Welcoming Spring!

Tomorrow is the pagan festival of Imbolc...the beginning of the change from winter to spring. Winter is a time of resting, enduring the winter's cold until Spring comes again. When the first shoots of new growth appear, it's a time for reawakening and renewal. Perhaps it may be a time for us to reacquaint ourselves with nature too. This planet, which we borrow for our lifetimes and hopefully protect for the lifetimes of those after us, is full of special places - be it woodland, a beach, a mountain or even your own back garden. Take a little time to treasure a special place or find a new one!
Later this week, our government will decide the fates of some of our precious woodlands --let us hope that common sense will prevail and that 50 or 100 years from now those woodlands will still be intact and that we can all still enjoy those special places.

Sunshine and Snowdrops!

I took my little dog out for a stroll, in a new place yesterday. On the way back, we chanced upon a little cottage and nestled against the fence were hundreds of snowdrops..the first i've seen this year. Looking at them in the sunshine, really made me smile. Isn't it great how something as small as that has the capacity to spread joy? Small things really can make quite big changes. If a snowdrop can bring a smile, then what could we all do today to bring a smile to someone's face?

Product Review - Hydrating Foot Cream

This is a new product - part of Wikaniko's new own range and it's lovely!!

At only £5.99 it's a real bargain.Using only natural ingredients and essential oils (jasmine, ylang ylang and lemon) this cream is rich and leaves the toughest skin feeling soft.(Take it from me!)I'm sure this is going to be a top seller.

New Skincare Range Launched today!

After extensive trials and tests, Wikaniko today launched their new range of natural skincare prodcuts - totally free of colourings, parabens and SLS.
Using ingredients like Sea Buckthorn oil, Jojoba oil, Frankincense oil, Organic coconut and Seaweed Extract these products are fabulous and affordable.
Not only that, but if you have your own business, you can buy these items through our Own Brand Service and sell them with your own label -- adding value to what you can offer your customers.
The range includes luxury body and face lotions, light face cream, anti ageing cream, cleansers, toners, hydrating foot cream and a men's moisturiser.
If you'd like to be amongst the first to try these new products --get in touch!

What are you going to grow this year?

Many keen gardeners are already leafing through seed catalogues and planning for next season.
Wikaniko sell a great range of organic veg and herb seeds - I donated some to our local school last year and they got great results.
If you're new to gardening, or would like some tips about greener gardening, why not sign up for the Wikaniko Allotment Gardener email newsletter. On the site there is also a garden planner, videos and downloadable booklets -- with Wikaniko's help you could have the best, greenest and tastiest garden in the neighbourhood!

Product Review - Bio D Washing Up Liquid

This has got to be one of my favourite products that Wikaniko provide. I bought some with my first order almost 2 years ago and have used nothing else since.
A concentrated washing up liquid containing vegetable glycerine keeps hands soft. Just as effective as a top price supermarket brand and as you only use a small amount it lasts for ages. Just £2.59 for a 1 litre reuseable/recycleable bottle.

Bio D is a family owned British company deicated to promoting the use of environmentally responsible detergents. They also produce laundry powder and liquid and dishwasher powder --all of which are on my website.

Wikaniko's 10,000 Trees Campaign

Wikaniko are trying to plant 10,000 trees in Africa. I didn;t know that trees in Africa grow 3 times as fast as they do in the UK --so they can have a real impact on improving the carbon impact on the environment.
The trees are used to sustain local businesses and give a wage to the people of the villages where they are growing.
Trees retain water in the soil, which means other crops have a better chance to grow.
You can buy an indigenous tree for as little as £4 - and really make a difference.
And that's got to be a good thing....hasn't it?

Product Review -Wikaniko Aloe Vera Hand Cream

From time to time I'm going to review some of my best selling products. I'm going to start with the Wikaniko Aloe Vera Hand Cream, because at this time of year many of us have dry or sore hands from the cold and wet - all that snowballing takes its toll!
This is a rich, soothing cream -brilliant applied just after the washing up. It's easily absorbed, smells nice and really works!! Only the finest Aloe Vera gel is used in the cream and at £4.49 I consider it good value as a little goes a long way

If you do ONE thing this year, make it this...

PLEASE stop using plastic bags. Cloth bags are everywhere. They're cheap and they last for YEARS. You can even buy them from me!!
Take a look at this short film and it might just give you the reason to give up plastic bags FOREVER

Taking bigger steps in my Green Journey

Since joining Wikaniko in April 2009, I have made changes to the way we live as a family - at least with regard to how we use and abuse our planet.
We now only use fully degradable plastic bags - they will be gone in a matter of months - I'm happy and confident that I'm not adding to the terrible film of plastic slowly covering the Earth.
We're not putting harmful chemicals onto our skins -- we are using safe shampoos, safe soaps and save skin products.
Even our dogs are benefitting from safe flea treatments!
This year, I'm hoping to continue, if not improve on this -certainly i need to make more of an effort to recycle - I don't necessarily mean household paper and glass as they can go into the recyclingf bin --but finding alternative uses for things that have broken or not longer fit for purpose.
One thing I AM pleased about is that there are some wonderful people joining me on this journey. In my part of the Wikaniko Warriors team there are some fantastic people who have so much to share - and I'm looking forward to meeting more of them and learning from them in 2011