More Hip Than Hippie #96 - Organic Pest Control

Now that you have your organic garden started, you have to keep garden pests at a distance. Listen in for how to keep your organic garden healthy and pest-free the natural way.

Beer and Chocolate

Beer: Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale from North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, CA

Chocolate: Divine Dark Chocolate 70% single origin Ghana

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• VIP TP. Looking for the perfect gift for a special occasion? Look no further than custom printed toilet paper, printed with soy ink! Print the toilet paper with corporate logos, pictures (of someone you don't like maybe?), or funny quotes.
• Name and date of birth, please. Find out everything you ever wanted to know about your birthday and the true meanings of your name.

News:

• In search of eco-friendly electronics. It's becoming easier to find eco-friendly versions of many products, like paper towels, cosmetics, and cars, but what about electronics? Due to the complexity of electronic products like PC's and cell phones, it's not so easy to make them more eco-friendly. Learn how the major technology companies are working to reduce their impact on the environment.
• Retailers go for green. Major retailers like Target, Home Depot, Timberland, and Lowe's are starting to see the benefits of being green. On Earth Day, Home Depot gave away 1000 compact fluorescent lights while Timberland plans to be carbon neutral by 2010.
• Norwegians to go neutral. Norway, the world's number five oil exporter, has set the world's toughest national plan for fighting global warming. On April 19th, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced that Norway aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.
• Gore gives his home a makeover. Al Gore's Nashville home is getting some green improvements. The former Vice President will soon install 33 solar panels on the roof of his 70 year old home.
• Wal-Mart to cut energy, costs. Wal-Mart is planning an environmental overhaul that will include pressuring suppliers to reduce packaging, more efficient trucks, building new stores with strict energy conservation goals.
• Did your car make the list? Forbes has released a list of the top 12 greenest vehicles of 2007. Toyota Motor's Prius and Honda Motor's Civic Hybrid tied for the top spot.
• Shop your way to a cleaner planet. The Working Assets Visa Signature Card helps you help the planet. Every time you use it to buy gas, Visa plants a tree and donates ten cents to alternative energy groups. For all other purchases, they'll make a ten cent donation to progressive non-profits working for peace, human rights, and the environment.
• Wildlife to be moved from Olympic site. At the future building site for an Olympic stadium, the water of Pudding Mill River in east London will be gently electrified to stun the fish so they will float to the surface to be moved. Once collected, the fish will be released into a nearby river.

 And the winner is. . .

The winning design for the More Hip Than Hippie Chico Bag design contest is a combination of two designs! The 2 designs were submitted by Dennis Rockhill and Sky from Switzerland!

Thanks to everyone for submitting such great designs! It was tough to choose a winner!

Organic Pest Control

Getting your organic garden started is a very rewarding experience. To keep your garden flourishing and healthy, you need to keep garden pests at a distance.

Sometimes there are natural predators capable of controlling garden pests. For example, Ladybugs a great garden helpers because they feed on aphids, chinch bugs, whiteflies, and mites. Check out TheGardenHelper.com for information on different types beneficial insects for your garden.

Find out what the best treatments are for specific insects at Mother Earth News. And be sure to pick up a copy of these great books: the Organic Pest Control Handbook by Tom Roberts and Squirrel Wars by George H. Harrison.

Stop by Greenfeet.com to buy products for all your outdoor pest control needs.

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!

