The Spring issue is OUT NOW!

Doing the best we can

There is increasing recognition that single-use items that create waste are not good for the environment. Many people talk about zero waste, and there is a growing range of fantastic products designed to help us move towards this, such as washable nappies, cloth sanitary pads, menstrual cups, washable facial pads, food wraps and cups.

However, much as we may aspire to throw away as little as possible, sometimes life gets in the way, and we find ourselves appreciating the convenience of a disposable nappy, wipe or cotton bud. Or we might not yet feel ready to make the step to washable sanitary pads or nappies. In this issue of JUNO we have tried to address this dilemma by looking at the most environmentally sound disposable products and how best to reduce the impact of what we choose. Zion Lights writes about the bigger picture, and we have reviewed products that might be helpful so that, even when opting for a single-use item, we are making the best choice we can.

All this might be of help to you if you are planning to head to a festival. Our annual extended feature showcases a fantastic range of family festivals. Please let us know if you go to any on our recommendation, or if there is a festival you’d like to review for next year.

This is our 60th issue, so we’ve used our inspiration page to celebrate lots of different 60s. Please get in touch on social media if you can think of any more. Alongside that there is spring inspiration to forage, make paper cherry blossom and teach our children to care for the Earth. We also look at what doulas do, and how children don’t need formal lessons in order to learn to read.

If your children already read and enjoy books, I recommend taking a look at the Wizards of Once series by Cressida Cowell: the stories are exciting and the books are full of beautiful illustrations. Find out more in my interview with Cressida on pages 10 to 12, and if you get the chance, why not come and hear her speak at the Hay Festival? See you there!

– Editor Saffia