At Wish we are working as best we can to respect the environment and to develop a sustainable future.

When building Wish we had a really tight budget and did all we could to balance this with building a sustainable building using the motto       “Do it once- do it right”

This included things like-

• saving the trees on the site
• using the site well to maximise the sun for us and our neighbours
• maximising thermal gain and installing well over the recommended insulation in all walls and ceilings. This helped a lot with sound transference in the rooms too
• building a flexible building that can have a variety of uses not just as a B and B
• using local products and buying from local companies
• minimising building waste and recycling anything we could
• waterproofing the whole bathroom and using tiles that should out last the building
• installing low water use toilets
• using composite weather boards so that the building needs less maintenance and fits with the neighbourhood. These boards have good thermal properties too
• using eco-bulbs, hologen lighting and efficient water heating
• buying quality beds, furnishings and linen that won't need replacing as often
• up-cycling or recycling most of the furniture
• recycling all the old fence rails as raised garden beds
• using “damaged”material that would have become landfill for the fences
• building a home with a long life that will no doubt outlast us and our children

Now we are open as a B and B we -

• recycle, up-cycle, reduce and reuse
• participate in the extensive kerbside recycling offered by our city council
• use eco-cleaning products and occasionally dumpstered/discarded cleaning items that would otherwise go into landfill
• grow our own vegetables using our own compost/mulch and we water when needed using a low use watering system on a timer
• line dry all our washing
• use minimal artificial heating
• only use the car when there are at least three people in it with several jobs to do on one round trip
• having bikes avaiable and making our own shopping bags out of old t-shirts
• buy local, organic in season food as much as we can
• network with other gardeners to share our excess crops
• support local organic farms and buy direct from producers to ensure we know where the food comes from
• make our own jams, chutneys and baked goods because it uses excess fruit and vegetables and we know exactly what is in our food
• ask guests what they won't eat to save food waste
• encourage vegetarian and vegan choices as these diets impact less on the planet

We often ask our selves.. “Do we really need that?” each time we have a consumer moment!

We also

• share sustainable and eco-friendly ideas with our guests and ask them for feedback and support so that we all know better and do better
• Planted one native grass clump or tree in Canterbury for each guest who stayed at Wish during 2009
• encourage guests to not use a car while in Christchurch as we are only 10 minutes walk from most city attractions
• only refresh rooms and towels during longer stays, when requested, as this saves extra energy and cleaning products
• support and buy from artists and artisans so that Wish! Is a warm, friendly, inviting and relaxing place to stay
• pay it forward to bands and local charities by offering low cost/free "Beds for Bands" and vouchers for fundrasing events

Happy people make better choices!          Generosity breeds Goodwill!

Ongoing Projects include-

• Installing a rainwater recovery system/storage tank for watering the garden.. still on the Wish list!
• This year Wish is again supporting the community and the environment. In 2011 we have given away several packages to community groups to use as fundraising or in a way that rewards those who need it.
• Buying and taking school supplies directly to small communities in New Caledonia and Fiji who are struggling to get what they need.
• Closer to home we are suppoprting Kits 2 Kids (http://www.fosterhope.co.nz/ )so children in fostercare have basic supplies and something sturdy to put them in too.
• We are helping suppy food for animals on an local organic farm and supporting local organic farmers by buying direct when we can.
• Finishing the landscaping and water fetaures so the fish who are breeing like crazy get a new home.
• Planting more fruit trees and developing more garden beds for vegatables and herbs.. this is ongoing until we run out of space.
• Supporting St Albans as a Transition Community
• Supporting local ventures especially the community gardens and  tree planting
• Suporting Ella Soryl and her friends on the walk to Akaroa to save the Hectors dolphins. http://www.givealittle.co.nz/member/EllaS#causes