More Hip Than Hippie #254 - Sustainable Community

Sustainability: A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community...and an Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon be Like by Stuart W. Rose, Ph.D. offers guidance on how and why to live sustainably.

The Hipsters chat with Dr. Rose (we get to call him Stu!) about his sustainable community of homes in Virginia, as well as his ideas for navigating societal changes that may be coming our way. Also, Dori and Val prepare for the release of 4 new beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery! Life is good.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: More easy-drinkin' brew from the Big Easy. Abita Beer's Fall Fest has a great taste for any season.

Chocolate: Mouthgasm! In the name of all that is sacred, get yourself some truffles from Pix Patisserie in Portland, OR. Each piece is a scrumptious work of art. Thanks, Jillicious!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Need a great lunchbox for grown-ups? Try the stainless steel Lunchbot, a safe plastic-free option that's just the right size for your yummy leftovers. Go ahead, glue on a picture of Scooby-Doo or the Brady Bunch.
• Fear of fur. Love the look of fur, but hate the cruelty? Sport faux fur by Imposter, a new line that donates 10% of sales to saving animals. Look for the IM logo.

Hip News

• How sweet it ain't. Fake sweetener aspartame now wants to be called AminoSweet, so you'll forget it's bad for you. Skip the agave nectar too; it's processed like HFCS. Bitter is better.
• Olympic metal. Kudos to Vancouver! Their Olympic medals are the first in history to contain gold, silver and copper recovered from end-of-life electronics, eh!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Break the mold! Instead of using bleach to clean up areas affected by mold, try this chemical-free alternative: mix a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with 2 parts water. Put it in a spray bottle and blast away the mold safely and inexpensively!

 

Sustainable Community

Sustainability: A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community...and an Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon be Like by Stuart W. Rose, Ph.D. offers guidance on how and why to live sustainably. He strives to show a way to reduce the depletion of Earth's natural resources and to predict global changes which could occur in the next few years. Rose hopes that Sustainability will help suppress the fears connected to living on Earth's natural resources by sharing how sustainability has worked in an actual housing development.

"My goal in writing this is to provide a real, practical and positive picture of what we can do to make it through the coming transition - and realize a fantastic new way of living."

• Guidance. Dr. Rose's book details his experience with starting a housing development and offers tips for living sustainably.
• Community. Stu and his wife live in Garden Atriums, their housing development in Virginia.
• Inspiration. The writings of Lester Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, led Dr. Rose to pursue life in a sustainable community.

Listener E-mails

• Annie in California found PeopleTowels, a green company helping us cut waste by bringing own towels to public restrooms.
• Carri in Kansas recommends checking out Mother Earth News, which she reads cover to cover. She also tipped us off to non-GMO Baker Creek Seeds.
• Megan in Montana wants to stop using plastic bags at the bulk bins. Try these mesh bags for everything except flour.

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!

Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #253 - Snowmageddon

A succession of powerful winter storms pounding most of the US this month has been dubbed, among other things, Snowmageddon.

The sun is shining at More Hip HQ in Chico, but winter has a tight grip on much of the country. The Hipsters check in with snowbound blogger Robin Shreeves to find out how she and her family are coping in the winter wonderland of New Jersey, then get a lesson in climate change from Jon Stewart. Also, Dori and Val mark a More Hip milestone!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: In honor of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, we try a little brew from the Bayou: Abita Beer's Turbodog Brown Ale. Another reason for Louisiana to be proud.

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Tony in Chicago, who shared the Chocolove for Valentine's Day. It even came with a love poem.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Green on the go. Everything about the Green Silence running shoe from Brooks has an element of sustainability. Recycled materials, water-based adhesives and non-toxic dyes keep you on the right track!

Hip News

• A new leaf. Looks like Europeans can agree on something! In an online vote, they chose the Euro-leaf as the new logo for organic foods produced in the EU. It must be placed on all their pre-packaged organic food after July 1.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Support wildlife! When it's time to replace that worn-out bra, give it a new life...as a bird feeder! Fill the cups with seeds and drape it over a tree branch. Snowmageddon

South Jersey resident and Mother Nature Network blogger Robin Shreeves has used her weather-related captivity to cook, read, make crafts, play board games and organize photos. And shovel snow.

• Eat. Robin's informal poll of frostbitten friends revealed a spike in the consumption of chocolate chip cookies.
• Drink. Wine is the beverage of choice because it won't go bad when the power's out, nor does it require chilling. Plus, as Robin found, you can't make beef bourguinon without it.
• Read. Robin loved Julia Child's My Life In France; Val recommends Seth Godin's Linchpin; Dori enjoyed Joanne Harris's follow-up to Chocolat, The Girl With No Shadow.

Listener E-mails

• Katie in Toronto (eh!) takes reusable Envirosax when she goes shopping. She also discovered TerraCycle's fun products and brilliant fundraising program.
• Mike in Oakland shares a story about Bill Gates funding GMO research. Nope, Bill is no Hipster.
• Michele in Arizona is wearing 4-year old undies, because she washes them in cold water and hangs them to dry. She also has good ideas for your old shower curtains.
• Kamille in California sent a story about Brita filters being recycled by Preserve Products. Blogger Beth Terry should be pleased.
• Patrick in NC found t-shirts recycled into custom laptop sleeves, for a good cause.
• Cynthia in Los Angeles discovered the only non-profit stop-junk-mail organization, 41pounds.
• Whitney in Texas sent us a simple recipe for pumpkin soup. Can Val eat it with her spoon earrings?

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!

Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #252 - Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets offer companies and consumers the ability to neutralize a portion of their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in clean energy sources.

