Blog Moved!

We have moved our blog over to our website. Please visit www.village-green-gifts.com

Links may be broken in any posts below due to our move, so we welcome your visit over at the Green Village!

Thank you for visiting our blog.

The Team @ Village Green Gifts
www.village-green-gifts.com

Build a Rain Garden!

It's still August, for one more day at least. Your solar thermometer is reading 15 degrees below normal if you live in the Pacific Northwest and thoughts of rainy days ahead isn't too hard to imagine.

Yes, the end of the flowers, but not the end of the garden! This year, consider building a RAIN GARDEN.

How?

Choose the location downhill from your waterspout, at least ten feet from your home.

[Read more here]

Quiksilver's The Ray Watch is Confusing, But Eco-Friendly

Quiksilver's The Ray Watch is Confusing, But Eco-Friendly
By Jhwk
Is there something less 'eco-friendly' aboot the citizen ecodrive watches that require zero batteries evar, or the slew of other solar charged time devices. Why does this one merit our attention? They recycled glass and stainless steel ...

Make Your Own Potato Plastic
By Marc de Vinck
Either one is a nice eco-friendly alternative to the petroleum based variety. Although I think it's actual usefulness may be a bit limited. In this video we make a batch of potato plastic based on an instructable by Brandon121233. ...

Readers rate shampoo

The Green Guide surveyed web site visitors who've used the following eco-friendly brands of shampoo, to see how they found they performed when compared to conventional brands they've used. (Links suggest brand-specific gifts)

•Aubrey Organics
•Avalon
•Jason Natural
•Kiss My Face
•Aveda
•Nature's Gate

Here's what they learned from over 800 respondents:

1. Aveda is the most popular brand of eco-friendly shampoo among respondents, followed by Aubrey Organics and Avalon Organics.
2. In general, respondents feel that these eco-friendly shampoos perform the same as conventional brands (with the exception of Aveda, which respondents say performs better).
3. An overwhelming majority of respondents who use eco-friendly shampoos say that these shampoos don’t leave behind any residue or film that is difficult to rinse out.
4. Most respondents like the smell of these eco-friendly brands of shampoo.
5. The majority of respondents say they have to use the same amount of eco-friendly shampoo (as compared to a conventional brand) to get the clean they want.
6. More than half of respondents who’ve used Aubrey, Avalon and Aveda prefer it over another natural or conventional brand.

What do you find that works? Add your comments below.

Got Bike? Spare the Air!

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issued the month's second Smog Watch. This is expected to remain in effect until noon Sunday. Read more here: Day 1 of the August sizzle is upon us KOMO News - Seattle, Washington

Scott Sistek at KOMO News sums up statistics there for the hot weather in Seattle and also notes:

• The Clean Air Agency suggests the following actions you can take to help spare the air:
• Carpool or ride the bus to work, events and outings.
• If you must drive, use your most fuel-efficient car and combine errands into one trip.
• If you must refuel, do it in the evening hours, don't top off the tank and make sure your gas cap clicks tightly closed.
• Skip gasoline-powered yard work and gas-fueled recreation.
• Avoid using household products that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Look for low- or no-VOC paints and water-based solvents, instead.
• Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney to start your barbecue (there's no need to ever use lighter fluid).
• Even better, use only a gas grill or opt for a non-grill picnic.

View these great gifts for the bicyclist.