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 2010 we are again giving away at least 10 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