Good magazine & blogs

The Vegan Baker: Coffee Cake

2010-09-02T06:44:00+12:00

This week a little reminiscing inspires blogger-baker Miyuki McGuffie to recreate a delicious old favourite.

Walking the talk

2010-09-01T22:02:00+12:00

Oxfam Trailwalker is the most life-changing, team-building, foot-slogging, friendship-forming, group-hugging experience ever ... oh, and it's just won New Zealand's top sustainability event award for third straight year.

Cosmetic deceptions

2010-09-01T09:41:00+12:00

As savvy consumers with eco-friendly, health-conscious outlooks, it probably comes as no surprise that most of the cosmetics we lather on each day in efforts to stay blemish- or wrinkle-free, are full of dubious chemicals and preservatives. What may come as a surprise, though, is that many of the alternatives we rely on—products labelled 'natural' or 'organic'—according to a new Consumer NZ report often contain those same dubious chemicals.

Have your say on NZ's energy future

2010-08-31T17:36:09+12:00

Greenpeace and the WWF are calling for urgent submissions on the Government's proposed draft energy strategy. Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday 2 September (this week!).

At the forge

2010-08-30T17:29:06+12:00

Here on the coast when the weather’s a bit gloomy, the pubs aren’t really happening and the blacksmithing fix hasn’t quite left for the day, then there’s always the ‘home forge’

Plastic waste converted to oil? We're not talking rubbish

2010-08-23T14:45:47+12:00

A Japanese company has come up with a clever invention that provides a small reprise from the seemingly growing sea of plastic waste in the world. It's a small, safe machine that can convert one kilo of plastic into almost one litre of oil.

Eco-cruising

2010-08-23T06:24:00+12:00

Holly Jean Brooker considers which transport options are the best, and most environmentally friendly, on a trip to Australia with her husband.

Spirituality and the earth: why should we care?

2010-08-20T12:01:00+12:00

Energy, carbon and water: why do they matter? Global crises and some local solutions ... find out the answer to these questions and more at a fascinating workshop this weekend.

Kitten therapy

2010-08-19T09:48:12+12:00

Oil spills, extinction, climate change, old-school politicians, economic collapse … sometimes I feel like taking a shower after reading the news, in hopes of washing off all the negativity. But after reading all that, who could bear to use the extra hot water? Never fear: the internet may allow us to read diabolical environmental news from around the world—but it's also full of cute animal videos. We've collected some of the best: think of them as a shower for your brain. Spend five minutes watching these clips, and we guarantee you'll feel much better about the world.

The Vegan Baker: Alfajores (shortbread)

2010-08-18T07:07:00+12:00

This week blogger-baker Miyuki McGuffie brings us a recipe for a South American cookie made of two sweet biscuits sandwiched together with dulce de leche (caramel sauce). Yumbo!

Fair ground attraction

2010-08-16T17:10:01+12:00

Wellington and Dunedin have officially been Fair Trade Cities since 2009. Plans are now afoot to help their big, bad northern sister take the same step. The Aucklander reports on progress to date.

Road trip north? Here's where to eat!

2010-08-13T15:52:35+12:00

If you're into slow food or smart tourism, take part in the public voting for the Manaakitanga Awards (Rodney District’s hospitality and tourism awards). The list of finalists is the definitive list of stop-and-have-a-bite points for your next jaunt north of Auckland.

Sleeping in eco-style

2010-08-11T08:16:42+12:00

Holly Jean Brooker decides to staycation in Auckland, for one last rendezvous before hitting Western Australia, and chooses to sleep in style at Auckland hotel The Quadrant.

Thinking of keeping bees?

2010-08-09T14:23:00+12:00

Meet Good's new blogger—the gardening, chook and top-bar bee keeping dynamo Janet Luke. Read Janet's first installment on getting started with your own top bar garden hive.

The Vegan Baker: Chocolate Cake

2010-08-09T07:07:00+12:00

This week blogger-baker Miyuki McGuffie brings us a recipe for the ubiquitous chocolate cake—made without butter and eggs.

Sayonara, sustainability

2010-08-06T07:36:00+12:00

Make a cup of tea and pull your chair a little closer ... newly eligible bachelor Nick Potter spills the intimate details about why he broke up with sustainability, who he's playing around with now—and why he's chosen to be polyamorous (with words, that is).

Life between two worlds

2010-08-04T07:08:00+12:00

When you have two passports, you're free to switch between two identities—but sometimes, neither of them feel real. Iranian-Kiwi Ali Shariat ponders the million-dollar question that most migrant youth ask themselves: who am I?

What do Kirsten Morrell, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Oliver Driver have in common?

2010-08-03T14:52:00+12:00

The deadline for this year's eco youth film challenge is coming up. And this time there's a star-studded cast of ambassadors on board.

The global warming 'debate'—in pictures

2010-08-03T12:37:59+12:00

I've not noticed it in New Zealand media too much recently—maybe because it seems no one has been writing much about climate change recently—but it's definitely a huge problem in the US and UK: the over-reporting of climate change controversies in the media. This graphic neatly shows the gulf between public perception (in the US) and scientific consensus, with the media screwing things up in the middle.

Coffee to go ... in my made-in-NZ cup, please!

2010-08-03T10:23:47+12:00

Sarah Marquet feeds her coffee addiction, reduces her rubbish and sticks to her made-in-NZ challenge with the help of a Kiwi-made reusable coffee cup. Not only is it totally reusable, it is also 100% recyclable.