Try giving your home an organic spring clean! Natural ingredients like lemon, baking soda, vinegar, essential oils and olive oil can be great alternatives to chemical substances.

Composting is a natural process which turns unwanted organic matter, like kitchen scraps and garden waste, into a useful natural fertiliser for your garden.

Many local authorities are now providing free or reduced cost compost bins. For more information visit www.recyclenow.com.

For the best results follow these 5 simple rules:

1)    Place your compost bin in a sunny position on well drained, loosened soil; as this will encourage worms and bacteria to enter the bin.

2)    Have a good mix of waste material as this will aid decomposition.

3)    Put your compost bin somewhere easily accessible to you as this will encourage you to use it rather than heading straight to the bin.

4)    Always keep a lid on your compost bin so it can retain heat and moisture.

5)    Avoid putting too much grass in your compost bin as it will make it wet and smelly!

Things to compost:

Vegetable and fruit peelings

Tea bags

Crushed egg shells

Weeds

Grass cuttings

Hair

Paper

Soft cardboard

Leaves

Prunings

Vacuum dust

Your compost will be ready when it has reached a crumbly consistency and a rich brown colour. Dig it into your soil to act as a slow release fertiliser.

Fruity tart!
Serves 6

To be extra yummy all ingredients should be as organic as possible!

Ingredients
375g ready rolled puff pastry
200g raspberries
200g strawberries
1 large cooking apple
Honey
Double cream
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