Since the first program was launched in 1989, carbon offsets have become a billion dollar industry. How do they work? Should you buy them? Dori and Val follow up on a listener's request to shed light on the subject. Also, Hollywood beckons! The Hipsters offer their services as Academy Awards hostesses, while Kleen Kanteen spends a day at The Office.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Really, we thought Dick's Brewing Company would provide a satisfying mouthful with their IPA. Sadly, there was so much, um, head, we had to bring in backup. Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale gave us what we needed.

Chocolate: We had a complicated relationship with our big ass bar of Divine Mint Dark Chocolate. We love that it's Fair Trade Certified, and the mint was nice and subtle. But the chocolate wasn't as smooth as we might have liked.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Whether you prefer red or white wine, you can keep it green. Tote your vino in an insulated NeoGreene Wine Bottle Carrier. Made from non-toxic materials, it's lightweight, adjustable and comes in fun color combos.
• And the Oscar goes to... an environmental film? Both Food Inc. and The Cove are nominated for Best Documentary. See who wins on March 7th.

Hip News

• Shamboo? The FTC is warning retailers to stop marketing rayon textiles as bamboo. Turns out bamboo fiber isn't smooth and silky, after all.
• Fried eggs. If you're having trouble getting pregnant, your mattress could be to blame! Flame retardant chemicals called PBDEs are found to decrease fertility in women.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Warm and cozy! Remember those stretchy wrist bands you wore during your workouts in the 70s and 80s? Turns out, they make great coffee cup cozies! Dig them out of that box with your Jane Fonda workout videos and slip 'em into your glove compartment for easy access. Now when you drink your coffee, you won't "feel the burn"!

 

Carbon Offsets

Hi Dori and Val,

My husband and I recently took the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. I planned to buy carbon offsets for the flights. The whole trip was crazy expensive. So I expected the carbon offsets to cost a fortune as well. We racked up 20,000 miles and emitted over 6,000 lbs. of CO2. I was amazed when the offsets cost only $41.65! We probably spent that much on two salads at the airport!

Kelly in Annapolis, MD

• What is it? A carbon offset is a "financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions." One offset equals one metric tonne of reduced carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
• Size matters. A metric tonne of CO2 would fill the average family home. Most households produce 15 tonnes each year.
• Do the math. Figure out your carbon footprint using the EPA's Household Emissions Calculator.
• Choose. A report from Tufts University ranks the best offsetters. Kelly and Val both use TerraPass.

Listener E-mails

• Lisa in Michigan stuns us with the news that it's cold up dere in da north! Happily, she's found plenty of local beer in da Mitten to give her a warm glow.
• Chelsea in Georgia has indeed spotted sushi in Target, but hasn't been able to bring herself to try it.
• Robin in New Jersey wisely took us along on a long car trip. We still enjoy you on MNN!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!

Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #251 - SoupCycle

SoupCycle in Portland, OR exemplifies the best features of a green business with a local sensibility.

Since the summer of 2008, SoupCycle has cooked and delivered over 10,000 tasty organic soups, saved 3,000 car-miles by using bicycle delivery and funneled $33,000 to local farmers. Co-owner Jed Lazar dishes with Dori and Val about their recipe for success. Also, the Hipsters welcome two luminaries to Chico this week; Dori's fiance Chris, and Oprah!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Kudos to Lost Coast Brewery for using restraint when creating their Raspberry Brown Ale. Nice fruit flavor without that syrupy sweetness.

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Megan in Arizona, who swiped samples of Starbucks' latest offering. TCHO chocolates offer delightfully satisfying mouthfeel with subtle flavors.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• iWhat? Apple finally debuted the new iPad tablet. It was obviously named by a panel of clueless men, but we're happy to report that it's a pretty green Apple.
• REMedy. The 1993 hit "Everybody Hurts" has been chosen for Simon Cowell's upcoming charity single to benefit Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Bono & Sir Paul are involved, so it won't suck.

Hip News

• Sportswear, Stereos & Sushi? Target is eliminating all farmed salmon from their seafood offerings nationwide.
• Weight and see. The CEO of Whole Foods has started a program offering bigger discounts to healthier employees. What do you think?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Can the coins! Organize and contain those parking meter coins with an old prescription pill bottle or film canister. Stow it in your glove compartment and keep the meter maid away!

 

SoupCycle

A couple of business school students came up with a great green idea and made it happen. Jed and Shauna started SoupCycle in Portland, OR in the summer of 2008; since then, they've cooked and delivered over 10,000 tasty organic soups, saved 3,000 car-miles by using bicycle delivery and funneled $33,000 to local farmers. Jed Lazar spills the beans about his successful business (and his New Age porn star name). Souper!

• School. Jed and Shauna met while they were students at Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Washington, which offers an MBA in Sustainable Business.
• Social Media. Follow their SoupCycle exploits on Twitter and Flickr.
• Shazam! That's just one of the many amazing desserts available at Jed's favorite chocolate shop, Pix Patisserie.

Listener E-mails

• Ann in North Carolina (y'all!) needs an eco-friendly dry cleaner for her soon-to-be-worn wedding dress. Hopefully this green cleaner is close by. Congrats!
• Shayna in Idaho found the 12 Greenest Cars of 2010.
• Amy in Idaho gives a shout-out to the new Mary Jane's Farm retail store in nearby Moscow. We agree, the magazine rocks.
• Rob in Kentucky needs a booklight; they should be in stock any day now! He also doesn't want us to turn into CNN or Fox News. We can respect that.
• David in New York sent us a More Hip poem on Facebook. OK, enough sucking up...here's a plug for your friend's book about sustainabiity.

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!

Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.