More Hip Than Hippie #299 - Foraging Food

In the last decade, the celebration of organic foods, farmer's markets, and artisanal producers has dovetailed with a renewed passion for wild delicacies. On the forefront of this movement is longtime "huntress" Connie Green.

Everywhere humans have lived, there is food to be foraged. If you have the desire to be closer to your food and get in touch with nature, you have what it takes to be a forager. The Hipsters chat with 'Huntress' Connie Green about wild food, sustainability and the fungus among us.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Our new Favorite Listeners are Ewen & Jesamine, who sent us a fab care package all the way from Scotland! Bitter & Twisted Blond Beer from Harviestoun Brewery might well have been named for us. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: They also sent along a bar of Valrhona Grand Cru Abinao. At 85% cacoa, it's billed as Intense and Tannic. We just call it Dessert. Cheers! Dori: 4 hips; Val: 5 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Java jar. Here's a genius idea: create a recyclable, BPA-free plastic lid that fits on a canning jar...Cuppow! Instant travel mug! Wish we'd thought of it.
• E-waste management. Come on, time to get rid of those old electronics you're never going to use. Gadgetabulous makes it easy to sell, consign, donate or recycle your formerly awesome gizmos.

Hip News

• Oil for one... British Petroleum lost its bid to make contractor Transocean pay part of the damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The case goes to court in Louisiana on February 27th.
• ...and one for Oil. Meanwhile, Brazil is mulling criminal charges against Chevron execs after an offshore spill in November.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Beat the Bag Monster! It's time to take the Annual Plastic Bag Challenge. Take a moment to tally up the approximate number of plastic bags you use in a year. Now, solemly swear to cut that number in half this year. Write down your target number and sign it. If you're already below 50, then we Double Dog Dare you to use 10 or less!

Foraging Food

Did you know there's a feast underfoot? Everywhere humans have lived, there is food to be foraged. If you have the desire to be closer to your food and get in touch with nature, you have what it takes to be a forager. 'Huntress' Connie Green has been at it for over 30 years; she literally wrote the book on finding the fungus among us!

• Connie and chef Sarah Scott wrote The Wild Table, "an invitation into the romantic, mysterious, and delicious world of exotic, foraged food."
• She sells a collection of sustainable gathered edibles on her website, Wine Forest Wild Foods.
• Connie works closely with famed chef Thomas Keller, the guy who taught Val to roast a chicken.
• Learn the ropes of foraging from members of your local Mycological Society or Native Plant Society.
• After a tough day of gathering goodies, kick back with a Douglas fir martini!

Listener E-mails

We didn't have to forage for emails! Keep sending your questions, comments, tips, brainstorms and epiphanies to hip@greenfeet.com. You guys rock our world!

• Karen in S. Carolina is ready to make some kombucha tea. We also recommend the soap from Rand Hill Naturals.
• Kelly in Washington shares an article about the dreaded K Cups. Maybe Keurig's Ekobrew K Cup is a better alternative.
• Melissa in Texas needs info on wind turbines. She's also a proud member of her local Surfrider Foundation.
• Tom in England has a new garden and a new blog: The Suburban Allotment! Revisit our show on Permaculture 101 for enlightening info.
• Katie in Texas wants the scoop on baby jammies. Here it is: skip them and get sweats & longjohns! Use an organic crib mattress to stay chemical-free.
• Lacey in Colorado shares lots of green tips and inspiration on her blog.
• Donna in England warns gardeners to Keep Monsanto Out by sourcing your seeds.

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