Green way of life: Get in line for environmental award (From Halesowen News)

Green way of life: Get in line for environmental award

9:33am Monday 25th September 2006

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RECYCLING is a family affair for the Fords from Stourbridge, who are so green-minded they even use solar energy.

Helen Ford said for more than 30 years she has enjoyed recycling a host of things including glass, paper, cardboard, silver foil and metal.

The 62-year-old holistic physician even uses dishwasher salt to wash her clothes instead of detergent, recycles furniture and bedding and buys second-hand clothes.

Helen also grows her own vegetables, makes her own wine from elderberries in her garden and has a massive compost heap of 20 years worth of food and vegetable waste and grass cuttings.

Helen said: "We have also planted thousands of trees in North Wales to make up for our fossil fuel usage.

"Many of these have been grown from seed by ourselves and our friends who also bring us any little trees which have self-seeded in their gardens.

"I collect water from a natural spring and reuse plastic water bottles a few times and then, when they have gone beyond use, I cut off the tops and bottoms and put them round small trees to protect them from rabbits and mice."

The mum to John (32), Jason (31), Emma (30), Robbie (28) and Aran (17) is thrilled with the success of solar panels she had fitted a year ago.

She said they have provided all the hot water throughout the summer and she now wants two windmills on her roof to generate more power.

Helen said: "Recycling is just a way of life for us."

Despite saving thousands of pounds a year, Helen said that wasn't her motivation to go green.

She said: "The general profit for me is what I feel about the earth, that I am doing something and I am putting something back for what the earth has given me - it has given me everything."

Family friend Fiona, who lives at the Ford home, is well known in the media for staging a protest up a tree at Manchester Airport in a bid to prevent trees being chopped down.

She even re-uses washable sanitary pads.

Helen is happy to talk to anybody interested in investing in solar panels. To contact her, phone 01384 379740.

To enter our competition to be the borough's greenest family and win a host of green goodies, complete the form on the right.

ABOVE: Helen Ford with her dahlias and elderberry wine (Ref: 390631M).

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