Once you get used to the thrill of getting a box of organic fruit and veg delivered to your house every week, it's hard to go back to supermarket shopping . . . even if you never figure out what to do with that inevitable surfeit of butternut squashes.

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Absolutely Organics have been in the business for 10 years, delivering to the Dublin area with a minimum order of 15.

They also carry wines, biscuits, tea/coffees, juices, preserves and more and to celebrate their 10th birthday, every new customer who signs up before the end of the month gets a free 20 voucher towards their next order.

www. absolutelyorganic. ie

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Brook Lodge

What was once a deserted village in the Wicklow hills is now home to Brook Lodge, a destination hotel with Ireland's only certified organic restaurant, The Strawberry Tree. The menu is lipsmackingly good, and serves only wild and organic foods sourced from artisan food suppliers. To complement the philosophy, pioneering Brook Lodge also runs organic food markets on the first Sunday of the month (first and third in summer). Foodie nirvana! www. brooklodge. com

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Cultivate

Pay a visit to the sustainable living and learning centre in Temple Bar and you'll find plenty of inspiration towards forging a greener life, from workshops on how to build your own solar panel, to their Courtyard Garden where you can pick up everything from loganberry plants to Echinacea. Check out their extensive Eco Shop for treats like Tenuta Maiano Olive Oil (500ml) made from handpicked Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo olives from Tuscany for 14. Essex St West, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, Ireland; Tel: 01 674 5773 DDenis Healy The ubiquitous Denis Healy's produce, sold under the Organic Delights banner, is a stalwart of all the best farmers' markets.

Healy has been growing organic vegetables and fruits for over 20 years in Co Wicklow and he supplements his quality produce with exotic organic imports. Expect everything from apples to artichokes and salsify to squash.

www. organicdelights. ie

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Edun

Socially conscious and super stylish, this brainchild of Ali Hewson, Bono and New York designer Rogan Gregory goes from strength to strength each season. The company operates on a 'trade not aid' ethos, helping to build the skill sets of the factories where the clothes are produced, in India, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar. Currently all Edun t-shirts are made from 100% organic cotton but they're working towards using more organic materials in the collections in their entirety.

Check out www. edunonline. com.

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The Farm

Dawson Street's newest eatery serves up organic food at prices cheaper than many non-organic joints. The cafe-style decor is breezy and bright . . . perfect for their tasty, no-nonsense food. It's not 100% organic, but endeavours to use 'as much organic and free range' as they can. Think innovative burgers, good fish dishes, creative pizzas and a really great kids menu. Mains average around 12, making the bill a pleasant surprise.

The Farm, 3 Dawson Street, Dublin 2; Tel: 01 671 8654

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'Green is the New Black'
It would be very wrong to dismiss ethical shopping as a fad or as tokenism, assuaging the guilt of excessive consumerism. It's here to stay and Tamsin Blanchard's book is an excellent guide to everything from sourcing ethically produced clothes to making your own accessories and going organic with your skincare routine. Super model Lily Cole and queen of the bags Anya Hindmarch are some of the big names offering their eco-friendly contributions.

From bookstores, 19.20

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H&M
Fashionista's favourite H&M started using organic cotton in 2004 with the aim of helping increase the demand for organically cultivated cotton, which still only accounts for a very small percentage of world cotton production. This year sees the Swedish chain's biggest ever organic collection, which is clearly labelled, and now includes everything from underwear to men's, women's and children's clothing.

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Indulgence
When it comes to food, there's something about the word 'organic' that removes any guilt from the equation, never more so than when it applies to chocolate or icecream. We love Blakes, available nationwide, most especially their dark chocolate with chopped almonds . . . and the packaging is environmentally friendly too.

In terms of icecream, Tipperary Organic falls into the 'dangerously addictive' category (the Lemon Zest Creamy . . . words fail) and can be found in Superquinn, Tesco and some branches of Centra and Spar.

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John Seymour School for Self-sufficiency
Best known for his seminal bestseller Complete Book of Self Sufficiency, John Seymour was a writer, environmentalist and smallholder. He established Killowen smallholding in Co Wexford where he began a series of summer courses on all aspects of self-sufficiency.

He died in 2004, but Killowen continues to run organically driven courses from growing your own to understanding composting and scything grass to make hay. Almost all the food they serve is home-produced organically. Killowen, New Ross, Co Wexford.

www. selfsufficiency. net

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Kelly's organic cheeses
Kelly's family-run farm (Gerry, his wife Mary and their six children are the driving force) is one of only 15 organic farms in the country and currently produces eight organic farmhouse cheeses. Try the Brid, where organic nettles, chives, celery, parsley and garlic and an organic sunflower oil are lightly blended with fresh cheese. Or how about the Derbhella, a moreish combination of cheese with a little parsley, onion, garlic, peppers and curry (all organic, naturally).

www. kellysorganic. com

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Lovelula
Fans of organic skincare will love this online apothecary, with over 350 of the finest natural beauty products. Founded by Naturopath Claire 'Lula' Lewis, the site is stylishly designed, extremely userfriendly and displays prices in euro.

Alongside old faithfuls like Weleda and Lavera you'll find celebrity favourites like Kimia and Sayer and great choices for baby's skin and eczema too.

www. lovelula. com

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Marc Michel
A little off the beaten track but worth the visit is Marc Michel's Organic Life Cafe, a long time mecca for those in search of the wholesome and delicious. Feast on the superb bread and dips and the exquisite burgers, rounding off with a chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce . . . the latter sounds like overkill but it's not. The environs . . . glasshouse, working organic farm . . . are as pleasing as the food. Tinna Parc, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow;

Tel: 01 201 1882. .

