Christmas at the Cottage

We're spending a few days at the Cottage in Mundesley, North Norfolk between visitors. Painting, fixing up the garden and trying to control three excited children...

Now that we have broadband here its easy to check email and orders from Green Eyed Frog and to update the blog!

We have considered eco building technologies at the cottage and have just installed a new energy efficient boiler, new windows and use electric and gas from a 'green' supplier but its a Victorian terrace cottage and we are limited by its age and size. We encourage visitors to recycle and take their bottles to the bottle bank. Also thinking about getting a wormery for the garden so the children can 'feed' the worms.

Visitors at the cottage certainly enjoy and comment on the organic bedlinen, towels and bathrobes. They also have full use of wi-fi broadband, Sky and organic toiletries. We also make sure that all cleaning and laundry products are eco-friendly and use Ecover, Faith in Nature and Clear Spring.

Back to work now painting the landing...

Top Eleven Tips for a RRR Really Eco Christmas

Below are some of the things we do at home...

1. Reuse last years Christmas cards to make gift tags - the children love helping with this one.
   
   
2. Reuse last years Christmas Cards to make new cards for this year. Just cut up with fancy scissors and stick on recycled card.
   
   
3. Use Eco Christmas decorations and get rid of all the plastic tinsel tatt. Collect pine cones and paint with gold and silver paint. Bake Christmas biscuits to hang on the tree instead of chocolates. Use Green Eyed Frogs Fair Trade, Eco Christmas garlands and tree decorations.
   
   
4. Make your own mincemeat and bake mince pies. We use vegetarian suet and organic fruit.
   
   
5. Make your own sausage rolls. Our vegetarian Bible is Rose Elliots Complete Vegetarian Cookbook - a must have if you prefer healthy eating to processed food from supermarkets...
   
   
6. Buy a native, local Christmas Tree which is rooted in a pot you can then take it outside after Christmas, plant it in the garden and dig it up for next year.
   
   
7. For the Christmas lights use LED type instead of the older style bulb filaments as they are cheaper to run and don't keep blowing.
   
   
8. Buy a free range, non GM turkey or bird. Check the farm out beforehand and talk to local people. Organic turkeys can be ordered on line eg www.redopollmeats.co.uk one of our local suppliers.
   
   
9. Buy local, in season organic veg, use your local box scheme or even better grow your own. We have carrots, leaks, celeriac, onions raspberries and apples from our garden this Christmas.
   
   
10. Buy your children, friends & family gifts from second hand shops. Some will appreciate it although some will not! "Are we bothered!!"
    
    
11. Don't spend a fortune on that little black number for the office Christmas party just visit your local charity shops and you will certainly find a far better outfit for far less.
    

Just try to relax at Christmas, don't get sucked into the ultra consumerism of it all. If the turkey isn't ready on time does it matter, eat later and enjoy more festiver pre-dinner drinks.

Recycled Packaging

At Green Eyed Frog 90% of our packaging is reused and recycled. We aim to increase this to 95% but being a new company it has taken quite a few months to build up our stock of reused paper, boxes and envelopes.

Where do we get our packaging from?
The local community. Friends, neighbours in the village and surrounding villages. Local shops and businesses provide a lot of cardboard boxes and the local post office I use to send parcels provides me with a good supply of cardboard boxes. If you receive an order with Bobbys Muffins on the box, please don't be too disappointed when you open it up to find your Green Eyed Frog gift for uncle Fred. The muffins are delicious but unfortunately I don't get to eat them all before sending the box out - they are sold in our local Post Office and General Store.

If you live locally (Suffolk) and are passing this way I would love to collect your unwanted packing material, boxes, paper etc. Please contact Green Eyed Frog for more details on rachel.turner@greeneyedfrog.co.uk

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

In this age of consumerism, especially at Christmas, there is constant pressure on the High Street to buy more things to throw away using more resources and energy. There are alternatives out there that don’t destroy the planet or your finances and give consumers a choice. For the individualist with a green conscience this Christmas who can think of a better way to spend your money than on eco, organic, fair trade and recycled gifts.

Don’t give your hard-earned cash to unethical brands, check out Green Eyed Frog for sustainable present ideas. We specialise in gifts for children and baby including blankets, wooden toys, solar and brick construction sets. For adults why not browse the homeware, garden, gadgets, jewellery and organic toiletry departments to find that special gift. For the personal touch a bespoke gift wrap service is available.

Our web site is not just an on-line shop but has been designed to raise awareness, educate and inform. Product research and testing has taken place by our family ‘team’ of three young children, parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours to present a collection of quality products that customers will enjoy.
“If we don’t use the product ourselves why should you?”

