My Green Directory

Firms in the running for green gongs
Businesses in Sidmouth and Ottery hope their customers can help them reach the top 10 in an ethical company competition.
Energy information and directory business YouGen and Mazzard Farm holiday cottages have already reached the top 50 "PEA-ples Favourite" competition.
Ruud Jansen Venneboer, owner of Mazzard Farm holiday cottages, said: "For us, being a sustainable holiday business is all about our relationships with the local economy and community, the way we interact with our guests and jointly trying to do the best for the environment."
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Home - Sidmouth Herald

Ethical firms are hoping to secure public vote

Monday, April 15, 2013

Western Morning News

Three Westcountry firms have been longlisted for a green awards scheme category which will be decided by public vote.

Helston-based Frugi, Sidbury-based YouGen and Ottery St Mary-based Mazzard Farm have all been shortlisted in the People and Environment Achievement Awards in the PEA-ple's Favourite category.

Frugi is known for its organic children's clothing while Mazzard Farm offers holiday accommodation and You Gen offers information on saving energy. All are now hoping to progress to the next round, which will see a shortlist of 10 firms compiled on the basis of a public vote.

Cathy Debenham, founder of YouGen said: "We are really pleased that (our) work has chimed with enough people that they have taken the time to vote for us. It's an honour to be in the top 50 among such illustrious company. We hope they will vote again, so we make it to the top 10."

My Green Directory - The PEA-ple's Favourite Award 2013
Ethical firms are hoping to secure public vote | This is Devon

YouGen for home & business

Our purpose is to make it easy for you to learn about, invest in and enjoy the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. We are proud to be one of the UK's leading websites on renewable technologies and energy efficiency for home and business.

YouGen for installers

YouGen is proud to be one of the UK's leading renewable energy and energy efficiency websites for home and business owners. Your customers can read honest, impartial reviews and also recommend your services for others to read.

YouGen | Find & Compare Renewable Energy Installers, Suppliers and information on Eco Friendly Green Energy Homes, Community, Microgeneration, energy efficiency, Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Micro Hydro, Biomass Boilers, Heat Pumps | YouGen, Renewable Energy Made Easy

YouGen Blog, Renewable Energy Blog, Biomass Blog, Eco Blog, CHP Blog Green Energy Advice Blog | YouGen, Renewable Energy Made Easy





Take a Mazzard Farm tour - YouTube

What we’ve put in place – Our heating (incl. hot water) is generated through a Biomass Heating Boiler, Solar PV panels provide a significant percentage of our electricity, the buildings are optimally insulated, we use wood from our own forest for the wood burners, and all materials used for the conversion of the cottages pass high-level environmental standards. Recognition for this has come through a highly respectable ‘B’ rating at our cottages Energy Performance Certificates.

What we do – Full recycling facilities are available on site, and we can offer you a wide selection of local foods. Not only does the latter reduce food miles, they also taste much better than what you usually get in the shops. The soaps we provide are made on-site by Jacqueline and the shampoo by our friend Beth in Ottery St. Mary. And they aren’t just locally made and environmentally sound, they also smell absolutely gorgeous (many people buy them to take home!).

Where we can source the produce we need locally we will, and we obviously always look for the most sustainable options available.

The community we’re in – A huge factor in being a sustainable business is that you do all you can to work with, and stimulate the local community and economy. Amongst the things we do are apple juicing sessions with the local school, brownies and guides, we sit on various local bodies (such as the Chamber of Commerce and King’s School Enterprise Forum), and do what we can to help promote a healthy (in every sense of the word) local environment. We recently co-organised a beach clean at Sidmouth beach (with Keep Britain Tidy).

What we encourage – Many people like having a supermarket delivery before they arrive at Mazzard Farm. We fully understand that, but do suggest that when it comes to food and drink, you leave some (lots of?) room for the gorgeous local produce that is available, in Ottery St. Mary itself, as well as in the wider area. After all, what is more fun than – when on holiday in a new area – spending an hour so at the start of your break browsing in the local butchers, fish mongers, bakers, fruit & veg shop and wine merchant and picking up some fantastic locally sourced (and very high quality!) produce? Check our Links page for some great local addresses.

Through our home-produced ‘Guide to East Devon’, we help people keeping down their mileage significantly whilst at Mazzard Farm, as it highlights just how much there is to do in the immediate area around us.

Furthermore, there are many opportunities for walking and cycling in the area, with some routes starting right from the farm. And we are just a few miles away from Sustrans regional cycle way 52, and a proposed new national cycle route (2) runs right through Ottery St Mary. And if you are interested in wildlife, maybe check out our special ‘Wildlife‘ page.

It is also worthwhile knowing that you can get to Mazzard Farm using public transport, and we would happily come and pick you up (max. 6 people) from Honiton station, with our compliments *. More information on the Special Offers page. And what is more, anyone staying with us without bringing their car can have access to our mountain bikes free of charge, or qualify for a £50 per party ‘help the environment’ discount (£25 for a weekend/midweek booking). If you wish, you can offset your carbon emissions through www.climatecare.org.

We have been recognised for our sustainability efforts many times, with key recognition being our ‘Winner of Winner’ and ‘Sustainable Tourism’ Awards at the highly prestigious 2010 Devon Tourism Awards, meaning we were rated the most sustainable tourism business in Devon!

Mazzard Farm, a truly sustainable holiday destination! | Mazzard Farm
Mazzard Farm | Mazzard Farm
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