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Sat, 20 December 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Sierra Nevada Brewery

More Hip Than Hippie #200 - Sierra Nevada Brewery

Ken Grossman is the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery here in Chico, CA. His sustainable business practices have earned nearly as much praise as his award-winning beer.

We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. That's why we invited him to be our special guest for our 200th show! Val's hubby Rob was so excited, he sat in on our interview. We learn how Ken started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters. Also, in the spirit of Chico legends, we present the music and comedy of local showman Moriss Taylor.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Duh! You can't try it just yet, but Sierra Nevada Brewery will release Torpedo Extra IPA in bottles next month. We'll try to leave some for you guys.

Chocolate: Thanks to Charter Hipsters Kellie and Carly in SF, we indulged in a sampler of NeoCocoahand-crafted truffles. Ding Ding Dang!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Get organized for the new year with a Recycled Sari Buckle Wallet. Handmade in family cooperatives in India, these wallets are stylishly sturdy with plenty of pockets. Best of all, they don't look like you found them at the mall!
Drafted. If you're in New England, pay tribute to American Veterans by quaffing a beer! High and Mighty Brewing pledges $1 from every bottle of their "Home for the Holidays" brown ale will go to IAVA, a charity for veterans and troops.
Carp Diem. Concerned about the quality of your seafood? CleanFish empowers you to vote with your fork.
Heaven scent. Now you can smell like Val! Experience Illuminated Perfumes by Roxana. Hipsters get a special deal on her handcrafted, all natural fragrances; mention More Hip when you buy any full size solid perfume and get a free sample of her liquid perfume, OR buy any full size liquid perfume and get a free sample of her solid perfume. Order here!

Hip News

Waterworld. NASA says 2 trillion tons of land ice has melted since 2003, due to global warming.
Ski lift. Lighter snowfall is forcing skiiers uphill. Researchers say warmer temps in the Rockies could eliminate the snowpack by 2100.
March of the Lame Duck. The Bush administration is moving to protect 7 penguin species, while ignoring 3 others. Hmmm, 70%...isn't that his disapproval rating?
Organ-ic. A group of Texas high school students created a digital pipe organ from a pile of recycled electronics. What's your kid done lately?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Just say no! As you list your New Year's Resolutions, focus on just a few things you would like to stop doing. Stop smoking; stop adding to the landfill; stop eating meat. Post a short list on your mirror so you'll see it everyday. Just don't stop listening to podcasts!

Sierra Nevada Brewery

We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. Learn how he started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters!

Beer in the headlights. Ken started as a homebrewer with a passion for his product.
Top o' the Hops Sierra Nevada ales are consistently among the top brews in the US.
Crystal clear. Among Ken's green innovations, Sierra Nevada Brewery uses clean energy to operate its facilities in Chico, CA.
Launch the Torpedo! Coming in January 2009, bottles of Torpedo Extra IPA will be available year-round. And there was much rejoicing.
Word to the Weiss. Look for Ken's voluminous contribution to the Practical Brewer, a manual for the brewing industry.
Bock star. UC Davis commemorates Ken's support for the next generation of brewers.

Listener E-mails

Help us kick off our next 200 shows! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

Shout-outs! Thanks so much for mentioning us in your blogs: Two Smart Girls, ReadWriteWeb and SJSFalter. You rock!
Jenny in Ontario (eh!) wants us to shut up about the weather, and give macrame the respect it deserves. We'll grant half her wish.
Phil in Prince Edward Island (eh!) is our new groupie. He likes big worms, dark chocolate and Zebra Eco pens. We love you man!
Rick in Virginia alerts us to the truth about oil prices, thanks to this interview on Financial Sense Newshour.
Trystan at Yahoo! Green busts our chops. We didn't mention loofahs as an alternative to plastic sponges. Um, don't you have an article to write, or something?
Kristi in Minneapolis shares a Beer Buying Guide for those of us who vote with our pint glass. Cheers!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_200_Sierra_Nevada_Brewery.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:09 AM

Wed, 17 December 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - A Grain of Salt

More Hip Than Hippie #199 - A Grain of Salt

Desalination is the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. As more reverse osmosis plants are being built, water conservation remains a vital solution to managing worldwide shortages.

Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse as the population grows. One solution is desalination. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? The Hipsters discuss the pros and cons of this emerging technology. Also, as the temperature in Chico dips to 40 degrees, Val declares herself "over winter."

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Three simple ingredients combine to make Cru d'Or Belgian Style Ale a winner. This flavorful brew from North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, CA contains only water, organic malt and hops. Trifecta!

Chocolate: Guys, buy this by the case. Zazubean's Lunatic bar claims to take the edge off women's "monthly madness" with its blend of cacao nibs and mint. We liked it. You got a problem with that?

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Splinter Wonderland. A Potted Christmas Tree seedling makes a festive hostess gift. Or plant a hundred of your own and open a Christmas tree lot next year. Cha-ching!
Beam me up. Black & Decker's new Thermal Leak Detector is a handheld gun thingy that finds hidden energy leaks in your home with a colored beam of light. OK, you can pretend you're Captain Kirk while you use it.
Green 'zine. Need a new read? Boho offers great fashion and lifestyle tips, on eco-friendly paper. The name means "both ho's", right?

Hip News

Barack this town. President-elect Obama unveils his energy and environment team. "My administration will value science. We will make decisions based on the facts." If this is a dream, don't wake us.
Smelluva job. Another last-minute ruling from the Bush administration exempts farms from having to report toxic manure fumes. What about those fumes coming from the White House?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Pack your snacks. Before you hit the road for the holidays, make sure you've packed plenty of food and drinks. Bringing your own eats from home cuts down on waste and saves you money. Remember, they always !@#$ you in the drive-thru!

A Grain of Salt

Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse in coming years. One solution is desalination, the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? Learn the pros and cons of this ancient process.

Salty. Only 3% of earth's water is fresh; less than 1% is available for drinking and washing.
Thirsty. The World Bank reports that 80 countries now have dangerous water shortages, and more than 2 billion people have no access to clean water or sanitation.
Brainy Desalination technology advanced in the mid-20th century, and the first reverse-osmosis plant opened in 1965. There are now more than 12,000 plants worldwide.
Thrifty. Since desalination is expensive, Food & Water Watch advocates better management practices. Start with water conservation in your home, and support efforts in your city and state.

Listener E-mails

Want to pepper us with questions? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

Kevin in Illinois is a teen greenie who loves nature conservation. He volunteers to restore habitat near his home and would like to hear a show about that topic. By the way Kevin, you rock!
Janel in Arizona overcame her fear of composting and recommends it to all. Thanks for unlurking!
Myssi in Colorado found Eco-Cycle, her local recycling site. Check out their Zero-Waste Holiday Guide. And Myssi, we're waiting for the Giddy Up!
Jenny is resolving to go raw vegan in 2009. She was inspired by Compassionate Cooks, a podcast that is not for the squeamish. Good luck!
Meredyth inexplicable thought of us when she lined up beer bottles on her kitchen counter. The occasion? Baking beer bread! See the recipe in our forum.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Direct download: More_Hip_199_A_Grain_of_Salt.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:56 PM

Wed, 10 December 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - ReMake It!

More Hip Than Hippie #198 - ReMake It!

Designer Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits turn recyclable materials into functional new products.

As the market for recyclables bottoms out, learning to reuse those materials is more important than ever. RePlayGround is a website devoted to crafty ideas for giving discarded scraps new life. The Hipsters ask Tiffany about her inspirations, and about the rumor that she talks to her trash! Also, Val suffers the world's most unexciting back injury and adopts a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Val flashed her malt-face, but was able to finish her glass of Hazelnut Brown Nectar from Rogue Ales in Newport, Oregon. The bottle would make a cool lamp!

Chocolate: It's always a treat when a package of chocolate shows up in the mail! Thanks to our friends at Zazubean for the organic dark chocolate bars they sent our way. First up: "flirt", 70% cocao with acai and cherries.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Byte me. It looks and smells like a bar of chocolate, but it's actually a solar-powered calculator. Perfect for adding up the calories in your real chocolate bar.
Spongeworthy. Gather your pals for a Green Cleaning Party, where everyone mixes their own cleansers. Just don't mix them with your margaritas.
Holy Pteropus! Get in on the bidding to name a new species of bat. May we suggest Bruce Wayne?

Hip News

Token effort. American drivers got out of their cars last summer. Public transit ridership saw its biggest increase in 25 years, thanks in part to $4 a gallon gas. Maybe Detroit can manufacture subway cars.
Gorgasm. The President-elect and VP-elect meet with Al Gore this week to discuss economics, alternative energy and green technology.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Rack 'em up! At this time of year you probably have to heat your home at night, but by morning the hot, dry air is tough to take. Listener Karen suggests hanging laundry on a drying rack next to a heat vent. The moisture from the wet clothes humidifies that painfully dry air, and your clothes are ready to wear!

ReMake It!

Don't just recycle, reincarnate your garbage into usable products! Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits let you turn glass bottles into lampshades, magazines into stationery, wine corks into trivets and bottle caps into magnets. Learn what inspires Tiffany to reinvent recyclables, and try her Hipster Scarf and Potholder project. You'll look like a crafty genius!

Scraptastic. Tiffany's studio is called RePlayGround. It's utopia for fellow design junkies.
Show 'n Tell. Pick up her series of recycling project books, "This Into That". Watch her video, It's Easy Being Green.
Juicy couture. Tiffany works with TerraCycle to turn used juice boxes and foil wrappers into fun products.
Trash crash. The market for recyclables has bottomed out, so reusing them really makes sense.
No bitchery. Can't sew? That's no excuse! Val swears by her Stitch Witchery.

Listener E-mails

Don't make us recycle old questions! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!

Karen in West Virginia discovered that the computer mouse her son used as a toy, contained a hefty amount of lead. Her lead test kit found other household sources, including phone cords, computer cables and vinyl mini-blinds.
Carri in Kansas continues to keep it green in her red state. She's planning to build a strawbale house, complete with goats and a garden.
Jenny in Canada (eh!) wonders about the wisdom of getting a gadget that tells you which plants will grow in your soil. She also gives us a heads-up about a new Gardening Mama video game to get the kids interested in plants. Bloomin' beautiful!
Maggie in Spain shares a cool find: Paper Water Bottles.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Direct download: More_Hip_198_ReMake_It.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:32 PM

Fri, 5 December 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Planes, Trains & Automobiles

More Hip Than Hippie #197 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Before you travel, calculate the carbon footprint for your journey and find the greenest route to take.

Over the river and through the woods? Forget it, Grandma's got a condo in Boca Raton! Finding the greenest way to get there takes a little research, and the Hipsters unpack some info to help you get on your way. Also, Dori picks a winner for the Amazing Race, and Val's Christmas lights are better than yours!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: What's the Scuttlebutt about this Porter brewed in Everett, WA? Well, the beer's dark and the label's cute, but it wasn't a Hipster fave.

Chocolate: Lovely listener Isabelle in Belfast sent along her favorite Swiss (not Nestle!) chocolate. Camille Bloch Ragusa Noir with truffle filling was a sweet treat, though it left Dori with a napkinful of discarded hazelnuts.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! It's a recycling 2-fer: use an old CD and an old circuit board to create a stylish desk clock. A great conversation piece, made in the USA and affordable at about $25. And oh-so-timely!
Eight crazy lights. Hanukkah has gone high-tech with the LED Motherboard Menorah. Adds a geeko-friendly glow to the Festival of Lights.

Hip News

Worst of Both Worlds. One-third of the toys tested by a non-profit group were positive for chemicals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Among the worst offenders: Hannah Montana brand jewelry items. Identify the toxic toys, and avoid low-cost children's jewelry.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Dish it out! Make the commitment to serve at least one organic dish at your holiday dinner, whether it's the meat, the veggies, the dessert or even the wine. Point it out to your guests if you like; you may convince the meanie at your table to go for seconds!

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Off to grandmother's house you go for the holidays! But how does a Hipster travel, by plane? Train? Car? The green solutions vary by the type of trip you're taking and the number of people on board. Use these tools to figure it out, then enjoy your journey!

Planes. Generally considered to be the least green option, since their carbon emissions go right into the upper atmosphere. But for long distance travel, flying may be your best choice. Try to purchase carbon offsets. Should you fly?
Trains. Rail travel is almost always greener than a car for a single traveller. But a recent report from the Cato Institute argues that "feeder" buses between stations can counteract environmental gains. Should you ride the rails?
Automobiles. Carpooling generates the fewest greenhouse gases per passenger, so driving shorter distances with your family or friends could make sense. Make sure your car is well-maintained and not overloaded with crap. Should you drive?

Listener E-mails

Your ideas travel fast! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and travel itineraries at our MHTH forum!

Eileen in Dominica unveils her tropical island sanctuary. Calibishie Cove offers low-impact luxury that at least 2 Hipsters would love to experience!
Meredyth in Texas alerts us to an article about the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. It seems "recycle" is another word for "incinerate".
Elizabeth in St. Paul, MN loves a new iPhone app called the Good Guide, which indexes green products so you can shop for the greater good. Bonus: it's free!
Jodi introduces us to Green Changes, a company that creates eco-friendly apparel and helps spread the word about sustainability.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Direct download: More_Hip_197_Planes_Trains__Automobiles.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:05 PM

Wed, 3 December 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Green Around the Collar

More Hip Than Hippie #196 - Green Around the Collar

The green economy could soon be the fastest-growing job segment in the United States.

Despite rising unemployment, the future looks bright for green collar jobs. The Obama administration wants to create 5 million new jobs in the fields of renewable energy, alternative transportation, research, engineering and more. The Hipsters look at the advantages of green industry and how you can prepare to find employment. Also, Val reveals the secret ingredient for rockin' cranberry sauce!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: A bonny brew from Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Great Scot Organic Pale Ale had us reeling with its smooth golden flavor. Mike Myers would approve.

Chocolate: Many thanks to listener Trystan for supplying the Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate bar. At 80%, it was too much for us to finish in one sitting, but it was fun trying!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Which coaster are you? These rubber coasters made from recycled automobile tires let you represent. Sorry flyover states!
Here is comes to save the day! The Mighty Wallet lives up to its name. Made from a single sheet of Tyvek, it's thin, flexible and almost indestructible. Choose from 2 cool designs: comic pages, or airmail envelopes.
Oooh! Aaah! Seriously, this fountain in Japan is the coolest thing that ever happened to water.

Hip News

Big Bucks. The CEOs of Ford and Chrysler say they'll work for $1 per year if they have to take government bailout money. Ford will also sell their 5 corporate jets.
Brew me up, Scotty! Space beer has landed! The Japanese brewed the beverage from barley grown on the International Space Station, and Sapporo is offering tastings to earthlings. Beats the hell out of Tang.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Mission: Recyclable! Should you choose to accept it, your mission for the holiday season is to reduce by half the amount of waste your household generates. This message will self-recycle.

Green Around the Collar

Need a job? Become a part of the new green economy, which is about to open an industry full of jobs around the world. Learn about the advantages of green collar jobs, where to find them and how to train for one.

Researchers at Duke University conclude that green collar jobs present the next frontier for US manufacturing.
The green economy is expected to account for roughly 10% of new US jobs over the next 20 years.
President-elect Obama wants to invest $150 billion to create 5 million new green collar jobs.
Get the training you need at your local community college or green organization. GreenBiz can tell you where job seminars are happening.
Go for a degree at one of the top 15 green universities. (yay Chico State!) Young adults can get job training with the Green Corps.
The Green Jobs Guidebook is free and full of great info for those wanting to work in California.
Good with kids? Camp counselor makes CNN's list of the Top 25 Green Gigs. Sorry, "More Hip Than Hippie" Podcast Co-Host is taken!

Listener E-mails

Hot under the collar? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and job openings at our MHTH forum!

Shout-outs! Thanks to Spatially Relevant and Spaced Out Looney for the blog mentions!
Amanda in Toronto (eh!) hopes to buy a Toyota Prius, but wants to make sure they're a good choice. Val shares the Prius love.
Melissa in Newfoundland (eh!) wonders whether natural sea sponges are worse than plastic bath puffs. Look for farmed sponges, or a natural cellulose alternative.
Whitney in Texas wants to know if her polymer clay sculptures are killing her kids! Probably not, but baking them in a toaster oven outdoors may be a good idea. (The sculptures, not the kids.)
Maggie in Madrid is a frequent flyer, and wants to offset her carbon. Check with airlines' websites, or visit Carbonfund, NativeEnergy or TerraPass. By the way, it's still "offset" in Spanish!
Theresa found the high-tech way to kill weeds without chemicals...using boiling water. Use the gray water you collect in the shower.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!

Direct download: More_Hip_196_Green_Around_the_Collar.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:34 PM

Wed, 26 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Trystan's Tips

More Hip Than Hippie #195 - Trystan's Tips

Yahoo! Green is a great source of news and ideas for sustainable living. Senior Editor Trystan Bass shares tips for a greener holiday season.

We can all use some last-minute tips for getting through the holidays with a lighter footprint. Find out how to set a waste-free table, opt out of the Christmas card crunch and avoid unrecyclable giftwrap. Also, Val reveals her favorite word, and a surprise visit from a listener leaves the Hipsters feeling Mavericky!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: When listener Spanky dropped by More Hip HQ, we took the opportunity to ease his beer burden by liberating 2 bottles of Alaskan Brewing Co.'s Amber Alt Style Beer from his overloaded car. You're welcome.

Chocolate: Thanks again to listener Michelle for the care package of chocolate bars. This week's Jacques Torres Brulee Crunch tasted better than it looked...why is it the color of baby poop?

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Bullseye! The perfect coat hangers for the quirky home have to be Dart Coat Hooks. Mount them on the wall and have guests toss their coats for points.
Rock the votive. Crank out those homemade holiday candles with Microwaveable Soy Wax in 1-lb. containers. Don't worry, it comes with ideas and instructions.
Ooh, sparkly! Create your own Snow Globe with a jar, some epoxy, a few plastic figurines and a bit of glitter. Easy enough for those of us who are craft-challenged.
Scan I help you? Don't chat up that hottie in the bar until you've scanned their ShotCode. Look for the logo on clothing, then use your phone to link your target's online profile. Because saying hello is so exhausting.

Hip News

Shotgun! The CEOs of the Big Three automakers are in talks to carpool together on their next trek to Washington. If only they could find a fuel efficient vehicle...
Getta Jetta. Congratulations to Volkswagen, whose 2009 Jetta TDI is "Green Car of the Year". Don't worry Detroit, you'll get 'em next year!
The need for Swede. A Swedish company plans to harness human body heat to warm a new office complex.
Yep. Here it is, Oxford's Word of the Year for 2008: Hypermiling. Smug Hipsters smile knowingly.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Postal Toasties! Reuse your empty cereal boxes to ship holiday gifts. They're the perfect size for clothing, books and accessories. Or just give the cereal as a gift this year--it ain't cheap!

Trystan's Tips

We can all use some last-minute tips for getting through the holidays with a lighter footprint. Hipster Trystan Bass from Yahoo! Green provides ideas and inspiration for waste-free entertaining, as well as greener options for cards and giftwrap. She also attempts to pronounce "furoshiki".

Entertaining. Trystan recommends a trip to the thrift store for dishes, silver and linens. Also, Bambu veneerware is both chic and compostable.
Giftwrap. Look for 100% recycled wrap, or use old comics, maps or sheet music. Fabric bags like Wrapsacks are great too. Feeling knotty? Try furoshiki.
Greeting Cards. Personality counts. Make your own photo cards on your computer with recycled paper. If that's not an option, look for recycled greeting cards or those with seeds embedded in them.
Gifts. Trystan had a great time putting together the 2008 Green Holiday Gift Guide.
Charity. Yahoo! is donating the profits from ads on Yahoo! Green to eco-friendly projects. Vote in their online poll by December 3rd.

Listener E-mails

Yahoo! We love to hear from you! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and holiday memories at our MHTH forum!

Shout-outs! Thanks to Carolyn's Blog for the mention, and to Lighter Footstep for the great info on green dry cleaning.
Thomas in Ontario (eh!) wants us to help spread the word about supporting new pesticide regulations in his province. You betcha!
Stacy in Los Angeles reminds us that our favorite dark chocolates are all dairy-free, like Dagoba and Green & Black's. D'oh!
Melody in Seattle shares a funny family story about McMenamins brewpub and her neophyte nephew. Beer almost came out of our noses!

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Direct download: More_Hip_195_Trystans_Tips.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:57 PM

Fri, 21 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Conservation Conversation

More Hip Than Hippie #194 - Conservation Conversation

Landowners can protect private property from development long after they're gone, using land trusts and conservation easements.

Did you know that about 2 million acres of land is being developed across the US every year? Listener Susan Armstrong works to conserve our open spaces for future generations. She unearths some great info about tools that landowners and concerned citizens can use to permanently protect private property. Also, Val's birthday draws near, and the Hipsters get a Brazilian!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We love the beer-sipping bear on the label of Lang Creek Brewery's Huckleberry n' Honey Ale. So fruity and sweet, you could drink a pint with Boo Boo in Jellystone Park.

Chocolate: Our new favorite listener Michelle sent a care package of Jacques Torres chocolate bars. First up: Midnight Soul 80%, which asks the question, "Do you have the beans to eat this bar?" To which we reply, "We got yer beans RIGHT HERE!"

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Even on a cloudy winter day, you can charge your favorite gadgets with the Solio Solar Charger. It's power on the go directly from the sun. Val never has to be deprived of her iPhone, Kindle or any other gizmo again!
Pick a Present! We're giving stuff away at Greenfeet.com, where the annual holiday promotion is underway. Spend $75, pick a free gift worth up to $20!

Hip News

Breathing is overrated. The EPA is about to weaken the Clean Air Act, making it easier to pollute the air near national parks and wilderness areas. If an appeal is filed, the incoming Obama administration could reverse the policy. Does this mean Bush is stuck between Barack and a barred place?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Cleaning really sucks! Sprucing up the house for company? Reach the places in-between with a DIY extension for your vacuum cleaner. Just scrunch up one end of a wrapping paper roll or paper towel tube, insert it into the end of the vacuum's hose, and suck up those dust bunnies! (Recycle the tube when you're finished.)

Conservation Conversation

Did you know that about 2 million acres of land is being developed across the US every year? Hipster Susan Armstrong works to conserve our open spaces for future generations. She unearths some great info about tools that landowners and concerned citizens can use to permanently protect private property.

Law of the land. Susan knows her stuff! She's an environmental attorney with Connemara Conservancy, a non-profit land trust in Texas.
Wide open spaces. One of the biggest conservation organizations in the world is the Nature Conservancy. Established in 1951, they've protected more than 119 million acres of land.
Ease into it. Landowners can manage their property into the future with a conservation easement. Many qualify for tax benefits.
To Protect and Conserve. Who looks after the land when an easement is in place? Land trusts are the stewards of conserved property.
Buffalo Stance. Billionaire Ted Turner is the largest private-property owner in America, and his goal is conservation. He's also crazy about bison burgers.

Green Gossip

Arnold Schwarznegger helps L.A. terminate carbon dioxide. The Governator was on hand as the Staples Center unveiled its new rooftop solar array.
Billie Joe Armstrong has a Green Day with (PRODUCT) Red. His custom designed Converse shoes are made with hemp and benefit charity.
Madonna has a list of divorce demands which includes that the kids keep to a macrobiotic, vegetarian organic diet when they're with Guy Ritchie. OK, fine. But no TV, DVDs, magazines or newspapers? She scares the crap out of us!

Listener E-mails

Don't conserve your comments! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and birthday wishes for Val at our MHTH forum!

Liz in New York wonders if the bargains at Trader Joe'sare too good to be true. Happy Tofurkey Day to you too!
Brian in Tennessee lets off some steam about the AirCar, which has been blowing in the wind for a while now.
Meredyth in Texas finally asks the right people about hybrid car batteries and how they're recycled.
Kristi in Minneapolis shares an article about the most eco-friendly car in America: the Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas.
Jessica found 2 great resources for the eco-friendly bibliophile: The Green Library and Greening Your Library.
Rodrigo in San Francisco came here from Brazil, where he used this show to improve his English. Can you translate "teenie weenie greenie" without getting your ass kicked?

Direct download: More_Hip_194_Conservation_Conversation.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:54 PM

Wed, 19 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Ship It Good!

More Hip Than Hippie #193 - Ship It Good!

Eco-conscious consumers can find plenty of options for packaging and shipping this holiday season.

You've voted with your dollar by purchasing "green" gifts this holiday season. Don't undo all your good deeds with styrofoam packaging and carbon-spewing shippers! Dori and Val unwrap the greenest options for packing your presents and getting them to Grandma's house, whether it's across town or around the world. Also, the holidays are officially here as Greenfeet kicks off the annual Pick A Present promotion!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: In the name of fairness, we're trying Budweiser American Ale from Anheuser-Busch. They're now owned outright by InBev, the Belgian company who apparently thinks Yanks will fall for this crap.

Chocolate: For the poor confused vegan chocoholic, there's Tropical Source Raspberry Dark Chocolate by SunSpire. Dairy-free and gluten-free, it's actually quite tasty.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

For the birdies. Hey golfers, turns out there's more than one way to go for the green! Dixon Earth's eco-friendly golf balls improve the environment while improving your game. Don't forget the biodegradable tees!
Mapquest. Say hello to someone on the other side of the globe with World Atlas notecards. Recycled vintage maps are fashioned into a set of 6 cards and envelopes.

Hip News

The Decider. The Bush administration bows out with a flurry of last minute rules. See W ease restrictions on factory farms, mine waste, power plant emissions, and drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, among others. Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
Sign of the Times. The first eco-friendly billboard in NY's Times Square will light up next month, using only wind and sun power. Energy savings: $12,000 a month(!).
Barack Star. President-elect Obama has begun making weekly addresses to Americans via YouTube and his website, Change.gov. Listen to one at the end of this show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Time to polish the silver! Avoid icky chemical cleansers with a simple paste of baking soda and water on a sponge. Or cover the silver surface with white toothpaste, work it into a foam under warm water, and rinse tarnish away. Minty fresh!

Ship It Good!

Packaging. When packing boxes, try to reuse paper, bubble wrap and other materials when possible. Or get biodegradable packing peanuts and leave no waste.
Ground shipping takes a little longer, but generates just an eighth of the carbon emissions of air transport. Starting next year, UPS helps clear the air with hydraulic hybrid vehicles.
The US Postal Service manages the largest civilian fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the nation. Order their free envelopes and boxes that are certified green.
International shipping gets greener with First Global Xpress. The company puts packages on a direct flight to the destination city, without stops at out-of-the-way hubs.
Shipping rebates of up to $500 are available at FreeShipping.com, for a small monthly fee. Online shoppers can choose from over 1000 merchants.
Carbon offsets have come a long way, and TerraPass has several excellent programs. Greenfeet purchases carbon offsets for every order shipped, without passing the cost to the customer.

