By Kirstie McCrum

Anyone who grew up in the 70s will doubtless remember the car boot sale of old – loading up on all that gaudy household junk so you can stand by your car in a field until you’ve made some cash off it – only to realise you’d bought almost as much to bring home with you again.

With the advent of Ebay, there are those who believe selling their used goods online is the way to cash in car boot-style in the 21st century, but the market has long since been flooded.

Enter the tenet behind the 2003 American set-up of Freecycle – ‘one person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure’. The UK network works under the assurance that it’s ‘changing the world one gift at a time’ and it’s certainly making waves amongst the online community.

So it goes that Freecycle is a grassroots, non-profit movement who give and get stuff for free – in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfill. Local Freecycle groups are moderated by a local volunteer, and the array of loot available may astonish even the most cynical of users.

Local Freecyclers are proud of the service, and feel lucky to have such a great system in place.

Freecycler Frances Roche can’t speak highly enough of it.

“Over the last three years I have received no end of things, and I know they would have cost me a lot of money if I had gone out and bought them,” she says. “Being a single mother, I know I wouldn’t have been able to buy a lot of the things I have been kindly given.”

Freecycle works in much the same spirit as Ebay, in that trust is implied in your compliance with the group, and anything from bags of clothes and old Beanos to teapots and tumbledryers is fair game.

Freecycle: One man's trash is another man's treasure

Another Freecycle member, Stella, told Little Green Women, “I have recently had the sad job of clearing a relative’s house. It’s a heartbreaking job because everything in the house has a history which we may or may not know. However, it’s heartening to know that what we didn’t need is going to be useful to others. I would love to know whether the person who collected the wooden wardrobe doors managed to turn them into a sideboard…!”

A story behind every handover has made for the best of times – and even some lasting friendships. Negatives are thin on the ground, although there is a general feeling that there are those who may be labelled ‘timewasters’ in any transaction.

June says, “My experiences have been varied. I have found homes for some unwanted items and received some very useful ones. I have had polite transactions, and some people who never showed up when collection was arranged.”

Joining Freecycle has doubtless given lots to the many and seems like a one-stop shop for value, but for Little Green Women, the biggest boon has to be finding new uses for waste. Sign up today!

How to beat the pack

There are numerous Freecycle updates every day – you can sign up for those to be emailed directly to you or just log in and peruse what’s available in your group at your leisure. Keen Freecyclers will probably subscribe to updates, but the quicker the draw, the less disappointed you will be, so keep an eye on your inbox!

Edinburgh Freecycle has 5383 members. Go to www.freecycle.org to find out more

Kirstie McCrum is a member of Freecycle Cardiff. With thanks to Freecycle Cardiff.

Popularity: 96% [?]

The best places to escape the stress and humdrum of your everyday existence are closer to home than you think.

For example, on our doorstep in Scotland there is a range of breathtaking places to stay and explore that would be the envy of many people across the world.

When thinking of travelling green, forget about getting your head around complicated jargon like carbon footprint.

Go somewhere local to start with. Use your common sense. Take the stress out of travel and leave the car behind. Hop on a train.  In a matter of hours you’re in the heart of the Scottish Highlands-the Cairngorms Mountains. You’re surrounded by spectacular scenery, there is whole range of outdoor pursuits to take advantage of plus there is a wealth of amazing local produce to feed your inner foodie spirit.

Being green simplifies the way we travel. Plus it helps you and your loved ones reconnect to your natural environment.

In our first article of our new monthly guide to ‘wee green jaunts’ , we  give you an example of three great green escapes within Scotland , all approved by the Green Tourism Business Scheme and even better –they are perfect for those on a budget with prices starting from just £35.

The Rumblie, Laggan

Enjoy comfort, luxury, organic home-grown produce and wonderful Scottish hospitality in the scenic town of Laggan, at the heart of the Cairngorms Mountain Park.

