Supporter of the week: Dina Baird

Hannah Booth

07 December 2011

To celebrate Friends of the Earth's 40th anniversary, I've been talking to some of the supporters who've made it all possible. Dina Baird (right), is a full-time mum who's into energy efficiency. At the time of the interview she was expecting her fourth child.

"We've started growing our own food - potatoes, lettuce,
carrots, peas, fruit trees.

"We're on the way to self-sufficiency. We
have five new chickens, too - fresh eggs every day.

"We gave up flying
about 4 years ago, and sold our car. But we do have a camper van,
which we use for UK holidays.

I'm fitter now I don't drive everywhere.
My kids moaned about walking to school at first, but now they
don't mind at all.

"We still see Europe, but I don't know if I'll ever
get to visit my sister in Sydney. I looked into it - it would take
about 6 weeks.

"I coordinate our local Warrington Friends of the Earth group. We set
up street stalls: I've dressed up as a polar bear and a chicken, and
staged a santa's grotto of the future - with santa in Bermuda shorts."

Get more inspiring tips in green travel.

Next week: John Fulljames. To see all the supporters I've interviewed, visit our 40th anniversary gallery.

Hannah Booth also writes Lives Less Ordinary.