Listener E-mails

Lacy in NorCal rides green on her 2-dogpowered Xtracycle. Thanks for the blog mention!
Jenny in Ontario, Canada (eh!) carried homemade lunch bags to school before they were cool! Her crafty mom made them from old jackets.
Shayna shares the Green & Clean Mom Holiday Gift Guide. Check out picks from our pal Sommer!
Ted in Michigan, aka our Beer Bitch, wants to invent a foldable take-out pouch for food, like the ChicoBag. It better carry beer too!
Cindy in SoCal is living the green life part-time in Canada. She reviewed a beer for us...well, she tried! Thanks for the attempt, eh!

**200th Episode Alert!** We've booked Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery, as our special guest! Send us your questions for Ken! (Of course we'll ask him for his porn star name!) Post your thoughts, carbon-free! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and tracking numbers at our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_193_Ship_It_Good.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:44 PM

Fri, 14 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Lithium

More Hip Than Hippie #192 - Lithium

You probably use a lithium battery every day, in a watch or laptop. Discover where it comes from and why its future is uncertain.

If the car of tomorrow is electric, chances are, it'll run on lithium-ion batteries. But is there enough to meet our growing demand? Where does lithium come from, how is it produced and who profits? The Hipsters shine a light on this versatile metal. Also, Val gets herself in twouble with Twitter, and plans are afoot for More Hip Episode #200!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Do we detect a little citrus in our Inversion IPA from Deschutes Brewery? Orange you ready to try some yourself?

Chocolate: A MARS bar? Has Val taken leave of her senses? Nope, turns out their Dove Origins Ecuador dark chocolate bar is part of the candymaker's new cocoa sustainability program. Oh, and it's damn tasty.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Tease your brain with a tavern puzzle made of recycled iron. Based on centuries-old designs, these decorative puzzles are available in different levels of difficulty. Solve the Iron Heart? Now you'll have to deal with the Iron Maiden! (The puzzle, not Val.)

Hip News

Cure for what ales you. Scientists at Rice University have engineered a life-extending brew called BioBeer. Wonder if we'll live long enough to see it hit the market?
Blow rider. An air-powered car is on the horizon, thanks to Zero Pollution Motors. Plans call for selling the $20K vehicles directly from factories in nearly every state.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Wrap 'n Roll! Keep those rolls of pricey recycled wrapping paper in good repair with your old stockings or hose. Just slide 'em over the tubes, leaving a few inches exposed at the end so you can see the design on the paper. Knot the fabric so it won't slip down. Or use a garter!

Lithium

If the car of tomorrow is electric, chances are, it'll run on lithium-ion batteries. Is lithium the answer to our energy problems, or does it have a few problems of its own? Dori and Val shine some light on this metal and its future on the world's highways.

Lithi-ummm... What the heck is it? A soft, lightweight metal found in low concentrations around the globe.
Batteries included. Lithium helps to power lots of devices, from watches to laptops to space vehicles.
Plugged up. With the advent of electric cars, automakers have big plans for lithium. Can the planet keep up?
Buzzkill. At least one study finds that lithium production is environmentally damaging and unsustainable.
La Pause. The world's largest deposit of lithium lies in Bolivia, which is not exactly on friendly terms with the U.S.

Listener E-mails

Denise in Indiana is amazed by the maglev trains in China, which run clean and green on a magnetic field.
James in PA has parked his bike for the winter, after logging more than 2,000 miles riding to work. Great job! Here's his blog.
Faith in New Jersey has set some lofty green goals for 2009. She also blames us for that dream about Ringo Starr and a bar of Dagoba Lavender chocolate. Was there a Yellow Submarine involved?
Jen in Portland is a former Chicoan who named her cat Sierra Nevada, after the beer! Which reminds us...

**200th Episode Alert!** We've booked Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery, as our special guest! Send us your questions for Ken! (Of course we'll ask him for his porn star name!) Flex your power! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and pictures of Nirvana at our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_192_Lithium.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:46 PM

Wed, 12 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Recycling Week

More Hip Than Hippie #191 - Recycling Week

November 10th - 16th is Recycling Week all over the world.

This is the week to start that recycling program at home or in the workplace. The Hipsters sort through statistics and extract the facts about how materials are recovered and reused. You'll learn why you should put paper, glass, steel and electronics back to work! Also, Val celebrates her recent marriage (?) and goes on to win a Major Award!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Gaze upon the amber goodness of Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR. A fine, if unoriginal, offering that earned a combined 9 hips.

Chocolate: Yes, it's back! Dori chose the lesser of 2 evil nuts and came up with Green & Black's Organic Bittersweet Dark 60% Chocolate with Hazelnuts & Currants.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Rudolph's secret. It's Solar Powered Christmas Lights! No power outlet required; they just soak up the sun by day, then you would even say they glow in the dark.
Puffins & Meerkats & Lynx, oh my! Even the Meanie on your list will love the World Wildlife Fund's Animal Adoption program. Choose an endangered critter from anywhere on Earth; your $50 "adoption" fee includes a certificate, photo and adorable stuffed version of your animal.
Hip Trips. The path to sustainability is dotted with hotels, tours and destinations. Find the greenest of the green at Whole Travel, and plan your journey.

Hip News

Bushwhacking. President-elect Obama is reviewing all of W's executive orders, including the most recent attempts to open up drilling near national parks and monuments.
Covering their ashes. Recycling companies announce their new e-Steward Initiative to certify safe practices in their industry. Watch 60 Minutes much?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Queasy does it! The next time you have tummy trouble, don't reach for the pink bottle. Cook up a pot of rice, using at least twice as much water as you normally would. Then strain out the rice and drink the water, hot or cold. The proteins in the rice will settle your bowels and hydrate your body. Note to self: sake is not a good substitute!

Recycling Week

This is the week to start that recycling program at home or in the workplace. Paper, glass and steel are easy to take out of the waste stream and put back to work. Electronic waste and household hazardous waste need special treatment, but are worth the effort.

E-waste is growing at 3 times the rate of other municipal waste. But it's really a resource of reusable material. Learn more about e-waste recycling.
Paper consumed in the US hit a record 56% recovery rate last year. That's 360 lbs. for every man, woman and child in the country! Paper recycling is easy and it works.
Glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or strength. But sorting colors can be confusing. Here's the lowdown on glass recycling.
Steel is recycled in the US more than aluminum, glass, paper and plastic combined. It's easy to separate from aluminum; just use a magnet! Find out about the benefits of steel recycling.
Household Hazardous Waste is anything that might blow up, catch fire, or poison someone. Americans generate 1.6 million tons of the stuff per year. Let the professionals handle HHW recycling.

Listener E-mails

Want to recycle an old question? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and congrats to Val on her recent marriage (!) at our MHTH forum!

Melody in Seattle wonders if compostable products are OK, since corn is such a resource-intensive crop. Look for goods made from non-GMO corn, organic if possible. Alternatives include bamboo and sugar cane.
Joanne in Calgary (eh!) shares the Canadian Broadcasting Corp's initiative called One Million Acts of Green. We think it's positively brilliant!
Fonda in Missouri is a traveling yoga teacher who likes the humorous approach to being green. Thanks for the praise, Fonda, but we're still not giving up beer for tea.
Maggie in Spain is still looking for your eco-geek jokes...and provides one of her own. Please, bring the funny so she won't have to!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! Hey, thanks for reading all the way through the shownotes! Now buy yourself something nice! Take 15% off your next Greenfeet order by using this code at checkout: SHOWNOTES Hurry, offer expires November 17, 2008!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_191_Recycling_Week.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:55 PM

Fri, 7 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Heavy Metal

More Hip Than Hippie #190 - Heavy Metal

We all know that exposure to lead can cause a variety of health problems. The threat of exposure to this heavy metal is more common than you may realize.

Once hailed as the father of all metals, lead has fallen out of favor because of its dangerous properties. But remnants of lead remain. Are you and your family at risk? We'll examine a few places where lead may be hiding in your home or community, and help you to protect yourself.

Beer and...well, just Beer:

Beer: Was it the Labrador on the label that made Val reach for a bottle of Pale Ale from Laughing Dog Brewing? Or was it the chance to drink another beer from Idaho? Either way, we're glad she got her paws on it. This very tasty brew gave us something to cry in when we realized we had no chocolate. Again. Stop the madness.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Lead-free and lovable XEKO Pals are perfect presents for the teenie weenie greenies in your life. The soy-stuffed critters are designed as companions to the XEKO trading cards, but Val's Hairy-Eared Dwarf Lemur has a place of honor on her desk.
Dressed to the ca-nines. Keep your rottweiler roasty and your terrier toasty with the Hound Hoodie. This eco-friendly dog coat is custom fit for Fido and features a removable pom-pom on the hood, so you can humiliate him at will.

Hip News

Great Eggspectations. California voters approve Proposition 2, which improves living conditions for hens and other factory farm animals. Look for the initiative in other states soon.
We mold you so. Rainforests to the rescue again, as scientists discover a fungus that makes diesel compounds from cellulose.
Greeniuses. A British study finds that the smarter your kids are, the more likely they are to vote pro-environment as adults.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Sock it to 'em! Tired of that tangle of cords leading into your power strip? Cut the toe end off a trouser sock and run a bundle of cords right through it. Just make sure no one's wearing it first!

Heavy Metal

Metal Ages. Reading the history of lead, you'll find humans have been mad about it since the dawn of recorded time.
Metal health. The effects of lead poisoning can be reversed in adults, but are much more dangerous for kids.
Mislead. Hidden risks for exposure can be found in your home, your garden...even your own body!
Get the lead out. Use a home lead test kit to detect it on any surface within seconds. Check your tap water as well.

Green Gossip

Stella McCartney gets a spot in Dad's trophy case. She won the first ever award for Green Designer of the Year from the Accessories Council. Stella launched her leather- and fur-free line in 2006.
Tom Green cashes in on his last name by hosting a new game show for Planet Green. "Go for the Green" tests your Eco-Q every Saturday night at 8.

Listener E-mails

Patrick in NC thinks Val should consider the VW Jetta TDI wagon for her next car. It gets 45 mpg on the highway, and could run on biodiesel. But does it have cupholders?
Melissa in Minnesota is thrilled that her state voted to raise taxes in order to clean up and preserve the great outdoors. Uffta!
Eileen in Dominica sent an article about the world's most unusual chocolate entrepreneurs.

Hello, is anybody out there? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and congrats to President-elect Obama at our MHTH forum!

Direct download: More_Hip_190_Heavy_Metal.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:56 PM

Wed, 5 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Rainforest Rx

More Hip Than Hippie #189 - Rainforest Rx

Tropical rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why should you care? Among other things, these ecosystems are a rich source of natural medicines.

You or someone you know probably benefits from the drugs derived from rainforest plants. Cancer? Diabetes? Arthritis? All are treated with compounds found in the rainforest. But we're losing these medicinal plants faster than we can explore their potential. The Hipsters trek into nature's medicine cabinet and learn about the challenges of saving it. Also, Val tries to defend Donald Trump, and Dori says goodbye to her "Bono in 2008" bumper sticker!

Beer and...well, just Beer:

Beer: OK, it was the name that inspired Val to pick up a big ol' bottle of Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale from Beer Valley Brewing in Oregon. Crisp and hoppy, this is a great stand-alone beverage. That's a good thing, because we didn't have any chocolate! D'oh! (Feel free to pop some in the mail. Help a Hipsta out!)

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Cell mates. Rechargeable batteries just became more user-friendly with the USBCELL. The top plugs into any USB port, charging while you work. Thanks to listener Bryllyg for the Tweet on this!
Wile E. Coyote approves. If you love the idea of a sack lunch but hate the waste, pack your pita in an ACME recycled cotton lunch bag. 100% lead-free, and even comes in a limited edition "brown paper bag" color option.
Wasting away. Never get caught without a trash bin again! The Clothespin Waste/Trash Can offers a frame to transform any bag into a garbage bag. Folds flat for trashy travelers.

Hip News

Laddie & the Trump. The Scottish government approves The Donald's new mega-golf course, despite objections from local officials and environmentalists. Soon the only birdies found there will be on a scorecard.
T-VIPs. New Energy Star compliant TVs are now on the market, just in time for the holidays and the digital switch. They're 30% more energy efficient, but most of the shows still suck.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Bastes great, less filling! That turkey baster doesn't get much use after Thanksgiving, so use it to freshen the water in your flower arrangements. Just suction up the dirty water with the baster, and the blooms stay in place. Remember to clean it well before your next turkey dinner!

Rainforest Rx

Tropical rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Why should you care? Among other things, these ecosystems are a rich source of natural medicines. Learn how a rainforest plant or herb could treat someone you love someday, and how you can support efforts to end their senseless destruction.

Botanical treasures abound within tropical rainforests. They yield treatments for malaria, tumors and muscular disorders, just to name a few.
Did you know that one and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second? Arm yourself with the facts about rainforest destruction for your next run-in with a skeptic.
Want to adopt a rainforest? Or drink coffee to help the cause? You can do that and more with the Rainforest Alliance.
You're never too young to save the planet! Get kids involved with the Rainforest Heroes program.
Help is just a click away. Visit Care2's Race for the Rainforest.

Listener E-mails

Liz in Wisconsin is a Hipster who can appreciate the constructive use of beer bottles.
Melinda in SC is one of many listeners happy about Amazon's Frustration-Free Packaging. No more "wrap rage"!
Moises in Hong Kong, one of our original Hipsters, mends a broken heart and recommends a raw vegan diet espoused by Gabriel Cousens MD. Te queremos Moy!
Alisha in Virginia has turned her hubby into a planeteer! Except for the fridge thing...but we found the solution!
Alyssa in Washington makes some fine beer suggestions, but we're really intrigued by her other idea: Mafia names! C'mon, Carla DeLucci, what's the formula? We'll make you an offer you can't refuse...

Can't see the forest for the trees? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles and links at our MHTH forum!

Direct download: More_Hip_189_Rainforest_Rx.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:49 PM

Sat, 1 November 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Heat Is On

More Hip Than Hippie #188 - The Heat Is On

Home heating is a hot topic as we head into winter. Energy-efficient heating alternatives abound.

Chilly fall nights have Dori and Val thinking about how to heat our homes without harming the planet, or the pocketbook. Nearly all American homes are heated with fossil fuels or electricity. Learn about some options to help homeowners and apartment-dwellers kick the oilcan! Also, Val has bats in her belfry for Halloween, and a listener makes an offer the Hipsters can't refuse!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Thanks again to Val's hip in-laws for the great big bottle of Boatyard Bitter Ale from Port Townsend Brewing in Washington. Bitter, party of two!

Chocolate: Behold an organic delight from Terra Nostra. The smooth, subtle Double Dark Truffle 60% cacao bar gets a Double Dang!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Need an easy, efficient way to heat your home? Val loves her EcoFan Heat Powered Wood Stove Fan. The warmth from the stove powers the blades, which circulate air right where you want it. Bonus: the fan is quieter than her 10-year-old kid.
Green 'zine. Peruse the pages of a new online magazine called Coco Eco. Set your own ambience as you glean tips for being glamorously green.
Buy polar. Stuff a stocking with a set of 6 "planet earth" bottle cap magnets. Or keep them on your fridge to remind you to buy organic beer.

Hip News

Blightmares. The Blacksmith Institute thoughtfully made a list of the 10 biggest pollutions problems that should be keeping you up at night.
Pod Almighty. Chrysler's new Peapod EV hits the streets in 2010. Well, at 25 mph, it kinda taps the streets. But this is one pimped out golf cart.
It completes us. The all-electric MINI E is in the pilot phase before its official debut. Among its cool features: a giant yellow electrical plug painted on the roof. Sold!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Peel away stains! With all the citrus fruit coming into season now, it's time to clean up your cups and saucers. Shake some salt onto a piece of citrus peel, then use it to buff away tea stains and such. We recommend salted limes; when you finish, just add tequila and relax with a Margarita!

The Heat Is On

Wood pellets. Made from recycled wood waste, they burn efficiently and are easy to store.
Tulikivi stoves. The Finnish company produces soapstone stoves that warm surfaces in a room without drying the air. The fire burns so hot, wood is totally vaporized. No waste!
EcoFire Super Grate. By supplying a light pattern of air to the base of the fire, this grate increases the temperature of the fire, reducing pollutants. Easy to install, fits most fireplaces.
Biodiesel. Non-toxic, renewable, with no retrofitting required. But price and availability may be obstacles. The National Biodiesel Board has all the info you need.
Gel fireplace. More for ambience than heat, these portable fireplaces burn cans of alcohol. They burn clean and require no venting.
Geo-exchange. Use the earth's own heat storage system to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. It's good enough for George Bush's Texas ranch, and over a million more US homes.
Inverter heat pump. Like a reversible refrigerator, the pump extracts heat from one location and transfers it to another. Quiet and efficient.
Radiant floor heating. Heat rises from insulated wires beneath the floor, warming surfaces and keeping air temperature lower.

Listener E-mails Got a burning question? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and hot topics at our MHTH forum!

Trystan at Yahoo! Green reminds us to pick up dishware and linens at thrift stores for holiday entertaining on the cheap. She'll look for us at the Green Festival in SF, Nov 14-16th. Stay tuned for details on a possible Hipster Meet-up!
Ted in Michigan plans to Reverse Trick or Treat with fair trade goodies this year. He also offered to fill an important seat in our Hipster Cabinet. Ted, welcome to the administration!
Dakkar sent a story about the winner of the 2008 Green Earth Design competition.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving!Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_188_Heat_Is_On.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:18 PM

Wed, 29 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Shot or Not?

More Hip Than Hippie #187 - Shot or Not?

Should you get a flu shot this year? What are the side effects? Is there mercury in the flu vaccine?

Flu season is right around the corner, and health officials say this is the time to get your flu shot. The Hipsters roll up their sleeves and investigate what goes into the flu vaccine, and poke around the controversy surrounding this annual rite of winter. Learn alternatives to getting a shot and ways to prevent influenza from striking. Also, Dori boils about eggs and Val impersonates Switzerland (without the yodeling)!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Thar she brews! Hop Diggidy India Pale Ale from Port Townsend Brewing Co. in Washington. Great flavor in a big bottle with a really cool label. Hipster Hall O' Fame.

Chocolate: Smooth and gooey Lindt Creation 70% Cherry & Chili bar. Probably very nice paired with red wine. Beer, not so much.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Full of scrap. Keep leftovers out of the landfill with a Bokashi indoor composter. Beneficial bacteria produce quick, odor-free compost without using slimy disgusting nightmare-inducing worms. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Fishful thinking. The ocean called, and it's running out of sushi! Choose wisely with new sushi guides from Monterey Bay Aquarium, EDF and the Blue Ocean Institute.
Downstairs captain? Um, if you own one of these, you must fill the gaping hole in your personal hygiene with Man Junk. It's organ-ick.

Hip News

Bummer-free zone. The heavily patriotized US Interior Dept. is in a big hurry to ease rules protecting endangered species before W leaves office.
Won't get fueled again. Lower gas prices aren't luring wary drivers back to the road. Demand is down 6.4% from a year ago.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Keep score! Find out how your US Congressperson voted on environmental issues this year. The League of Conservation Voters released their 2008 scorecard, looking at House and Senate votes on energy, climate, public lands and more. (Good job, Vermont!)

Shot or Not?

Flu season is right around the corner, and health officials say this is the time to get your flu shot. Should you do it? What are the alternatives? Dori and Val roll up their sleeves and investigate what goes into the flu vaccine, and poke around the controversy surrounding this annual rite of winter.

Take a shot. The Centers for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for certain populations at risk.
Mercury rising. How much is too much mercury? Be aware that flu shots contain the heavy metal.
Pig in a poke. It's a little known fact: influenza vaccine may contain traces of a product made from raw pork, as well as other viruses.
Pharm aid. The FluMist vaccine is a nasal spray owned by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. Avoid it if you're allergic to eggs.
Fraud couple. Some say the flu shot is a scam perpetrated by the government and drug companies.
Flu the coop. A few simple health habits will help you prevent flu from spreading to your household or workplace.
Squash the bug. Fall foods boost the immune system naturally. Eat garlic, onions and brightly colored fruits and vegetables. (Val uses a Vita-Mix.) Wash 'em all down with green tea.

Listener E-mails Take a shot at fame! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and chicken soup recipes at our MHTH forum!

Corri in Philadelphia reads Back Home magazine, and learned about recycling used discs (and cases too!) at CD Recycling Center America. BTW, love your porn star name!
Jackie in Ontario, Canada (eh!) actually got to use her porn star name, without taking off her clothes. Nice work, Shasta Westbury!
Jamie at KAYU wants us to know that her company's bamboo glasses are pricey for a good reason. They donate $50 from each purchase to fund a sight-restoring operation in Africa or Asia. Ah, now we see!
Weston invites Hipsters to participate in a Gorgeously Green Recipe Contest. It's your chance to be published in an international cookbook.
Michelle & Virginia in NY provide words of wisdom from one of Val's ancestors, Ben Franklin. Can you detect the family resemblance?

Direct download: More_Hip_187_Shot_or_Not.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:32 PM

Wed, 22 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Springboard Biodiesel

More Hip Than Hippie #186 - Springboard Biodiesel

Mark Roberts, CEO of Springboard Biodiesel, discusses BioPro automated biodiesel processors.

We know biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that is non-polluting, non-toxic and petroleum free. Why aren't we all using it? If you own a vehicle with a diesel engine, you could start now. Dori and Val chat with Mark Roberts about his company's line of biodiesel processors for consumers. Mark talks about what goes in and what comes out of the machines, and reveals what RVO stands for. He also reveals his bodacious porn star name! Also, Jillicious is here to celebrate her birthday with the Hipsters. (No, Dori will not hold her purse.)

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: How do you make three Hipsters happy? A big-ass bottle of Maximus India Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma, CA is a great start.

Chocolate: Lucuma Matata? Endangered Species Organic Health Dark Chocolate with Goldenberry and Lucuma is good for you and for the planet. And it's darn tasty too.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Shades of green. Painting indoors? Breathe easy with Benjamin Moore's Natura line of VOC-free interior paints. Available nationwide next spring.
Rock your bodice. The crafty folks at Real Simple put together a "wardrobe malfunction kit" for garment gaffes. Nipple jewelry not included.
Shade trees. Get plastic out of your sight with a pair of handcrafted bamboo sunglasses. For every pair purchased, KAYU sponsors one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world.
Toothiness. Are you fascinated by a certain Senator's pearly whites? Enjoy this website celebrating Joe Biden's teeth.

Hip News

Mt. Bushmore. The Prez is about to ease restrictions on mountain-top removal mining. Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
In-EV-itable. Nissan Motors will sell an affordable electric car in the US by 2010.
Scampi scandal. Leading US retailers are selling shrimp produced in sweatshop conditions, according to a report. Et tu, Trader Joe's?
Making a dif-France. In order to save energy, the Eiffel Tower's lights now twinkle half as long as they used to. They also want 3 months of vacation every year.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Clash 'n Carry! Repurpose an old photo album as a reference book for decorating. Instead of snapshots, fill it with paint chips and fabric swatches, then take it along when you shop for furnishings. So when you buy new curtains, you won't have to repaint!

Springboard Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel that is non-polluting, non-toxic and petroleum free. Why aren't we all using it? If you own a vehicle with a diesel engine, you could start now. Dori and Val chat with Mark Roberts, CEO of Springboard Biodiesel, about his company's line of biodiesel processors for consumers. Mark discusses what goes in and what comes out of the machines, as well as the future of the fuel.

Just brew it. Mark's company acquired the BioPro family of automated biodiesel processors this year. HQ is here in Chico, CA.
Fuel's gold. Will using biodiesel void the warranty on your vehicle? Umm, no. Get the facts about the fuel.
Grease is the word. But RVO is the acronym when you're talking about biodiesel.

Listener E-mails Your ideas fuel our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and birthday wishes for Jillicious at our MHTH forum!

Jennifer in Pittsburgh listened to every More Hip episode in just 60 days! We don't know how she finds time to be president of her high school's Conservation, Fishing & Hunting Club. She thinks Hipsters in Canada (eh!) will enjoy Green Beaver (ahem!) and she also likes Merry Hempsters.
Karen in Texas helped a young supermarket bagger "get with the program" after he tried to put her reusable totes into a plastic bag. Yippee Ki Yay!
Myka is successfully greening her workplace. She shares a couple of finds: PodSwap keeps used iPods out of the landfill, and RewareVintage sells notebooks made of recycled vintage records.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com, where the Fall Home Sale is underway!

Direct download: More_Hip_186_Springboard_Biodiesel.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:37 PM

Fri, 17 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Gifting the Meanie

More Hip Than Hippie #185 - Gifting the Meanie

We all have someone on our gift list who doesn't appreciate our eco-friendly offerings. Some may be downright hostile. So how does the Greenie gift the Meanie? A donation to the Sierra Club probably won't do the trick. The Hipsters share ideas that have worked for them, and will hopefully take the "resent" out of "present"! If not, Val suggests the ultimate solution...

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Refreshing St. Wilbur Weizen from Bayern Brewing in Missoula, Montana. Their brewmasters adhere to the German Law of Purity of 1516. Bet they're fun at a party.

Chocolate: By Chocovic, the Bitter Dark 71% Unique Origin Guaranda from Ecuador. This is Dori's go-to bar when she needs a quick fix.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Set your lunch free...of wasted paper. Litter Free Lunch Napkins are soft cotton cloths sold in sets of 5, so you can take a fresh one to work each day. Choose from a variety of styles and colors. You could even personalize them with stitching or appliques. Bon appetit!
Code hard cash. Fundraising can be as easy as Z-I-P! A program called ZipGoesGreen will sell customized eco-friendly products featuring your ZIP code, and 25% goes to your cause.
The Remedy. Tired of musicians who don't care about the planet? Meet Jason Mraz.

Hip News

Unleaded. Facing legal action, the Environmental Protection Agency will order industry to get the lead out of our air.
Fortunate sun. The "economic rescue bill" sweetened the deal for consumers to go solar.
Impure thoughts. A new study finds bottled water is--wait for it--no more pure than tap water. But still 1900 times as expensive.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Use your Tupper Where? Listener DeeDee in Mississippi lets her kids make sand castles on the beach with her old Tupperware. (Hope it didn't attract any burping seals!) Another idea: fill containers with soil to start seeds for your garden. Oh, there are multi-levels of uses!

