It’s Not Easy Being Green is written by Dick Strawbridge and records his family’s dive into self-sufficiency at New House Farm in Cornwall after moving from a normal life in Malvern. Now when I picked this book up I thought it would just be full of tips and advice about eco-friendly living, not only had I not been aware of the BBC series I also hadn’t realised the major changes they made to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Writer
The book is written by retired Lieutenant Colonel Dick Strawbridge; a lively and rather eccentric man who has the largest moustache I have ever seen.
The blurb on the reverse of the book also says Strawbridge was awarded the MBE in 1993 and is a television presenter on Crafty Tricks of War, Geronimo and Planet Mechanics as well as It’s Not Easy Being Green.
When introducing himself and his family Strawbridge made me chuckle with this line: “Of the family, I’m probably the simplest to understand. Brigit, James and Charlotte all pick on me because I am rather conventional in my outlook… Apparently, I have some issues with my Yin and Yang not being in balance!”
Dick has a friendly and accessible writing style which draws you in, it feels like an easy conversation yet he manages to pack in a lot of information. You have to admire his enthusiasm and hands on approach; in fact I would really love to meet him. He is on my list of “Green Idols”.
The book
The introduction begins with the Strawbridge objective: “…to live a 21st-century lifestyle, but to produce little or no waste and to remove our dependence upon fossil fuels”. The book is easy to read, and Strawbridge starts off with the basics explaining the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Bear in mind the family spent more than £500,000 buying a Grade 2 listed building (without electricity, water or loos) with 2 ½ acres of land, own spring and a spring-fed stream. This is a pretty huge commitment to eco friendly living.
The best part about this book is that it isn’t just a record of their progress; it also serves as a useful step-by-step guide to going green. It’s Not Easy Being Green is great for anyone looking for advice on how to minimise their impact on the planet.
The book has a lot of sensible advice, and tips such using MPS to stop receiving junk mail and telephone calls will make your life easier while stopping unnecessary waste. I particularly found the Fuels and Travelling chapter inspiring (notable the bio-diesel information) and how the family made their vehicles greener.
The Strawbridges’ creative approach to problem solving admirable, and I was struck by how much they did at New House Farm. As a child I loved watching The Good Life and it immediately sprung to life while I was reading this book, in fact Strawbridge even mentions it himself. After reading this book sustainable lifestyle I learned that though it’s not easy work, it is indeed rewarding and enjoyable. In fact I even felt a little green with envy as I would love to be able to live on my own farm (minus the animals that are eventually slaughtered). I would keep cows and have ethically produced milk, and maybe a few pet pigs to devour food scraps. Yes this book has me dreaming big, but it is important to aim high!
There are plenty of resources in It’s Not Easy Being Green with details of useful organisations and websites to aid the reader. This is a book that will stand the test of time, though I do not doubt that there will be another edition as the Strawbridge family continue to push the boundaries with their eco lifestyle.
Value
The book could have been proof read a little better as there are a few typos but this is a minor fault. The actual content is incredibly useful and truly inspiring, though most of us could not find it viable to do projects on the same scale.
Although a lot of the information was related to the Strawbridges’ needs, there are plenty of tips and further links for everyone. For me this extraordinary book will stand the test of time, and I have already reread it a few times. I think it is another green reference book that I will use frequently.
The book can be found online at around the £5.99 mark though Amazon has them for around £3 here. It is greener to purchase a used book! Please note there is a hardback edition too. See the Newhouse Farm website if you want to find out more.