Grow your own hosepipe ban

So you may or may not have heard about the hosepipe ban that is due to hit England this summer. Evidently the weather has not been British enough this past year and we're running low on water in the reservoirs. Although I don't have a hosepipe so this won't be directly affecting me, I figure I should do my bit and so starting with my shower this morning have begun to collect some of my "gray" water.

Let me paint a picture, crazy woman, with 10 litre watering can, schlepping herself up and down the stairs to fill a  bucket in the garden and water her plants. If nothing else I got a good workout and my daughter's water table now smells of lovely mint and lavender shampoo. I am thinking I need another trug to fill with water cause right now I am not using it all in my grow my own attempts, although if it is indeed a BBQ summer I suppose I will use it pretty quick.

Thus far my outdoor planted garden consists of: Strawberries, Peas, lettuce, carrots and a gooseberry bush. I suppose now would be a good time to mention that all of my plants are in containers as my house only has a patio backyard. (I know, growing your own is just no fun if you have an actual garden!)

Wondering if/where I can get a few giant containers and small apple trees...

An introduction to the craziness

So a bit about me first of all. I would like to consider myself a 'normal' nearly 30 something mother and housewife. Truth is I'm not. Sure I am a mother (and although biased, I must say I have the world's most awesome 3 year old girl) and I do stay at home and, uh, mind the house, but I have discovered by talking to others I am probably not normal. Who is normal though? I don't know too many people who fit that description. 

I am an American, but I married a Brit and as a result I live in the east of England, in a lovely market town. I don't own a car, nor have I bothered getting a British driver's license (although I do still have my US one). I walk everywhere and recently became the proud owner of a bike with a child seat! Oh the places we'll go. 

This year is the first since the birth of my daughter that I am planning on being at my house for most of the summer and so I am attempting to go green(ish). I will be (hopefully) growing my own veg, making paper logs to burn next winter in our stove, detoxifying my body by giving up "toxic" personal grooming products (more on that later) , and generally attempting to make my life and that of my family more in tune with eco-consciousness. Whatever that means. 

I welcome suggestions for activities and projects I can try (as long as they are cheap and won't alarm the neighbors), and I hope to keep you all entertained.