Gifting the Meanie

We all have someone on our gift list who doesn't appreciate our eco-friendly offerings. Some may be downright hostile. So how does the Greenie gift the Meanie? A donation to the Sierra Club probably won't do the trick. Dori and Val share ideas that have worked for them, and will hopefully take the "resent" out of "present"!

Jewelry. For pricier pieces, look for vintage gold and conflict-free diamonds. Or keep it cheap with recycled glass baubles.
Gift baskets. Fill a Fair Trade basket with organic goodies like nuts, fruit, chocolates, coffee, tea, cocoa or wine. Natural personal care products are another useful indulgence.
Home. Green decor doesn't have to look like it came from a commune. Stylish baskets, natural fiber throws and recycled glass vases are sure to impress. A living plant is also a nice touch.
Gift certificates. Give the Meanie a fun outing, whether it's a theme park, a movie or just dinner on the town. Include a coupon for babysitting.
Stylish stuff. Eco-friendly gadgets and trinkets abound. Whatever your Meanie is into, you can find a fun gift that shows you're paying attention.
Inspiration. Take a look at Dave Evans' book, Cool Green Stuff, for an endless supply of ideas.

Listener E-mails Been meaning to write in? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and green gift ideas at our MHTH forum!

Ex-MTV Alison in North Carolina sent a link to a story about RecycleBank. Soon Greenfeet will be one of their partners!
Carrie in PA wonders if she should compost those biodegradable goods. Yes and no, but either way, they're still a better choice than plastic.
Michelle in New York enjoyed this story about an outdoor gym made entirely of recycled wood and other materials.
Maggie in Madrid, Spain says the green movement is blooming in that fair city. She'd love to hear some funny green jokes. Anyone? Anyone?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service! It's a new month, so don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_185__Gifting_the_Meany.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:39 PM

Wed, 15 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Dirty Gold

More Hip Than Hippie #184 - Dirty Gold

Many of us wear a gold ring as a symbol of love. But we don't love the 20 tons of mine waste generated to produce that one gold ring. The production of gold jewelry is often harmful to the environment and to the communities nearby. The Hipsters dig up the dirt on gold mining, and find a mother lode of ideas for consumers. Also, Dori dictates a letter to Ford Motor Company, and Val offsets her carbon.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Dark, malty Lava Rock Porter from Dick's Brewing Co. in Centralia, WA. And yes, we made fun of the name like a couple of 12-year-olds.

Chocolate: Another amazing offering from Caffe Acapella. The Cappuccino Connoisseur is a flavorful bar of velvety chocolate lust dipped in milky espresso desire. We need a cold shower.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Groovy. Party like a Rockstar with lovely drink charms cut from old vinyl records. They come in a set of 6 colorful stars.
Red is the new green. Wrap your holiday gifts in natural ribbon. Soy-based inks provide the rich red hue, and water-based adhesives hold it together. The ribbon is also biodegradable, so unlike Santa, it won't be around forever.

Hip News

Selling short. Lawmakers are putting climate legislation on hold as they try to stabilize the economy. They can only handle one meltdown at a time.
Hot Wheels. As more SUV owners default on their car loans, they're turning to arson for answers. The rest can't afford enough gas to start a fire.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Let nature inn! Consider putting up a feeder or house for your furry and feathered friends this winter. Loss of habitat may put on pressure for survival during harsh weather. Help a critter out!

Dirty Gold

Many of us wear a gold ring as a symbol of love. But we don't love the 20 tons of mine waste generated to produce that one gold ring. The production of gold jewelry is often harmful to the environment and to the communities nearby. Dori and Val dig up the dirt on gold mining, and find a mother lode of ideas for consumers.

Gold Diggers. Mines are often located in environmentally sensitive areas. Local people and wildlife suffer the consequences.
Gold standard. The "No Dirty Gold" campaign established these Golden Rules for more responsible gold mining.
Glittering. Wal-Mart and Tiffany are trying to clean up the gold industry.
Tarnished. Other retailers don't seem too concerned about it. (C'mon, Target!)
Gold dust. Shop for antique or vintage jewelry instead of new gold. Support jewelers like GreenKarat and Brilliant Earth, who recycle and reuse old pieces.

Listener E-mails Got any golden ideas for the show? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and nuggets of wisdom at our MHTH forum!

Liz in Wisconsin has much to share. First, is this greenwashing? Second, cold brew coffee in a pasta sauce jar! Third, great tips to reuse an Altoids tin. Thanks, and we'll post your pomegranate recipe on the forum!
Kevin in Illinois wants to defend himself from those "new carpet" fumes. Open the windows wide, or better yet, look for an eco-friendly brand of carpet.
Lisa in Wisconsin shared an article about pint-size Eco-Police making parents proud and/or crazy.
Julie in Arizona is now having green nightmares about wasting water! She'd also like a coupon from Greenfeet. OK, 2 words: Newsletter & Twitter.
Vanessa in Israel wants to talk with other Hipsters outside the US to share green info. You got it: international listeners, let us know where you are, and we'll set up a spot for you on the forum! By the way Vanessa, tell your hubby that fish pedicures are now illegal in Washington.

Direct download: More_Hip_184_Dirty_Gold.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:40 PM

Fri, 10 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Fair Trade Facts

More Hip Than Hippie #183 - Fair Trade Facts

October is Fair Trade Month. So what does that really mean? Dori and Val fill in the facts about fair trade standards, who benefits from them, and how you can participate. You'll learn to find and identify products that are doing a world of good. Also, the Hipsters discuss chickens with PMS and get a visit from a couple of Looney Tunes!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: A taste of home! Sierra Nevada Brewery here in Chico, CA presents their 12th Release Harvest wet hop ale. A big-ass bottle of happiness.

Chocolate: When coffee meets caramel, good things happen. Acapella's Caramel Macchiato Classico bar inspires adjectives usually reserved for romance novels: bold but silky, smooth yet firm, and so satisfying...is it getting hot in here?

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Environmental fashion is fun and funky with Flip Top earrings from Kim Dinnen Designs. They're made from recycled soda can flip tops, recovered from the banks of the Sacramento and American Rivers. A colorful bead adds style to these affordable treasures.
Dolly Carton. Nothing is more fun than a cardboard box, except maybe a recycled cardboard Dollhouse. Pre-cut with rooms and spyholes, it's ready to be customized by a creative kid.

Hip News

Critters are quitters. Half the mammals on Earth are in decline, according to a scientific survey. New to the list: the Tasmanian devil. Hang in there, Taz!
Purely swell. Dell plans to transition all new laptop displays to LED in the next 12 months. Dude! You're getting a lighter footprint!
Meatless. Ellen DeGeneres has come out--as a vegan. She made the announcement, not over an airport loudspeaker, but while attending an animal rights benefit.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Gift Globally. Make the commitment to purchase at least one Fair Trade item for your holiday gift-giving this year. Your purchase will help lift up people and communities where it's more than the thought that counts.

Fair Trade Facts

Label of love. The very fine folks at TransFair USA certify products in America. Look for their label.
Getting buy. Here's a list of retailers and restaurants carrying certified goods. Don't forget to check your local bookstores and social justice organizations.
Spend of the world. Ebay knows your shopping shapes the world. Now they're doing a World of Good.
Fair force. Ready to act? Co-op America's Fair Trade Alliance invites you to become an advocate.
Hip service. Greenfeet features a fabulous collection of Fair Trade finds. Fill your flat!

Listener E-mails Got a fairly good question? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and trade secrets at our MHTH forum!

Lisa in Michigan raves about a great recycling program called Paper Retriever, where they make every page count.
Mike and Cindy want to buy environmentally responsible carpeting. We suggest Flor and Shaw. Hey, are you guys in the Brady Bunch?
Julia in Florida needs an alternative to plastic bags in her trash can. We like BioBags. Now use these to keep those plastic bags away. (BTW, we love your porn star name!)
Beth gets all the poop about the joys of cloth diapers, on a forum called Diaper Swappers.
Hilary thought we would enjoy this story about candy shaped like beer glasses. She was correct.

Direct download: More_Hip_183_Fair_Trade_Facts.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:56 PM

Wed, 8 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Kernel of Truth

More Hip Than Hippie #182 - Kernel of Truth

We've seen the television ads touting High Fructose Corn Syrup as "natural". Could it be true? The Hipsters stalk the source of this campaign, and try to find their way through a maze of facts and falsehoods. Also, Val pulls out a condom question, and Dori gets her pomegranate popped!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: The 12-oz bottles of Hale's Ales Mongoose IPA are just too small for such a fine brew. Rikki-Tikki-Tasty!

Chocolate: Two handmade treats from our new favorite listener, Karin in SoCal. She sent BonBonBar's Single Malt Scotch and Malt candy bars. They contain no artificial ingredients or high fructose corn syrup, we might add. A full 12 hips, and Karin, send more please!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Trick or Trade. There's still time to scare up a bag of Fair Trade Halloween candy from Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates.
Grape expectations. Put your wine to work! Etica Fair Trade wine earmarks a portion of their proceeds for social development in the countries where they do business. Their website shows you exactly what goes into the cost of your bottle.

Hip News

The color of money. A major shift to renewable energy and efficiency is expected to produce 4.2 million new environmentally friendly "green" jobs over the next three decades, according to a study commissioned by the nation's mayors.
Shock absorber. Using tax credits, the US government will put $7,500 toward your purchase of a Chevy Volt. Use your extra money to buy GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz a muzzle.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Press Record. Make an audio recording of an older member of your family. Let them reminisce about their childhood, relatives and life in a simpler time. Make copies on CD or cassette and give them as holiday gifts. Memories are free, yet priceless!

Kernel of Truth

We've seen the television ads touting High Fructose Corn Syrup as "natural". Could it be true? Dori and Val stalk the source of this campaign, and try to find their way through a maze of facts and falsehoods. We learned that the sweetener was introduced in the 1970's to protect US corn farmers, and to lower grocery prices. Is HFCS making our lives sweeter, or shorter?

Pone Express. Surprise! It's the Corn Refiners Association behind those TV ads.
Aw, shucks! Earlier this year, the FDA decided that HFCS is indeed natural, much to the delight of Big Corn.
WTFructose? You can call it "natural', but it takes a man-made process to create the sweetener.
Candy corn. HFCS certainly has its advantages, according to the corn folks.
An earful. While inconclusive, research suggests a link to diabetes, obesity and other ills.

Listener E-mails Got a question popping in your head? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and sweet nothings at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Thank you Allison, who mentioned us on her blog for the Healthy Schools Campaign.
Isabel in Belfast, UK needs a cutting board, and wonders which wood is best. We recommend bamboo. Make sure to wash and dry it thoroughly.
Courtney in Denver is a Hipster college student who lives in a LEED dorm, carries a ChicoBag and keeps a bar of Dagoba Eclipse on hand at all times. You have learned well, young Grasshopper.
Emmms in London seeks eco-friendly contraception. A vegan condom is hard to find. (sorry!) Check out Emmms' blog too.
Michelle in Sydney believes we're all making a difference with the small steps we take. She gave up beef and now eats...Roo. Oh, bother.

Direct download: More_Hip_182_Kernel_of_Truth.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:54 PM

Fri, 3 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Feast of Fall

More Hip Than Hippie #181 - Feast of Fall

Fall fruits and vegetables aren't just fun to look at, they do a body good! Those plump melons and leafy greens pack a bounty of nutrients to keep us well through the winter. Dori and Val call out the season's superstars, and help you figure out what to do with them. Also, a listener puts her cheap vodka to good use, and we end the show with Stephen Colbert interviewing GM Chairman Bob Lutz about electric cars. Hipsterlarious!

Beer and Chocolate:

Wine: The first rainstorm of Fall got us in the mood for a bottle of red. After a frantic search for a corkscrew, we poured our pint glasses full of Well Re(a)d from Heartswork Winery in Collegeville, CA. It's organic and sulfite-free, and didn't make Val sick!

Chocolate: Okay, we were afraid of this Vivani Feine Bitter 85% cacao organic dark chocolate bar from Alex in Denmark. But paired with the red wine, it was a decadent delight. (Check out the fun English translation on their site. It'll make wine come out your nose!)

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Celebrate Fair Trade Month with a set of 3 stylish RuMe Totes, in your choice of coordinating colors. Made in South Korea under strict Fair Trade standards, these sturdy bags are also available in a mini-size for Val's early morning trips to the liquor store!
Clean election. If you're sick of all the mud-slinging, wash it away with Feel Good & Vote soap. Now you can really let politics get you in a lather.
Stick 'em up. Turn your old beer and wine labels into custom fridge magnets with an easy DIY idea from Ready Made magazine. Use the magnets to hold up your other beer and wine labels.

Hip News

Auto-man empire. President Bush signed a $25 billion loan package for the struggling auto industry. Now the CEOs can fill their gas tanks.
Bag the plastic. Wal-Mart will cut plastic-bag waste by a third in the next 5 years, mostly outside the US.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Fall in love! Find a Fall food you've never tried. Check our forum for recipes or eat it raw, then let us know what you think of it. You may find your new favorite food waiting for you at the farmers' market!

Feast of Fall

Autumn's got 'em. From Apples to Zucchini, the color and variety of fall produce is amazing!
Root them out. Find your local source for affordable fall treats at Local Harvest.
Orange crush. To get you started, here are 5 easy pumpkin recipes. Jack-O-Licious!

Listener E-mails Don't squash your creative impulses! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and stew recipes at our MHTH forum!

Jennifer in Kentucky can't quite believe she was in a hurricane! She wants tips for dealing with a disaster. Her Storm Station has helped keep her beer cold.
Carrie in Green Lane, PA would like to hear a show about the history of Greenfeet. Stay tuned!
Jennifer in Los Angeles discovered that Subway's napkins are pretty eco-friendly, and they sell reusable bags. If only they'd recycle Jared...
Tamar in Israel has an ingenious mother. She makes her own vanilla extract using cheap vodka. Lechayim!

Direct download: More_Hip_181_Feast_of_Fall.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:52 PM

Wed, 1 October 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Green-O-Ween

More Hip Than Hippie #180 Green-O-Ween

The scariest thing about Halloween could be all the waste we generate for the big night! Have no fear, the Hipsters get into the spirit of the holiday with the founders of GreenHalloween.org, Lynn and Corey. They share ideas for everything from costumes to decor to trick-or-treat goodies. Also, Dori tries out her Austrian accent, and Val tries to make a "huckleberry face".

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: It's your huckleberry! Another of Val's Idaho finds, Coeur d'Alene Brewing Co.'s Huckleberry Ale is sure to attract bears, if not Hipsters.

Chocolate?: From the Divine Chocolate holiday goodie bag, we try White Chocolate with Strawberries. It's Fair Trade Certified, but...well, it's white chocolate. 'Nuff said.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

'Ella good. A grad student fashioned a lightweight umbrella frame called the Eco-Brolly. You can use any old newspaper or plastic bag as a cover. Or fill it with Rihanna CDs.
The Fonz approves. The new COOL law kicks in this week, so you'll see more "Country-Of-Origin-Labels" in the supermarket. Exceptions to the rule: just about everything you buy. Not cool.

Hip News

Action hero. Gov. Ah-nold Schwarznegger is hosting a climate-change summit, bypassing the feds and beating the UN to the punch by a month.
Choc suey. Cadbury recalled its Chinese-made chocolate products after finding they contained melamine.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Egg-scuse me? Listener Shayna shared a half-dozen uses for empty egg cartons. Some ideas: use them to ship breakables, to sort change at your yard sale or to start seedlings. If they're clean, try giving them to egg vendors at your local farmers' market!

Green-O-Ween

Fright club. Corey and Lynn started GreenHalloween.org as moms concerned about the earthly impact of All Hallow's Eve.
Ghoulicious. The friendly souls at Global Exchange offer Fair Trade Halloween chocolate and party streamers. It's too late to order a Halloween Kit, but save the site for next year.
Beewitching. Corey and Lynn love to use beeswax candles for holiday decor. These honeypot jack-o-lanterns are a scream!
EEEK-o friendly. Lug your loot from door to door in this year's limited-edition Halloween Chico Bag. It'll look great with your recycled costume.
Mummies know best. The ladies' new book, Celebrate Green, is full of tips to green up all the occasions in your life...and your afterlife! Mwah hah hah hah!

Listener E-mails Got a monstrously good idea or tip? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links and ghost stories at our MHTH forum!

Katie in Mississippi wants a green career! OK, check out Grist and Green Business for listings, and Yahoo for more ideas. Good luck!
Melissa in Minnesota sets the Ho's straight about her favorite beer. She also loves her some chocolate-covered bacon. Here's your tiara, Melissa.
Catherine found a crafty idea to give your dryer balls...made of wool. Thank ewe!
Lynda in Florida thinks Val is the perfect candidate to own a Kegerator. Can she hook it up to her beer hat?

Direct download: More_Hip_180_Green-o-ween.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:38 PM

Fri, 26 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - GEMology

More Hip Than Hippie #179 - GEMology

They didn't kill the electric car! Battery-powered vehicles are buzzing down a road near you, and the GEM is leading the charge. The Hipsters chat with Kent Collins, owner of Chico Eco Cars, and learn what it takes to make the switch to an EV, then they take a test drive. Also, the Chico Air Show approaches, and Val feels the need for speed!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: If Mother Earth herself brewed beer, this would be her signature ale! Green Lakes Organic Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon rocks the planet and gets all 12 hips.

Chocolate: The holidays have arrived a little early, thanks to Divine Chocolate. They sent a box of their seasonal goodies, including the Divine Dark Chocolate After Dinner Mints. Give them as a hostess gift, then eat 'em up before the other guests do!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Interactive giftwrap? Take re-gifting to a new level with reusable cloth Wrapsacks. Each comes with a tracking number, so you can log online and follow its progress across the land.
Control geek. The Plogg is a simple device that tracks your electricity usage, controls your appliances and connects wirelessly to your computer, phone or Blackberry. Want one? Gotta move to Europe!
What, no Garbage-Patch? A new line of Method hand and body washes will be available in October. The scents, inspired by the ocean, include Water-Flower and Refresh-Mint.

Hip News

Power surge. China is rushing to build a network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The US is rushing to Panda Express for lunch.
Evolving doors. The world's greenest museum opens this month in San Francisco. The new California Academy of Sciences asks, "How did life evolve?" "How will it survive?" and "Does a pig wear lipstick?"

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Switch gears! Sit down with your family and evaluate your driving habits. Do you spend a lot of time navigating neighborhood streets? If so, you might benefit by switching to an electric vehicle. Solo commuters should consider electric scooters or bicycles.

GEMology

Plug in. The basics: GEM stands for Global Electric Motorcars, a division of Chrysler, headquartered in Fargo, ND (dontcha know!).
Power points. EV's save money and cut pollution. They also make people point and wave at you. Need to know more? Ask the Electric Auto Association.
Stay current. Chrysler has declared 2010 the year of its electric car. Meanwhile, there's GEM's latest offering: the Peapod NEV.
Electric outlet. Kent's brand-new eco-car dealership has Chico buzzing!

Listener E-mails Keep the energy flowing! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links and shameless plugs at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Cheers to Robin, who listed us among her faves on Green Option's Sustainablog. You like us, you really like us!
Sara in Colorado checked in on Facebook to tell us about her recycling project at Western State College. Way to go!
Jenny in Ontario (eh!) presents a blog that focuses on the downside of wind farms. OK, but clean coal still blows.
Elizabeth in Minnesota is a self-proclaimed "cheesegirl", and teaches us a thing or two about rennet and annotto. What a cheese whiz!
Mary in New Hampshire (Live Free or Die!) wants to know which of her plastic water bottles won't kill her. Magic numbers: 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Katie in Austin, TX shares a recipe for a More Hip libation: 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a pint of Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Sounds Hipsterlicious!

Tiara Alert! Nominations are open for the Podcast Awards! There's no swimsuit competition, but we can still kick butt in the People's Choice and Education categories, so click the link and choose More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_179_GEMology.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:09 PM

Wed, 24 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Palm Print

More Hip Than Hippie #178 - Palm Print

Are Oreos destroying the planet? Probably not, but like most processed foods, they contain a controversial ingredient. Palm oil is in heavy demand by food producers, and farmers are destroying rainforests to supply it. Dori and Val fill in the facts. Also, Val gets mooned by a swan and compares her husband to a trampoline!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Val learns to love fruit beer with a ginormous bottle of Tangerine Wheat Beer from Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, CA. So much citrus, you almost have to peel it!

Chocolate: How do you say "big-ass chocolate bar" in Danish? That would be Chok O Blok, the latest offering from Alex the Dragon. 70% San Domingo single origin dark chocolate, no messin' around!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Innspiring. Val and her hubby enjoyed a weekend at the eco-friendly Gaia Hotel in Anderson, CA. Her favorite part? The toilet!
Sheet happens. Misprinted sheet metal is saved from the landfill and transformed into exotic glass-sided lanterns.
Sake to me! Add Organic Nama Sake to your list of eco-friendly adult beverages. Serve that wild rice in true Japanese style.

Hip News

Fresh air. The US House of Reps passed the No Child Left Inside Act, trying to improve environmental education in schools.
Load Star State. San Antonio, Texas pioneers the first large-scale effort to convert human waste into natural gas.
Speaking of dumps... A visit to the landfill in Japan could turn out to be a real treasure hunt. Precious metals abound from discarded electronics.
Dodo with lipstick. Congratulations to this year's winner of the Rubber Dodo award: Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, crusader against the pesky polar bear.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

WD-4get about it! Quiet down those squeaky hinges with a spritz of cooking spray or a dab of lip balm. Apply it to the hinge's moving parts and wipe away any excess. Look for brands that don't contain petroleum or palm oil.

Palm Print

Are Oreos destroying the planet? Probably not, but like most processed foods, they contain a controversial ingredient. Palm oil is in heavy demand by food producers, and farmers are destroying rainforests to supply it. Dori and Val look at the environmental consequences of palm oil plantations, what corporations can do to stop it, and how consumers can make a difference.

Palm reader. What is palm oil, and why do we love it? (Hint: it's full of fat.)
Oil crisis. Drilling won't solve this problem either.
There goes the neighborhood. A new study confirms oil palms make terrible rainforests.
Not my Thin Mints! Step away from the Girl Scout cookies. You can make a difference by reading labels and avoiding products that contain palm oil. Learn more here.

Listener E-mails Pick our brains! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, flotsam and jetsam at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Thanks for mentioning us Behind the Stall Door!
Lisa in Wisconsin shares a clever gift idea: make catnip pillows out of old sweaters. Even better if you grow your own catnip.
Dr. DeeDee in Mississippi wants to get rid of a trampoline without putting it in the landfill. This guy has some ideas.
Sara in New Hampshire (Live Free or Die!) is proud of a UNH student whose research led to a new state law on wind energy. We're blown away!
Theresa in North Carolina wonders what's up with the Saturn ads. Well, they're temporary, and hopefully not too bothersome. We gotta pay for the glorious More Hip Media Multiplex somehow!

Direct download: More_Hip_178_Palm_Print.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:44 PM

Fri, 19 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Nit-Picking

More Hip Than Hippie #177 - Nit-Picking

September is Head Lice Prevention Month, so Dori and Val are itching to learn more about keeping the critters away! Listen for common-sense tips to help you head-off an outbreak. We'll also comb through the facts about "super lice" and offer some remedies you can make from scratch. Also, find out why Dori's high and Val's dry!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: This 20th Anniversary Black Butte XX Porter from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon is steeped in controversy. After Val spent 10 minutes prying open the wax-dipped top, she found it too malty to drink! Dori stepped up, drinking the entire 22 oz. bottle alone. Because there's no "I" in team.

Chocolate: Another yummy bar from Alex in Denmark. Even stone cold sober, Val wouldn't try to pronounce Urtekram økologisk Mørk chokolade. It's Fair Trade certified and Kan indeholde spor af mælk, nødder og peanuts. We think it's Danishious!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! It's a handy product with a mission: the BOGO Solar Task Light. Buy one, the company sends one to needy folks in Africa. The light charges even on a cloudy day, and helps Val and her hubby navigate to their new hot tub at night.
Merlot and behold. The Six Pack Wine Rack made of wool felt is stylish, recyclable and produced in the USA. Unlike your wine bottles, it folds flat when it's empty.
Wii demand a recount. Greenpeace released its 9th Guide to Greener Electronics. Still the best? Nokia. Still the worst? Nintendo.

Hip News

Bureaucrappy. The suits at the FDA insist BPA is fine for your health, even as a new study suggests a link to heart disease and diabetes.
Sino the times. China's largest milk producer is recalling baby formula tainted with melamine.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Fall into flowers! Autumn is the time to replant your flower beds. This year, save time and money by choosing perennials instead of annuals. Try your best to find plants native to your area. They'll thrive with less maintenance and they'll attract more birds and butterflies. Work with nature, not against it!

Nit-Picking

Myth-understood. Who knew? Head lice can't fly, don't spread disease and prefer clean hair over dirty hair!
Nitting circle. About 1 in 10 kids will contract lice by the sixth grade. It's because of their lousy behavior.
Look, up in your scalp... It's Super Lice! Faster than a speeding comb, able to resist OTC medications in 3-5 years.
Lice-ense to kill. Natural remedies include mayonnaise, olive oil and this DIY recipe from The Green Witch Herbal.
Who ya gonna call? One enterprising business offers a lice removal service for your home and your head.

Listener E-mails Is something bugging you? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and photos of your malt-face at our MHTH forum!

Beth in Florida cleans her keyboards with a cool alternative to canned air. It's a blast!
Kevin is tired of tossing out Q-tips everyday. We suggest using an earwash to clean your canals. If you prefer swabs, these are organic and biodegradable.
Scott in Michigan wants to make us cry. He loves the story of an amazing boy named Clinton Hill. Pass the tissue, please.
Sandra in New York hooks up with her neighbors each week to exchange food, books and household goods, no strings attached.
Denise in Florida invites Hipsters in the Blue Grass State to visit her son's new green business in Louisville.
Molly in Baltimore (hey hon!) thought of us when she saw this project for making solar lanterns out of beer bottles. You light up our lives!

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva and MoreHipDori, at your service!Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_177_Nit-Picking.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:16 PM

Wed, 17 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Power to the People

More Hip Than Hippie #176 - Power to the People

Energy independence isn't just for nations anymore! It's never been easier to generate power at home. Dori and Val let you know "watt" it takes to harness the energy of the sun and wind. Learn about equipment and permits, plus rebates to help ease you off the grid. You'll feel empowered!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: "Heaps of hops" for Hipsters in this Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Co. in Pennsylvania.