• Seed Savers. Karen wanted to recommend a non-profit organization for heirloom seeds, Seed Savers. In addition to selling heirloom seeds, Seed Savers teaches how to save seed and preserve the genetic make-up and diversity.
• Relay for Life needs your help. Doug will be participating in the Lancaster, PA Relay for Life. Learn about Relay for Life and how you can help at RelayForLife.org.
• A lesson kids love. Sandy in New York wanted to spread the word about her three daughter's (ages 8, 5, and 3) titled Gaia Girls: Enter the Earth by Lee Welles. It's the first book in a series where the heroine is an adolescent girl who is given special powers by Gaia (the earth) to save the environment. The book teaches kids about saving the environment in a way they can understand.
• Mr. Designer recently bought a couple of cool eco-friendly products, a solar oven and a compact clothesline. He bought his solar oven from Sun Ovens International. The compact clothesline he bought came from Mrs. Pegg's Handy Line, and is a little bit pricey, but worth it because it can hold 1.5-2 loads of laundry!
• Cool Fuel. Janet is a fan of the Cool Fuel series on Discovery Science Channel. Check out this Cool Fuel video clip of Shaun Murphy and his dog Sparky driving across Texas and Mississippi using vegetable oil and "hempoline".
• Safe furniture finish. Sarah and Scott are expecting their first baby in a couple of months (congratulations!) and her husband building a crib out of cherry. She wanted to know if there were any safe furniture finishes out there. Val recommends Howard Naturals wood cleaner and polish and Daddy Van's beeswax furniture polish.

Email us at hip@greenfeet.com. Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and +1 530.554.2605 . Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free!

More Hip Than Hippie #95 - Organic Gardening

Spring has sprung! What better way to celebrate than by starting your own organic garden? We'll help get you started with tips for preparing, planting, and maintaining your organic garden. Don't feel left out apartment dwellers, we've got special tips for growing indoors too!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Butte Creek's Organic Porter

Chocolate: Green & Black's Organic Espresso dark chocolate bar

Hip News and Finds

News:

• Global warming heats up Homeland Security. Top retired military leaders are warning that global warming poses a threat to national security. Over the next 30 to 40 years, climate change could be catalyst to wars over water, increased hunger instability, and worsening disease among other issues.
• Antibiotic Action. According to Keep Antibiotics Working, the Campaign to End Antibiotic Overuse, antibiotics are becoming less effective due to decades of unnecessary overuse in humans and agriculture. Join the Campaign to End Antibiotic Overuse and help create change by supporting legislative action in congress.

 

Organic Gardening

Have you always wanted to have an organic garden, but didn't know how to get started? Well we've got you covered. Check out these sites for guides on getting your garden started:

• Organic Gardening Almanac at OrganicGardening.com - Regional gardening calendar with monthly to do list and gardening tips from a real gardener in your area.
• OrganicGardening4U.com- great resource for beginner organic gardeners.
• Successful Organic Gardening in Containers - perfect for those with small spaces or city dwellers.
• Earth Juice organic fertilizers

The need for seed. If you've decided to start from scratch, you'll need quality organic seeds. Here are some good places to start:

• SeedsofChange.com
• WildGardenSeed.com
• HeirloomSeeds.com
• The Organic Gardening Catalogue

Green thumbs love Greenfeet.com! Check out Greenfeet's Yard & Garden section for gardening supplies.

• Mini pH Tests
• Mini Moisture Tester
• Copper T Labels
• 6 Position Low Flow Water Gun

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!

• Lend a helping hand. Laura in NYC is working on a couple of charitable projects and needs all the help she can get! On May 12th in DC there will be a fundraiser for the Elise Martin Crosby Scholarship Fund. The organization provides educational scholarships to survivors of domestic violence in an effort to increase their income-earning potential and probability of permanent independence from their abusers.

  In July, Laura will be climbing Mount Shasta. The BCF raises awareness about the harmful health effects caused by environmental toxins. Any help you can offer Laura in her charitable efforts would be appreciated! Keep up the good work Laura!

• The Power of Green. Kristi from Minneapolis wanted to recommend a great article by Thomas Friedman called The Power of Green. The article discusses the green revolution and what needs to happen for green energy to catch on.
• Big Ideas for a Small Planet. Green Neck Laura recommends Big Ideas for a Small Planet, a new series on The Sundance Channel. The documentary series covers some of the most important environmental issues facing humanity.
• Super Stitcher. Shannon in Minnesota learned how to turn old t-shirts into cancer hats from her Aunt, who has been making mittens for orphans from old sweaters for years. She's getting ready to start embroidering, Val recommends checking out SublimeStitching.com for great embroidery patterns.

