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

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.

• 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?

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

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

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!

• 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!)

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

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

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".

• 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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

• 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