Chocolate: Longtime listener Alex the Dragon in Denmark sent a package of chocolate goodness. This week's choice: Vivani Feine Bitter Orange. Mange tak!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Newspeeper. ReKindle your love for newspapers with an electronic version, courtesy of Plastic Logic. Available next year, their reader is thin, light and easy to read. Just don't use it to potty-train your puppy.
Good shop/Bad shop. Navigate those perilous shopping aisles with a little help from Good Guide. This new site helps you choose the best products while you're standing in the store. And yes, Val, there's an iPhone app coming soon.

Hip News

Moneybags. A plastics trade group spent over $180,000 last month to fight Seattle's 20 cent bag fee. They could have bought 900,000 plastic bags with that. Or 36,000 ChicoBags.
Does Yogi know? Meanwhile, France considers a "picnic tax" on disposable dishes. Don't tell the ranger, Boo-Boo!
Hangover. Clothes hangers made of plastic or wire are very tough to recycle and usually end up in the landfill. Faye Dunaway weighs in on the issue at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Smile! A little toothpaste comes to the rescue for those scratched CD's and DVD's. Dab some paste (not gel!) on a cotton swap and polish the plastic surface until the scratches are gone. Wash the toothpaste off with water. If the disc still skips, hot-glue it to a paper lantern and make a disco ball!

Power to the People

Power source. A great article from MSN provided most of the information for our topic.
Meter operandi. Sending power back to your utility company is called net metering. You may not get you rich, but you'll be powerful!
It's electrifyin'! Install Sunslate tiles on your roof, and no one but the sun will know you've gone solar.
Dutch treat. From Holland, the new Energy Ball eggbeater-style turbine blows away your electric bill.
Knowledge is power. Read up on wind systems and how to plan for them. Identify federal and state tax incentives for switching to solar power.

Listener E-mails We get a charge out of your letters! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and powerful ideas at our MHTH forum!

Lacy in California helps a hip sista out with safety info for would-be bicycle commuters.
Cassi in Tennessee is steaming mad about a campaign to save the endangered plastic bag.
Ken in Bakersfield turned us on to the non-profit Solar Energy International, which provides workshops and online courses for homeowners.
Big Ed in Indiana let us know about Samsung's new recycling program in the US.

Direct download: More_Hip_176_Power_to_the_People.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:03 PM

Fri, 12 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - What the Frack?

More Hip Than Hippie #175 - What the Frack?

Gas companies use a process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", to loosen rock and bring natural gas to the surface of wells. If you think this sounds hazardous, well, you're right. Dori and Val drill beneath the surface and let the statistics flow.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Check out our Grand Tetons! Listener Mike (Spanky) set us up with a threesome: Au Naturale Organic Blonde Ale and Workhorse Wheat Ale, plus Black Dog English Style Amber Ale from Spanish Peaks Brewing Co. in Wisconsin. Uh-oh, is that Val's malt face?

Chocolate: Mike again, with assorted goodies from Anacortes Chocolate Factory in Washington. Thanky Spanky!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! The best kitchen utensil is the one you use every day. Try this bamboo slotted spoon for stirring, scooping and straining with style. Keep it fresh with a little bamboo goo.
Baby steps. Need eco-friendly shoes for the teeny weeny greenies in your life? Soft, comfy Pedoodles are made from recycled leather scraps.
Oh Wiki, you're so fine! Get the scoop on all things environmental at the new Green Wiki. [citation needed]
Green Miles. Tom Hanks is one of us! The actor supports The Nature Conservancy and buzzes around Hollywood in his electric car. Eco is as eco does...

Hip News

Sole survivors. A new study finds 40% of freshwater fish species in North America are in jeopardy. Dori finds 100% of them are inedible.
Little green Apples. The newest iPod nano is also the cleanest. Steve Jobs says it's mostly toxic free and highly recyclable.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Start meshing around! After you've eaten the last onion or potato, reuse that mesh produce bag. Slip it over a kitchen sponge for extra scrubbing power on pots and pans.

What the Frack?

Frack attack. Hydraulic fracturing typically involves pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of fluids and sand into an oil or gas formation. Water and air pollution ensue.
Frackpot. The chemicals used in fracturing fluid are not subject to regulations or public disclosure, despite the dangers of exposure.
Frack off. The Environmental Protection Agency bows to political pressure and refuses to investigate.
Frack to nature. As pressure to drill increases, so does the potential threat to the environment.

Listener E-mails We dig it when you pump us for info! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and Tom Hanks movie quotes at our MHTH forum!

Michele in North Carolina (y'all) found an mp3 player for little kids. The SweetPea3 can run on one rechargeable battery. She also shares the good news that NC is going green!
Reverend Rachel in Texas needs suggestions for a "going green" gift basket. How about a reusable water bottle, biodegradable waste bags, a shower timer and an air filter whistle?
Lottie in Massachusetts sees hopeful signs for a green economy: an event called Green Jobs Now and a report about a Green Recovery. We approve!
Carri in Kansas loves master gardener Felder Rushing and his cool beer bottle trees. She also thinks Val would be a great supper guest on Planet Green. Are they serving beer and chocolate?

Let the world know you're More Hip Than Hippie! Post a review at iTunes, and don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_175_What_the_Frack.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:26 PM

Wed, 10 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Green Dot

More Hip Than Hippie #174 - Green Dot

September is National Sewing Month, as well as National Start to Panic About the Holidays Month. No worries! Dori and Val chat with sewing maven Julie DeMaggio, owner/operator of Green Dot Designer's Lounge. She specializes in recycled clothes and clever crafts. The Hipsters pin her down on some easy gifts you can make with just a needle and thread.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Perfect for a couple of fallen angels: Broken Halo IPA from Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. in Portland, Oregon.

Chocolate: Another selection from the Emerald Isle! Lily O'Briens Organic Dark Chocolate, Created with Passion and mailed in by the lovely Fiona. Take a look at her eco-village in Ireland.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Bic Appetit. Turn your pen into an eating utensil with Din-Ink pen-cap cutlery.
Pick a Dar-winner. The new issue of E Magazine drills into the climate crisis. Which candidate can accept the science, and which McCan't?

Hip News

Stick a Ford in it. Europeans will soon get to drive the new 65-mpg Ford Fiesta. Deisel-hating US drivers must sell their homes and live in their Hummers.
All wet. Sales of bottled water slow down in the US. We're waiting for it to drop below $3 a gallon.
Republigreen. Listen to John McCain's ideas for the environment. A small clip from his convention speech runs at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Think negative! Listener Mike works in a photo lab, and has a great tip to keep plastic out of the landfill. When you drop off film, ask the lab not to cut your negatives into strips. No little plastic sleeves to deal with, and your film can stay in its container. Bonus: reprints are easier to make from the whole strip!

Green Dot

Green Dot Designer's Lounge is a great business specializing in recycled clothes and crafts. Owner Julie DeMaggio joins Dori and Val to pin down some easy homemade gifts you can make with just a needle and thread.

A friend in needle. Julie and Kris opened Green Dot because they believe anyone can "be their own designer."
Hoop Hurray! Hot for fall: embroidery. Check out Sublime Stitching for designs your grandma wouldn't touch with a 10-foot needle.
Thread, white & blue. Celebrate National Sewing Month with tips and links from the pros.
Stitchin' time. Julie has lots of easy gift ideas for beginners. Visit the DIY section of our forum.

Listener E-mails It's sew easy to get in touch! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and photos of your handiwork at our MHTH forum!

Melinda in South Carolina (y'all) warns of the hazards of "canned air". To clean your keyboard, just shake it out, then slide 2-sided tape between the keys. (Works better on computers than pianos.)
Trystan at Yahoo! Green used old CD's as candleholders in her wedding centerpieces. Talk about stax of wax!
Kristin in New Hampshire misses those childhood trips to the dump, but uses a "Still Good" shed for sharing unwanted items with others.
Brian in Tennessee unearthed Fossil Fuels that we really dig!

Direct download: More_Hip_174_Green_Dot.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:06 PM

Fri, 5 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - CD vs MP3

More Hip Than Hippie #173 - CD vs MP3

As a music lover, which should you choose? Sounds like a no-brainer, but Val and Dori download data you need to know so your favorite music doesn't stream into the landfill! Listen for tech news and tips for your old CDs, plus the Hipsters notice something's missing...

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We're traveling through another dimension, our next stop...Twilight Seasonal Ale from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. A wondrous beer whose boundaries are that of imagination.

Chocolate: Listener Fiona in Galway sent us chocolate pints of Guinness from the Irish Chocolate Company. Slainte!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Would you, could you carry a handmade tote made with pages from a Dr. Seuss book? Storybook Bags tell your favorite childhood story in a stylish one-of-a-kind bag, made in the USA by moms.
See no weevil. Real rice and feed bags are handcrafted into bright, functional laundry bags and wastebaskets.
Nal-genius. Put your old plastic water bottle to work. It makes a brilliant solar light.

Hip News

Break off, eh? A huge ice sheet has broken loose in the Canadian Arctic. Sarah Palin wants to turn it into a hockey rink.
Automathic. Number-crunchers have proven that a Toyota Prius holds its value better than non-hybrids.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

The next time you buy any paper product, try to find a brand that's chlorine-free. Why? Because dioxin is released into the environment when chlorinated products are incinerated. Check out this list of home and office paper goods that make the grade.

CD vs MP3

As a music lover, which should you choose? Sounds like a no-brainer, but Val and Dori download data you need to know so your favorite music doesn't stream into the landfill!

DISCouraging. Get the story on iPods and e-Waste.
DISCoveries. Newer innovations include corn-based MildDiscs, and Blu-Ray, which is 51% paper.
DISClaimers. Americans still buy about a billion CDs every year. When you're tired of listening to the Jukebox Hits of the 60's, send 'em to GreenDisk for recycling. Or turn Martha Stewart loose on them.
DISContinued. Where, oh where have those annoying AOL discs gone?

Listener E-mails Sound off, don't let your ideas go to e-waste! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and compliments at our MHTH forum!

Brigid in Chicago is running a Marathon to raise money for the Healthy Schools Campaign. If only she were a hockey mom.
Howard in England introduces us to Roz Savage, who's trying to become the first woman to row across the Pacific. She's an environmentalist and adventurer. But not a hockey mom.
Tom in London sends praise to Marks & Spencer in the UK for banning free plastic bags.
Denise in Indiana is looking for a few good organic wines. We suggest our local favorite.

Got a favorite Green(feet) business? Nominations are now open for Co-Op America's annual Green Business of the Year contest. Rock the vote! And don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_173_CD_vs_MP3.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:01 PM

Wed, 3 September 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Now Hear This!

More Hip Than Hippie #172 - Now Hear This!

That gold in your ear is valuable, but don't dig for it! Dori and Val discuss new guidelines for ear wax removal. Learn what that stuff is made of, why it's there and how to deal with it. It's a goldmine of information! Also, Barack Obama outlines his green energy ideas and Val conquers the airwaves.

Cider and Cheese:

Cider: How do you like these apples? American Hard Cider Co. bottles Newton's Folly Authentic Draft Cider, which is Golden and Delicious to the core!

Cheese: Award-winning Organic Valley Cheddar. It's legendairy. We paired it with Barbara's Bakery crackers.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

TiVal. Check out Val's TV segment about waste-free lunches. Look out Oprah!
No-brainer. It makes sense to save paper while reading about the environment, right? EcoBrain offers tons of green titles online, including audio books.
Tanks a lot! Find out how much fun you can have on one tank of gas, with Trip Advisor.
Ex-Bay. You've dumped the boyfriend, now dump the baubles he gave you! Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry lets you repurpose that diamond, conflict-free.
Bike-ingham Palace. England's Queen Elizabeth tells her bodyguards to get out of the SUV's and patrol the grounds on 2 wheels.

Hip News

Dukes of hazard. The Bush administration wants to delay the process of removing toxins from the workplace.
High price of gas. It's not just belching cows. Experts say insects contribute to climate change when they pass wind.
Greenocrats. Listen to Barack Obama's ideas for the environment. A small bit of his Denver speech runs at the end of the show.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Don't forget to flush! Your water heater may need to purge the sediment that's been building up over the years. It's not tough to do, and unlike Val, you probably won't need to wear a wet suit. Afterward your tank will operate more efficiently and you'll be sure to have plenty of hot water for those winter days ahead.

Now Hear This!

What-ology? The American Academy of Otolaryngology issued national guidelines on earwax removal. Paper clips = not okay.
A good deaf-ense. Scientists found the best way to remove the stuff is with saline drops or sterile water. Not this.
Fire in the hole! The report claims there's no benefit to the practice of ear candling. That leaves Val burning. At both ends.

Listener E-mails You really oto write in! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles and links, or just wax poetic at our MHTH forum!

Brandy in Colorado tells us about a great place to get natural gifts for kids. Visit, and get to gnome her better.
Lurker Jodie needs a natural hand sanitizer for her kids while they're at school. Don't forget about good ol' soap and water!
Michelle in New York wants a green alternative to styrofoam, and we found these customizable peanuts. Do this with the old stuff.
Jen in Wisconsin is afraid to bike around town with her tot in tow. Get support! See if there's a bike club in town without "Hell's" or "Angels" in their name.
Fiona in Sydney sent an article about one woman's quest to live a paperless life. Yes, that includes Down Under.
Lisa in Michigan praises her home state for putting on a green Labor Day event and music festival. Kudos, der, eh?

Direct download: More_Hip_172_Now_Hear_This.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:00 PM

Fri, 29 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Sommer Time

More Hip Than Hippie #171 - Sommer Time

The Green & Clean Mom herself, Sommer Poquette, calls in to chat with her BFF's about her blog, her inspirations, her pet peeves, and of course, her porn star name. Find out what she's learned from the moms who read her blog, and why her husband thinks Oprah owes them money.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Washington's Fish Brewing Co. serves up Fish Tale Organic Wild Salmon Pale Ale. Dori managed to enjoy it despite the name (and after Val assured her it contained no fish parts).

Chocolate: Keeping it Evergreen, we sample Seattle Chocolates Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar. Cascadelicious!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Add some sparkle to your drinks with beautiful glass straws. They're guaranteed for life, so you can spit out those old plastic straws and sip away. Keep 'em close by in a handy carrying case.
I'll drive what she's driving. When Harry met Sally, they were sharing a ride across the country. Canada brings that process into the 21st century with PickupPal, an internet ride-share board.
A bright IKEA. Some day you'll shop for solar panels and other cleantech products at your local IKEA. Good luck assembling them yourself.
Dagobacon? It's this summer's hottest delicacy on the midway: chocolate-covered bacon! We hope this is an Endangered Species.

Hip News

Reef Madness. Bush says he intends to create the largest protected area in the Pacific Ocean. Right after we land on Mars.
Vitamin Pb. The FDA found that almost all vitamins for women and babies contain trace amounts of lead. Men, you'll just have to keep eating old paint.
Green Old Party. The Republican National Committee unveils "the greenest platform we've ever had." Looks kinda yellow to us.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Sommer says, say no to plastic bags! Carry a supply of ChicoBags with you wherever you go. The compact size and handy clips make them convenient for any shopping excursion. We think they're an essential part of the Hipster Tool Kit.

Sommer Time

Blogoddess. Sommer is the famed Green and Clean Mom you've read about in the New York Times!
Imus get this book. Oprah featured Green This! by Deirdre Imus on her show. It changed Sommer's life.
Clean thoughts. Our BFF recommends Shaklee cleaning products, and loves her some baking soda too!
How Tweet! You can follow Sommer on Twitter; she's GreenMom.

Listener E-mails Get your green and clean questions and comments to Dori and Val! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and Oprah's cell phone number at our MHTH forum!

April in Edinburgh, Scotland found a natural, BPA-free baby pacifier for her wee bairn.
Erin in Washington loves SmartPak. You can create customized packs of supplements for dogs or horses with no waste, using recycleable materials.
Eileen in Dominica (lucky!) says her high-end dishwasher just doesn't get the job done. We recommend testing for hard water. Or, put your dishes outside during a tropical storm.
Jessica in Pittsburgh discovered that a mouse had pooped all over her oven, then died inside it. Ratatouille for dinner?

Direct download: More_Hip_171_Sommer_Time.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:04 PM

Wed, 27 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Raising the Bar

More Hip Than Hippie #170 - Raising the Bar

Before the holiday parties get underway, take a look at your home bar. Are you creating a huge bottle-print? Dori and Val stir up some ideas to clean up your cantina. From spirits to barware to ice, your next throwdown can be a party for the planet too! Also, Dori dishes dirt on celebs, and Val helps a listener lose her inhibitions (and her clothing).

Beer and Crackers:

Beer: You betcha we enjoy dis Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, The Pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin since 1867. Ya der, hey?

Crackers: Wha? No chocolate? We're trying to branch out a little. Late July Organic Cheddar Cheese crackers offer a tasty guilt-free snack. Fill up a bowl and put 'em on the bar!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Are you gellin'? One of Val's fave magazines, Mary Jane's Farm, offers ChillOver Powder. It's an animal-free gelatin that's so good, it could fool Bill Cosby.
Bright star. When our green hero Jack Johnson goes on tour, his contract requires carbon offsets and recycling. Get free downloads when you go green with Jack at All At Once.
Dark star. Madonna, on the other hand, is spewing carbon on her new tour. What happened to her Live Earth promises? They lasted about 4 minutes.
NSFW! Unless you work at a nudist camp.

Hip News

Icehole. A giant crack in the Arctic ice could spell doom for a major glacier. Maybe it should pull up its plants.
Gung Hay Fat Chance. Officials in China agree that breathable air might be a catchy idea even after the Olympics are over. Could 2008 be the Year of the Lung?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Get down in the dumps! A visit to the local landfill can be a treasure hunt, and now some towns are establishing shops for rescued items. See if you can find one, and dive in!

Raising the Bar

About a bar. Our friends at about.com provide 10 great tips for an eco-friendly home bar, including links to "green" spirits. They also concocted a drink called the Global Warmer. Chill before serving.
Green Party HQ. Everyday's a party at Greenfeet, so check out their well-tested collection of goodies for entertaining at home.
Bar code. Don't corrupt your Cosmo. We found organic mixers and olives too. Now get your green style on with cork barware. We'll drink to that!
Life fizz good. Val found a cool way to make soda and sparkling water at home. Put it next to the kegerator.
The morning after. Try using natural cleaners to remove unwanted reminders of the big night. Sorry, they probably won't remove that guy sleeping on the lawn.

Listener E-mails Pour out your questions and comments to Dori and Val! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and drink recipes at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Thanks to Karuchka for mentioning us on Twitter. Join the fun; follow MoreHipDori and GrnDiva.
Diana in Connecticut wonders about crystal deodorants. Are they safe? Effective? Affordable? Yes, yes, yes.
Mark in St. Louis, aka Anheuser-Busch country, needs a green-themed name for his Fantasy Football team. Hipsters, can you help? (We advise against using Teeny-Weeny in the name!)

Direct download: More_Hip_170_Raising_The_Bar.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:23 PM

Fri, 22 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Triclosanity

More Hip Than Hippie #169 - Triclosanity

Triclosan is a common ingredient in anti-bacterial soaps and detergents. But is it any better than plain old soap and water? Dori and Val get in a lather about Triclosan's connection to BPA and "Superbugs". Also, Dori dreams of Obama, and Val reveals the two dirtiest animals on the farm!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Oh no! They say he's got to go! Laughing Dog Brewing unleashes Dogzilla Black IPA in a 22 oz. bottle. Pour yourself a growler...it's fetchingly good.

Chocolate: During her travels, Val found Chuao Spicy Maya dark chocolate. It's infused with pasilla chile and cayenne pepper. Quick, more beer!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Val's Favorite Things! Val shares her soft fluffy soybean pillow with us. It can resist germs and mildew, but apparently not husbands and sons.
Green Apples. Wondering which laptop and desktop computers are the greenest in the land? MetaEfficient looked in the magic mirror and found an Apple even Snow White could love. Slip on a green laptop sleeve or jacket, and it's off to work you go!
No-meat feet. Hey all you animal-activist skateboarders, your shoes are here! Vegan Vans combine function and fashion, no animal parts required.
Tray chic. More college campuses are dumping cafeteria trays. They've cut food waste by as much as 50%. Food fights are unaffected.
A 3-hour tour... A recent documentary takes a voyage to Garbage Island. It's an eye-opening look at over 3 million tons of trash swirling around a remote stretch of the Pacific Ocean. Gilligan, want one of Mary Ann's plastic-cream pies?

Hip News

Weather we need it or not. Eight scientific organizations ask the next US President to spend $9 billion to protect the country's economy from climate change. Sure, if "climate change" is hiding in a cave in Afghanistan.
How Swede it is! The government of Sweden aims to end that country's dependence on fossil fuels by 2020. Can a Volvo run on fish oil?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Freeze! Buy up a bounty of fresh veggies, then freeze them for winter soups and stews. Prepare green beans by washing and drying them thoroughly, then spreading them on a cookie sheet in the freezer. Gather the frozen beans into a storage bag. That way there's no giant beansickle to thaw!

Triclosanity

Ciba no evil. The company that developed the pesticide Triclosan, Ciba-Geigy, touts its effectiveness at killing bacteria.
Look, up in the sky! Scientists have linked the use of Triclosan to the emergence of Superbugs, which resist antibiotics.
Bug off! Take simple steps to keep your family safe from pesticides, and you won't need those wipes and gels!
Tric-NO-san. Here's a long list of products that don't contain Triclosan. Build up your immunity to bacteria with...bacteria. Get out and touch nature. It's a dirty planet; that's why it's called Earth!

Listener E-mails Look for Dori and Val on Twitter: MoreHipDori and GrnDiva! If you have a question or comment longer than 140 characters, send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and insane ramblings at our MHTH forum!

Myka is now the Green Diva at her workplace! Start with compostable dishware and utensils, then move to eco-friendly office supplies. Congreenulations! (Check out Greenfeet's office supply nightmare on the forum.)
Leslie in the UK would like to try dehydrating some of her home-grown veggies. Isn't English humor dry enough to do the job?
Tim from Wis-Kahhnn-sinn wants us to look at recycling programs around the country, and embarrass the towns that rate poorly. Sorry Tim, we're too busy embarrassing ourselves!
Brownchickenbrowncow. You have to listen to Roger's joke to understand.

Direct download: More_Hip_169_Triclosanity.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:24 PM

Wed, 20 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Queen of Canning

More Hip Than Hippie #168 - The Queen of Canning

Canning and preserving food is a realm of its own, and it has a queen. Her name is Tracy Falbe, and she gives us the basics of preserving fresh foods at home without poisoning your family!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Lei your hands on Kona Brewing Company's Limited Release Wailua Wheat Ale with Passionfruit. Ono pia!

Chocolate: Many thanks to Erin in Washington, who sent along Green & Black's Caramel Milk Chocolate. Mouthgasm!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Ewe gotta love it! When you purchase wool garments from Icebreaker, you get a "baa-code" that allows you to get to know your donor sheep. (Note to Australians: it's not a dating site.)
Charge it, please. The new Solarjo Power Purse is a fashionable bag that just happens to be covered in solar cells. Juices up your gadgets on the go, with solar style! Available by the end of the year, so you can get Dori one for Christmas.

Hip News

FD eh? The good ol' Food & Drug Administration reassures us all that BPA plastic is safe. The director of the American Chemistry Council claps all eight of his hands and nods his three heads in approval.
Phthay what? Americans are one step closer to toxin-free toys, thanks to consumer pressure. The Prez signed a ban on six phthalates. (But first he asked to buy a vowel.)

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Next time you buy something online, instead of printing that receipt, just take a screenshot! Saves paper while keeping your important financial records intact. So you'll have no trouble returning that french-fry holder you shouldn't have bought for your car. What were you thinking?

The Queen of Canning

Canning and preserving food is a realm of its own, and it has a queen. Her name is Tracy Falbe, and she gives us the basics of preserving fresh foods at home without poisoning your family (Val!). Tracy discusses the benefits, the costs and the way to get started. She also shares her pickle recipe for pickle-haters (Dori!). Look on our forum.

You "can" do it! Learn some basic facts about canning food, then start with something simple.
In a "jam"? Consult some of Tracy's favorite books for answers. Grab a copy of The Joy of Cooking and Putting Food By, or visit the Ball Jar website.
"Preserve" your health. By canning your own produce, you avoid eating from commercial cans lined with bisphenol A.
Ex-"pectin" an answer. The question: is pectin made from animal products? Jell-no!

Listener E-mails

Preserve your fabulous questions and comments! E-mail them to hip@greenfeet.com.And don't forget to post articles, links, and nude photos of Britney Spears at our MHTH forum! (Sorry, Britney's stuck in our spam filter.)

Boobsickles. Mommy Melinda in SC wants an alternative to plastic bags for breast milk storage. We like these freezer trays made from food-safe plastic. Warn the hubby before he puts 'em in his soda!
Ohm my Gawd! Patrick sent a link to an interesting article about how electric bikes are selling like hotcakes. We're not shocked.
Class act. Meredith in New Orleans has a tip for teachers: if your school doesn't recycle, collect bottles and cans in your classroom anyway! You can recycle them at home, and the kids learn by example.
Gothummmm City. Michelle taunts us with an invitation to the annual New York Chocolate Show in November, aka Chocotopia.
There is no try. Karen in Portland joined the chorus of voices differing with Val's version of Yoda's famous quote. Listen, you will, to the real thing at the end of the show.

Direct download: More_Hip_168_Queen_of_Canning.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:47 PM

Fri, 15 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Coming Up Roses

More Hip Than Hippie #167 - Coming Up Roses

Essential oils are nature's healers. One of the best is Rose, which soothes both body and soul. Watch what you get, though...that stinky stuff in the gallon-sized bottle is not the real deal! Val explains how Rose essential oil is used, why it's so expensive and why it's worth every penny. Also, a special treat in e-mails today...Val impersonates Yoda. Funny, it is!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: What's in a name? Grand Teton Brewing Company might have brewed their Bitch Creek ESB just for Val and Dori! Why? It's full-bodied, satisfying, and just a little bitter. Show us your Tetons!