The owners – are extremely helpful and offer guests a wealth of ideas of where to go and what to do.  There are plenty of local activites to engage couples and families – The Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, Highland Wildlife Park are nearby.

For steam enthusiasts there is the Strathspey Steam Railway at the neighbouring town of Strathspey.

Breakfast is a real treat with several choices. Also there is the option of a 3 course dinner for £20 per head. Wherever possible all the produce used in cooking is homegrown

For outdoor adventure enthusiasts there is options for going Mountain Biking  with a range of biking trails to cater to people of all skill levels. The local Laggan Wolftrax offer bike hire options. Also the B&B is ideally located for walking trails.

If you’re looking for something bit more relaxed and different from the norm, you can try your hand at fishing for trout at Loch Laggan which is just 7 miles away. Permits are available locally.

The Rumblie is the first and only B&B in the Cairngorms to be awarded the Gold Standard under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

At just £35 a night per person, the Rumblie is extremely budget friendly and disproves the notion that travelling green is expensive.

T:01528 544766

W: www.rumblie.com

Huntingtower Lodge, Fort William
Huntingtower Lodge overlooking Loch Linnhe, is just a few minutes from Fort William, the gateway to Ben Nevis. The lodge is silver-rated in the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

At Huntingtower Lodge the little things make all the difference. You’re welcomed with hot drinks and cake, given lifts into town, offered assistance with restaurant bookings, provided with free WiFi access and a laptop when required, books, games and DVDs are available to borrow, and on top of all of this every morning you wake up to a lavish breakfast, making this lodge the perfect home away from home.

All rooms have great views, but we recommended you bag the Studio Suite, which offers stunning views over the loch.

Till the end of March, the Huntingtower Lodge are running a special offer of 3 nights for the price of 2.  Rates start at just £100, per room, per night and include breakfast.

T: 01397 700079

W: www.huntingtowerlodge.com

Pottery House, Loch Ness

Whether you’re on the trail of Nessie or simply looking to enjoy the famed beauty and scenery of the lake–the location of the Pottery House in the tranquil lakeside village of Dores makes it an excellent base to explore Loch Ness.

On the doorstep of the Pottery House is the Dores Inn – a quality diner offering nice range of meals, all with decent sized portions.

The rooms within the Pottery House are spacious with good light, all offering excellent ensuite facilities.

Breakfast is a hearty affair with owners John and Glen offering you plenty of choice to spoil yourself.

With free internet access, tourist guide for guests filled with useful information and advice about what to see and where to eat- the Pottery House is filled with thoughtful and imaginative small touches that make your trip memorable

The environmental credentials are very impressive. A great example of how interconnected the Pottery House is with their local environment  is how all their kitchen waste is composted or fed to the hens.  Their free range eggs are enjoyed by guests plus their manure is used for the garden.

At a price of just £38 including breakfast, the Pottery House is great value for the comfort and luxury you receive – as most visitor glowing reviews indicate, you will wish you had stayed a little longer.

T: 01463 751 267

W: www.potteryhouse.co.uk

Popularity: 22% [?]

If you want to be more self sufficient when it comes to food, yet renting an allotment is not an option for you, gathering free food in your local area might be an ideal solution. Food foraging is a fun, relaxing and educational experience and can easily be combined with your weekly family walk.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) can be picked from February onwards in many areas around Edinburgh. Nettle was once used for making fabric, and it is still used for food consumption for tea, soups and in salads.

Nettle can be found almost everywhere; in your garden and alongside rivers and streams. If you are looking to combine food foraging with a long walk, you could go to a local woodland such as Corstorphine woods, where nettles grow in abundance. Other public places you could go to include the shore walk on Dalmeny estate, areas alongside the Union Canal and the Water of Leith. Be selective of the nettle you pick. It is best to get nettle from places that are a bit away from the road.