Power Out

We've got no electricity all day tomorrow while the power lines are switched off for tree cutting. When living in the country this does happen every so often but hopefully it will mean less power cuts in the winter. So I can't do any work... What a shame - going to Mother in laws with the baby as it might get cold in the house without the heating on.

If you do try and call during the day I wil pick up messages in the evening once we are back on line.

Courier Service or Local Post Office

I am often asked why we don't use a courier. There are several reasons but the main one being that Green Eyed Frog is a rural business and its important to support local services and other businesses which includes the local post office. When you live 9 miles from the nearest supermarket you need a local shop for banking, fresh bread and to post the orders.

When Barclays closed down most of the small rural branches we were hit hard here in Suffolk and the Post Offices are all that remain of our links with the towns. My local Post Office is on route to the school where I drop the children (no affordable rural bus service for our kids but thats another posting) so I'm not going out of my way and I get to meet other local people, have a chat and find out whats what and whose who as women like to do. The rural Post Office is the hub of small villages and offers a far wider service than you find in the towns.

My local Post Office is also the general store and newsagent, they even do picture framing. They also pass on a good supply of cardboard boxes so if you wonder what Bobbys muffins are on your packaged order - they sell them in our Post Office and they are very nice although not at all organic or good for you!

A Hint of 'Green' on the Norfolk Coast

Yesterday we finally completed the purchase of a lovely Victorian flint and brick cottage in the village of Mundesley near Cromer on the North Norfolk coast. It will be available for hire weekends, short breaks and family holidays. We have added our own hint of 'Green' by including Green Eyed Frog fair trade organic cotton bed linen and towels plus organic toiletries and a fair trade welcome tray.

Any one interested in getting away from it all in this peaceful unspoilt village check out the web site and send us an email
http://www.royalcottage.co.uk

WANTED White used Packing Paper

I like to wrap up Green Eyed Frog orders in used white packing paper, the type you get during house moves. If any one has some they no longer need please let me know and I will arrange collection/postage.
Thanks
Rachel

New Christmas Stock Has Arrived

I've been waiting for this fair trade consignment for 6 months and it was certainly worth the wait. Some fantastic organic cotton stockings and sacks and 12 foot long palm leaf garlands in red and green. There are also a variety of palm leaf Christmas Tree decorations. All these items have been made to order by a Community Workers project in Kuppam, South India set up in 1985 by Bristol based Bishopston Trading Company. We have to order stock 6 months in advance so that the workers have a continuous supply of work throughout the year and are not laid off. All items are made with care and attention to detail using organic non GM cotton.

Whats in a Name? Why Green Eyed Frog?

Well, this is something I am often asked... It was my 8 year old son's idea. At the time he was into Crazy Frog songs in the charts and suggested Crazy Frog but we said oh nooooo silly boy. Then we thought about the frog theme and after several months, with help from my son, again, came up with Green Eyed Frog. It needed to be catchy, easy to remember and have a simple, reproducable logo so Green Eyed Frog was born.

A Green Eyed Frog is actually an Australia Tree Frog:
The green-eyed tree frog has adapted its appearance to blend in with the moss-covered rain forests of Queensland, Australia. The frogs' coloration and markings vary with their specific habitat, but they usually have a brownish-green body with rust-colored blotches that match the lichen-covered rocks lining the creeks and streams they tend to live near.This species gets its name not for green eyes per se, but rather for a line of brilliant green that often adorns the brow of each eye. They are also distinguishable by a row of skin flaps along their arms and legs, which resembles a serrated knife.
http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/green-eyed-tree-frog.html

Why an Eco Gift Store?

Our family has for years been 'environmentally' aware and we have been active campaigners for real cloth nappies and eco buildings. We lead a somewhat different domestic life to the 'normal' family with young children but I have never been one to follow the crowds. The children wear or have worn cloth nappies, were taught from an early age how to recycle and we don't buy junk food.

Before Green Eyed Frog I found it very difficult to source affordable eco and organic products especially deodorants, toiletries and linen. I don't agree to paying a premium just because something is organic after all does the extra money you pay really go to the farmer or producer, I doubt it very much? So we decided to set up our own internet gift shop so that others could also find eco and organics goods more easily and accessibly at an affordable price...and thats how it began...

Stock Take & Special Offers

Just managed to do a stock take and have decided to reduce some lines to clear some space for the Christmas stock otherwise my new shelving will be overflowing. If you get a chance, take a look at the bedlinen and organic toiletries which are on specials. http://www.greeneyedfrog.co.uk/ForHer/

Turkey or Duck Eggs

Went to get some eggs from my local farm today and saw two turkeys pecking around the garden with the hens - this is what you call free range! The farmer asked if I would like some turkey eggs but I declined and took some duck eggs instead along with the usual 1/2 dozen hen eggs. Not sure whether this is just a Suffolk thing but I've never had a turkey egg don't know if any one else has?