Chocolate: Thanks again to Lisa and Derek in Toronto (eh!) for the Zazubean Nakid bar. It's fair trade, organic and truly Nakid!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Battle the bottle. Did you know that the lifecycle energy cost of a bottle of water is equivalent to filling up a quarter of each bottle with oil? Pledge to break the bottled water habit. You may win cash, prizes and a cleaner planet.
Happy hours. You'll always have time for a drink with this liquid-powered clock. Just don't use the good stuff!
How many zeros? Dori's husband John Cusack wants to know if you can shop like a president, with a $3 Trillion budget. (That's 12 zeros!) Let's see...1,500,000,000,000 copies of High Fidelity?
Speaking of studs... Did you hear that US Olympic swim stud Michael Phelps eats about 3 trillion calories a day? OK, only 12,000. But still!

Hip News

Coaler energy. The Dept. of Energy announced it will invest $24 million in solar, and $340 million in clean coal. So their budget is literally in the black.
Car Wars! A new 5-door hybrid-only Honda will hit the market next year, and will cost less than a Prius. We think they should call it the "Cheapus".
Eco-bama. The Democratic Party outlines several green goals in its presidential platform. They'll start by greening the convention in Denver.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

They dish it out, you take it! Thrift stores always have screaming deals on used dishes and flatware. Grab some now for casual holiday entertaining. Don't forget the classroom; help the kids throw waste-free parties at school!

Coming Up Roses

Oil you want to know. Val's favorite book on essential oils contains the facts about Rose and all her friends.
It's not just vodka. An absolute is similar to an essential oil; you'll often find it in perfume.
Me so thorny. Val promised recipes, so here goes! Make massage oils, purifying skin masks, calming air freshener, even your own essential oil !

Listener Emails

We're now caught up on our backlog of mail, so bring it on! E-mail your questions, comments, insights and porn star names to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and other essentials at our MHTH forum!

Boone's farm. Joe in Kansas left us a message on MySpace about T. Boone Pickens' plan for wind farms and solar panels to generate energy. Because Big Oil isn't the only thing that blows.
Cell Hell. Scott in Michigan found more evidence that cell phones aren't safe. He also welcomes travelling Hipsters a stopover in Northern Michigan. Oofta!
Green to a tee. Carrie in PA wants to have organic cotton t-shirts made to order, using soy-based inks. We provide a great resource.
We'll put a boot in your aspen!. Kellie (ding! ding!) found a site devoted to roadside shoe trees...and lays down the rules. First rule of shoe trees: you do not talk about shoe trees.
Sit and spin. Reba in Baltimore (hey hon!) shared an ingenious space-saving device. One load at a time, please!

Hipster Roll-call! We want all you lurkers to make yourselves known by e-mailing us at hip@greenfeet.com. Remember, we don't sell your info and we won't mention you on the show if you're a big chicken! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_167_Coming_Up_Roses.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:24 PM

Wed, 13 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Wake-Up Call

More Hip Than Hippie #166 - Wake-Up Call

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Congratulations to Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon; they've been providing potent potables for 2 decades! We celebrate with their Anniversary Wit Belgian Style Wheat Beer. Because 20 is the Wheat Anniversary, right?

Chocolate: Listeners Lisa and Derek in Toronto say this reminded them of Dori and Val: Zazubean Hottie (chocolate that makes you HOT)! It's fair trade, organic and has a hot guy on the website. Thanks, eh!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

WhoTube? All eco-videos, all the time on GoGreenTube.com. It's where Will Ferrell, Ed Begley Jr. and CNN collide.
Grass-sole! No, really. Flip-flop shoes lined with real live grass. Brought to you by Krispy Kreme donuts. So while they glaze, you can graze.
Athol! Val presents Dori with glorious merchandise from the unfortunately-named Idaho town. Adolescent glee ensues.

Hip News

W Say Relax. Bush decides those pesky environmental reviews are harshing his mellow. His new plan takes scientists out of the loop when deciding the status of endangered species. That's stategery!
Their milkshake brought no boys to the yard. MonSatan, er, Monsanto is backing away from its bovine growth hormone, Posilac. Score one for consumers, and for cows!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Do you have slippery seals? Your refrigerator might, so use this simple test: get a piece of paper, close it in the fridge door, see if the paper stays put. If not, it's probably time to change the seal and/or door magnet so that expensive cold air won't escape. Now, can you balance a ball on your nose?

Wake-Up Call

About half the people on the planet use cell phones, and chances are, you're one of them. What are the health risks? Should you change the way you chat? Can we pry Val's iPhone out of her cold dead hands? The Hipsters help you dial in the answers! Catch up on the research and learn ways to limit your exposure to radiation. Lowering your bill? That's up to you.

Radiation does watt? Well, it can heat human tissue like a microwave oven! Find out HowStuffWorks in your cell phone.
Mixed message. Cell phone health risks are notoriously hard to study, but the Interphone project gives it a shot. Results are due this year, and promise to be inconclusive.
Calling plan. Use these tips to limit your health risk. Accessorize with a hollow tube or a ferrite bead.
Gimme your digits! Phone radiation is measured in Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).Learn the specs for your particular phone model.

Listener E-mails

Mail Call! E-mail your delightful questions, comments, insights and porn star names to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and gushy compliments at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Thanks to Jaimelee for mentioning us on her blog!
Teflon by any other name... Beth wonders about cookware using Thermalon. We think you can do better, but no, we won't pan it.
Skip the loo. Paul in England has asthma attacks when he smells the air "freshener" in the restroom at work. Val thinks pthalates are to blame. Dori thinks it's the Tories.
Speaking of whom: Tori the cop in Florida needs recipes for homemade natural cleaners. Keep this next to your copy of the penal code.
Throttles and bottles. Gerad in Michigan wants to convert his car to electric. He & Amy have a teeny weeny greeny on the way! Have a bottle on us!
Link about it. Hilary shares links to sites about the DIY rain barrel and plastic gift cards.

Hipster Roll-call! We want all you lurkers to make yourselves known by e-mailing us at hip@greenfeet.com. Get in on the listener poll for best porn star name! Submit yours, and rock the vote on our forum in a couple of weeks. Speaking of voting, don't forget us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voicemessage at our Skype address "morehip" or +1530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:29 PM

Tue, 5 August 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Ladies Who Lunch

There's no such thing as a free lunch, unless you're talking waste-free! The Hipsters chat with two ladies who are on a mission to dispose of the disposables in our lunchboxes. Amy Hemmert and Tammy Pelstring share easy ideas to cut the waste while saving money and time.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Brewing Company in Jacksonville, Florida serves up Landshark Island-style Lager. We pay tribute with the appropriate SNL clip at the end of the show. Candygram!

Chocolate: The last of listener Maile's J. D. Gross Ecuador Edelcacao from Germany, this one with raspberries. Val still says Edel-caca.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Say 10 "Hail Mommies". Visit a blog called Mommy Confessions by a cool chick named Michelle. They're giving away goodies right now, including nifty Greenfeet gear.
Has Oprah heard about this? Val's new favorite thing: a hair dryer that's quiet, energy-efficient, made in the USA and is guaranteed for life. Enjoy the Silence.
Waste not, wood not. Lexmark is recycling ink cartridges into eLumber. Resistant to ePests and eBeavers.
Do they eat green eggs and ham? Apparently real humans work at the Environmental Protection Agency. And they blog. Join the Greenversation.

Hip News

Exxon Mobil Reports Record Profits. 2nd quarter earnings: $11.68 billion. Expectations were higher, and their shares fell on Wall Street. So they feel our pain.
Sea-Tax. The fine folks in Seattle will pay a tax for using plastic bags, starting next year. The extra $3.5 million will go to green projects in the city. How about a loan for poor Exxon?
Eco cum laude. The Princeton Review ranks U.S. colleges on their commitment to the environment. Eleven made the Green Honor Roll with their near-perfect scores. (We'll get 'em next year, Chico State!)

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Don't lose your lunch! Learn great ways to prepare waste-free lunches for yourself and your family. Log on to wastefreelunches.org for tips from our guests Amy and Tammy, the founders of Laptop Lunches. Use their ideas to lighten your foodprint!

Ladies Who Lunch

No wi-fi required. Since 2002, Obentec has produced Laptop Lunches, based on the concept of Asian Bento boxes.
No baloney! The average American school kid generates 67 lbs. of school lunch waste per year.
That's a deep subject. Did you know that your school is required to have a Wellness Policy for fitness and nutrition? Might make for some good summer reading!

Listener E-mails

It's another feast of fan-mail! E-mail your delightful questions, comments, insights and porn star names to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and gushy compliments at our MHTH forum!

Of planters and poop. Tim from Wis-KAAHHNN-sinn would like to plant an organic garden, and compost his dog's poop. But not in the same spot. Glad you like the biodegradable dog poop bags!
Soy Vey! Jo has a friend who wants to sell soy candles, but hates the overused marketing terms like "green" and eco-friendly". Got any ideas?
You're a mean one... Melanie in Illinois wants to wash her reusable lunchware at work, but her boss is the Grinch. We have tips. And a 39-and-a-half foot pole!
Baby Ale-Stein? Jennifer in Kentucky is proud of her toddler son, who can already say "recycle" and "beer". As she notes, they don't teach that on the Baby Einstein videos!

Direct download: More_Hip_165_Ladies_Who_Lunch.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:04 PM

Wed, 30 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - That's Sew Green!

More Hip Than Hippie #164 - That's Sew Green!

Do you have the itch to stitch? Even a novice (Dori) or a neurotic (Val) can save an old garment or give it some new style. Trystan Bass from Yahoo! Green needles the Hipsters to start sewing!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Mendocino Brewing Company's Summer Seasonal White Ale. It's a limited edition, so try to get some before Dori and Val drink it all up.

Chocolate: J. D. Gross Ecuador Edelcacao, once again from our new favorite listener, Maile in Germany. We think it has ginger in it; could someone please translate the label? (D'oh, turns out it was caramel!)

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Bamboo-for-brains! Check out this stylish helmet --it'll save your noggin and the planet at the same time.
Adios to irrigation. Say hola to the olla! Bury these unglazed pots neck-deep near your plants and let the water seep out naturally. Save your pesos and make your own. Muy bien!
Fantasy Island. Johnny Depp plans to convert his private isle in the Bahamas to solar hydrogen energy. So we can stalk him sustainably.
Green is the new Dumb. Poor little Kim Kardashian, guess she can't afford a ChicoBag!

Hip News

Pluggle. Looks like Google has made its first 2 investments under the RechargeIT initiative, which wants to get plug-in vehicles on the road.
Where have they Benz? Daimler has been busy preparing for the release of the all-electric version of their Smart car in 2010.
Watt? Another one? A new electric car is unveiled in Israel by Renault and Project Better Place. Forget the plug, we'll need a power strip!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Love the Swiffer, hate the waste! That's why listener Jamielee's ideas for "greening" it up are so brilliant. First, bypass the chemicals with a vinegar solution. Then, use an old cloth diaper as a washable pad in the wetjet, or cut up a fleece sweatshirt for the vac. Finally, compost the filter muck. Use rechargeable batteries to keep it running green. Swifferific!

That's Sew Green!

Do you have the itch to stitch? Even a novice (Dori) or a neurotic (Val) can save an old garment or give it some new style. Trystan Bass from Yahoo! Green needles the Hipsters to start sewing! From the basics of sewing a button, to shopping for a machine, Trystan talks tailoring (and reveals her husband's porn star name).

Sew green, save green, look fab. That's the name of Trystan's article that inspired this topic. No, that's not her in the picture. We asked.
Does the feed dog bite? Let a pro tell you what to look for in a sewing machine.
Look what I made! Flaunt photos of your work on the Wardrobe Refashion community's blog.
May the Fleece be with you. Natalie Portman served as guest judge on Project Runway 's token "green episode". Coincidentally, Natalie has a line of vegan shoes.

Listener E-mails

Don't keep us on pins and needles! E-mail your questions, comments, insights and porn star names to hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and gushy compliments at our MHTH forum!

Roll out the barrel. Jamielee again! She scored a cheap rainbarrel from her city sewer district. Maybe your town is feeling generous too!
Assaultin' batteries. Smart-chick Katherine in Ohio needs ammo to argue that hybrid car batteries are OK. Lock and load.
Eco-chic. Kristi turns us on to a website where you can get deals on overstocks of eco-friendly duds. Because we deserve it.
Who wears the pants? Doug's wife is on him to get some pants for work, but he can't go cotton. We hope this helps. Happy shopping!
This breaks the CamelBak. Now a new plastic is on the market, claiming to be BPA-free. Ines wants to know if it's safe to try water bottles made with Tritan. We say, more research please!
What did you call us? Steve from NJ suggests a delighful cocktail of raspberry beer and Hoegaarden ale. We'd tell you what it's called, but we're nice girls. ROFL!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_164_Thats_Sew_Green.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:10 PM

Sat, 26 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Electric Avenue

More Hip Than Hippie #163 - Electric Avenue

Do Val and Dori dream of electric cars? You bet! The Hipsters plug into the latest buzz about PHEV and EV models for the near future, and size up what's out there now.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Hoegaarden, The Original Belgian White Beer. The name of this beer prompts a confession from Dori and Val concerning their unseemly nicknames for each other.

Chocolate: Lindt Edelbitter Mousse Blueberry- Lavender. Danke Schoen to listener Maile in Germany for providing the gooey goodness. Just don't ask us to read the label!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Dieting is the Pitts. Angelina Jolie is adopting...an all-organic diet! Guess she needs help to deal with her extra 7 ounces of baby weight.
Hipstah Montana. Celebuteen Miley Cyrus includes an eco-anthem on her new album, and you'll hear it at the end of the show. How can she rule the world if there isn't one left?
Vomit and dog poop and worms, oh my! We found a crazy fun site that lets you wreak havoc on a webpage without doing any real harm. Cheaper than therapy, right?

Hip News

Bit of a Sticky Wicket. In London, a protester got an extra minute of Gordon Brown's time by gluing himself to the Prime Minister's hand! Said the perp: "He can shake off my arm, but he cannot shake away climate change."

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Listener Celeste fondly recalls our tip about saving your coins in a jar, since she just cashed in about $70 worth! An added twist: some banks allow you to round your debits up to the nearest dollar, then save the difference for you. That's so money!

Electric Avenue

Do Val and Dori dream of electric cars? You bet! The Hipsters plug into the latest buzz about PHEV and EV models for the near future, and size up what's out there now. Do automakers take the technology seriously? Is the power grid ready to handle it? The answers may shock you!

Home Sweet Ohm. Americans say they're ready for plug-in hybrid cars, and the power grid isn't far behind.
Hero of Zero. The chief of Nissan Motors wants a pure electric car with zero emissions, and plans to start selling them in 2010.
Watt We Want. General Motors plans to release the Chevy Volt in 2010, and is working with Duke Energy to integrate PHEVs into the nation's grid.
Duh! Of course Toyota is in the mix, with an improved battery that gives you more yardage for your yen.
Now and ZENN. We run down CNN's list of 5 Electric Cars You Can Buy Now. Tesla invites you to be the first in the nation to get a speeding ticket in an EV!

Listener Emails

Holy Hybrids, you guys keep us entertained with your pithy e-mails (it's not a dirty word, look it up)! Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and gobs of your grey matter at our MHTH forum!

Stop it or you'll go blind! Val e-mailed herself again, this time with a story about how Congress is NOT trying to ban Twitter. We get to the twuth of the matter.
Paging Alfalfa! Listener Spanky (Mike) checks in from the road to tell us about swimming pools that use the power of ozone and UV light to stay clean. We'll bring Our Gang over for a swim!
Is that a bokashi in your yurt, or are you happy to see me? Molly-from-New-Zealand-living-in-Spain e-mailed from her yurt to tell us about the cool Japanese composter. Best part? No worms!
Heavenly Hipster. Can we get an Amen! Jessica took action at her huge church in Pittsburgh, which has now changed its wasteful ways. Way to spread the green gospel!
Swig Sigg, cuz Laken Leachin'? So says Yves (he says it's Eve, with Adam's appendages). His research finds one aluminum bottle superior to the other. Val keeps her Klean Kanteen.
Bitter, party of one! Julia from Cincinnati thinks Dori would like to try green speed dating. Is Carbon Neutral Love the new Safe Sex?

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_163_Electric_Avenue.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:29 AM

Thu, 24 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Al Gore: The Man Has a Plan

More Hip Than Hippie #162 - Al Gore: The Man Has a Plan

Honorary Hipster Al Gore presented a bold energy plan to the world last week. Dori and Val are developing unhealthy crushes on the former Vice President /Nobel Laureate /Oscar winner /Saturday Night Live guest.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Trader Jose Dark Premium Lager, imported from Mexico. Just add spicy tacos and a trip to the beach. Muy bien!

Chocolate: Trader Joe's Concerto dark chocolate batons. OK, Val was ill and did a little one-stop shopping. Very eco-friendly, yes?

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Nothing to fear but fur itself! The Home Shopping Network takes a stand against animal cruelty by banning fur from the network, which reaches over 90 million US homes.
Kentucky Fried Canadians? The notorious chicken chain throws vegans a bone by serving "unchicken" at their stores in the Great White North. Greenwashing, eh?
Step out of the car, please. Find out if you live in one of America's most walkable neighborhoods by visiting Walk Score. Chico? 42 out of 100. Gimme the keys.

Hip News

Jalape-NO! The government gets a clue to the origin of the salmonella outbreak, from a single jalapeno pepper grown in Mexico. Guess that border fence isn't working.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Listener Teresa in Illinois signed her family up for a mail-order prescription program. Now they pay less and use fewer plastic pill bottles, by getting a 3-month supply every time! They also save the time, money and gas they would have spent visiting the pharmacy. Or driving across the border to Canada.

Al Gore: The Man Has a Plan

Allegory? Nope, Al Gore. Here's the text of his speech at Washington's Constitution Hall on July 17, 2008. Dori's favorite line: "The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones!"
Meet the Press. Al returned to the NBC show for the first time in eight years, fielding hardball (and goofball) questions from Tom Brokaw. Watch the video and memorize his smooth answers.
Uncle Al Wants You! Visit WeCanSolveIt.org and find out what you can do to "be the change you want to see in the world." (That's Ghandi, not Gore.)

Listener E-mails

Holy Sizzling Sidewalks, our listeners don't take a summer vacation from sending us emails! Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and bits of your brain at our MHTH forum!

Have Camera, Will Travel. Colin and family plan an eco-video travel project across America next year, with a stop here at Hipster HQ. Visit OurRenewableNation.org to see what it's all about. Hey guys, good luck in the US PIRG video contest!
Spastic about Plastic! Wendy in Tampa, FL has the ookies about all the plastic on her keyboard and mouse. So we'll give her the Bambookies instead! A UK company sells bamboo computers and accessories.
Salmonella spawns solutions. Brian in Gallatin, TN cites a study showing fruit and veggie washes beat the bacteria. We recommend this one.
We a-pool-ogize! Jan in Florida begs to differ about saltwater leaving rings around your pool. If that happens, she says your water's too hard. She should know, she's had 3 saltwater pools.
Batter up! Elizabeth in St. Paul can't believe somebody invented pancakes in a spray can. She's also disturbed to find they're USDA organic. What's next, cheese in a spray can? Oh, wait...
Carp diem. Seize the toes? Michelle in PA tries to gross out Dori with fish pedicures. It worked.

Hipster Roll-call! We want all you lurkers to make yourselves known by e-mailing us at hip@greenfeet.com. Remember, we don't sell your info and we won't mention you on the show if you're a big chicken! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_162_Al_Gore....mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:37 AM

Fri, 18 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Take a Hip Dip

More Hip Than Hippie #161 - Take a Hip Dip

More Americans than ever own swimming pools and spas. Heck, even Val is getting a hot tub! How do you avoid the nasty chemicals? Can a pool be energy efficient? Dori and Val dive into this topic...

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: GnarlyWine Ale by Lagunitas Brewing Co.in Petaluma, CA. Uh-oh, Val makes her "malt face"!

Chocolate: Haigh's Gourmet Dark Chocolate from Australia, sent by listener Shaun in Melbourne. Fair dinkum!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

But where's the Boardwalk? Parker Brothers/Hasbro prepares to launch the new Monopoly World Edition next month, but they don't have a monopoly on fun! Check out Earthopoly for a guilt-free greedy good time!
Roxanne! Alison! Veronica! Dori hopes to re-acquaint herself with all these musical ladies when she attends the local Police/Elvis Costello concert. Sadly, Val sits this one out.

Hip News

We're blown away! The small town of Rock Port, Missouri is the first in the US powered solely by wind. Hang on to your hairdo!
A Twitter pill to swallow. Members of the US Congress are banned from social networking sites. We think that's twuly twagic!
Koala Knievel? A tale of survival Down Under the grill of a speeding car! But did rescuers have to name him Lucky?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

It's time to come out of the closet...and bring those old clothes with you! Did you know the average American throws away 68 lbs. of clothing every year? As the new season and the new school year approach, freshen your fashions by swapping gently-worn garments with a friend or two. Who wants Dori's banana-yellow Ditto jeans from 1977?

Take a Hip Dip

More Americans than ever own swimming pools and spas. Heck, even Val is getting a hot tub! How do you avoid the nasty chemicals? Can a pool be energy efficient? The Hipsters dive into this topic and learn that pools can be even greener than your hair after a dip in the chlorine!

Your pool can be blue AND green! The Practical Environmentalist has good tips to reduce the flipper-print of your pool or spa.
Salty-dipping? A cool alternative is a saltwater pool. We'll try it with tequila and some lime.
Swim with the fishes. Natural pools use aquatic plants and aerators, like an aquarium. Can you dig it? Oh yes, you can!
Does this make me look tubby? Save money and energy with a solar-heated hot tub. Val might give this a try!
Hmm, needs more paprika... A wood-burning hot tub? Sure, just add carrots and a bouillon cube, then have your friends for dinner!
Greenwashing. Keep your pool or spa clean with some eco-friendly products.

Listener Emails

Holy Heat Wave, we have another shimmering collection of listener emails! Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and bits of your brain at our MHTH forum!

Shout-out! Thanks to tiffanytomato for the mention on replayground. We love you man!
Kati did... start a new podcast, that is! Hipster Kati Neville and friend sign on with The Saver's Kitchen.
OD'ed on TV. Vanessa from Wis-KAAAHHN-sinn (by way of Oregon) unplugged the boob tube and discovered podcasts. We approve.
Man Sikhs Recycling. James from PA visited India and laments the lack of "green" awareness. The beer wasn't great either.
Fade to graywater. Liz in Brooklyn recommends flushing the toilet with your used water. It's not like you were going to drink it, right?
Greenie weds Weenie. New listener Sarah in Ohio wants to green her hubby. Make small changes around the house and show him how much money you've saved, Sarah. Or withhold sex.
Val's in trouble! Jessica calmly points out that not all large families are wasteful; sometimes the opposite is true. Val agrees. And there is peace across the land.
Lurker Love! Leandro checked in from Sao Paulo, Brazil. We tried to follow you on Twitter, dude, but you post in Portuguese and Dori only understands the swear words!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_161_Take_a_Hip_Dip.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:40 PM

Wed, 16 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

More Hip Than Hippie #160 - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

The Hipsters discuss the ongoing salmonella contamination in America's tomato, pepper and cilantro supplies.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Shock Top Belgian White Ale by Anheuser-Busch. A feisty little Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with spices, by the newest member of the InBev family!

Chocolate: Hebert's Fully Loaded Dark Turtle bar, with rich dark chocolate, pecans, pralines and toffee. Dori goes nuts with the nuts!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Say "green cheese!" Nikon's new Coolpix S52 camera includes a month's worth of carbon offsets with purchase, thanks to Ritz Camera.
The air up there: The city of Paris installs a giant helium balloon that changes color with the air quality. Viva la pollution!
Heard the news? It's all good! Pay a visit to goodnewsnetwork.org, and turn that frown upside down!

Hip News:

Bush Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling. Our favorite chief executive challenges Congress to do the same. Pour a glass of beer and rant along with Val.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ really sucks: think about the impact of your trusty vacuum cleaner. Keep it tuned up, use it less, or replace it with a more energy-efficient model. Or try to pry Val's Dyson out of her cold dead hand.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

The Hipsters discuss the ongoing salmonella contamination in America's tomato, pepper and cilantro supplies. How do you avoid being the latest victim? We'll reveal which tomatoes are OK to eat and cover the basics of food safety. We're still undecided on whether to pronouce the first "L" in salmonella, however. Pass the salsa, por favor!

The Centers for Disease Control keeps the public informed.
Keep the nasty bugger away.
It's not just us. Denmark is suffering too.
Surprise! The L.A. Times has an opinion!

Listener Emails

Great smoky skies of California, we have a bunch of entertaining listener emails! Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and bits of your brain at our MHTH forum!

Yo, y'all! Dylan took his South Carolina twang all the way to Brooklyn as he tries to be a "greener" jeweler. He shares an article on recycling.
If you build it.. Tim from Wis-KAAHHN-sinn invokes "Field of Dreams", one of Val's fave movies. Perhaps Dori should rent it again.
You say it, we play it! Young Celeste in Saratoga wants us to do a show on eco-friendly swimming pools. Well Celeste, maybe (next show) sometime soon (next show) we'll get around (next show) to that topic!
Doggie deposits Lurker Leslie in jolly ole England has a poopy puppy! We recommend BioBags to keep the transaction green and clean.
Lurker Love! Pete checked in from Cape May, New Jersey, and Kevin says hi from Cleveland, Ohio. Nice to hear from you!
Shout out! Thanks for mentioning us on You Oughta Write a Blog. We agree, we are too damn funny!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_160_Attack..Tomatoes.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:41 PM

Fri, 11 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Hold Your Water

More Hip Than Hippie #159 - Hold Your Water

Dori and Val talk about harvesting rainwater and greywater.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale

Chocolate: Newman's Own Organics Chocolate Carmel Cups

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

There's a bathroom on the right. Merriam-Webster introduced the new word Mondegreen which means, "a word or phrase that results from mishearing or misinterpreting a song lyric".
Blondes have more fun. Looking for an eco-friendly way to get those sun-kissed golden locks this Summer? Try mixing 2 teaspoons of fine sea salt, 1 cup of warm water, and 4-5 drops of grapefruit essential oil (or any citrus essential oil will do) in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the mixture on damp, clean, well-conditioned hair for some Summer highlights.

Hip News:

Vague outcome from G8. President George Bush signed a G8 deal to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, the deal was quite vague, not even specifying the baseline for this 50 percent reduction.
Prius manufacturing coming stateside. Toyota will start producing the hybrid Prius in the U.S. for the first time.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to calculate your water footprint at H2Oconserve.org.

