed and retired with their long-term environmental impacts in mind. According to the non-profit GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN), “Zero waste maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.” GRRN is calling on companies to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products and packaging, and on governments to not subsidize non-recyclable waste processing.

“Waste is the result of bad design,” says Eric Lombardi of EcoCycle, a recycler in Boulder, Colorado. “The concept of zero waste leads upstream to the designer’s desk, where waste needs to be designed out.” Lombardi, a leading light in the fledgling U.S. zero waste movement, lays out four basic principles for achieving zero waste: (1) Make producers responsible for the waste their products create; (2) invest in infrastructure rather than in more landfills and incinerators; (3) end taxpayer subsidies for wasteful and polluting industries; (4) and create jobs and new businesses around the re-use of discards.

While the concept has been slow to catch on here, it has been standard practice in parts of Europe and elsewhere for over a decade. In fact, some 25 countries require companies to take back their packaging, and some have gone so far as to mandate “Extended Producer Responsibility” laws, whereby companies must pay for the waste generated in the production, packaging and distribution of their products.

In Germany, a 1991 ordinance seeking to address packaging waste was a huge success. By 2000, the agencies charged with collecting and recycling such materials were recovering over 90 percent of the plastics and glass used in German packaging. (In the U.S. we reclaim 5.3 and 26 percent respectively.) Another success story comes from Australia, where its capital city, Canberra, embarked on a “No Waste by 2010” campaign in 1996. By 2001 the city had reduced waste sent to landfills by 40 percent and more than doubled the garbage it captured for reuse. The city also began fueling two of its power stations with re-captured methane gas from its landfills, which is plentiful enough to power 3,000 homes for 30 years.

In the U.S., industry has continually put up roadblocks to any serious consideration of adopting such initiatives at the federal level. But, according to the Zero Waste International Alliance, at least 18 local communities have taken it upon themselves to adopt their own strategies for achieving zero waste. These include a dozen California cities and towns; Boulder and Summit counties in Colorado; Carrboro, North Carolina; the Central Vermont Waste Management District; and the cities of Seattle and New York.

“Zero waste is about challenging the ruling paradigm that says we can manage waste safely in landfills and incinerators,” says GRRN’s national coordinator, Bill Sheehan. GRRN helps coordinate efforts to implement zero waste campaigns in the U.S., and offers a wealth of free resources on its website.

CONTACTS: GrassRoots Recycling Network, www.grrn.org; EcoCycle, www.ecocycle.org; Zero Waste International Alliance, www.zwia.org.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

Britain’s cemeteries are full, and cremation wastes energy and releases greenhouse gases. Why not buy a plot in a field and ask your relatives to plant a tree over your grave? If others do the same and you all attach an entail to the land, you’ve created a protected wood. Who wouldn’t prefer feeding English oaks to pushing up daisies?

With more than 160 sites in the UK, woodland burial is taking off. Clovery Woods in Aberdeenshire opened last month with room for 12,000 bodies in 37 acres. Some smaller sites are less than an acre in size. Churches own some sites, local authorities and private landowners the rest. Typically farmers turn over a field or two to woodland burials, and contract out the running to a local funeral director and forester. It is an ideal source of income as the EU cuts farm subsidies.

Some people want to be buried in an established wood, but most prefer an ordinary field in the hope that in this way they can help create woodland. Many sites insist on cardboard coffins but most allow a wide range of types of funeral. The costs of a plot range from a few hundred to over a thousand pounds. The Natural Death Centre in London estimates that hundreds of people are now being buried this way every month.
It looks like unmitigated good news. A couple of thousand acres of permanent broad leafed woodland will be created over the next 30 years or so by the voluntary contributions of private individuals looking for a tasteful burial site. Lets hope the idea takes off.

JimThornton, 9 September 2003, http://www.igreens.org.uk/woodland_burial_sites_uk.htm

Putting up your own wind turbine to provide electricity is technically feasible, but the costs for permitting, purchasing, installing and maintaining the technology remain prohibitive for all but the wealthiest, especially given the low costs of traditional power from the electricity grid across the United States.

Sadly, a Gloucester, Massachusetts resident recently spent $30,000 to erect a 10,000-watt, 125-foot-tall wind turbine in her tiny backyard in order to generate her own pollution-free electricity. The turbine worked well initially, generating most of the power for her house, but then it broke and the $10,000 part required to make it run again was too expensive, so the equipment has remained dormant ever since.

But the hard economic facts of backyard wind power are not enough to deter some idealists from working to build both supply and demand for what many view as the world’s cleanest form of renewable energy. For one, the non-profit Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NWSEED) has launched a program called “Our Wind Cooperative” to promote customer-owned wind power among farmers and other rural landowners in the Pacific Northwest.

NWSEED put together a package of federal and private funding options for those willing to put small turbines for personal and public use on their land. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Systems Laboratory (NREL) gave the project a $300,000 grant, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked in $50,000. Also, the non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation extended a low-interest loan, and pledged to buy and help generate further demand for some of the power generated.

By the end of 2003, NWSEED had enough money to install small turbines on 10 rural sites in Montana and Washington. So far, five are running and a sixth is due to go online soon. Though each turbine costs $40,000, grants have kept participant costs to under $10,000. Without the subsidy, the program would not be cost-effective in the short run but, like all new technologies, costs will come down as demand grows. And as a pilot program to showcase wind’s potential, the project is considered to be a rousing success.

Elsewhere, in Silicon Valley, a slew of alternative energy firms, including many focusing on small-scale wind power, are being born. Among them are AeroVironment and Aerotecture, both specializing in backyard windmills that power lights, appliances, and heating and cooling systems without polluting.

More new wind power facilities were installed in the U.S. last year than anywhere else in the world. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the U.S. installed 2,400 megawatts–equivalent to the energy produced by five large coal-fired power plants in a year–in 2005 alone. These were mainly large wind farms, but the industry’s growth is nevertheless encouraging to those of us who dream about putting that howling wind outside our windows to good use.

CONTACTS: NWSEED, www.nwseed.org; National Wind Technology Center, www.nrel.gov/wind.

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