![The excitement is growing as we head to Hay-on-Wye!
As of tomorrow, the part of our lovely team that lives in Hay will be setting up shop at the weekly Hay Market, showing off some of our plastic free products and chatting all things plastic-free. It’s something that we’ve been excited about for AGES now, and finally it’s happening.
The organisers of Hay Market have done a brilliant job of getting everything, and everyone, covid-safe, and we are really excited to be bringing our goodies to an already brilliant weekly market which really showcases the importance of small businesses in our world.
So if you are local, and you feel safe to do so, come and say ‘Hi’ in Hay on Thursday!
@haymarketsltd #SmallBusiness #HayMarket #PlasticFree #PlasticFreeLiving #HayOnWye #PlasticFreeLiving]()
The excitement is growing as we head to Hay-on-Wye! As of tomorrow, the part of our lovely team that lives in Hay will be setting up shop at the weekly Hay Market, showing off some of our plastic free products and chatting all things plastic-free. It’s something that we’ve been excited about for AGES now, and finally it’s happening. The organisers of Hay Market have done a brilliant job of getting everything, and everyone, covid-safe, and we are really excited to be bringing our goodies to an already brilliant weekly market which really showcases the importance of small businesses in our world. So if you are local, and you feel safe to do so, come and say ‘Hi’ in Hay on Thursday! @haymarketsltd #SmallBusiness #HayMarket #PlasticFree #PlasticFreeLiving #HayOnWye #PlasticFreeLiving ![Wowsers!
Even though these past 12 months have been pretty wild, strange and somewhat unpredictable, we’ve somehow managed to win an award for the second year in a row! We are officially, thanks to @Prestige_Series double award winners!
We have been named Eco Friendly Online Retailer of the Year by the Bristol Prestige Awards 2021 – something that fills us with joy, awe and a big dollop of gratitude.
In times of great change, confusion and isolation, it feels really heartening that the judges were impressed with our personal touch and community feel. While we can’t predict how things are going to turn out each week, we always remain very determined to ensure our customers know that we appreciate their business by thanking them when we pack their orders. Whether we are busy or quiet, we do our utmost when it comes to customer service and answering queries or resolving issues. Likewise, as a small shop in a sea of online giants, we always do our best to remind everyone in our community that they matter, and that what they do matters. Small ripples and all that…
So thank you everyone for being part of our team. From our wonderful suppliers who make fab products that really do help in the fight against un-necessary plastic, to our customers who put their faith in the products we sell. From the people who share, like and comment on our social media, to the people who leave reviews on our website, leave dandelions unpicked or who pick up the litter left by others. Thank you for being part of our world and thank you to the judges @Prestige_Series for picking us!
#PrestigeAward2021 #PrestigeAwards #CorporateLiveWire #Bristol #BristolBusiness #Bristol247 #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #SustainableBusiness #EthicalBusiness #IndependentRetailer #SmallBusinessUK #businessawards]()
Wowsers! Even though these past 12 months have been pretty wild, strange and somewhat unpredictable, we’ve somehow managed to win an award for the second year in a row! We are officially, thanks to @Prestige_Series double award winners! We have been named Eco Friendly Online Retailer of the Year by the Bristol Prestige Awards 2021 – something that fills us with joy, awe and a big dollop of gratitude. In times of great change, confusion and isolation, it feels really heartening that the judges were impressed with our personal touch and community feel. While we can’t predict how things are going to turn out each week, we always remain very determined to ensure our customers know that we appreciate their business by thanking them when we pack their orders. Whether we are busy or quiet, we do our utmost when it comes to customer service and answering queries or resolving issues. Likewise, as a small shop in a sea of online giants, we always do our best to remind everyone in our community that they matter, and that what they do matters. Small ripples and all that… So thank you everyone for being part of our team. From our wonderful suppliers who make fab products that really do help in the fight against un-necessary plastic, to our customers who put their faith in the products we sell. From the people who share, like and comment on our social media, to the people who leave reviews on our website, leave dandelions unpicked or who pick up the litter left by others. Thank you for being part of our world and thank you to the judges @Prestige_Series for picking us! #PrestigeAward2021 #PrestigeAwards #CorporateLiveWire #Bristol #BristolBusiness #Bristol247 #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusiness #SustainableBusiness #EthicalBusiness #IndependentRetailer #SmallBusinessUK #businessawards ![It’s dandelion time! Bright yellow, big, bold and an important early food sources for our humble, endangered bumble bee.