Hold Your Water

Dori and Val talk about harvesting rainwater and greywater. Check the links below for more information.

Greywater.com
Planning a greywater system
Sample greywater installations
Find a Rainwater harvest system at Aquabarrel.com
Greywater and Rainwater use saves water and money

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Pack mentality. If you're a fan of Twitter like Michelle is, you might enjoy TwitterPacks, which has "packs" of people you can follow based on a common interest. Hipsters might be interested in the environmental pack.
What's brewing? Ken was happy to hear the homebrewing episode last week, as it is a passion of his. He blogs about his homebrewing adventures on the Brewin' Green blog. www.brewgreen.blogspot.com/.
Who knew? Shayna sent along a surprising article about how you can't always trust that products with the Energy Star label are energy efficient.
Peace out, PVC. Martin was wondering if there is an alternative to the PVC piping used in underground irrigation systems. Click here to find out about alternatives such as clay or concrete pipes.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_159_Hold_Your_Water.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:05 PM

Wed, 9 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Going the Green Mile

More Hip Than Hippie #158 - Going the Green Mile

Dori and Val talk about how to stay green on the road and how to save some money on gas.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Shakespeare Stout by Rogue Brewery

Chocolate: World Market Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Here comes the rain. Cyber-Rain is a sprinkler system you can control from computer.
Frosty brews. If you're in the area, check out the Terrapin New York Beer Expo in Rhinebeck, NY.

Hip News:

Algae attack! An algae bloom is causing panic for Olympic officials in China. It covers one-third of the sea where sailors are sent to compete in just one month.
It's melting. Scientists believe that the North Pole may be briefly ice-free by September due to global warming.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Listener Terry and is a tip for soothing insect bites and stings. Next time a bug bite has you buggin', try rubbing a mint leaf over the sting.

Going the Green Mile

Dori and Val talk about how to stay green on the road and how to save some money on gas. Check the links below for more information.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Make your voice heard! Sommer, the Green & Clean Mom has teamed up with the new eco-friendly magazine Positively Green to find out what YOU want to read about. Submit your story ideas and one will be chosen to be featured in an upcoming issue. If your idea is chosen, you'll win a one-year subscription to the magazine!
Melts in your mouth. . you know the rest. Brian sent along an article about how M&M Mars is going to sequence the DNA of chocolate to try and improve production.
Who knew? Patrick found an article about how an ingredient in watermelon can have effects similar to those of Viagra. Va-va-voom!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_158_Going_the_Green_Mile.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:06 PM

Wed, 2 July 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Home Brewing for Hipsters

More Hip Than Hippie #157 - Home Brewing for Hipsters

Dawn McDonald, owner of the Chico Home Brew Shop stops by to chat about one of our favorite things: BEER!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: You can't buy this is any store! Dawn brought in a couple of her own specialty home brews.

Chocolate: Barettini Extra Dark Chocolate 72% by Droste

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

More Hip 3rd Anniversary Quiz Drawing Winner! Drum roll, please. . . . Molly from Baltimore! Congratulations Molly, and thanks to all who entered!
Treehuggers unite! DateforTrees.com is on online dating service that hooks you up with like-minded people AND donates a tree to American Forests for each month you are a paid member of their service. You can sign up for free and see if it's right for you before upgrading to a paid membership.
The results are in. Oprah has concluded her 21-day vegan cleansing process. During the 3 weeks, with the exception of olive oil, all the food she ate was grown in her garden.

Hip News:

White House still withholding. The White House is drying to block the U.S. EPA from releasing a document that shows how the Clean Air Act could be used to regulate greenhouse gases.
The Bush Legacy. A new initiative will ask San Francisco voters to change the name of a prize-winning water treatment plant to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant. Now that's what we call good, old fashioned bathroom humor!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Sticking with the topic of this episode, this week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to try an Organic Beer (if you are of legal drinking age, of course). If you're too young to drink beer, or just don't like beer (gasp!) try an organic juice.

Home Brewing for Hipsters

Dawn McDonald, owner of the Chico Home Brew Shop stops by to chat about one of our favorite things: BEER! You can email Dawn with any questions you might have about home brewing at dawn@chicohomebrewshop.com.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Locally Known. Sydney sent along an article about a company called Locally Known. It's a farm company in Maine with a goal of providing New England fresh greens.
Composting made easy. Tyus is trying to convince his mom to start composting, but she's worried about not having enough space and the smell. If you have enough room outdoors, an Envirocycle Composter is great. For indoor composting and small spaces, try an odor-free automatic composter, like the NatureMill Plus or NatureMill Pro.
Plant peril. Brian sent in a couple links about how global warming is affecting plants and how the Ozone is bad for plants. He also wanted everyone to check out Farm Fountains, sculptural ecosystems you can eat.
Organic Brew Robert tried his first organic beer recently, Stone Mill pale ale.
Hipster Welcome! We wanted to welcome new listener Rob, who discovered More Hip Than Hippie while on CleanMPG.com.
Free fun in DC. Cassi is planning to take advantage of the free bike tours offered by the National Park Service on her next trip to Washington DC.
Litter box solutions. Hilary has discovered a less wasteful option for her cat's litter box. She uses aquarium gravel with a sifting litter box. The idea is to pick up the sifter with the litter, pour the cat urine down the drain, put the poo in the trash, and then wash and rinse the aquarium gravel.
Homemade freezer chocolate. Give Hilary's homemade freezer chocolate recipe a try:
1. Heat 1 cup of coconut oil, Agave syrup till sweetened, and 1 cup of cacao powder.
2. Chop 1 cup almonds and 1/2 cup candied ginger.
3. Mix the almonds and ginger on some wax paper on a cookie sheet.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture over it and make sure all of the almonds and ginger are coated.
5. Freeze until hard, cut into bite sized pieces and store in the freezer.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_157_Home_Brewing_for_Hipsters.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:52 PM

Wed, 25 June 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Going on Staycation

More Hip Than Hippie #156 - Going on Staycation

You might have noticed a little less change in your pocket lately. Gas prices are through the roof and Airlines are nickel-and-diming passengers for everything from the luggage they bring to a bag of peanuts. Save your money this Summer and instead of hitting the road for a little vay-kay, enjoy a staycation!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Pyramid Hefeweizen

Chocolate: World Market Sea Salt Dark Chocolate

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Paying a hefty price. Listener Trystan recently talked about the real cost of travel on her Yahoo! Green blog, Green Picks. Using a widget called Real Costs, you can calculate the carbon emissions of your upcoming trip, and compare the emissions between traveling by plane, car, bus, and train.
Sharing a bright idea. This is from the Yahoo! Green blog EcoGeek. Sam Goldman is using his company, d.light design, to bring LED and solar-powered lamps to the 1.6 billion people in the world without access to electricity.
The Green (and great) Guide. Pick up the Summer 2008 issue of The Green Guide for a great article breaking down the meanings of different beef labels. While you're perusing the pages, check out the Editor's favorite green products. One of the products featured is the Knoend Lite2go, available at Greenfeet.com!

Hip News:

Seven B-B-B-Billion? The world's population will reach a staggering 7 billion by 2012 according to a new government projection.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is courtesy of GreenBarMitzvahs.blogspot.com and is a great way to "recycle" the flowers and arrangements from your special event. At the end of your event, donate your flowers to a nursing home or hospital. Try talking to your florist before hand and ask if they will pick them up after the event and deliver them to a worthwhile cause.

Going on Staycation

Urban Dictionary: staycation.
Save money and gas with a staycation.
Prepare your home for a staycation.
Find free and cheap activities in your state.
If you are planning on hitting the road this Summer, check out these road trip tips.

More Hip Than Hippie 3rd Anniversary Quiz: Answers

Thanks for everyone who entered! Here are the answers to the quiz!

Name 3 items from Co-Op America's list of 21 things you didn't know you could recycle.
Click here to see the list.
What is the official EPA label for products designed to use less water?
WaterSense
Val was featured as an Entrepreneur Mom in what magazine?
Working Mother Magazine
In episode #132 "Frankenfoods", we learned about the FlavrSavr, a genetically modified:
C. tomato
From episode #109 "Surviving a Dry Spell": what are the 3 types of drought?
Meterological, agricultural, hydrological
A United Nations report named which country as the best in the world in which to live?
Iceland
Episode #120 featured no beer. What was the reason?
It was too early!
Which type of television uses the most power? The least power?
Plasma uses the most power, rear projection uses the least.
Name 2 of the Top 10 Tips for Eco Kids.
1. Throw away as little as you can.
2. Buying used is more hip than buying new.
3. Appreciate open spaces.
4. Where electricity comes from.
5. Appreciate water.
6. The answer to "Paper vs. Plastic?" is "Neither".
7. Grow something.
8. Respect other cultures.
9. It's better to give than to receive.
10. Respect nature.
The first-ever Hipster meet-up took place in what city?
San Francisco
Doing this wastes a cup of gas every 5 minutes. What is it?
Idling in your car
We talked with Amy Tucker, inventor of Xeko trading card game. She told us Xeko's motto is:
A. Have fun, do good
What is the name of the energy-saving version of Google?
Blackle
Match the guest author with their book/magazine/website:
1. Dan Esty - D. Green To Gold
2. Bruce Littlefield - E. Merry Christmas America
3. Patricia Carol Brooks - A. Aromatherapy Thymes
4. Trystan Bass - B. Yahoo! Green
5. Jen Trolio - F. Ready Made
6. Leah Guy - C. A Girl Named Guy
Name the 3 types of alternative energy covered in our series this year.
Clean coal, ocean power, nuclear power
Our friend One-F Jef owns the local Chico franchise of what eco-friendly business?
Cartridge World
What should you spray to keep skunks away?
Perfume
Name 2 concerts Dori and Val attended together this past year.
Rick Springfield and Davy Jones
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of a good night's sleep?
D. Freshen your breath
Hipster Kati Neville wrote a book called what?
Fix, Freeze, Feast
WWOOF is an organization that puts travelers in touch with:
A. organic farms
What does rBGH stand for?
recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone
Which brewing company's beers were sampled more than any other in the past year?
Lagunitas
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne received the 2007 Rubber Dodo award from the Center for Biological Diversity for what stunning accomplishment?
Going 1 year and 90 days without listing a new species as endangered or threatened.
Vermicomposting involves the use of what slimy disgusting creature?
Worms
Translate the following Boontling phrase into English:
"I'm going to boarch a horn of steinber with my applehead."
"I'm going to drink a beer with my girlfriend"

BONUS QUESTION:
What are the names of Dori's 2 goats?
Panda and Phoenix

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Happy birthday! Listeners and friends Elizabeth and Michele celebrated their 40th birthdays on the 21st (Michele) and 23rd (Elizabeth) of June. Check out the great picture of them above wearing their royal birthday tiaras. Have a Hip birthday ladies! Cheers!
Recycling CFL's and how to save gas money. Kristi in Minneapolis sent in a couple links. First, she was excited to learn that you can now recycle old CFL's at Home Depot stores across the country. She also found a great article with 66 ways to spend less on gasoline.
Step up to the challenge. Carrie and her mother have started their own 29-Day Chocolate Challenge. The only rule? They must consume of the chocolate nature every day for 29 days. Track their progress on Carrie's blog, She's Gone Wanderin'.
Just for Rob. You know the story about Rob's cell phone museum . . . well now he can expand his collection. Big Ed discovered RetroBrick.com, a website that sells vintage cell phones.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_156_Staycations.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:26 PM

Thu, 19 June 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Fabric of Our Lives

More Hip Than Hippie #155 - Fabric of Our Lives

Polyester be gone! Dori and Val are talking about new, eco-friendly fabrics (and some old ones). Check the links below for more information.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Phuket Beer - and get your mind out of the gutter, it's pronounced "foo-ket"!

Chocolate: SmartChick Sara sent in 2 kinds of chocolate this week, both by Winnipesaukee Chocolates in New Hampshire: Rattlesnake Island dark chocolate with cayenne and Madame Chiang dark chocolate with candied ginger.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Cheers! Several major hotel chains, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Kimpton Hotels, have started carrying organic alcohols in their bars. This is a trend we could get used to!
Scratch-'n'-sniff-'n'-win. The Colorado Lottery recently began selling $3 Scented Crossword tickets. When players scratch off the latex in the play area, the scent is activated. Choose from Crossword Bouquet, Chocolate Crossword, and Coffee Crossword.
Live long and prosper. Extend your life and have fun while your at it with this list of 10 Fun Ways to Live Longer from About.com.

Hip News:

Milk: Does a body harm? Government health officials are cracking down on raw milk because they are concerned about the spread of food-borne illnesses.
Zero-emission car. The FCX Clarity is Honda's new zero-emission, hydrogen fuel car that rolled off the Japanese production line Monday, June 16th.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Purchase at least one eco-friendly garment for your Fall wardrobe.

Fabric of Our Lives

Polyester be gone! Dori and Val are talking about new, eco-friendly fabrics (and some old ones). Check the links below for more information.

More Hip Than Hippie 3rd Anniversary Quiz

You could win 1 of 2 totally awesome eco-friendly prize packs! We're not sure what all is in the prize pack yet, but we can promise that it will be some super fantastic stuff! Here's how you can enter:

Answer all the questions to the quiz below.
Email your answers to hip@greenfeet.com by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, June 22, 2008.
Two ways to win. The FIRST person to submit all the correct answers wins a prize pack. All others who answer all the questions correctly will be entered into a drawing to win the second prize pack.

More Hip Than Hippie 3rd Anniversary Quiz

Name 3 items from Co-Op America's list of 21 things you didn't know you could recycle.
What is the official EPA label for products designed to use less water?
Val was featured as an Entrepreneur Mom in what magazine?
In episode #132 "Frankenfoods", we learned about the FlavrSavr, a genetically modified:
A. potato
B. pig
C. tomato
D. mustache
From episode #109 "Surviving a Dry Spell": what are the 3 types of drought?
A United Nations report named which country as the best in the world in which to live?
Episode #120 featured no beer. What was the reason?
Which type of television uses the most power? The least power?
Name 2 of the Top 10 Tips for Eco Kids.
The first-ever Hipster meet-up took place in what city?
Doing this wastes a cup of gas every 5 minutes. What is it?
We talked with Amy Tucker, inventor of Xeko trading card game. She told us Xeko's motto is:
A. Have fun, do good
B. Don't worry, be happy
C. May the force be with you
D. Melts in your mouth, not in your hands
What is the name of the energy-saving version of Google?
Match the guest author with their book/magazine/website:
1. Dan Esty
2. Bruce Littlefield
3. Patricia Carol Brooks
4. Trystan Bass
5. Jen Trolio
6. Leah Guy
A. Aromatherapy Thymes
B. Yahoo! Green
C. A Girl Named Guy
D. Green to Gold
E. Merry Christmas America
F. Ready Made
Name the 3 types of alternative energy covered in our series this year.
Our friend One-F Jef owns the local Chico franchise of what eco-friendly business?
What should you spray to keep skunks away?
Name 2 concerts Dori and Val attended together this past year.
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of a good night's sleep?
A. Keep your heart healthy
B. Bolster your memory
C. Reduce risk of depression
D. Freshen your breath
Hipster Kati Neville wrote a book called what?
WWOOF is an organization that puts travelers in touch with:
A. organic farms
B. their inner dog
C. ugly singles
What does rBGH stand for?
Which brewing company's beers were sampled more than any other in the past year?
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne received the 2007 Rubber Dodo award from the Center for Biological Diversity for what stunning accomplishment?
Vermicomposting involves the use of what slimy disgusting creature?
Translate the following Boontling phrase into English:
"I'm going to boarch a horn of steinber with my applehead."

BONUS QUESTION:
What are the names of Dori's 2 goats?

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Across the Great States. As you might of heard on several recent shows, listener Mike is moving across country from Florida to Washington. You can track his adventures on his blog, Across the Great States.
Soak up the Sun. Veggy Liz in NYC was looking for some sunscreen recommendations that are both health and earth friendly. Val's a fan of UV Naturals.
Stick to it. Michelle was excited to learn that Elmer's Glue has a recycling program that accepts empty glue bottles and glue sticks, by any brand.
Super singles. Doug in Kansas sent in a list of the top cities for singles.
Sweet offerings. Annie wanted to let everyone know about Hometown Candy, which gives customers the option of paying a little extra for biodegradable packing materials to be used for their order.
Child's play. Doug wanted to recommend EcoChildsPlay.com, a website/blog about green parenting.
See ya later, Styrofoam. Sandy's son decided that he would like to help their hometown of White Plains, New York ban the use Styrofoam. Way to go! They plan to track their progress on their blog, TenantsoftheEarth.blogspot.com.
Making fleas flee. Julie, who owns a pet sitting business in Chicago, wanted to recommend some natural flea treatments for your pets:
Refueling. Brian sent in a bunch of links about how lower gas prices could be in our future:

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_155_Fabric_of_Our_Lives.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:57 PM

Thu, 12 June 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Third Anniversary Show

More Hip Than Hippie #154 - Third Anniversary Show

Dori and Val celebrate More Hip Than Hippie's 3rd Anniversary and talk about greening your green - socially responsible investing.

Listen closely - there's a coupod in this episode for some sweet savings at Greenfeet.com!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Hop Trip Ale by Deschutes Brewery

Chocolate: Chocolat Montignac by Cupidon Chocolatier sent in by Listener Sebastien. Thanks Sebastien!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

For your viewing pleasure. If you're looking for some green viewing, look no further than Discovery Networks Planet Green. Planet Green is the first 24-hour cable channel devoted to living a green lifestyle.
A special 'tweet' for bird lovers. Whether you're an avid bird watcher or just need a break from the work day, check out Bird Cinema. It's like YouTube, but all clips of different birds in the wild.
A different kind of Lifesaver. The Lifesaver is the World's first portable virus-filtering water bottle, offering clean drinking water from any source. Besides being convenient on when camping, this device could help to make safe, clean drinking water available in developing countries, war zones, and disaster areas.

Hip News:

Just kill off 90% of the population, that's all. A professor at the University of Texas believes he's found a solution to Earth's environmental problems: kill off 90% of the human population. Well, you can't say he isn't creative, but I think we'll keep exploring other options. . .
Do you still get full credit if the report is turned in late? The White House has finally released a Global Warming report, a mere four years after they were required to.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Smoking weeds. Tired of those pesky weeds taking over your yard? Try this this simple homemade recipe to stop them in their tracks. Start with a quart size spray bottle. Mix 1-1.5 cups of vinegar (preferably 20% acidity) and 1.5 cup dish soap. Add solution to the spray bottle and fill the rest of the way with water. Shake well. Spray directly on weeds. The vinegar kills the weeds while the dish soap holds it in place. The best time to spray is in the middle of the day.

Socially Responsible Investing

Putting our money where our mouth is. As we all know already, living a green lifestyle is more than recycling and bringing your own bag. Socially responsible investing grows your nest egg while supporting projects that are making the world a greener place. Check the links below for more information about how you can green your green.

More Hip Than Hippie 3rd Anniversary Quiz

Answer all the questions to the quiz below.
Email your answers to hip@greenfeet.com by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, June 22, 2008.
Two ways to win. The FIRST person to submit all the correct answers wins a prize pack. All others who answer all the questions correctly will be entered into a drawing to win the second prize pack.

More Hip Than Hippie 3rd Anniversary Quiz

Name 3 items from Co-Op America's list of 21 things you didn't know you could recycle.
What is the official EPA label for products designed to use less water?
Val was featured as an Entrepreneur Mom in what magazine?
In episode #132 "Frankenfoods", we learned about the FlavrSavr, a genetically modified:
A. potato
B. pig
C. tomato
D. mustache
From episode #109 "Surviving a Dry Spell": what are the 3 types of drought?
A United Nations report named which country as the best in the world in which to live?
Episode #120 featured no beer. What was the reason?
Which type of television uses the most power? The least power?
Name 2 of the Top 10 Tips for Eco Kids.
The first-ever Hipster meet-up took place in what city?
Doing this wastes a cup of gas every 5 minutes. What is it?
We talked with Amy Tucker, inventor of Xeko trading card game. She told us Xeko's motto is:
A. Have fun, do good
B. Don't worry, be happy
C. May the force be with you
D. Melts in your mouth, not in your hands
What is the name of the energy-saving version of Google?
Match the guest author with their book/magazine/website:
1. Dan Esty
2. Bruce Littlefield
3. Patricia Carol Brooks
4. Trystan Bass
5. Jen Trolio
6. Leah Guy
A. Aromatherapy Thymes
B. Yahoo! Green
C. A Girl Named Guy
D. Green to Gold
E. Merry Christmas America
F. Ready Made
Name the 3 types of alternative energy covered in our series this year.
Our friend One-F Jef owns the local Chico franchise of what eco-friendly business?
What should you spray to keep skunks away?
Name 2 concerts Dori and Val attended together this past year.
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of a good night's sleep?
A. Keep your heart healthy
B. Bolster your memory
C. Reduce risk of depression
D. Freshen your breath
Hipster Kati Neville wrote a book called what?
WWOOF is an organization that puts travelers in touch with:
A. organic farms
B. their inner dog
C. ugly singles
What does rBGH stand for?
Which brewing company's beers were sampled more than any other in the past year?
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne received the 2007 Rubber Dodo award from the Center for Biological Diversity for what stunning accomplishment?
Vermicomposting involves the use of what slimy disgusting creature?
Translate the following Boontling phrase into English:
"I'm going to boarch a horn of steinber with my applehead."

BONUS QUESTION:
What are the names of Dori's 2 goats?

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Cheers! Dakkar sent a link to East Green, the UK's first carbon neutral beer.
Super salads. Rick is a big fan of salads and wanted to share a wonderful product he discovered. The SaladSac is made from 100% cotton and preserves the freshness of your salads by wicking away moisture, so your greens stay fresh for days longer than they would in a regular plastic bag.
Natural flea treatments. Alison is looking for a natural flea treatment for her pooch. Val recommends checking out OnlyNaturalPet.com.
Roadside attraction. Cassie wanted to recommend a good pit stop for Listener Mike on his cross-country trip. Thorp Fruit Stand is near the middle of Washington state on I-90, about 50-100 miles out of Seattle. It's a huge indoor market with a wide selection of fresh fruits, produce, natural body care, and more.
Coral-safe sun protection. Did you know that some of the chemicals in sunscreen can bleach and kill coral reefs? Trystan did some research on this subject in her new blog post Sunscreen Safety Basics.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_154_Third_Anniversary.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:05 PM

Thu, 5 June 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Green Your Screen

More Hip Than Hippie #153 - Green Your Screen

Dori and Val are talking about how to recycle old televisions and what to look for in a new one.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale by Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe, AZ. Thanks to Michele for sending this in!

Chocolate: Zotter Organic Beer sent in by Kellie. Thanks!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Swimming upstream. Chilean designer Claudia Escobar has unveiled her unusual new creation: a salmon-skin bikini.
That's hot. Harness the power of the sun, and always be on time, with a solar-powered watch. The Eco-Drive series by Citizen uses an ultra-thin disk of silicone under the dial that converts light into electricity to power the watch. You know your watch needs a recharge when the second hand starts to move in 2 second intervals.
Searching for a new mouse? Google has unveiled the new Google Recycled Mini Wireless Mouse. Available in red or blue, compact and portable, the mouse is made from recycled plastic and packaged in recycled materials. The best part? You can pick one up for just $19.20.
I'm molting! Scientists in New Zealand have developed a process that turns animal protein waste (the blood and feathers) into plastic.
Out of this world. Japanese beer company Sapporo Breweries will be testing a new brew made with barley descended from grains that traveled in outer space. Good luck getting your hands on Space Beer, as the will only be making 100 bottles.

Hip News:

Look at the bright side. A recent study expects that jobs in the solar business will grow by an average of 50% over the next year.

Green Your Screen

For your viewing pleasure. In case you haven't heard, in February 2009 the United States will switch from analog to digital television signals. If you have an analog television, it will no longer work after the switch unless you have a converter box. Since so many analog televisions are facing the landfill, Dori and Val are talking about how to recycle old televisions and what to look for in a new one. Check out the links below for more information.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Cut down on catalogs. New listener Julie recently discovered that she was receiving 45 catalogs per month. Proudly, she now receives zero catalogs per month thanks to CatalogChoice.org.
Number crunching. Michelle sent along an article about explains why a high cocoa number doesn't always mean higher quality.
You must be mistaken. Kellie was shocked when she read that Fortune Magazine rated Anheuser-Busch as America's most admired company based on quality of their products and services. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Calorie counting. Michelle found Rompicollo Chocolate, a tablet of chocolate whose portions come printed with calorie counts carved directly on the surface. You choose your perfect portion!
Cross-country travels. Ilsa wanted to recommend KOA (Kampgrounds of America) for anyone traveling across country. They're all over the country, very clean, and very affordable.
Waiting to exhale. Tim found BreathingEarth.net, which is a visualization of population changes and carbon emissions.
The benefits of being Green & Clean. Sommer wanted to let everyone know about the launch of her new and improved website, GreenandCleanMom.org. To celebrate, Sommer will be have weekly green giveaways for the next two months. Check it out!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_153_Green_Your_Screen.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:40 PM

Thu, 29 May 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Moo U

More Hip Than Hippie #152 - Moo U

Dr. Cindy Daley, a Professor of Animal Science at Chico State and bona fide bovine expert, stops by the patio to chat with Dori and Val. Also, the triumphant return of Jillicious.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Curve Ball Kolsch by Pyramid Brewing

Chocolate: Playa del Coco by Seeds of Change. Certified organic 61% dark chocolate with coconut.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Rocking out with Rick. Dori and Val spent last Friday night rocking out at Rick Springfield Concert. The even got to go to the meet and greet!
Products have footprints too! The Sopris Foundation calculated the pounds of carbon dioxide used to produce and transport everyday products to your home.
body+soul. We have a couple of finds from the June 2008 edition of body+soul magazine.
- Chico-based Butte Creek Brewing's Organic Porter won best dark beer in the organic beer taste test.
- Goodwill Industries has joined forces with designer Nick Graham to create the William Good repurposed clothing line. This line aims to save 100% of unsold donated items from ending up in the landfill. Graham's team embellishes the unsold items into one-of-a-kind garments. You can buy William Good clothes at Eco Citizen Boutique.

