Category: Green Living

Village Green Welcomes Healthy Home Expert Caroline Blazovsky

February 16th, 2016 by Caroline Blazovsky, Healthy Home Expert

Caroline-Blazovsky_IMG_8870a_cropHello all! It is wonderful to be joining the Village Green blog team! For over 15 years, I have been helping individuals create healthy living spaces. You may be asking what that means. It is my mission to help physicians and homeowners understand the importance that our environments play in our health. In my opinion, three things matter most to wellness; what you put into your body, your environmental exposures, and your genetics.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with top physicians and individual clients to solve health-related complaints that stem from environmental issues. It is amazing how many health complaints come from our exposures to things like mold, Continue reading “Village Green Welcomes Healthy Home Expert Caroline Blazovsky”

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5 Tips to Cut Down Holiday Waste

December 21st, 2015 by Paula Gallagher

holiday-wasteDuring the holidays, Americans use about 4 million tons of wrapping paper and gift bags and that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of waste. According to the EPA, household waste increases by more than 25% over the holidays. Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons all add up to an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills.

So what can you do? Here are some tips to help you cut down holiday waste and have a greener holiday season.

1. Give the gift of time or an experience: A homemade certificate for helping dig a garden, creating a picnic, or providing pet-sitting services is great for the person who could use an extra hand. Personally, the gift of babysitting my children would be appreciated! Tickets to concerts, plays, or sporting events; memberships to museums, art galleries, or science centers are also great gifts that will bring lasting memories. A donation in the recipient’s name to a cause or organization he or she is passionate about is also a thoughtful gift. Continue reading “5 Tips to Cut Down Holiday Waste”

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Green Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home

May 26th, 2015 by Paula Gallagher

green-cleaningI don’t know about you, but spring cleaning is a big job around here. However, many of the products we may use while spring cleaning our homes are filled with ingredients that have proven negative long-term effects on our health. Ammonia, sodium hydroxide and triclosan are some of the culprits found in products ranging from laundry detergents to glass and mirror cleaners. These ingredients can linger on just cleaned surfaces and are easily absorbed by human tissues, exposing us and our children to hazardous chemicals with unhealthy side effects. For more information on what’s in your cupboard, check out the Environemental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

Although there are some fantastic safe products  available to purchase, there are also plenty of tried and true items sitting in your pantry right now that can clean your house from top to bottom without any harmful effects. And they work! Here are four recipes for green spring cleaning. Continue reading “Green Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home”

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Earth Day Sale on Personal Care Products

April 21st, 2015 by Paula Gallagher

earth-dayEarth Day is April 22 and to celebrate, Village Green Apothecary is having a sale on personal care products through April 30, offering 25% off on brands like Dr. Hauschka, Logona, MyChelle, Skincando and Aubrey Organics, companies that strive to make the cleanest and most effective products.

And – now is the best time to arm yourself and your loved ones with sunscreen. One of the companies we love is Goddess Garden. They carry a variety of sunscreens that offer effective protection from the sun without sacrificing their commitment to the environment and to you. They believe that sunscreen should be a natural solution to a natural problem and this why they use minerals, like zinc and titanium, instead of chemicals, to protect you from the sun. Their sunscreen is organic and made without chemicals or synthetic ingredients. It is also non-GMO, 100% biodegradable and 100% reef safe, and therefore not only protects you, but also the world around you.

Aside from using personal care products from companies that care about our world, here are some other ways you can be green on Earth Day… and everyday! Continue reading “Earth Day Sale on Personal Care Products”

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What to Do With Your Pumpkins After Halloween

November 4th, 2014 by Paula Gallagher
Pumpkin Carving at the Gallaghers
Pumpkin Carving at the Gallaghers

Are you wondering what to do with your pumpkins after Halloween? Don’t kick your them to the curb just yet. Whether you carved them, or left them whole, this mighty squash has plenty of life in it yet.

Composting is a wonderful way to recycle your pumpkin. If your city offers a composting program, then make use of it, especially if your jack-o-lantern has been out for a while. However, if you have a garden, compost it yourself. It is as easy as burying it in the ground. Worms love the soft flesh of pumpkins! Burying it also keeps any smells below ground, keeps unwanted bugs away, and keeps your soil happily full of nutrients before next year’s planting season. Needless to say, make sure to remove any candles, wax, or foil beforehand.

Here are three blogs that will give you tips on what to do with your pumpkin, once the ghouls and goblins have left.

1. What to Do With Your Pumpkin: Did you know that pumpkins are fruits? They are part of the same family as melons and cucumbers. If you have whole pumpkins with seeds still intact, this blog will give you plenty of ideas to make the most of this nutrient dense fruit.

2. Fantastic Benefits of Pumpkin: Plus get my recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds.

3. Interesting Fact About Pumpkin Pies: Read this link to find out why you may need to do some baking. Attention, men!  🙂

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Our Bloggers

  • Paula Gallagher
    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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  • Margo Gladding
    Margo Gladding
    Margo's impressive knowledge base is the result of a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
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  • Dr. Neal Barnard
    Dr. Neal Barnard
    Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
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  • Joseph Pizzorno
    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
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  • Debi Silber
    Debi Silber
    Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
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  • Teri Cochrane
    Teri Cochrane
    Teri is a is a Certified Coach Practitioner with extensive certifications and experience in holistic medicinal practices.
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  • Dr. Rav Ivker
    Dr. Rav Ivker
    Dr. Rav Ivker is a holistic family physician, health educator, and best-selling author.
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  • Susan Levin
    Susan Levin
    Susan writes about the connection between plant-based diets and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
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  • Rob Brown
    Dr. Rob Brown
    Dr. Brown's blended perspective of healthcare includes a deeply rooted passion for wellness and spiritual exploration.
    read more..

Other Contributors

Caroline Blazovsky
Heather Gunn
Jared Rice
Ellen Kittredge
Naz Amini
Carmen Ugas
Steve Stillwater
Farzin Farid
Joe Ailts
Scott O’Dell
James Brodsky, MD
Christine M. Gonzales
Beth Ritchie
Jim Fox

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