From talking about growth in the last blog, my mind has turned to children and the subject of alternative education. Some of you, I know, are home educating parents and many of you who send your children to school question the methods that are used to teach your children and to interact with them. For [...]

Despite what our political leaders insist on telling us, we all know deep down that persistent economic growth is no longer an option if humankind is to survive for very much longer on this planet. Yet it is not “growth” per se that is a bad thing when we consider what it really means. Growth [...]

It was during a family camping trip several years ago that the idea hit me that downshifting might be a positive and beneficial thing to do. I realised, when preparing for our holiday, that the questions I was repeatedly asking myself were: “What’s the absolute minimum we need to take with us?” “What can we [...]

1. Encourage single focussed activities.
2. Help them to trim down their timetable.
3. Review their diet with them to see if it can be made more nourishing and enjoyable and less processed.
4. Encourage them to walk, cycle or swim whenever possible. Make a pact to leave the car at home at least one day per week.
5. Encourage their observation skills, using all [...]

It can be said that there are only two certainties in our lives – that we will die and that there will be change. The beginning of a new year is traditionally a time for planning but sometimes planning at any time can seem futile when life can be so unpredictable. How do we come [...]