Thats what I like about living in rural Suffolk so much choice. Bantom eggs, duck eggs and of course, for the not so adventurous like me, good old hen eggs.

New Spiel & Holz Toddler Wooden Shapes

I went to collect some toddler wooden shapes today from someone I know who is selling off her toy business. Got a bit lost in the Suffolk countryside as my multimap print out in draft mode was too poor to read but found it in the end. Although I will only have 9 of these sets, they are a lovely addition to the childrens toys. There are no varnishes, paints or pigments just alder wood and some linseed oil.

The Germans are certainly years ahead of us where eco and organic products are concerned. A lot of Green Eyed Frog's products come from Germany. The quality is excellent and craftsmanship superb.

I thought that buying wooden toys for my children was far better than plastic but then I found out about the toxic paints and varnishes which can be used on some toys from China and Taiwan. Its very difficult for parents these days to know what is best for their children especially with all the media pressure to buy expensive plastic tat. Get the children watching BBC channels - they don't have adverts!!!

Dear husband

The only problem working with your other half is that they don't do what you want them to when you want them to...

My husband, who is also my business partner, designed and maintains the green eyed frog web site fitting it in with other 'more important' work. He photographs new products when they come in which are then supposed to go up on the site, however sometimes the photos can sit on the camera for weeks before he gets a chance to put them up. I apologise for products listed which do not have photos this is the reason why...

When the Christmas gifts arrive I've told him to get a move on otherwise Christmas will be over by the time the photos go up. I call it motivation he calls it nagging.

It all gets done in the end and what a good job he makes (if he reads this blog!).

Deodorant Dilemma

A few years ago I read an article on the WEN (Womens Environmental Network) web site about how chemicals in deodorants were found in breast cancer tumours and could be a contributing factor. With breast cancer on the increase what can you do to prevent it? Well apart from the obvious like a healthy diet and lifestyle you could have lots of children and breast feed but thats not everyone's choice. I have 3 children and breast fed for around 4 years in total but is there anything a little easier than going through childbirth three times!? I have opted for the au natural deodorant when at home ie none or if I'm going out, as a special treat for those closest to me, I wear an organic, aluminium and alcohol free brand made from Hemp oil and aloe vera.

Green Eyed Frog also sell a range for men including the Thai Deodorant stone and the Homme Stay Fresh. So... there is no need to lose friends over your choice of au natural deodorant. You can stay cool, fresh and healthy at the same time.

Eco Red Top Fly Traps

It's nearly the end of the fly season and although fly traps are still selling its probably best to leave until April/May next year before putting them out again. They are really quite an amazing product. One customer I was talking to told me that she thinks they are fantastic and have solved all her fly problems on the small holding.

When we were on holiday on the Norfolk coast we didn't have any fly problems. Must just be the Suffolk country air that brings them all out or the pigs and chickens across the field maybe...

Recycled Racking

We have just bought some second hand metal shelving/racking for the stock room. One of our customers http://www.selffit.co.uk is moving offices and is getting rid of some great shelves. He even delivered them for us. Very nice man. This is ideal for us as we are recycling, reusing and of course paying less than if we bought new. We are also helping him out.

Everything is now ready for the lovely organic, fair trade Christmas stockings and tree decorations and all the new linen.

Thread Count

We get quite a few enquiries from customers asking detailed questions about products. One we had this week was about the thread count of one of our organic cotton bed sheets. The manufacturer was dragging their heels in answering so we had to count the threads ourselves, (vertical threads per inch plus horizontal threads per inch).

WIRE Meeting

Just got back from a WIRE meeting - Women in Rural Enterprise. All good stuff, met loads of people - women only - sorry guys. Organic dairy herd selling cheese, butter and milk, another Eco campaigner Roz Gordon http://www.rozgordonphotography.co.uk and I discovered another WAHM like me making fabric bags Marshmallow Bags. Lots of empathy re children, lack of childcare in rural areas, flexible working and Thomas Tank Engine videos on all day.

SGR FM Interview

Kate from SGR FM radio station came along today to do an interview on women in rural businesses. We chatted in the garden over a cup of coffee (organic, fair trade of course) about the wind-up mobile phone charger and organic deodorants. I was telling her that until I discovered the lafes and crystal deodorants I just went without - at least you get a good seat on the train that way! Its going to be on air tomorrow hopefully.

Running GEF away from home

We're on holiday and still trying to run the business. Luckily, the cottage we're staying in (on the Norfolk Coast) has broadband and after reseting the router we're able to check orders.