Hip News:

Putting an end to excess gas. Nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have instituted a fee of 4.4 cents for every ton of greenhouse gases emitted by businesses.
Over 1 million served. Worldwide sales of the Toyota Prius have passed the 1 million mark.
Coral Reefs getting burned. Sun screen lotions used by beach-goers are a major cause of coral bleaching according the European Commission.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Eau de Peewww! Has a skunk decided to move in a little to close your home? This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to give your unwelcome (and stinky) neighbor an eviction notice and get rid of some old perfume at the same time. Not surprisingly, skunks generally avoid perfume. Cut the foot and ankle off an old nylon stocking. Take some scrap yarn, douse it in the old perfume, and tuck it inside the foot of the stocking you just cut. Tie the top in a knot and stash any place you want discourage skunks.

Moo U

Dr. Cindy Daley, a Professor of Animal Science at Chico State and bona fide bovine expert, stops by the patio to chat with Dori and Val. Cindy works at the University Organic Dairy Farm, more affectionately known as Moo U.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

It's in the bag. Hilary sent along an article about Daniel Burd, an Ontario High School student who figured out how to decompose a plastic bag in just three months.
Meet Mrs. Bono. Dee sent along this one just for Dori. Ali Hewson, the wife of Bono of U2, has created an ethical skincare company, Nude.
A barrel of lies? Brian sent an article which claims that future traders are deliberately driving up the price of oil. It says that in reality, the price of oil should be closer to $70/barrel.
HP's Eco Solutions Program. Kellie wanted everyone to know about Hewlett-Packard's Eco Solutions Program. The program helps consumers identify HP products and initiatives designed with the planet in mind.
Previously loved! Jillicious discovered Gems & Jewels - The Little Green Bridal Shop. The site offers a wide selection of gorgeous, pre-loved bridal attire and accessories.
Rethinking how we stock our shelves. Shannyn was cleaning out her pantry a couple of weeks ago and it made her think of the Eat Green, Save Green episode of More Hip. Now she strives to buy fewer processed foods and stock her pantry shelves with fresh, local food.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_152_Moo_U.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:18 PM

Wed, 21 May 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Big O

More Hip Than Hippie #151 - The Big O

May is Asthma Awareness month, so Dori and Val are talking the Big O aka the Ozone - get your mind out of the gutter!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Blue Marble Organic Pilsner

Chocolate: Dark Chocolate Buttons by the Chocolate Alchemist sent in by Listener Tom Collins. Thanks Tom!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Green Grads. The University of Washington has announced plans to create the largest environmental college in the world.
We need better public transportation! The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has launched a video contest aimed at encouraging lawmakers to better our public transportation systems. Find out more about the contest by clickinghere.
Harness the power of the sun! A Japanese lingerie manufacturer has created a solar powered bra.
Do your homework before you donate. The recent natural disasters in Myanmar and China have us all thinking how we can help. Before you send off a check, read the Donor's Guide to Global Emergencies.
Holy Grass-fed Cow! Enter to win a Grass-fed cow and other tasty prizes from La Cense Beef at WinAGrassFedCow.com.
Fashion statement. Designer Stephanie Sandstrom's EPA Dress has sensors in it that to detect the air quality of the surrounding atmosphere. Poor air quality causes the fabric to wrinkle and kink. On a clear day, the fabric lays smooth.

Hip News:

Bugging out. Actress Isabella Rossellini is working with the Sundance Channel to produce a series of short films called Green Porno. Trust us, it's not what you think. In the short films, Rossellini dresses up in costumes and impersonates various small creatures doing the deed.
An organic frosty brew. The market for organic beer is growing according to the Organic Trade Association in Greenfield, MA.
Up in smoke. The Bush Administration is planning on implementing new air quality rules that would make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near national parks and wilderness areas.
Change of position on emissions. Despite initially supporting California's request for full or partial permission to limit tail pipe emissions, the head of the EPA has reversed himself and denied the request.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Ditch the doggie bag. This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was sent in by listener Dave. To cut down on plastic bags when you're eating fast food, tell the people at the register that you're eating in, not taking the food out. When you tell them you're eating in, there won't be a bag and you can just grab your food and go.

The Big O

Dori and Val are talking the Big O aka the Ozone - get your mind out of the gutter!

Ozone facts
Check your local UV Index forecast
Check your local Air Quality Index
Contact your Regional EPA Office for air program information
Ozone and your health

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Listener Nev in Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine! Three new freeze ahead recipes from listener Kati's (Nev on the forum) book Fix, Freeze, Feast are featured in the June/July issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine. It's on stands now, so check it out!
This lady puts Dori and Val to shame! Dee sent a link to a YouTube video of a woman who speaks in 21 different accents in just about 3 minutes.
Quench your thirst. Sandy sent along a recipe for some yummy Lavender Lemonade from his local health food store Mrs. Greens.
Teens making a difference. Melissa is an advisor with a Junior Achievement company program and wanted to share the great work of her kids. The high school students wanted to create a product that encourage people to live more eco-friendly. They came up with the company name Green Ambition and sold kits that include a reusable water bottle, a sample of fair trade organic coffee, a spray bottle with a recipe for a natural cleanser, soy candles, a window insulation kit, coupons for local green businesses. They've sold over 200 kits since December and even won Company of the Year at their annual Junior Achievement awards. Way to go, Hipster Heroes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_151_The_Big_O.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:34 PM

Wed, 14 May 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Lean & Serene Green Caffeine

More Hip Than Hippie #150 - Lean & Serene Green Caffeine

Dori and Val are talking about alternatives to caffeine and coffee.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Aviator Red and Blackbird Stout from Flying Bison Brewing Company and sent in by listener Perry. Thanks!

Chocolate: 1848 Dark Chocolate 86% also sent in by Perry.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Cork it! Check out this cool DIY cork trivet kit that gives new life to your old corks.
Green Toys. Greenfeet.com is now carrying Green Toys, a line of toys made from BPA-free recycled plastic and made right here in the USA! Choose from the sand play set, indoor gardening set, or cookware and dining set.
Present for Dori. Val brought a little present back for Dori from Vegas - a Bono signature series 25 t-shirt. 15% of the purchase proceeds will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Conservation Cotton Initiative.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to build your own root cellar. It will help you to extend the life of your produce. For more information on root cellars, click here.

Lean & Serene Green Caffeine

Dori and Val are talking about alternatives to caffeine and coffee.

Teeccino- a blend of herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts that are roasted and ground to brew and taste just like coffee.
Choice Organic Teas
Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Show your support! Listener Doug needs your support! He is participating in the relay for the life and raising money for cancer research in memory of his Mother-in-law who passed away this December. Support a great cause and donate by clicking here.
It's getting hot in here! Katie just found out about a new eco-friendly way to heat your house instead of a radiator or electric baseboard heating - infrared heating. Redwell Infrared Heating sells giant ceramic tiles fitted with infrared heating elements.
Eating crow. Jay sent along an article about flocks of crows are causing blackouts in Japan.
Cart friendly. Onawa had a couple of links to share. The first is for Cart Helpers, reusable bags designed to fit inside your shopping cart. Also be sure to check out her blog.
Shout out! Thanks to Jen for mentioning More Hip on her blog, New Green Mama.
Strip! Lottie wanted to recommend the SmartStrip surge protector. It saves energy by turning off your computer and peripherals even if you forget.
Mulching. New Listener Sarah wanted everyone to know about cocoa shell mulch.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_150_Green_Caffeine.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:43 PM

Wed, 7 May 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - A Chat with Dr. Sustainability

More Hip Than Hippie #149 - A Chat with Dr. Sustainability

Mark Stemen, head of the Sustainability program at California State University, Chico stops by to chat with Dori and Val about phantom loads.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Red Rocket Pale Ale by Bristol Brewing Company sent in by lurker and long time listener Michael. Thanks Michael!

Chocolate: 3400 Phinney collection from TheoChocolate.com

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Don't have a cow, man! Following through their commitment to the environment, Universal Studios is utilizing green technology in the new 'The Simpsons Ride'.
A hairy commitment. Or not so harry if you think about it. On Earth Day in an attempt to draw attention to the dangers of deforestation, Harrison Ford had his chest waxed on Access Hollywood. Ford is the vice chair of the global environmental group Conservation International.

Hip News:

Heavy lead. The EPA is pushing for tougher standards regarding airborne lead. They believe that the current allowable concentrations do not adequately protect the public, especially children.
Chemical corruption? Mary Gade, top Midwest administrator for the EPA, resigned amid internal fights over chemical contamination near Dow Chemical's headquarters in Michigan. Gade told the Chicago Tribune she was forced to resign after drawing attention to Dow's actions.
Gasp! Dirty air! The American Lung Association has come out with a report card ranking air quality across America.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to take a five minute walk around your house and unplug any appliances that aren't being used regularly - think cell phone charges, blenders, etc. This will cut off phantom loads and save you money on your energy bill.

A Chat with Dr. Sustainability

Mark Stemen, head of the Sustainability program at California State University, Chico stops by to chat with Dori and Val about phantom loads. If you have any questions for Mark, you can email him at m.stemen@csuchico.edu.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Cut out the clip. Jillicious sent a link to a video that shows how to close bags without using a clip.
Kids take a stand! One of the main industries in Cassi's community is chlorine and chemical manufacturing. She recently attended a public forum held by community members and biologists from Oceana.org urging the Olin, TN facility to reduce or eliminate the use of mercury in the production of their chemicals. Cassi's sons were so inspired that they decided to start educating their classmates and teachers about the problem and even created a petition. Unfortunately, the school's administration squashed their efforts as not to offend the chemical company which "does a great deal to support the school". Hrmph. We applaud the efforts of Cassi's sons and urge them to keep up the good work! Click here learn more about mercury pollution from chemical production and what you can do to help.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_149_Dr_Sustainability.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:20 PM

Thu, 1 May 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Talkin' Trash

More Hip Than Hippie #148 - Talkin Trash

Bill Mannel, Manager of the Solid Waste program at our local Public Works Facility, stops by to talk about what really happens to waste that ends up in the landfill.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Oregon Honey Beer by MacTarnahan's Brewing Company

Chocolate: A selection of goodies from IgnaFire Chocolates sent in by Clara. Thanks Clara!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Recycling cell phones. Learn about how to recycle your old cell phone.
Tread lightly. Outfit your car with environmentally responsible tires.
Plucking perfection. Check out the Tweezerman Go Green Mini Slant Tweezers. For every one purchased, Tweezerman will donate $1.00 to the National Arbor Foundation.

Hip News:

A green AFTER-life. A green burial means you'll minimize your footprint on this planet even after you've passed on.
Makes us wonder. . Kellie sent along an article that questions if big high-tech companies are green hypocrites.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. It's a recipe for a homemade natural insecticide for your garden. Fill a reusable spray bottle with tap water and 1/2 cup of liquid castille soap (like Dr. Bronners). Shake it up and spray in your garden to repel aphids and other nasty bugs. For a stronger solution, add 3 cloves of minced garlic and let it sit for 1 hour before spraying.

Talkin' Trash

Bill Mannel, Manager of the Solid Waste program at our local Public Works Facility, stops by to talk about what really happens to waste that ends up in the landfill. Listen in as they talk about what types of waste can and cannot go into the landfill.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Rubber duckie, you're the one! Catherine sent a link to fabulously phthalate-free rubber duckie.
Beer Festival! Patrick wanted everyone to know about the World Beer Festival being held in North Carolina.
Get your green, daily. Big thanks to Shawn, a writer for GreenDaily.com, for an awesome review of More Hip Than Hippie.
Bike to work week. If you're looking for a Bike to Work Week event near you, James recommends checking out BiketoWorkWeek.org.
Food is expensive, Eh? Jay sent a link to an article about how the rising price of grain is causing food prices in Canada to climb higher and higher.
Green Books for Green Living. Listener Angela wanted to let everyone know about a great company that she works for, EcoBrain.com. It's an online retailer of eBooks about the environment and eco-friendly living.
Good news, bad news. Brian sent along several links, so let's start with the good news first. A recent study shows that eating chocolate can lower your cholesterol. Now for the bad news: Shell Oil is projecting that the demand for oil is going to outstrip production by 2015. For more information, check out this interview and lecture with the head of Shell Oil.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_148_Talkin_Trash.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:34 PM

Thu, 24 April 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Pedal Power

More Hip Than Hippie #147 - Pedal Power

It's bike to work week, so Dori and Val talk about the benefits of biking.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Hop Ottin' IPA from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Check out Boontling, a type of slang used in the Anderson Valley.

Chocolate: Dark Blueberry Fully Loaded bar by Hebert's Candies.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Green browsing. Flock has launched the Eco-Edition Browser, offering a wide variety of environmental content.
If you live in Oregon. . The Oregon Environmental Council has listings for eco-healthy childcare.
Shout out! Thanks to the Green & Clean Mom and Motorcycling Through Life blogs for mentioning More Hip!

Hip News:

A lot of hot air. The Bush administration is urging the federal appeals court to set aside a ruling that gave states the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Drink it up. Nalegene will stop using plastic containing BPA in response to the recent concerns raised by the National Toxicology Program.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Katherine in Barstow, California. Instead of using cotton balls, Katherine cuts an unused sponge into cubes. Just rinse them out when you're finished. They work just as well and reduce your waste.

Pedal Power

Steve O'Brian, owner of Pullins Cyclery here in Chico, stops by to talk with Dori and Val about the ins and outs of biking. Check out the links below for more tips and info.

How to buy the right bike for you
Essential bike commuter gear
Top 5 reasons to ride a bike
Better World Club bicycle roadside assistance

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Recycling school lunch trays. Charlotte wrote in about RecycleTech, a company that created a process that recycles polystyrene lunch trays into plastic that can be used to make CD jewel cases and more.
Forks, knives, and spoons, Oh my! Sara is looking for a good alternative to disposable plastic utensils. Val recommends stainless steel cutlery or bamboo cutlery.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_147_Pedal_Power.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:52 PM

Wed, 16 April 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Greenie Meets Weenie

More Hip Than Hippie #146 - Greenie Meets Weenie

Global warming is a hoax? Sure, and I'm the Queen of England. Dori and Val discuss dealing with skeptics.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Blackberry Blonde by Etna Brewing Co.

Chocolate: Climate Change Chocolate by Bloomsberry & Company. It's 55% dark chocolate and for every bar purchased, TerraPass will purchase 133 lbs of verified carbon offsets. Go ahead, have your chocolate and eat it too!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Green travels. Next time you're looking to book an eco-conscious vacation, check out the Green Travel Hub at RezHub.com. Hotels are given green scores of 1-5 branches based on how eco-friendly they are.
Take a good long soak. Snorkel.com offers customers red-cedar spas heated by an underwater stove, so you take a long, hot bath without with using all the energy.
For your viewing pleasure. Check out EarthDayTV.net.
We'll drink to that! If you live in the Northeast US, next year you'll want to do your taxes with Tavern Tax. For 10 weeks each year before the tax deadline, you can make appointment at your local tavern to have your taxes done by a certified CPA. You can have a beer while they take care of your taxes.
Permaculture Magazine. Win one of 100 free one year online subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine by recommend a community/project who you think they should support.
Shout outs! Thanks to the YoGeek Workout Blog and ecochick shopping blog for mentioning More Hip Than Hippie and Greenfeet.com.

Hip News:

Go big or go home! The Palazzo Las Vegas has been named the largest green building in the world and given a Silver LEED Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Ski green. The Mt. Bachelor ski resort will start purchasing 100% of its power from renewable energy sources beginning in June of this year.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to start a dialogue with 5 people about Earth Day. Talk about what Earth Day means to them and share what you're doing to make the planet a better place.

When Greenie Meets Weenie

Dori and Val talk about dealing with skeptics. Check out the links below for information and tools for talking with skeptics.

The We Campaign from Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection
Climate Change: a skeptic's guide from the ThinkingShift blog
Answers to Global Warming Skeptics
How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic from Grist.org
Global Warming Myths and Facts
Climate Myths

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Let is all hang out. Dot wanted everyone to know that April 19th is National Hanging Out Day, a day to encourage people to line dry their clothes.
Cool down. Brandi wanted to recommend the Futuregirl blog that has some great tips for keeping your house cool when you live on the high level floors of a building.
Yahoo! for Earth Day. Trystan wanted to spread the word about Yahoo!'s Earth Day Campaign. They have partnered with FreeCycle and are encouraging people to check out the FreeCycle by hiding Earth-friendly prizes in random reuse groups. Check it out and you could win a Smart Car, organic food delivery, and other green products.
A Message from the Earth. Colin and Carrick have made another amazing video entitled "Message from the Earth'. It's a wonderful video with an important message.
Diaper duty. Liz wanted to let all the new parents out there know about Fleurville.com, which makes awesome diaper bags that are PVC free.
Green product reviews. Christina wants everyone to check out the beta for Huddler.com, a website with green product reviews.
A new web series from Sundance Channel. Lindsey wanted everyone to know about an upcoming original web series, The Good Fight.
Plastic bottles bad for boobies! Brian sent an article about how BPA from plastic bottles has been linked to breast cancer.

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_146_Greenie_Meets_Weenie.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:26 PM

Thu, 10 April 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Dirty Dozen

More Hip Than Hippie #145 - The Dirty Dozen

Dori and Val delve into the Dirty Dozen - twelve unhealthy products you should avoid.

Out with the old, in with the new! Dori and Val have relocated to a new patio with new equipment. There is still some tweaking to do as they get settled, so please bear with us! Thanks!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Wolaver's Certified Organic Oatmeal Stout

Chocolate:Organic Mint Dark Chocolate 72% by the Organic Seed & Bean Company

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

From our cold, dead hands! If you weren't already convinced that global warming was a problem, now our beer is at risk. Global warming is making it increasingly difficult to grow barley, which could drive up the price of beer over the coming years.
Dumpster diving minus the dumpster. VDumpsters.com is a website that allows users to create a virtual dumpster and upload items for other people to search and claim - all for free!

Hip News:

Toys 'R' Green? Toys 'R' Us has launched a new line of environmentally friendly toys.
Cup of joe? Wal-Mart has introduced a new line of organic, Rainforest Alliance and fair trade certified coffees.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to follow these tips to extend the life of your rechargeable batteries and devices.

Avoid extremes. Rechargeable devices work best at normal room temperature.
Don't overcharge. Set a timer when charging your batteries so they don't overcharge.
Discharge before storing. Before storing rechargeable batteries for an extended period of time, make sure to fully drain them.
Store in cool conditions. Temperatures below 80 degrees Fahrenheit are best.
Cool down. Allow batteries to cool for 30 minutes before recharging.

The Dirty Dozen

Dori and Val talk about discuss The Dirty Dozen: 12 Products You Should Avoid, an article from Lighterfootstep.com. The list details twelve unhealthy or resource-intensive products that you should consider reducing or eliminating from your life completely.

For alternatives to some of the products listed in the Dirty Dozen, stop by Greenfeet.com!

bambu Veneerware compostable plates and utensils
Rechargeable batteries
Eco-friendly pest control
Natural house cleaners

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Help make a better world. Sandy wanted to let everyone know about BetterWorld.com, a website that works with libraries to resell books and then donate the money to fund literacy programs around the world.
Looking for a green car? Chris is a fan of GreenAuto.com, a resource for information on all the types of cars.
Square watermelons. Maile heard about the square watermelons on last week's show and wanted to pass along Instructables.com, which has directions for growing your own square watermelons.
Green Career. Chibnik is a fan of Green Career Central for help on her search to find a green career.
Number what? Shayna sent along an awesome article that explains what each of the plastic recycling symbols mean.
Dude! Dell's gone green! Big Ed sent an article about how Dell's 2.1 million sq. ft. campus is now running on green energy.
Just for Val. Josh found the perfect website for pronunciation-challenged Val. Forvo.com has audio snippets of people saying different words so you can hear how they sound. He also sent a link to an article about how 18 states are suing the EPA over emissions. Finally, he recommends the Publik House restaurant, voted the 2005 #1 beer bar in America.
Where to send beer and chocolate for Dori and Val.
More Hip Than Hippie
275 Fairchild Ave. #107
Chico, CA 95928

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_145_Dirty_Dozen.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:09 PM

Thu, 3 April 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - CSA to Z

More Hip Than Hippie #144 - CSA to Z

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Chocolate: Perugina Bittersweet Chocolate Bar 60%

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Xerox has come up with a calculator that helps companies reduce energy used by printers, copiers, and other technology. The calculator considers factors like the type of print cartridge, print color, speed, and number of pages printed per month.

Hip News:

Here fishy, fishy. Scientists are testing Pavlov's theory out in a slightly different environment: under water. Scientists will try to train fish to catch themselves by swimming into a net when they hear a tone that signals feeding time.
"Green" Eggs. Do the eggs you eat from happy hens, roaming freely on a open range? Probably not. Most eggs come from confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's) in which thousands of hens are confined in small spaces. With a little research, you can ensure you're eating eggs from hens that treated humanely.
Urban Decay The city of Boston is looking to build an urban, indoor composting facility. In addition to reducing the carbon emissions generated by transporting the waste outside the city, the facility would also utilize the methane from the decomposing waste to generate electricity.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was inspired by Earth Hour. Make a commitment to dine by candle light once a week. You'll enjoy the time spent bonding with friends and family - and use less energy while you're at it!

CSA to Z

Lee and Francine from our local CSA stop by the patio to chat with Dori and Val. They work at GRUB, which stands for Growing Resourcefully Uniting Bellies, which delivers a box of locally grown, organic produce by bike to your home each week. GRUB sets aside 25% of the veggies for low-income families at reduced or no cost. If you have any questions for Lee or Francine, you can email them at grubchico@yahoo.com.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Going batty. Nikki wrote in for advice to attract bats to her bat house. Pick up your own Bat House at Greenfeet.com.
Thar she blows. Alex sent along a cool article about how some French wine will be transported as far as Canada by three-masted 19th century sail boats.
Equal opportunity growing. Brian sent a news story about a study that shows identical crop yields from organically grown foods and those grown non-organically.
The Fringe. Jay sent a link to his new forum, The Fringe. It's for people who want to eat food that is environmentally conscious, animal friendly, but not necessarily always vegetarian.
The wonders of biodiesel. Kellie sent a link with the Top 15 Unexpected Uses for Biodiesel.
She's not the brightest bulb. . . Sven sent an article about how Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has introduced the "Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act". The bill seeks to repeal the nationwide phase-out of conventional light bulbs.
A mystery. James sent a link to an article about the mystery of global warming's missing heat.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com

Direct download: More_Hip_144_CSA_to_Z.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:24 PM

Wed, 26 March 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Save the Earth, Save Cash

More Hip Than Hippie #143 - Save the Earth, Save Cash

Dori and Val talk about how you can save some cash while you save the Earth. There's a coupod in this episode so listen closely!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Censored Rich Copper Ale by Lagunitas Brewing Company

Chocolate: Organic Dark Chocolate with Orange and Fig by Seeds of Change

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Hipster Hero. Christine wanted to everyone to know about her Hipster Hero, Dan Phillips. Dan set out to house the working poor by keeping usable building materials out of the landfill. He builds houses of a town's discarded materials.
Squares only. Japanese farmers have started growing square watermelons, which are space-saving in small Japanese groceries. To get the square shape, farmers simply grow the watermelons in a square box.
Go fly a kite! Beluga Skysails, a commercial cargo ship, completed their first trip using giant kites as auxiliary power. The shipping company plans to give 20% of the fuel savings directly to the crew as an incentive.
Want to win 10 million dollars? The Progressive Automotive X Prize international competition is designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles. The winner gets a $10 million prize purse.

Hip News:

Bushwhacked. President Bush has ordered the EPA to weaken new Ozone standards.
Soak up the sun. Several companies are investigating the use of solar cells built into US roads to create energy.
Simply Green. JCPenney joined up with Danny Seo to create their new private label Simply Green, eco-friendly merchandise from apparel to home accessories.
Hannah Lead-tana. The Center for Environmental Health has reported high levels of lead found in a series of Hannah Montana products sold at Wal-Mart.
Green Madness. 24 schools in the NCAA men's basketball tournament have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to go carbon neutral.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Cassi and is a great way to reduce your electricity usage. She took outlet covers and covered one or more outlets in most of the pair or quad outlets in the high use areas around her house. Rather than have her toaster, coffee maker, and cell phone charger all plugged in at once, it forces her to make a choice and plug in one or the other. It also cuts down on the things she has to go around unplugging when they are leaving the house for an extended period of time.

Save the Earth, Save Cash

Dori and Val talk about how you can save some cash while you go green. For more tips check out Michael Bluejay's tips for saving electricity and The Green Guide. Be sure to surf by Greenfeet.com to find some of the products mentioned in the show!

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Calling all Aussies! Mark in Perth, Western Australia wanted to let all the other Aussies out there know about Choice.com.au. It's a website that tests the performance and energy efficiency of different products.
Doug sent along an article about mercury in CFL's.
Get your blog on. Check out Myssi's blog at Smartdame.blogspot.com.

Direct download: More_Hip_143_Save_the_Earth_Save_Cash.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:11 PM

Wed, 19 March 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Sanitation Hits the Fan

More Hip Than Hippie #142 - Sanitation Hits the Fan

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Butte Creek Organic Hop IPA

Chocolate: Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate 71%

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Music to our ears. A recent article from the New York Times featured 2 styles of eco-friendly MP3 players.

Hip News:

The Queen of Green. In her annual Commonwealth Day message, Queen Elizabeth urged the 2 billion people that comprise the Commonwealth to come together in defense of the environment.
Put me in Coach. Major League Baseball has announced the creation of a Team Greening Program. The program coordinates environmentally sound practices pursued by each team in the league.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to create your own lending library at work. Set aside a shelf or box where employees can bring in books they've finished reading.

Sanitation Hits the Fan

With World Water Day just around the corner (March 22), Dori and Val talk about water and sanitation. Find out more about this topic by checking out the links below.

Val's Trip to LA

Recently, Val took a trip down to Los Angeles for a trade show. Check below for other links from Val's trip.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Baby Blues. Rachel in Texas sent along one of her favorite comic strips (above), Baby Blues.
Taking ownership. Kellie sent in a great chart from the Consumerist.com that outlines which major food corporations own which organic brands.
An OASIS. Kristi was excited to hear about the creation of OASIS, the first standard to certify organic cosmetics in the US.
Fossil Fool's. Michelle had a laugh when she heard about Co-Op America's Fossil Fool of the Year. Place your vote for the worst Fossil Fool of the year and you could win a year's worth of renewable energy credits.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_142_Sanitation_Hits_the_Fan.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:18 PM

Wed, 12 March 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Eco-friendly Fridge

More Hip Than Hippie #141 - Eco-friendly Fridge

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Full Sail LTD

Chocolate: Chocolove Organic Dark Chocolate 61% Cocoa Content

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

No bones about it. Ellen DeGeneres recently purchased Halo, a well known natural pet food company, and plans to produce her own brand of pet food. You can learn more about the company at HaloPets.com.
A cut above. One product that will definitely be on all our wish lists this year is the Husqvarna Automower, the world's first solar/electric hybrid robot lawnmower.

