Treading lightly on the Earth.

What concerns you most? Is it your personal effect on the rate of climate change or is it the effect of modern living on your health and the health of your family? Are you worried about the amount of synthetic hormone and other chemicals in the food we eat?

I am. It causes me pain, and I mean literally. I'm in an early menopause at age 39. Puberty is starting at a younger and younger age. We are changing our own lives and health through the food we eat - because it is FULL of hormones, preservatives, anti-biotics and other stuff I really don't want to think about. And that's before we start thinking about the fabrics we wear, the chemicals we use to clean our homes. It's all around us.

So what can we do?

We can start by paying a little bit extra for organic and/or fair trade clothing. It has no pesticides impregnated into the fibres, is longer lasting and does far less harm as the fibres are grown too. We can eat organic and/or fair trade food, although growing your own or using a local source is even better as it also then reduces the food air miles. I mean, what's the point of buying organic if it's hydroponically grown in Brazil and then flown to Kent? Think of the aviation fuel! Plants are fun to grow, lovely to have in your home so why not have edible ones? Can you imagine brushing against the plant on the windowsill and the scent of a fragrant herb wafting through the house? Just gorgeous.

There's so many small changes we can make, and each will make a HUGE difference, to us and to the world as well. We can use cloth nappies on our babies, cloth menstrual pads for ourselves, or a mooncup. We can try working from home some of the time, maybe try to reduce the work commute or car share.

Then when our homes need a clean we can try to use less chemically laden cleaners. Why bother bleaching? It only bleaches the dirt so you can't see it! Clean with natural saponins by using soap nuts, they're good for everything. Look for a natural, biodegradeable cleaner instead of your usual brand.

Don't go forgetting the basics though. Turn stuff off if it's not in use, I mean properly off. It'll save you money as well. Reduce what you consume and what it's packaged in, choose a cloth bag to take your shopping home. Recycle what you can, it's easier than you think. Then try to think of ways of re-using stuff. Toilet roll inners make fab seedling root trainers!

Do what you can, it does make a massive difference.