More Hip Than Hippie #277 - Digging Deep

Writer April Dávila's new campaign, Digging Deep, will help to unearth facts about food.

You think you're busy? Hah! They lovely April Dávila returns to the show to talk about her full plate of projects, including a book based on her "Month Without Monsanto" blog, a novel, a new baby (any day now!) and the launch of an exciting website called Digging Deep. Also, Dori brings home a suicidal Christmas tree and Val cleans up a crime scene.

Beer: We've been bad girls this year, so we got a Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout from Ridgeway Brewery in our stocking. Beer Humbug!

Chocolate: We braved the third and final Kallari Chocolate bar from Amy in San Diego:85% Single Source Organic Ecuador. It's not for pansies.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! It's a pint glass...it's a shot glass...it's a votive candle holder. The Beer & Shot Glass Set provides an evening of endless options for you and a friend.
• Wanna cup? Greenfeet now offers Thanksgiving Coffee. Not just a cup, but a just cup.

• Grin and bear it. Threatened populations of polar bears now have some federally protected stomping grounds in Alaska, thanks to the Interior Dept. Sorry, no drills allowed.
• Oil of Olé. The feds shut down more than 4,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico to deepwater shrimping, after trawlers pulled up tar balls in their nets. Tests will determine if the oil belongs to BP.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Stuff it! From our friend Danny Seo's book, Simply Green Giving: When sending out packages, look for natural box fillers instead of styrofoam. Fresh pine needles, pillow stuffing, real peanuts or fresh straw make great recyclable or compostable alternatives!

Cool chick April Dávila returns to the show to talk about her full plate of projects, including a book based on her "Month Without Monsanto" blog, a novel, a new baby (any day now!) and the launch of an exciting website called Digging Deep.

• April and her friend Cassie Gruenstein have teamed up to form the Digging Deep Campaign, a resource to help you make informed decisions about food.
• If you enjoyed hearing about her Month Without Monsanto, you'll love her upcoming narrative non-fiction book, Nonsanto: How Living for a Month Without Monsanto Changed How I Eat, Shop and Garden. Watch April's blog for updates.
• She is pleased about the passage of the revised Food Safety Modernization Act. Listener Mark provided us with highlights.
• April stays on top of food issues on her Facebook page.
• If you're a writer (or aspire to be one), follow April's professional progress on The Unfolding Tale.

Just one more show until we stick a fork in 2010! Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Meredyth in Texas has a teeny weeny greeny on the way and wants a good diaper option. We like Bummis system of washable covers with disposable liners. Congrats on new your little guy!
• Sebastien in Montreal shares a crafty idea for upcycled Christmas bows. Very clever and quite lovely, too.
• Jenn in Minnesota sounds off about invasive earthworms in her area. One word for you, Jenn: Tremors.
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green checks in with good news (beer for dogs!) and bad news (Dagoba Chocolate recall).
• Jess from New Jersey (aka the Dirty Jerz!) puts in a plug for Cloud Cult's music and eco-friendly ways. She also wants more green book suggestions. Anyone?