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 #94 - EMF 101

The number of electromagnetic fields around us is increasing every year with advances in technology and information sharing. You can't see them and you can't feel them, but could electromagnetic fields be harming you? Listen in and find out!

Beer and Chocolate

Beer: Diviet Dark Amber Ale from Vietnam.

Chocolate: Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Mint Cream. You can't get it online, but you can find a Trader Joe's near you.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Dole lets you know. Jillicious thinks Dole's Organic Program is great! The program allows you to trace where all their organic fruits come from. Just go to the site and enter the 3-digit farm code found on the sticker on your fruit, and you can visit the country and farm your fruit came from.
• Baby animal dilemma. Spring is birthing season for many animals. What should you do if you find a baby squirrel or rabbit under your deck or in your yard? Find out at WildNeighbors.org.

News:

• World's poorest will suffer most from climate change. A new report on climate change predicts that the world's poorest countries will feel the strongest effects of global warming.
• Man swims Amazon River. 52-year old Matrin Strel has completed his 3,272-mile swim of the Amazon River. It took Strel 65 days of swimming while battling exhaustion, delirium, flesh-eating piranhas, and the bloodsucking toothpick fish.
• 102 year old ace! Chico native Elsie McLean, 102-years old, became the oldest golfer to make a hole-in-one on a regulation course. McLean made her ace at the 100-yard fourth hole at Bidwell Park.

 

EMF 101

Understand the attraction. Everyday we are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The strongest EMF's are a result of human-made technologies such as X-rays, FM radio and television transmitters, and high voltage power lines, to name a few.

EMF's can be found all over the globe. Field strength increases as you move closer the source. There have been a limited number of published studies about the risk of EMF's to land and aquatic ecosystems that show little or no evidence of significant environmental impact.

Can EMF's effect humans? Individuals have reported a variety of health problems that they relate to exposure to EMF's, referred to Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS). EHS is characterized by a range of non-specific symptoms that lack apparent toxicological or physiological basis or independent verification.

Want to learn more? Go to the World Health Organization's website and read about the International EMF Project, which assess scientific evidence of the possible health effects of EMF.

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!

• Playing Devil's Advocate to Win. Check out this comic that takes a humorours look at global warming at XKCD.com, a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.
• Slap on the wrist for Bush administration. Doug sent us an article about the Supreme Court putting pressure on the Environmental Protection Agency. In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court rejected the EPA's argument that it had no legal authority to limit carbon emissions from new cars. Looks like it's time for the EPA to start taking responsibility!
• Apple's recycling program. Scott in NYC wanted to let us know about Apple's recycling program for old computers, monitors, and ipods. When you recycle your old ipod with Apple, they'll give you a 10% discount on the purchase of a new ipod.
• Have you heard about The Boycott? Sara wanted to spread the word about a hilarious one-woman show about climate change called "The Boycott". Written by and starring Kathryn Blume, the show is about a First Lady of the U.S. who stages a nationwide sex boycott to force her husband, the President, to address global warming.
• Whole Foods helps you go green. Green Neck Laura was impressed by some of the initiatives Whole Foods is taking on for Earth Month. The Whole Earth Weigh-in: 30 ways in 30 days guides you through April with small steps to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Wal-Mart's green initiative - just a distraction? Kristi in Minneapolis found an interesting article by Grist about Wal-Mart going green. The article questions if Wal-Mart's sudden flurry of green initiatives are just a diversion from all the other problems inherent in the big-box retailer's business model.
• Mooove your plants into CowPots. Beth wanted to spread the word about CowPots, a cool product from her local farm market, Freund's. CowPots are biodegradable pots made from composted cow manure that you plant in the ground right along with your plant. The will completely decompose and add soil-conditioning natural nutrients to your garden.
• Aussies make a difference with Earth Hour. On March 31 at 7:30 PM, Fiona in Sydney participated in Earth Hour. More than 2 million residents and businesses in Sydney, Australia voluntarily turned off all their lights and appliances for one hour as a sign of their commitment to reduce global warming. As a result, there was an amazing 10% drop in Sydney's energy consumption that night, enough to take over 43,000 cars off the road for one hour!
• Bowling Green, KY living up to their name. Leslie Beth in Kentucky will be attending the Campus Community Partnerships for Sustainability conference at Eastern Kentucky University to learn how to make the campus of her school Western Kentucky University even more green. Keep up the good work Leslie Beth!
• Move over storefronts and make way for the Webfront. Carrie thought the business model of clothing retailer Nau Webfront was a great idea. The company keeps one sample of each piece in their collection in every available size at their physical stores. Customers are encouraged to try on the clothes, but then place their order online at on-site computer kiosks and then take delivery at home. This model reduces inventory required at Nau Webfront's several physical locations, thereby reducing the impact of lengthy freight and supply chains.

