World Changing has been around for a few years, providing users with information and ideas for building a better world. They offer many tips and helpful resources for sustainable living and protecting the environment. They recommend how we can all make small changes in our daily life to help improve the world we share.

The site is all about the positive things which people are doing so they only review or link to sites which provide helpful information – sites which provide solutions rather than just stating the problems.

World Changing has just published a very comprehensive book, Worldchanging: A User’s Guide for the 21st Century, which contains information on the latest innovations and solutions for building a sustainable planet. The forward was written by Al Gore, author of An Inconvenient Truth.

The book has received great reviews including:

Worldchanging is a users guide and the starting point needed to begin millions (hopefully billions) of important conversations. It is filled with what we need most: straightforward, bite-sized summaries, directives and how-to instructions on most of the topics that we humans desperately need to know about in order to drive positive change. From under-reported successes in urban areas and environmental movements across the progressive spectrum to alternative energy solutions and simple facts and figures about the millennia we face, it carries the reader through the full intellectual and emotional spectrum.

Contributors to this book include those behind Inhabitat, a great read if you are interested in sustainable design and architecture.

There are many books available about organic living such as organic cooking, organic gardening, organic skin care products, and eco-friendly cleaning. Some of the best titles are available at my Organic Bookshop.

Organic Cookbooks

Most organic cookbooks focus on using fresh seasonal ingredients which have been grown organically. Using seasonal produce means you’ll have the best flavour possible in your meals. Your meals will be even tastier if you grow you own vegetables.

Organic Gardening

The principles or organic gardening are new to many people and the techniques may seem complicated. You need to know about improving your soil naturally, growing plants without synthetic fertilisers, and controlling pests without using pesticides. This is actually easier than it seems. Your soil can easily be improved by regularly adding compost and by rotating your crops. Composting and adding natural animal manures can replace the need for fertilisers. The vast majority of pests can be controlled by companion planting and by using natural methods of pest control.

Organic skin Care

If you are worried about what you are putting on your skin then why not make your own skin care products and makeup. It’s not as difficult as you might think and there are a number of good books on the subject.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Bleach and other strong chemicals used in household cleaning can have negative effects on your health. The need for these types of cleaning products can be reduced simply by cleaning regularly with microfibre (or similar) cloths. There are also natural alternatives which clean just as well without the health risks. You can read about these alternatives in the books I have recommended in my Bookshop.

I only subscribe to a few magazines and Organic Gardener is one of them. The articles focus on growing organically but also discuss environmental issues and eco friendly living. The magazine has lots of helpful advice for both beginners and more advanced gardeners.

The winter issue of Organic Gardener magazine (it only comes out quarterly) has advice on how to grow organic citrus trees such as lemons, limes, and oranges. It discusses the best varieties to buy, those which are more disease resistant for the Australian climate, and how to treat any pests and other problems which may arise.

There are also some articles on permaculture. Permaculture was invented by Australians in the 1970s and is about sustainable and ethical living, focusing on land use and food production. I don’t know too much about permaculture and have never implemented the principles of this type of gardening. These articles give a good introduction as to how this can be applied to your backyard vegetable garden.

There are also plenty of tips on how to grow your own fruit and vegetables. This is what I’m looking for when I buy gardening magazines. I have quite a bit of experience in gardening but there are always little tips which I pick up. These might be about different varieties to try or about companion planting. There is always more to learn when it comes to gardening.

If you’re interested in any of these issues then you can pick up a copy of the magazine from your local newsagent or you can subscribe to Organic Gardener.