ecoexplorer.co.uk

The house has been a bit of a slime-fest lately since we signed up to an organic veg box scheme.

We get a weekly delivery of locally produced goodies, reassuringly covered in soil and muck. But the boxes also bring with them an impressive colony of slugs. I got into a bit of a tangle with one of the creatures when, shocked at the sight of him I dropped my apple and the slimy mite made a break for freedom. I tore some cardboard from the recycling box to help scoop the offender up but he’d wiggled half way under the kitchen cupboard by the time I’d armed myself and as his little inch-long body disappeared I cursed my stupid muck and slime-wary ways.

I imagine he’s sitting under the cupboard right now, chuckling about how he outran me.

Personally I reckon the slugs are just as reassuring as the muck (spotless “washed and ready to eat” supermarket fodder always makes me wonder how it’s been washed, how it was grown and how far it’s flown to sit on my plate). And I can’t recommend veg box schemes enough. Ours, pictured here…

organic veggies - slugs love 'em

…costs just £10. There’s so much in it we’ve found we can’t get through it in a week.

The box above is from Down To Earth an organic shopper’s paradise in Earlsdon.

To find your own check The Ecologist list or try Riverford which delivers England-wide from a farm in each region.

Having launched the blog I’ve committed the cardinal sin of leaving it for a week with no posts.

Since Monday I’ve been either too drunk, too hungover or, more recently, too wrapped up with weekend visitors to get anywhere near the computer.

THINGS MUST CHANGE!

So here’s a two-minute video to put me back on the right track. This summer I moved house and got a garden for the first time. I rushed out, bought loads of seeds and planted an organic vegetable patch - despite knowing nothing about gardening. This is the first result of my greenfingered experiment.

Impressive, no?

Welcome!  

Ecoexplorer is a brand new blog tracking my efforts to get a little greener.

There’ll be no Saving The Planet here and strictly no preaching. 

From my little kitchen, dinky back yard and recently adopted hometown of Coventry, UK (near Birmingham but without the brummy accents), I’ll…

• do silly ecoexperiments, 
• grow my own food and share seasonal recipes,
• become a cycling guru, and
• never, EVER, lie about how easy it is to cut your carbon footprint.

So, click on the swirly image at the top right to send my daily updates straight to your inbox, sit back and enjoy.