More Hip Than Hippie #270 - The Dumpster Diva

Designer Tiffany Threadgould returns to remind us that garbage has feelings, too.

The Hipsters welcome the delightful Dumpster Diva,Tiffany Threadgould, back to the show! Our favorite design junkie has been busy with several exciting projects lately. Tiffany took a break from moving into her new Brooklyn workspace to reveal all the details of her trashy life. Also, Dori opens her Piehole to spill some bitter news.

Beer: Half a world away, delicious hops are grown and harvested with this beer in mind. Sierra Nevada flies them fresh from New Zealand to Chico for their final destination: Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale. The flavor of this hoppy brew is perfect, and you can't even taste the carbon footprint.

Chocolate: Thanks to listener Chris in Montana (long story) for the huge care package o'chocolate! This week we sampled Andrea Stainer Origins Ecuador 70% Cocoa, Floral & Sweet. A simple bar with a subtle flavor, this paired nicely with our beer.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Don't you love it when a simple product makes your life better? That's how Val feels about her Dechlorinating Shower Filter. By softening water, it enables your personal care products to work more effectively and leaves you feeling cleaner. Plus, Val no longer smells like a public swimming pool.
• Yogi and Boo-Boo approve. Pack a quick planet-friendly meal and eat it al fresco with a Boxsal compostable picnic kit. Pick the style that suits you and leave no trace behind.

• Plastifornia. The Golden State has failed in its attempt to ban single-use plastic bags. Despite widespread support for the bill, the state Senate couldn't close the deal. To paraphrase the Governator, we'll be back!
• Are we there yet? A new study finds that the average male drives an extra 276 miles lost each year because he won't ask for directions. Honey, just pull over at that nice clean gas station...

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Socks on the rocks! Feel that chill in the air? Time to take the woolens out of storage...and freshen them up with a spritz of vodka! Put some of the cheap stuff in a spray bottle and apply liberally to musty coats and accessories. Don't worry, you won't smell like you had a martini for breakfast (you didn't, did you?).

The Hipsters welcome the delightful Dumpster Diva,Tiffany Threadgould, back to the show! Our favorite design junkie has been busy with several projects, including a new "ReMake It" kit--the Plastic Bag Trash Can. Tiffany took a break from moving into her new Brooklyn workspace to spill all the details of her trashy life.

• Tiffany's company, RePlayGround, continues to create fun recycling projects for all ages. Take a look at their popular ReMake It kits.
• She's a designer for TerraCycle, a great company that turns trash into cool products.
• Catch her Garbage Moguls show on the National Geographic Channel.
• You can pick up Tiffany's first book, "ReMake It", on Earth Day 2011! Until then, check her out on YouTube.
• Want to hire her for an event? She's available for corporate workshops, parties, bar mitzvahs...
• You can probably find Tiffany at a Maker Faire near you!

• Christine in Flagstaff, Arizona spotted this house made of shipping containers in her neighborhood, and wonders if this is a new trend in green building. The answer is yes! We think it's a great way to repurpose these tough containers when they're out of commission. Send us a photo of the finished product, OK?
• Adam in Tennessee wants to know if the new Ten Thousand Villages store in his town is the real deal, and if Equal Exchange coffee is truly a fair trade product. Yes and yes, so go shopping!
• Ashanti in Austin, TX recommends Beer Wars, a film about the struggles of indie beer makers. She also yearns to keep a few farm critters, which we heartily support.
• Andrea in Houston, TX is planning her nuptials, and would love some green wedding tips. Congrats!
• Kristin in New Hampshire is a restauranteur with a trashy dilemma. We suggest using BioBags.
• Lurker Alert! A big Hipster Howdy to Michelle in Colorado and Meghan in Virginia, who have officially unlurked themselves!