It’s tempting to want to pull them up (or worse, douse them in some super strong chemical to kill the living daylights out of anything which dares to intrude uninvited into our gardens) because, let’s face it, a lawn doesn’t quite seem like a proper lawn when it’s covered in dandelions.
Or at least, that’s what we’ve all been told. Old school says that a lawn must be green, grassy and, erm, green and grassy.
But if you care about bees - any pollinators for that matter – then can you find a way to see lawns and dandelions differently? Can you see them as an absolutely vital piece in the puzzle to save our bees? Can you find a space in your heart to let the dandelions flower, even if just for a while? If you take a moment to pause, you may well see a very grateful bumbler, recently awoken from a long winter of hibernation, grabbing a sorely needed snack from those dandelions which pop up like, well, wild flowers, at this time of year. Bees, and other pollinators LOVE dandelions because they offer so much nectar at a time of year when bee-snacks are in short supply.
We think of conservation as being something big but being kind to the planet can also be a tiny act of delaying pulling up your weeds.
So if you are lucky enough to have a patch of grass, or even just a gap in the concrete which has proven to be hospitable to dandelions, then please, for the love of bees, leave them alone.
#Dandelions #SpringFlowers #SaveTheBees #SaveThePlanet #ConservationAtHome #WildFlowers #WildFlowerGarden #SpringGarden #BeeKind #PlasticFree #EcoFriendly #BritishFlowers #BritishBees #springiscoming]()
It’s dandelion time! Bright yellow, big, bold and an important early food sources for our humble, endangered bumble bee. It’s tempting to want to pull them up (or worse, douse them in some super strong chemical to kill the living daylights out of anything which dares to intrude uninvited into our gardens) because, let’s face it, a lawn doesn’t quite seem like a proper lawn when it’s covered in dandelions. Or at least, that’s what we’ve all been told. Old school says that a lawn must be green, grassy and, erm, green and grassy. But if you care about bees - any pollinators for that matter – then can you find a way to see lawns and dandelions differently? Can you see them as an absolutely vital piece in the puzzle to save our bees? Can you find a space in your heart to let the dandelions flower, even if just for a while? If you take a moment to pause, you may well see a very grateful bumbler, recently awoken from a long winter of hibernation, grabbing a sorely needed snack from those dandelions which pop up like, well, wild flowers, at this time of year. Bees, and other pollinators LOVE dandelions because they offer so much nectar at a time of year when bee-snacks are in short supply. We think of conservation as being something big but being kind to the planet can also be a tiny act of delaying pulling up your weeds. So if you are lucky enough to have a patch of grass, or even just a gap in the concrete which has proven to be hospitable to dandelions, then please, for the love of bees, leave them alone. #Dandelions #SpringFlowers #SaveTheBees #SaveThePlanet #ConservationAtHome #WildFlowers #WildFlowerGarden #SpringGarden #BeeKind #PlasticFree #EcoFriendly #BritishFlowers #BritishBees #springiscoming ![Bamboo cooking utensils are sooo good to use.
Not only do they feel great when you hold them in your hands, they last for ages, don’t scratch your pans, and do a fab job when it comes to mixing and stirring.
We have a really good range of @bambuliving kitchen utensils here @ThePlasticFreeShop for when you next need a new spatula or big spoon.
