More Hip Than Hippie #297 - 7 Green Days

No matter where you are on the path toward a lighter footprint, you can gain some inspiration from taking the 7 Day Green Challenge.

Happy New Year! Are you willing to set aside a week to pursue the challenge of a greener life? The Hipsters forego the usual resolutions to bring you a different sort of green inspiration, courtesy of The Environmental Blog. Also, Val climbs the geek ladder while Dori's family prepares for the zombie apocalypse.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Fresh off the beer truck, Ruthless Rye IPA is the latest seasonal offering from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. We're fans of the bold hop flavors and the smooth finish. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: Kelly in Washington continues her reign as our Favorite Listener! We tried another Seattle Chocolates fave, the Coconut Macaroon Truffle Bar. The soft, lovely chocolate with minced coconut and sea salt combines for a nice flavor. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 4 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• 'Temp'-tation. Home heating is now sexy! The Nest Learning Thermostat is a user-friendly device designed by the guys behind the iPod. We can't wait to see what they do with the water heater.
• Hip Lit. Rediscover Fix, Freeze, Feast, a fab book by clever Hipster Kati Neville. She'll teach you how to save money while eating real food.
• Chew the moose. Give your pup a piece of Bullwinkle. Moose antler dog chews are delicious, nutritious, and don't splinter.

Hip News

• Hornswoggled. In South Africa, rhino poachingis at an all-time high as the price of rhino horns outpaces gold. Note to Asia: ingesting the horns WILL NOT cure cancer.
• Sock it to me! The US Forest Service needs your socks. They'll fill 'em full of bait so they can photograph the elusive Pacific fisher. Send lonely unused socks to: Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project, 40799 Elliott Drive, Oakhurst, CA 93644.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

What's Your Word? Whether or not you're creating a vision board for the new year, come up with a word that will define your goals. Try to choose an action word and display it where you'll see it every day. It really works!

7 Green Days

With a new year comes a chance to renew your committment to living a greener life. No matter where you are on the path toward a lighter footprint, you can gain some inspiration from taking the 7 Day Green Challenge. Enjoy!

• Day 1: Crafty Day.  Repurpose old items into something new with DIY craft projects. Collect bits & pieces in a craft drawer for future adventures.
• Day 2: Delectable Day.  Freshen up your diet with something new, like an unusual fruit or veggie from the farmer's market. Ask the farmer or grocer how to prepare it or just find a recipe online. Just make sure it's real food, not processed.
• Day 3: Contribution Day.  Put something you have into circulation. Give money to a good cause, donate clothes to charity, bring some groceries to a food bank. Even something small can make a big difference.
• Day 4: Stone Age Day.  Are you ready to unplug your appliances, put away your car keys and abandon the internet for 24 hours? This challenge is about reducing your carbon footprint to nearly zero, just for a little while. Good luck.
• Day 5: Petition Day.  Make sure your voice is heard. Find petitions online at Green America, Care2, Credo and more.
• Day 6: Hippie Day.  Before you can hug a tree, you need to plant one! Find your town at the Alliance for Community Trees or donate a tree through Plant a Billion Trees.
• Day 7: Advocacy Day.  Spread the word to family and friends. Be sure to keep the message positive. Share your favorite tips...and your favorite podcast! (hint hint)

Listener E-mails

Hello? Is this thing on? We need emails! Send your questions, comments, tips, brainstorms and epiphanies to hip@greenfeet.com. Don't make us sing again!

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