Walking through Bournemouth Upper Gardens at lunchtime today. Autumn leaves .. a lovely day!

It may still be 6 or 7 weeks away but here are a few tips for a greener Christmas!

Buy your presents from vintage or charity shops. You’ll be buying something unique as well as recycling. Better still, you could give something homemade, maybe some chutney, cakes or jams. The best gifts don’t cost anything. Some of you will remember me telling you about one of our neighbours who put a packet of seeds in with her Christmas card to us. Or you could consider giving a gift like Send a Cow. Go to http://www.sendacow.org.uk/. See also http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped

Use recycled wrapping paper or wrapping paper that has some recycled content. But don't do what I did last Christmas. Inspired by watching Tom and Barbara in the Good Life, I wrapped Tracey’s presents in old free newspaper. Not surprisingly this didn’t go down very well! However, you could use pages or pictures from magazines as wrapping. Be creative!

When it comes to food buy local, seasonal or Fairtrade. By buying local you’ll be cutting down on the food miles. Choosing Fairtrade helps farmers in developing countries receive an agreed and stable price for the crops they grow that covers the cost of sustainable production, as well as additional income for farmers and workers to invest in the future. More about Fairtrade another time!

Choose charity cards or if you’re connected to the internet why not send an e-card instead? Caitlin suggests that you make your own. I think that’s a brilliant idea! And don’t forget to recycle your cards afterwards or cut them up and make gift cards for next year.

Use LED lights for decorations as they use less energy. If you’re having a party don’t use disposable plates and cups as they will add to the mountain of waste. And if you are having a party, can we come!

http://www.quantic.org/journal/2009/10/22/cumbia-jazz/

Inspired by our visit to Seville last week, here's another mix courtesy of Will Quantic. It's a very unique sound with roots in the traditions of Monteria Brass Bands, jazz influences of band leaders like Duke Ellington and Machito, artful record producers of the day and Colombia’s own unique musical elegance. Wonderful!

A few months ago I came across something called the 100 Thing Challenge. Do I have a minimalist streak? Could I reduce my personal possessions down to 100 items? My copy of What's Going On by Marvin Gaye definitely goes onto the list! But which other records would I choose? Then I read that collections of anything can count as 1 thing! However, it's a good excuse to de-clutter. But don't bin things. Give them away or donate them to charity instead.

Buy only what you need or really want. Back in 2007 we experimented with not buying anything new for a period of 3 months. I quickly realised that I usually buy something in the hope that it'll make me happy, only to discard it and then move onto something else. I also learnt that when you're buying less often, you are able to afford better things of higher quality that usually last longer!

http://www.quantic.org/journal/2009/10/07/calypos-cumbias-compas/
Something of a ‘new arrivals’ mix, here is the best of music found recently from Trinidad, Haiti, Colombia & Africa courtesy of Will Quantic. Some of it is over 50 years old!

2 hens in the garden at Poyntington near Sherborne in Dorset.