greetings eco-kitchen lovers!

Wow! I cannot believe I’m on entry three hundred and fifty – time certainly does fly when you are having fun!

I am incredibly proud of deTerra’s green credentials and we work hard to ensure that the products we use are as environmentally friendly as possible. Ever the bearer of brilliant news, I recently stumbled upon a company called The Cheeky Panda and I must say that – whilst they may find their way into my bathroom rather than the kitchen – I am already a huge fan. Harnessing the renewable nature of bamboo, they have created a splendiferous collection of luxury tissue products that are giving back to the environment!

Whilst we all know that this giant natural grass is good for making bamboo worktops, these guys use bamboo to produce toilet roll and facial tissues which promise to be kind to your skin as well as the Earth. The Cheeky Panda announced last month that they are now completely carbon balanced and are also working to support the World Land Trust in looking after a very important part of Vietnamese rainforest that supports a number of endangered and vulnerable mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. The Cheeky Panda range is available from a variety of health stores and online retailers, and is an excellent way to bring sustainability to other parts of your home outside of the kitchen!

Thanks to our fantabulous bamboo worktops, we already know just how sustainable bamboo is, and there are already loads of other brilliant bamboo products you can buy if protecting the environment is your bag! Would you be willing to swap your regular tissue for this exciting eco alternative? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter.

Ta ta for now,

The deTerra Diarist

hello there my culinary crew!

The other day I was reading the news when an article about trees caught my eye, naturally. Forest bathing is big in Japan and – thanks to its health benefits – it is also gaining popularity throughout the West.

Now, let me explain. Forest bathing is not having a bath in the forest (as amazing as that sounds!). Known as ‘shinrin-yoku’ in Japanese, it translates as simply being around trees, and has been proven to have a number of measurable benefits, including lowering your blood pressure and boosting your immune system. Where do I sign up?!

What better way to chill out than having a relaxing stroll in the woods? I love a good hike as much as the next nature-appreciator but forest bathing really is my idea of heaven. Japan has 44 specific shinrin-yoku forests, but if you want to give it a go yourself without needing to catch a long-haul flight, there are plenty of scenic woodlands in the UK that are perfect for immersing yourself fully in nature. Just be sure to leave your phone at home so you can fully benefit from taking some time out with no distractions.

Do you have a favourite forest, wooded area, or – especially for all you urban city-dwellers – perhaps a park? Let me know – I’d love to get some inspiration for shinrin-yoku locations on Facebook or Twitter!

Ta ta for now,

the deTerra diarist