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 #93 - In the Kitchen with Debra Lynn Dadd

We've got Debra Lynn Dadd, expert on green living, talking about the benefits of Teflon-free cookware.

Beer and Chocolate

Beer: Pinkus-Muller Certified Organic Hefe Weizen
Chocolate: South Korean Dream Cacao 72% sent to us from listener Michelle

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Give e-cards a try! Save paper this Mother's Day by sending an e-card.
• Carl's Jr. closing the loop. Jason LeVecke, owner of 52 Carl's Jr. franchises in Arizona, vows to have his entire fleet of cars and trucks running on a mix of diesel and waste vegetable oil by 2010.
• Does your car make the grade? Yahoo! Autos Green Center rates how eco-friendly your car is.
• Dyeing Easter eggs naturally. Check out Body + Soul magazine for tips on how to dye your Easter eggs using only natural ingredients.
• Green racing car with potato tires. The Eco One racing car has tires made from potatoes and brake pads made from cashew nut shells. Designed with a top speed of 125 mph, the car will make its debut at the Sexy Green Car Show in Cornwall, England.
• Restore your faith in food. A six-foot tall milk chocolate Jesus Christ is the latest creation from artist Cosimo Cavallaro. The sculpture, entitled "My Sweet Lord" contains approximately 480,000 calories.
• Wine and ice cream: the next peanut butter and jelly? Boonville's Mercer's Ice Cream, a New York dairy, has created wine-flavored ice cream. Choose from 3 different flavors: Ala Port Wine, Peachy White Zinfandel, and Red Raspberry Chardonnay.

News:

• Congrats San Francisco! San Francisco has become the first city to ban plastic bags.
• Go Green, Get Rich. Waste Disposal, learn about the ultimate recycling machine from PyroGenesis.

 

In the Kitchen with Debra Lynn Dadd

How safe is your cookware? Teflon is a known carcinogen and tests indicate that the chemical is in 95% of the population's blood.

Debra Lynn Dadd recommends trying one of these alternatives to traditional Teflon coated cookware:

• Soapstone available at Greenfeet.
• Cast Iron cookware
• Riess Enamelware- resistant to chipping

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Debra's book, Home Safe Home.

 

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!

• Boeing going green? Kristi found an article about a fuel cell airplane being developed by Boeing. The company plans to conduct experimental flight tests later this year.
• Beef linked to lower sperm count. Aaron was shocked when he read that men who's mothers ate a lot of beef during pregnancy have sperm counts 25% below normal. Researchers believe it may be due to anabolic steroids used in the U.S. to fatten cattle.
• Now your washer can have balls too! Raven discovered Eco Balls, balls that replace laundry detergent and decrease your water usage. Each set lasts for 1000 washes!
• Treehuggers only! Ever wanted to live in a tree? Now you can! Beth found The Hostel in the Forest in Brunswick, GA. The center teaches sustainability and also serves as a spiritual retreat.
• Disney's Environmentality. Wendy found out that Disney is attempting to minimize the waste created in their theme parks and has recycled more than 650,000 tons of materials since 1991.
• Indy ethanol. Katie sent us an article about an Indy car that runs off ethanol. Jeff Simmons is the driver of the Rahal Letterman Racing's Team Ethanol Honda/Dallara in the IndyCar series.

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!