We especially love the Give it a Rest spatula and this lovely slotted spoon (pictured) which make clever use of the natural ridges in organic bamboo to create a little rest in the handle. Say ‘goodbye’ to those annoying splodges of sauce all over the counter.
The little ridge isn’t just a good practical addition to a cooking utensil; it also makes the spoon look extra groovy!
(pun totally intended)
#SustainableKitchen #EthicalKitchen #SustainableLiving #BambooCutlery #PlasticFreeKitchen #EcoFriendlyProducts #HandCarved #Organic #OrganicBamboo #KitchenUtensils #SimpleLiving #NaturalHome #KitchenTools #CookingUtensils]()
Bamboo cooking utensils are sooo good to use. Not only do they feel great when you hold them in your hands, they last for ages, don’t scratch your pans, and do a fab job when it comes to mixing and stirring. We have a really good range of @bambuliving kitchen utensils here @ThePlasticFreeShop for when you next need a new spatula or big spoon. We especially love the Give it a Rest spatula and this lovely slotted spoon (pictured) which make clever use of the natural ridges in organic bamboo to create a little rest in the handle. Say ‘goodbye’ to those annoying splodges of sauce all over the counter. The little ridge isn’t just a good practical addition to a cooking utensil; it also makes the spoon look extra groovy! (pun totally intended) #SustainableKitchen #EthicalKitchen #SustainableLiving #BambooCutlery #PlasticFreeKitchen #EcoFriendlyProducts #HandCarved #Organic #OrganicBamboo #KitchenUtensils #SimpleLiving #NaturalHome #KitchenTools #CookingUtensils ![Look at this wonderful Chiffchaff that decided to hang out in Cath’s Twisted Hazel this week.
Cath’s husband @moorey63 somehow managed to catch the Chiffchaff post-preen, hence it is looking so very very beautiful. We love the fact that this tiny bird might have recently arrived in Bristol after a very long journey. It seems especially amazing when you think of all the travelling that we haven’t done this past twelve months. Yet nature has been sending the birds off on their travels regardless.
While we can’t promise you a Chiffchaff this Easter (we also can’t promise you chocolate eggs or good weather either) we do hope that you get the chance to pause outside for a moment and see some of the beauty that is easily overlooked as we plough through these strange times.
Wishing you a wonderful Easter,
The Team at The Plastic Free Shop
(and while we have your attention, please, for the love of all birds, not just Chiffchaffs, take your rubbish home with you wherever you happen to go this weekend. The pictures that we’ve seen after people have been out enjoying the great outdoors while at the same time trashing the great outdoors is so sad, and completely and utterly ruins things for everyone and everything. Litter can actually be really dangerous for birds who are easily confused and are liable to build their nests from the rubbish that they find out and about.
The founder of #2MinuteBeachClean @MartinDorey is asking that people share the second picture here to raise awareness of the importance of making a difference by not leaving litter. Please do share the image – if it encourages just one or two people to act differently, it’ll be worth it.)
#ChiffChaff #BirdsOfInstagram #BirdsAdored #BirdsOnEarth #PlasticFree #2MinuteBeachClean #DontBeATosser #KeepBritainTidy #TakeItHome #TheBeachIsNotABin]()
Look at this wonderful Chiffchaff that decided to hang out in Cath’s Twisted Hazel this week. Cath’s husband @moorey63 somehow managed to catch the Chiffchaff post-preen, hence it is looking so very very beautiful. We love the fact that this tiny bird might have recently arrived in Bristol after a very long journey. It seems especially amazing when you think of all the travelling that we haven’t done this past twelve months. Yet nature has been sending the birds off on their travels regardless. While we can’t promise you a Chiffchaff this Easter (we also can’t promise you chocolate eggs or good weather either) we do hope that you get the chance to pause outside for a moment and see some of the beauty that is easily overlooked as we plough through these strange times. Wishing you a wonderful Easter, The Team at The Plastic Free Shop (and while we have your attention, please, for the love of all birds, not just Chiffchaffs, take your rubbish home with you wherever you happen to go this weekend. The pictures that we’ve seen after people have been out enjoying the great outdoors while at the same time trashing the great outdoors is so sad, and completely and utterly ruins things for everyone and everything. Litter can actually be really dangerous for birds who are easily confused and are liable to build their nests from the rubbish that they find out and about. The founder of #2MinuteBeachClean @MartinDorey is asking that people share the second picture here to raise awareness of the importance of making a difference by not leaving litter. Please do share the image – if it encourages just one or two people to act differently, it’ll be worth it.) #ChiffChaff #BirdsOfInstagram #BirdsAdored #BirdsOnEarth #PlasticFree #2MinuteBeachClean #DontBeATosser #KeepBritainTidy #TakeItHome #TheBeachIsNotABin ![One year on.