Nettle tea

Find a good looking patch of stinging nettle and make sure they look healthy and are not eaten by animals or insects. Only pick leaves that are above knee height in case a dog has decided to relieve itself at that spot. Cut off the top leaves of the nettle by using your hands or sciccors. The younger, brighter leaves at the top are most suitable for picking, as the older, darker leaves can taste bitter. Your can pick nettle with your bare hands if you know how, but it is a tricky business and you might feel more comfortable using gloves.

Once you have enough leaves (three leaves per cup) wash and dry them well. If you are in a hurry, you could dry them in the oven on a low temperature. Make sure they do not burn! Once dried, place them in a tea pot with hot water. Leave the brew for a few minutes before pouring the tea in mugs using a tea sif. Add a bit of honey if you like your tea sweet. Always make sure to use newly boiled water to destroy the chemicals that cause the sting.

Dried nettle can easily be stored for example in swing top jars and put away in a dry place.

Nettle soup

Gather and clean nettle the same way as described above and make sure you get one large handful of leaves per person. There is no need to dry the nettle. Fry some garlic and onion to create a nice base for the soup and add 1 1/2 cup of vegetable stock per person. Add the nettle leaves and potatos or chickpeas to thicken the soup. Leave it simmer for 20 minutes and blend well. Add dill, pepper and salt to taste and serve with crusty bread roles.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th February 2010.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

The UK’s most popular Fairtrade Fortnight weekend event!The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

Entry: £1.00 for adults, kids go free!

Highlights for 2010 include:

• International speakers from Palestine, Chile & Kenya Weekend 2-3pm
• Over 30 stalls selling the best Fairtrade food and drink and fairly traded fashion, jewellery, homewares, books, music, crafts and accessories
• Live world music from Ayawara Saturday pm
• Fair Trade Comedy Weekend
• Poetry & Dance from Maryhill Integration Network Sunday pm
• Theatre performances from Hopscotch Weekend 12 – 2pm
• Fashion show with Live VJ Straven Academy Saturday pm
• Fairtrade footie stunts with Graeme Lightbody, who, can you believe recently achieved 65,000 keepy uppies in one session Weekend
• Free Kids craft activities and workshops through Woodcraft Folk Scotland and RSPB Weekend
• Free samples and tastings ……and loads of fun, information and inspiration for the whole family All weekend
• Fantastic raffle with amazing prizes to include festival & travel tickets and a hamper of delicious gifts and products

Popularity: 24% [?]

Support your local: How does your favourite restaurant KNOW it’s your favourite?

This week, Edinburgh Foody turns the spotlight on all you Edinburgh foodies and offers some food for thought of how you can support your local restaurant or cafe

How did your favourite restaurant or cafe wheedle itself into your heart?

Was it delicious food using the best ingredients (all locally grown of course!). Was it the atmosphere when you walk in? Was it how friendly and knowledgeable the staff are? The slickness of the service? The value for money?

I’m sure it’s all those elements and many more: It’s who you first went there with, it’s how you were feeling that day, it’s that particular dish that you can still savour mouthful by mouthful.

But, it is also how the staff put things right when something went wrong. The feeling your custom is valued and they want you to come back. It’s letting you know what’s new and the awards they’ve just won. It’s not growing too big for your boots when the accolades come but also innovating and progressing.

But do you tell them that they’re the best? It’s not always that easy to do so, but if you appreciate your café because it’s the perfect local meeting place or you think your favourite Thai has really excelled itself, write a review.

Send them a tweet (I wonder how many Scottish restaurants and cafés have a Twitter account?), an email, a quick note, write on Trip Advisor or Via Michelin or vote!

What makes a restaurant or café special to you?

Do leave a comment below. In the meantime, how about trying one of these:

The List Readers’ award 2010: Tell the List between now and 14^th April your favourite restaurant in Edinburgh or Glasgow and you’ll also have the chance to win a visit to Taste of London expenses paid.

Nominate Britain’s Best Restaurant in 2010 to feature on the F-Word

Post a review on Trip Advisor Edinburghor on Via Michelin Edinburgh

Popularity: 27% [?]