Hip News:

Off to a promising start. Infinia, a clean energy start up company, has raised $50 million in financing to further develop their clean energy technology. The utility-scale renewable energy technology combines a Stirling engine (which converts heat into electricity) with a large solar collector.
You might be blown away. Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems, the world's largest wind-turbine maker, officially opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant just outside of Windsor, Colorado.
Coal cool down. Grist.org has a great article that brings together several threads into what they call a web of Really Bad News for coal.
Energy Star cleans up washers. Energy Star will be beefing up the standards ofor washing machines.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was sent in by Malie in Germany. She wanted to recommend Interflush, a flushing device for toilets that lets you use only the water you need. The toilet only flushes when the handle is held down, and stops when the handle is released. They say it can save up to 47% of the water normally used for flushing. Another option for decreasing amount of water you waste flushing is to put a container, or some other object that takes up space, in the tank of your toilet.

Eco-friendly Fridge

Dori and Val talk about tips for greening up your refrigerator. Check the links below more information on greening your current fridge and buying a new one.

Perish the Thought - tips for greening you fridge from Grist.org
Consumer guide to minimize energy consumption of your refrigerator
Ease up on fossil fuels with green refrigerator
Green Buying Guide: Refrigerators

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Whiskey river? Brian sent an article about how researchers in Scotland are using a by-product of whiskey to clean contaminated ground and waste water.
A good cause. Catherine wanted everyone to know about Goods4Girls, an organization that donates new cloth, reusable menstrual pads to girls and women in Africa.
Why are we not surprised? Patrick sent an article from Forbes about how child labor is being used in India to produce genetically modified seeds.
Oh baby! Jamie and her husband are expecting their first baby and wanted to share a great book she found with all the other expecting parents out there. It's called Raising Baby Green: The Earth Friendly Guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care. And Congratulations to Jamie and her husband on expecting their first Teenie Weenie Greenie!

Direct download: More_Hip_141_Eco-friendly_Fridge.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:37 PM

Thu, 6 March 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Biofuel'n Around

More Hip Than Hippie #140 - Biofuel'n Around

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: West Coast IPA from the Green Flash Brewing Co.

Chocolate: Vermont Nut Free Chocolate sent in by listener Celeste

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Shout out! Big thanks to the Our Green Babysteps blog for mentioning MHTH!
Bam! Emeril goes green. Celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse will be hosting a new show on the Discovery Channel called Emeril Green. For the show, Emeril will shoot on location at Whole Foods Market stores across the country.

Hip News:

Arizona to become solar hotspot. Spanish company Abengoa Solar is planning on turning 3 square miles of desert in Arizona into one of the world's largest solar power plants.
Are they kidding? The EPA has justified blocking California and other states from cracking down on auto emissions by saying that the problem of global warming is not unique to one state.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to reuse your old sweaters. You can cut off the sleeves and use the body of the sweater to make a laptop sleeve. Just sew a straight seam across the bottom. You can then use one of the sleeves, cut a small section off and use it as a coffee cup cozy.

Biofuel'n Around

Tom Barrett, VP at Richard Heath and Associates here in Chico, stops by the patio to chat with Dori and Val about biofuels. Check below for more information about biofuels.

California Biomass Energy Alliance
California Biomass Collaborative administered by the University of California, Davis and sponsored by the California Energy Commission
Biomass to Energy
Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program
Biomass Energy Basics
Alternative Energy News
Biofuels Journal
Natural Resourced Defense Council
NRDC Report on Ethanol Studies
American Coalition for Ethanol
Ethanol Producers Magazine
Make Alcohol Fuel by Lynn Ellen Doxon
"Grow Your Own Fuel. BioFuel's Gain Interest As Gas Prices Rise" - Work-At-Home Business Opportunities Weblog
Is ethanol energy-efficient? Journey To Forever website

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Which is greener? Jenny is a knitter and was wondering which is greener: cotton or wool yarn?
Peddle power. New listener Cassi sent a link to a video of Shift2Bikes, a group of bike riders moving an entire house - lawn chairs, sofa, even a boat.
Green take-out containers. Katie sent a link to Opal Divines, a restaurant and pub in Austin, Texas that uses take out containers made from sustainable materials. They have also partnered with Austin Energy GreenChoice to start purchase alternative energy.
Tracking toxins in toys. Charlie sent in an article about two bills up for consideration in Maine. The bills would require toy manufacturers to flag the use of certain chemicals in their products.
Paper vs. Styrofoam cups. Shayna sent along an article that asks the question, Which is the greener choice: paper or styrofoam cups?

Direct download: More_Hip_140_Biofueln_Around.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:08 AM

Thu, 28 February 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Motion of the Ocean

More Hip Than Hippie #139 - Motion of the Ocean

Continuing their series on alternative energy, Dori and Val dive into the subject of ocean power.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Old #38 Stout by North Coast Brewing Co.

Chocolate: Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Blueberries

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Want to be on TV? ABC's hit show "Wife Swap" is currently casting for their fourth season and is looking to feature a family where the mom is a working mom/entrepreneur. Families that appear on the show receive $20,000 as a thank you and if you refer a family that appears on the show, you receive $1000. If you're interested, email us at hip@greenfeet.com and we'll get you in contact with the casting producer.
Finally! Reusable envelopes! Check out EcoEnvelopes, the first USPS-approved reusable envelopes.
Is that seafood sustainable? FishPhone is a new sustainable seafood text messaging service from the Blue Ocean Institute. Consumers can send a text message to 30644 with the message FISH and the name of the fish in question. In just seconds you'll receive a response text with Blue Ocean's assessment of the fish and better alternatives to fish with significant environmental concerns. Rachel tested it and gives it an overwhelming 2 hips!
Is green power available in my state? Find out what green power options are available in your state at the Green Power Network.
Trash Talk you won't mind hearing. Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns has teamed up with Nike to create the new Nike Trash Talk, a shoe made completely from manufacturing waste.

Hip News:

Cleared for take off. Virgin Atlantic has completed the first biofuel flight from London to Amsterdam.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

The ultimate in recycling: organ donation. This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was sent in by Katie in Austin and is to sign up to be an organ donor. Katie recently signed up to be an organ donor for when, as she puts so eloquently, "my time here is done and I go to the big brew pub in the sky". Sign up to be an organ donor on your State's registry list and learn more about organ donation at OrganDonor.gov.

Motion of the Ocean

Dori and Val chat about utilizing the ocean as an alternative source of energy. Check the links below for more information on ocean power.

Ocean Power Technologies uses a PowerBouy to extract energy in waves
The basics of wave energy.
Video demonstration of producing energy from wave power
Wave power going commercial in California
Finavera Wave Energy

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Not your average Co-Op. Katie sent a link to the Black Star Co-Op, a co-op brewpub in Austin, Texas.
Eat your veggies. Brian in Tennessee was listening to the BBC World Technology podcast when he heard about the Veg Exchange. The site allows people who find themselves with homegrown produce they can't use, to post a message to sell or swap produce with others. Brian also sent a link about Sandia National Labs and Stirling Energy Systems, which set a new world record in solar power generation that put efficiency on par with that of conventional coal fired plants.
Not so clean coal. Kevin sent along a link to a video about the fight over coal in Nevada and the ad campaign by the coal mining, utilities, and train industries.
Lance Armstrong promotes bike commuting. Renee was excited to hear about Lance Armstrong's new 18,000 sq. ft. bike shop Mellow Johnny's in Austin, Texas. The new shop is part of Armstrong's effort to encourage more people to commute by bike.
School carnival ideas. Jen in Canada was wondering about eco-friendly ideas for stations at a school carnival. Val recommends having kids decorate empty Altoid tins to make their own little container. A little instant photo booth with costumes is always a big hit at Dori's daughter's school.

Direct download: More_Hip_139_Motion_of_the_Ocean.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:06 AM

Wed, 20 February 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - The Dirt on Clean Coal

More Hip Than Hippie #138 - The Dirt on Clean Coal

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Guinness Extra Stout

Chocolate: Guinness Dark Chocolate and Guinness Dark Chocolate Caramel bars sent in by listener Jennifer

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Meet Eco. The picture above is of Eco, one of 2 bald eagles that have taken up residence near the Greenfeet.com warehouse. The name "Eco" came about from where we first saw him, on the corner of Eaton Road and Cohasset Road.
Hybrid car sharing comes to St. Louis. Jillicious sent along an article about WeCar, a hybrid car sharing program now available in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The program was started by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and provides members with a hybrid rental car for a low hourly rate.
Cross off your list. List Universe has compiled a list of the top 20 beers that should be tried at least once.

Hip News:

Lutz the Putz.**Warning: PG13 content.** D Magazine recently quoted General Motors CEO Bob Lutz saying, "Global warming is a total crock of sh*t". Don't hold back, Bob.
Where's the beef? Recalled. The USDA has recalled 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a slaughterhouse that is being investigated for mistreating the cattle.
Buzz kill. Haagen-Dazs is warning consumers that disappearing bee colonies in the U.S. could result in fewer flavors of ice cream and higher prices.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Sew easy! This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was sent in by Brianna. Make your own reusable bag by recycling your old t-shirts. Grab an old t-shirt, cut out the neck, cut off the sleeves, and use a sewing machine to sew a straight seam across the bottom. Now you have a reusable bag shaped like traditional bags but is much sturdier.

The Dirt on Clean Coal

Dori and Val dive head first into our favorite oxymoron, "clean coal". Check the links below for more information on this hot topic.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Holy Cacao! New listener Chiara in Finland sent along an article from the New York Times about milk chocolate making a comeback among chocolate connoisseurs.
There's no such thing as "away". . is what Ari Derfel set out to prove when he decided to save all his trash for one year. Laura sent along a link to this blog, which has stories, pics, and FAQ's of Ari's one year journey.
Nuclear power: a hot topic. Brian sent along a couple of links relating to the recent MHTH show on nuclear power. The first is an article about the effects of radiation called Is Atomic Radiation as bad as we thought?. The second is about a mini nuclear reactor made by Toshiba that can be used to power homes.
Food-safety fight. Charlie sent along an article about Ben & Jerry's fight to make it known that their ice creams are free of bovine growth hormones. A group of farmer's backed by Monsanto are pushing for labeling changes saying that hormone-free labels imply that the milk is safer than others, when they say its not.

Podshow PDN {podshow-8bb2326a2f6815c319dde9347a97ad3e}

My Odeo Channel (odeo/5bf32ac5330eb8f7)

Direct download: More_Hip_138_Clean_Coal.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:55 PM

Thu, 14 February 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - A Chat with Hipster Nev

More Hip Than Hippie #137 - A Chat with Hipster Nev

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Drop Top Amber Ale by Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, Oregon

Chocolate: A wide selection of chocolates sent in by Listener Celeste

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Hoodie-Hoo! February 20th is considered Hoodie-Hoo Day in the Northern Hemisphere. At noon on this day, people go outside, wave their hands, and chant "Hoodie-Hoo" to chase away Winter and bring in Spring. Count us in!
Recycling shoes. Check out RecycledRunners.com to find a facility that recycles shoes near you.
Disposing of CFL's. Green Living Tips has a great outline for disposing and recycling CFL's.

Hip News:

Biofuels bad? Alison sent along an article that states that biofuels create more greenhouse gasses in production than traditional fuels create during use.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to start researching what you want to plant in your garden. You'll want to look for organic and/or heirloom seeds to preserve diversity.

A Chat with Hipster Nev

Listener Kati Neville (aka Nev on the forum) calls into the patio to chat with Dori and Val about her new book Fix, Freeze, Feast.

Kati describes the book best when she says, "Fix, Freeze, Feast helps busy families fill their freezers at an affordable price using fresh ingredients wherever possible". The book details recipes that use bulk ingredients, which you can then freeze and serve later. Check out YouTube for a video demonstrating the Fix, Freeze, Feast method.

Environmental Policy

Dori and Val recap the environmental policy of the four remaining candidates in the Presidential Primaries. Check the links below for more information.

How green is your candidate? A comparison chart from Grist.org
Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
John McCain
Mike Huckabee

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Uranium as a source of energy. Rick responded to last week's episode on nuclear energy with a little more information. He sent along an article about the world's largest uranium mine being shut down due to pollution.
This Black Dog is also green. Lisa wanted to let everyone know about the Black Dog Pub in Toronto. The pub is quite green and the menu even offers tips for saving the Earth.
Check out this art. Steve is an English artist living in New York. He uses recycled materials he finds in Brooklyn and Manhattan to make his art. Check it out at www.myspace.com/steverileyart.
Recycling run around. Hannah passed along a link to the Fall 2007 issue of Co-op America. It features an article that claims while many cities are expanding their recycling facilities to accept all plastics, some may not be recycling most of it.
One smart cookie. Listener Brian in Tennessee was intrigued by a recent Teenie Weenie Greenie that urged listeners to start talking with their local car dealers about getting more eco-friendly cars on the market. Brian, being the smart guy that he is, is taking a different approach to bring efficient cars to market. He has developed an engine design that will get the same fuel economy as current hybrids, with fewer parts and the ability to run on a wide variety of fuels. Learn more about his design here.
Welcome Charlie! New listener Charlie wrote in for the first time and wanted to recommend one of his wife's favorite handbags, Angela Adams Handbags made from sustainable materials. He was also wondering about a good mattress for hot sleepers. Val's favorite is the Organic Cotton & Wool mattress because wool helps to regulate body temperature.

Direct download: More_Hip_137_Hipster_Nev.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:25 AM

Thu, 7 February 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Hip Nukes

More Hip Than Hippie #136 - Hip Nukes

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Raspberry Trail Ale by the Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur, CA

Chocolate: A Russian Chocolate sent in by listener Colin

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Jack Johnson. We already loved singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, and now we love him even more! Check out this short video about the making of his latest album Sleep Through The Static, which includes a tour of his eco-friendly studio that is made from reclaimed wood and is solarpowered.
Supermarket Decoder Ring. Ok, so it's not really a ring, but a recent Ideal Bite gave tips for spotting organic fruits and veggies at the market. It's all in the little number stickers on the produce. A four-digit number means it was conventionally grown. A five-digit number starting with 9 means it's organic. A five-digit number starting with 8 means it's genetically modified.
Speaking of those stickers on fruit. . . Artist Barry Snyder uses the produce stickers found at your grocery store to create detailed artworks.

Hip News:

A trashy lawsuit. Eddie House, a resident of San Carlos, California, reduced his waste to nearly zero out of concern for the environment. How was he rewarded? With a lawsuit for canceling his trash service. The city of San Carlos says that House broke the city's municipal code requiring all residential properties to contract with Allied Waste for pickup at least once a week. Ridiculous if you ask us.
Yes, please. As if his ruggedly handsome good looks weren't enough to win your heart, Brad Pitt started the Make It Right organization building affordable, sustainable homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Now, there's buzz that Mr. Pitt might be interested in running for Mayor of New Orleans.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Are you printer-friendly? This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ was sent in by Russell and deals with reducing the amount of printer ink and paper you use. He discovered GreenPrint, a free-to-download application that helps you save paper and printer ink by removing unwanted logos, banners, and orphaned pages that waste your ink cartridge. The best part? It tracks the pages you've saved so you can see the amount of waste you've cut out.

Hip Nukes

Nuclear power has been emerging as a main issue in the U.S. Presidential election. Dori and Val dive head first into the topic and examine arguments both for and against the use of nuclear energy.

CoopAmerica.org examines the argument against nuclear energy in 10 Strikes Against Nuclear Power. Check out WiseGeek.com for an overview of the argument for the use of nuclear power.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Home is where the heart is. Christine in NY was fascinated when she read about a woman whose home is made entirely from of found objects.
Help a Hipster out! Michele sent along one of her blog posts spreading the word about More Hip Than Hippie. For every 1000 views she gets paid $10, so click here and help her out!
A couple things. Celeste in Saratoga sent along a couple of interesting links. The first is to the Coopers Microbrewery Kit that includes everything you need to brew your own beer. The other link is an article about a Michigan high school student who converted his 1988 Mazda pick up to run off electricity.
Find your green career. Alison was interested to see what Dori and Val thought of Green Career Central. For $79 per year, you can access hundreds of green job postings, discussion forums, and tests that help you identify your niche in the green job market.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_136_Hip_Nukes.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:22 AM

Wed, 30 January 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - I'm Eating a Clone

More Hip Than Hippie #135 - I'm Eating a Clone

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Chocolate: Dark Chocolate with pumpkinseeds by Choco-Lina sent in by Greenneck Laura

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Get more from your food. Check out this list of weird uses for food around the house and discover how milk can combat ink stains.
Find your Temple. Temple the Zen Compound is the greenest nightclub in world and is located in San Francisco. Future plans for the nightclub include installing a Piezoelectric dance floor that harnesses dancers' energy and converts it into electricity. Too cool.

Hip News:

"Paper or plastic?" a thing of the past? Grocers are rethinking plastic bags and many might follow in the footsteps of Whole Foods, who recently announced plans to do away with plastic bags all together.
Winter X Games go for the green. This year, the Winter X Games will encourage attendees to go green by using cups and plates made from corn plastic, composting leftovers, and turning the grease from the kitchen into biofuel to power the buses and snowcats.
Stop and smell the roses. Sam's club will now offer customers Fair Trade Certified flowers.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Are you ready to buy a plug-in electric car vehicle that gets 100+ mpg? This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Co-Op America and is to take action to bring plug-in electric vehicles to the market by joining the Adopt-a-Dealer effort. You can download the Adopt-a-Dealer Toolkit and start a conversation with your local car dealer. The toolkit provides you with talking points, sample letters, and a step-by-step guide to get your campaign on the road.

I'm Eating a Clone

The FDA recently announced that they found no evidence of risks in food from healthy cloned animals and their offspring. We're not completely convinced, so Dori and Val decided to investigate a little more. Listen in to hear what they found out. Check out the links below for more information.

Illustration of how cloning works.
About.com - Food from Clones is Safe, but Farmers Shouldn't Sell It.
USDA recommends that food from clones stay off the market.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Wormzilla! Michele sent along this juicy article about the giant Palouse earthworm just for Dori. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is trying to get the mammoth worm endangered species status.
Dryer drama. Alison has gone 6 months without a dryer and was looking for a good clothesline that doesn't require poles to hang. Val recommends Mrs. Pegg's Handy Line and the Cord-O-Clip automated clothes line.
First green homeless shelter opens. Kellie sent an article about the East Oakland Community Project, the nation's first green homeless shelter. The 125-bed shelter will utilize solar power to supply electricity and water-based hydronic heaters for warmth.
Wal-Mart Social Manifesto. Brian sent in an article that details a recent speech made by the CEO of Wal-Mart, H. Lee Scott Jr.. The speech laid out the company's plans for tackling several environmental and health issues.

Direct download: More_Hip_135_Eating_a_Clone.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:28 PM

Thu, 24 January 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Visit with a ChicoEco Activist

More Hip Than Hippie #134 - Visit with a ChicoEco Activist

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Sierra Nevada ESB

Chocolate: Some type of chocolate with almonds by United Confectioners sent in by Brent and Tracy in Wisconsin who picked it up while in Russia to adopt their first child. Thanks, and more importantly, CONGRATULATIONS on the new addition to your family!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Pop it! What's more fun than bubble wrap? Virtual Bubblewrap! Our only advice is to make sure the sound on your computer is turned up because the popping sound is half the fun!

Hip News:

We still don't really want to eat it. The FDA has found no safety risks in the meat from healthy cloned cows, pigs, or goats or milk from cloned cows or their offspring.
Give it up for Google. Google has announced its core initiatives to combat climate change, poverty, and other emerging threats.
Changes at Safeway. Safeway has announced that they will run its U.S. fleet of trucks on biofuel.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ comes from Ines in Connecticut. If you're comfortable that the dish washing soap you use when hand washing dishes is non-toxic, then skip rinsing and just dry it off with a towel. You'll save water!

Visit with a ChicoEco Activist Nani Teves of ChicoEco.org stops by the patio for a chat. Nani is a Chico, California resident who was inspired by Al Gore's famous documentary An Inconvenient Truth and decided to make a difference in her community.

Nani got in contact with a local environmental activist group and, with the help of the organization's webmaster, started ChicoEco.org. ChicoEco is an online community that encourages Chico residents and neighbors to share what they're doing to live more sustainably. People can post upcoming eco-events, find local green businesses, and read environmental news.

One project Nani developed is designed to encourage people to bike more often. Since she lives on a bike route, she created a Bike Station. The station has a sitting bench she got for free and a box that houses a battery operated air pump, patches, and tools for changing a flat. What a brilliant idea! And be sure to check out the projects section for other great ideas to green your community.

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Recycling made easy. Ines discovered a cool compartmentalized recycling bin at the Container Store. It looks like a regular step-on trash can, but inside it has three different compartments for plastic, glass, and cans.
Biodegradable foil? Veggy Liz in NYC just got back from her honeymoon in the UK and was seriously impressed by all the eco-friendly things she discovered during her two week trip. One of her favorite discoveries was energy bars wrapped in biodegradable foil.
Did you know? Shayna sent along an article about 21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle.
Are you a Texan looking for an electric car? Kristi wanted to let all the Texans out there know that she has a relative who is selling an '81 Escort that was factory converted to run off electricity.
Spider milking. Dori and Val still won't go there, but Mike sent along a video of spider milking. Also, check out what Mike is building, a shipping container house.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_134_ChicoEco_Activist.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:38 PM

Wed, 16 January 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Green Tech at the CES

More Hip Than Hippie #133 - Green Tech from the CES

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Maudite Ale from Unibroue Brewery in Canada, sent in by Mr. Designer

Chocolate: Newman's Own Sweet Dark Chocolate Orange

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Art for Conservation. Art for Conservation helps provide financial and printing resources to support artists and photographers pursuing grassroots conservation efforts.
Rental cars go green. Enterprise, National, and Alamo rental car companies are now offering customers the option of purchasing carbon offsets for their trips.
Green Dentist in the Bay Area. Listener Cathy wrote in to tell us about where she works Marshall and Martz DDS, a green dentistry practice. Check it out if you're in the Bay Area.
Earth-friendly water. Check out Earth Friendly Ice Water, whose innovative packaging has less of an impact on the planet.

Hip News:

She spends WHAT? According to Ecorazzi, Madonna spends $120,000 a year on bottled water.
Foot in mouth. According to the Carbon Trust, David Beckham has the largest carbon footprint on the planet.
The world's cheapest car. India's Tata Motors have unveiled the Nano, a four-door subcompact car that will retail for $2,500.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™. is to remember to recycle your old electronics. Check Earth911.org to find recycling facilities near you.

Green Tech at the CES

Dori and Val are highlighting some of the eco-friendly technology coming out of the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show. Check 'em out!

Philips eco-friendly HDTV that is lead-free and uses the same amount of energy as a light bulb
Fujitsu laptop made with corn plastic
Green Plug universal power adapter
Belkin's conserve surge protector
Cruzin Cooler cooler and electric powered transportation device
Samsung's LED powered flat panel tv

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Disposing of old CFL's. Chantel was wondering how to properly dispose of old CFL's. Check Earth911.org for a facility near you.
Shout out! Thanks to The Bond Girls blog, who named More Hip Than Hippie their top podcast of 2007!

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_133_Green_Tech.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:01 PM

Wed, 9 January 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Frankenfoods

More Hip Than Hippie #132 - Frankenfoods

You've asked about it and now we're delivering. Dori and Val discuss genetically engineered foods.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Pete Brown's Tribute Ale by Bear Republic Brewery

Chocolate: Green & Blacks Organic Espresso

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

Open up and say "ahhh". Jiva Dental in Kingston is set to be the UK's first carbon neutral dental surgery facility. Unfortunately, that doesn't make going to the dentist suck any less.

Hip News:

2007 in review. According to NBC (and we can't disagree), 2007 will be remembered as the year green went mainstream. Check out the article and find out what we can look forward to in our eco-friendly future.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

The rough weather this past week in California inspired This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™. Make sure you have an emergency preparedness kit in the case of unexpected weather and power outages. Check with your local Red Cross for a complete list of items for the kit. Some items we recommend are:

1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days
Flashlight, like the Shakelight
Plenty of blankets
Candles and matches and/or a lighter
A hand crank radio to keep updated

Frankenfoods

There's been plenty of controversy surrounding genetically modified foods, aka GMO's. Listen in as Dori and Val go over GMO 101. Check out the links below for more information about GMO's.

About.com - What are genetically engineered foods?
About.com - Are genetically engineered foods healthy?
About.com - What's For Dinner? Genetically Modified Foods
FDA.gov - Genetically Engineered Foods: Fears and Facts

Listener Emails

Once again, we have a bunch of great listener emails. Keep 'em rolling in at hip@greenfeet.com. And don't forget to post articles, links, and speak your mind at our MHTH forum!

Listen up! Green Neck Laura wrote in about LibriVox.org, a website that takes books in the public domain and has volunteers record them. Then you can download the audio version onto your MP3 player for free! She also started up a blog this year. Check it out at grannyshippiethreads.blogspot.com.
Canada, Eh? Martin in Canada sent along a link to a thesis paper about the suitability of using popcorn as a packaging material.
The power of chocolate. Michele sent a link to an article about a truck fueled by chocolate traveling across the Sahara Desert.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_132_Frankenfoods.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:27 PM

Wed, 2 January 2008

More Hip Than Hippie - Yipee, Yahoo

More Hip Than Hippie #131 - Yipee, Yahoo

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Okocim Porter sent in by Mike from Florida

Chocolate: Ghana 84% dark chocolate by Theo Chocolate

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

How sweet it is. Honey, a natural antibiotic, is making a comeback in the medical community.

Hip News:

Cutting lefts loose. In an effort to be more efficient and less wasteful, UPS is working to eliminate left-hand turns. The idling that occurs as delivery drivers wait to make left turns is causing increased pollution and wasting of gas.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

This week's Teenie Weenie Greenie™ is to set a goal to reduce your energy consumption by 10% this year.

Yipee, Yahoo

Trystan Bass, Senior Editor at Yahoo! calls in for a chat. Check out some of her work at Green.Yahoo.com and her blog Green Picks.

Listener Emails

Listener Emails will return next week!

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1 530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

Direct download: More_Hip_131_Yipee_Yahoo.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:53 PM