Not much has changed. And yet everything has changed.
It’s hard to believe that it has been a whole year.
A whole very slow but fast year which has flown by at a snail’s pace, and it’s hard to believe that it is a whole year since we entered lockdown. Since the kids were first homeschooled and folks started working from home. Since we got a tad miffed that the weather turned glorious just as we were told to stay at home. It seemed so typically British – rubbish weather when you can go out, nice weather once you are stuck indoors.
Now Spring has sprung once again. The seasons have come full cycle. The birds are in song, and they don’t care two hoots about the past year (other than perhaps more people are at home putting snacks out for them..) The daffodils are out, as always, and they bob around in the wind, reminding us that just because they spent the Winter hiding underground, it didn’t mean they weren’t there, patiently waiting their turn. Maybe there’s a lesson there.
The Common just off the cycle path on the way to our little unit is always a nice spot to stop, catch a breath for a moment and to enjoy the outdoors on the way to work. It always looks very similar, as you can see from these two photos taken almost precisely a year apart. Same view, same trees, same everything, except maybe more clouds. Perhaps that means something too.
But haven’t we all changed a bit? We’ve learned to slow down a bit, take more notice, take more care, appreciate the smaller side of life. We’ve had no choice.
Hopefully life in the slow lane has been ok with you. And if you are one of the ones who has had to speed up, as a result of the work or volunteering you do, we thank you. This year would have been so much harder without you helping us all through those changes.
So here’s to more Spring. More outdoors. Hopefully soon, more time with the people we love.]()
One year on. Not much has changed. And yet everything has changed. It’s hard to believe that it has been a whole year. A whole very slow but fast year which has flown by at a snail’s pace, and it’s hard to believe that it is a whole year since we entered lockdown. Since the kids were first homeschooled and folks started working from home. Since we got a tad miffed that the weather turned glorious just as we were told to stay at home. It seemed so typically British – rubbish weather when you can go out, nice weather once you are stuck indoors. Now Spring has sprung once again. The seasons have come full cycle. The birds are in song, and they don’t care two hoots about the past year (other than perhaps more people are at home putting snacks out for them..) The daffodils are out, as always, and they bob around in the wind, reminding us that just because they spent the Winter hiding underground, it didn’t mean they weren’t there, patiently waiting their turn. Maybe there’s a lesson there. The Common just off the cycle path on the way to our little unit is always a nice spot to stop, catch a breath for a moment and to enjoy the outdoors on the way to work. It always looks very similar, as you can see from these two photos taken almost precisely a year apart. Same view, same trees, same everything, except maybe more clouds. Perhaps that means something too. But haven’t we all changed a bit? We’ve learned to slow down a bit, take more notice, take more care, appreciate the smaller side of life. We’ve had no choice. Hopefully life in the slow lane has been ok with you. And if you are one of the ones who has had to speed up, as a result of the work or volunteering you do, we thank you. This year would have been so much harder without you helping us all through those changes. So here’s to more Spring. More outdoors. Hopefully soon, more time with the people we love.
