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