 Think Global Act N16 By
Jenny Wight
Picture the scene: you’re a new parent, tired, skint and bombarded with ‘helpful’ advice from all sides. If one of your dilemmas is what to do about nappies, you can contact Hackney Real Nappy Network and get help and support.
They are a group of Hackney parents who say they don’t want to preach and make people feel guilty about using disposables: they just want to let people know about the alternatives. They run information stalls at local venues and have regular meetings, one of which I attended recently. I found it to be friendly and welcoming: half parent support group and half social event. The relaxed conversation covered nappies, potty training, returning to work and childcare, all washed down by tea, biscuits, oatcakes and orange segments. One women breast fed her baby while the meeting was going on and one small child, who was being potty trained, wee’d on the floor.
It was all carried out in the rolling multi-tasking way parents have: one eye on the toddler playing, and one hand cleaning up spilt orange juice while engaging in a lively discussion about the future of the network. As it turns out, they are thinking about expanding to Homerton and setting up a new network in Islington. They are also considering applying for funding for a paid employee.
They insist that they are not about making parents feel guilty and they know time is precious. They saya laundry service can make all the difference, the cost comparable to the weekly cost of disposablesand not as much hassle as some people imagine. The start-up costs can be higher, but there is a grantavailable of £54 to buy in the first lot of nappies needed. The Network was started with four members atthe prompting of the founder of a local not-for-profit nappy laundry service ‘Nappy Ever After’. They nowhave 30 people on their email update and have just celebrated their first birthday.
THINK GLOBAL....
Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association) 8 million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, a staggering 2.9 billion every year. The environmental implications of this waste into landfill, particularly the overburdened landfill sites around the capital, are clear. Controversy courted the world of real nappies last year when the Environment Agency published a study, comparing disposables with reusables, which found real nappies are as bad for the environment as disposables. However, many environmental groups say the study was seriously flawed. For example, they studied families who tumble-dried nappies thereby increasing the energy consumption.
TAKEACTION
The network is looking for new members and volunteers. Also, if you are a parent and want to find outmore about real nappies and the £54 start-up grant, the Network can fill you in on all the details.
Contact detailsHRNN can be contacted on hackneyrealnappy.net-editor@lists.riseup.net or you can come and meetthem at the Church Street Farmers Market on Sat 14 October from 10am -2.30pm.
www.hackneyrealnappynetwork.netwww.thenappylady.co.ukwww.nappyeverafter.co.ukFor the Women’s Environmental Network’s response to the EA report: www.wen.org.uk/general_pages/Newsitems/ms_LCA19.5.05.htmwww.theclothresource.co.uk/nappynetworks
Do you run a local group or charity and would like to be featured on Think Global... Act N16? Then sendan email to jennywight@hotmail.co.uk giving details of your group.
 Good Food Swap By
Marie Marquis
Have you got a great recipe for chutney? Do your friends say that your home-made cakes are the best? Are you growing fresh herbs or tomatoes on your balcony or allotment? Do you want to find the kids something creative to do in the school holidays? If so – this is your chance to shine!
Hackney-based group Growing Communities, who set up London’s first organic box scheme and the UK’s first all-organic farmers’ market, are celebrating their 10th birthday with the Good Food Swap – and they want you to be there with food you’ve made, grown, picked or found! Intended as a sort of inner city, money-free version of the village show, The Good Food Swap is a fun way of getting more people thinking, talking about and making good food!
If you don’t have a garden – don’t worry! Why not get out and pick blackberries on Hackney Marshes, or explore the Stoke Newington Farmers Market, local shops and box schemes for seasonal fruit and vegetables to turn into something delicious! Or even bring a favourite family recipe to swap! Pledges they’ve received so far include: spicy tomato ketchup, damson jam, ‘hackney salami’, home-made egg pasta, ginger cake, garden reared hen’s eggs, as well as lots of fruit, vegetables and herbs from local gardens, green spaces and allotments.
To register to take part email grow.communities@btinternet.com with your name, address and contact number or ring 0207 502 7588. For more details about The Good Food Swap go to: www.growingcommunities.org
The Good Food Swap will take place on Sunday 8 October between 2pm-5pm at The Old Fire Station, Stoke Newington, N16
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