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Nadur Organics
Synthetic fragrances and nasty petroleum toxins are part and parcel of most massproduced candles. Not so those from Irish company Nadur Organics where 100% natural plant-waxes and organic essential oils burn for 40 hours to produce a heavenly, aromatherapeutic experience.

Choose from Soothe, Awaken and Cleanse and breathe deep their deliciously pure and powerful fragrances. Candles cost 31.99 each from www. nadurorganics. ie

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Organic Matters
Whether your interest is general or more specific, Ireland's first magazine, from The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, dedicated to all things organic (and out bi-monthly) is a toothsome read. From easy, familyfriendly recipes to discovering why we should restore our natural landscape, it's all here. Get it at Eason and from many wholefood shops and market stalls around the country.

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Phoenix Farmhouse
For a green, affordable family holiday The Phoenix Farmhouse ticks all the boxes.

This quirky spot has an organic restaurant that serves up great value vegetarian fare and organic wines and much of the produce is picked from their surrounding organic gardens. The Phoenix also offers B&B, hostel accommodation, gypsy caravans and camping spots. An original and fun holiday. Closed from October to Easter. Shanahill East, Castlemaine, Co Kerry; Tel: 066 9766 284.

www. thephoenixorganic. com

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Quince Body Moisturiser
Known for its soothing properties and with a wonderfully uplifting scent, quince is a secret weapon when it comes to autumn/winter skincare. Holistic brand Dr Hauschka (free from synthetic fragrances, preservatives, colours, genetically modified organisms) is one of the most reliable and effective skincare ranges available and its Quince Body Moisturiser ( 21.30) works for both men and women and is especially good after shaving.

Available from Clerys in Dublin and from health stores and pharmacies nationwide.

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Rossinver Organic Centre
The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim is a non-profit organisation that's at the heart of Ireland's green movement.

With a mandate to promote organic horticulture, gardening and sustainable living, through training, demonstration and community projects, it more than lives up to its ideals. It helps establish organic community gardens, runs gardening courses, has an eco shop, promotes eco-literacy within schools and boasts 19 acres of inspiring organic display gardens.

www. theorganiccentre. ie

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Seaweed baths
Our prediction is that seaweed is going to be the next really big thing . . . in both food and beauty treatments. It's a veritable powerhouse of concentrated vitamins and mineral and there's certainly no lack of it in this country. Take a trip to chic country retreat Bellinter House and book yourself in for a treatment using Voya products, which are produced in the seaweed baths of Sligo and are the world's first certified organic seaweed-based products. The blend of wild hand-harvested seaweed, shea butter, bees wax, pure aloe vera, Dead Sea salts and essential oils is exquisite. Bellinter House, Navan, Co.

Meath. Tel: 046 9030900 www. bellinterhouse. com

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Tuscan cookery holidays
Spend a week in glorious Tuscany living the organic foodie dream. In between cookery demos using organic ingredients, you'll visit local organic farms and biodynamic vineyards while sampling the local wines and flavours. Accommodation is self-catering and the main farmhouse, where the cooking takes place, has admirable green credentials. 1,200 per person sharing, excluding flights.

www. organictuscany. org

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Ummera salmon
Slivers of smoked salmon on brown bread with a squeeze of lemon juice are one of life's simplest but greatest luxuries. Yet chances are you've experienced such awful interpretations of it that you no longer have much of a hankering.

Ummera's organic smoked salmon will restore your faith once again. The fish are raised in accordance with strict organic farming principles, six kilometres off the Co Mayo coast, and the other ingredients used in the smoking process have equally impeccable credentials: the salt is pure sea salt from Tavira in Portugal; the sugar is raw cane sugar organically-grown in Cost Rica; the sawdust for smoking is from sustainable oak forests.

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Vendemia Wines
Importing organic and biodynamic wines from France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, Vendemia Wines is a reliable Irish importer. Priding themselves on choosing chemical-free certified organic bottles, they'll deliver mixed cases and tasting packs, or you could always join their Eco Wine Club.

www. organicwinesireland. com

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Jo Wood's Organics
What we love about Jo Wood (below with hubby) is that she's not hawking this holier-than-thou, completely unattainable lifestyle. Being the wife of Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood, she's been around the block and has known the odd excess or two, which give her organic skincare range that element of cred. The products are all made in Devon, using only the highest grade of essential oil and plant extracts, and the packaging is fantastically pretty.

Try the Amka bath oil, with Persian rose otto, Egyptian jasmine, neroli and bergamot for the ultimate in uplifting bathing. Available from Harvey Nichols Dundrum and Kalu in Naas.

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Organix
Health-conscious mums and dads can choose Organix treats for tots and toddlers without the usual snack food worries. Their no-junk promise means their goodies range is organic, natural and wholesome. Look out for cereal bars sweetened with carrot juice, biscuits made from oats, fruit and seeds, and tooth-friendly rice cakes. Their gingerbread men have proven extremely popular with peckish parents too!

From leading supermarkets and health food shops. www. organix. com

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Yoghurt
Or to be more specific, Glenisk. This family-run, organic dairy in Killeigh, Co Offaly produces some of the greatest hits currently available in the chilled cabinet. Where to start? The banana and peach goat's milk yoghurt for one; followed by the low-fat Chocolate Underground dessert.

No, wait! The low-fat blueberry yogurt!

Their cows graze on lush pastures, untouched by synthetic fertilisers or pesticides . . . and you can taste it.

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Z-Gel
A wonder tube, widely revered in France, Z-Gel is recommended for all kinds of first aid. Applied typically to bites, bruises, scrapes and sunburn, the gel soothes and heals. Best off all, the natural blend of flower essences and extracts (80% are organic) make it soothing in times of shock or stress. Essential for every firstaid kit. 9.95 from www. lovelula. com.