More Hip Than Hippie

More Hip Than Hippie #242 - About a Bird This Thanksgiving, gobble up a sustainably farmed organic or heritage turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, 48 million turkeys were eaten at Thanksgiving last year. 99% of all turkeys raised in the US are factory-farmed Broadbreasted Whites. The Hipsters offer some alternatives to eating the "Dolly Parton of turkeys" this year, and explore the vegetarian Thanksgiving experience. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Val found another cute doggie label! Ellie's Brown Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO is "Lab tested". That's doggone funny. Chocolate: Yes, they're in the Hipster Hall of Fame, but Dagoba Chai bar is a smidge too sweet for true dark chocolate snobs. Nice spice, though. Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! Love to bake, but hate to burn? Get out of the oven! With the Oven Rack Push Pull you can stand safely to the side while handling that pie, pot roast or paella. Makes a handy hostess gift or stocking stuffer too. Melt with you. This candle will really light up your love life! The clean-burning Ember massage candle melts into spa-grade scented massage oil. Pour it from the porcelain container's spout onto your sweetie's skin. Wax on, wax off! Hip NewsSee? Gull! After spending a half-century on the brink of extinction, the brown pelican is finally off the endangered species list. Draft notice. Are you willing to risk Life & Limb? This ale is the highly anticipated collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head breweries. Be warned: just one big-ass bottle of this 10% brew left both Val and her hubby reeling! Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Green to go! Listener Leslie in Buffalo, NY reminds us to bring our own containers for leftovers when going out to eat. We promise, no one will mind if you take along a small reusable tub and lid. Plus, it'll keep you from getting stuck with another plastic bag or worse...styrofoam!   About a Bird According to the National Turkey Federation, 48 million turkeys were eaten at Thanksgiving last year. Since 99% of all turkeys raised in the US are Broadbreasted Whites, chances are your family celebrated the holiday with the "Dolly Parton of turkeys". These birds are raised in crowded factories, fed a diet of grains with antibiotics, and are often injected with oils and saline. Ew! This year, gobble up a different kind of bird...or go vegetarian. No harm, no fowl!   Industrial turkeys live in uncomfortable conditions on factory farms. You can do better. Heirloom turkeys, also known as heritage turkeys, are descended from the wild North American turkey. Organic turkeys are free from antibiotics and other additives. Local growers often produce free-range organic birds. Just ask! Flavor is influenced by 4 factors: the animal's age, its genetic stock, how it was raised and what it ate. Roasting the bird can be a challenge. Butterball has some tips for preparing the perfect turkey dinner. Vegetarians love Thanksgiving too! Learn to accomodate veggie and vegan guests. Tofurky is not the only option.   Listener E-mails Aw shucks, you still like us! Thanks for sending your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and turkey tales at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Molly in Cincinnati wonders how to care for leather in an eco-friendly way. Ideas, Hipsters? Ethan in Santa Monica often forgets his ChicoBags and his supermarket club cards, he cleverly combined the two. He also shares some love for the Lorax. Trystan at Yahoo! has the scoop on underwear recycling. Patagonia turns their old undies into new ones! Laura in England supports bra recycling too! In the US, try the Bosom Buddy program. In the UK, there's BreastTalk. Our cups runneth over! Miles in Toronto (eh!) would like to hear a show on green college degree programs. Congrats on your PhD! Michelle in New York had fun wasting time with these creative green ads. Patrick in NC sent along a story about military vets and their influence on the green movement. Eileen in Florida loves her some Larabar! Tina in Texas was perhaps a bit too happy to share the terrifying story of vermicomposting gone horribly wrong. Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Val's birthday (Nov. 24) or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #241 - DIY Decor, Part 2 "House Whisperer" Christine MacShane returns for another round of spectacular holiday decorating tips. Plunging headfirst toward Thanksgiving and the holiday party season, the Hipsters seek inspiration from their favorite local TV star, Christine MacShane. The Audacious Aussie delivers fresh ideas for green, frugal decor and hostess gifts! Also, Val imperils her friendship with Dori by threatening to eat...a goat. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Val's Portland roadtrip yields another goodie! Saison-Brett Limited Release Ale from Boulevard Brewing Co. packs lots of unique flavor into a big-ass bottle. Cool label, too. Chocolate: Christine provided two of her faves. The Cadbury Crunchie has that yummy honeycomb center, while the Nestle Yorkie bar claims it's "not for girls". Bite us. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Al-literate. Val's Christmas card buddy, Al Gore, released his new book last week. "Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis" offers solutions to our most pressing planetary problems. Feed a fever. Keep the influenza bug at bay with these foods that fight the flu. Hey, they forgot beer and chocolate! The Red Diva? Join Val on Mars! She signed up with NASA to put her name on a microchip carried by the Mars Science Lab rover. Hip NewsToxic tins. Canned food often contains hazardous levels of Bisphenol-A, according to tests by Consumer Reports. Yes we CAN switch to fresh foods instead! Trick or treat? Kraft Foods is trying to get a piece of the market for sustainable sweets. Cote d'Or contains cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Hmmm...very Krafty. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Rack 'em up! As those cookies, cakes and holiday breads roll out of your oven, you'll need a place to set the pans while they cool. If you're short on metal racks, check in with your local appliance recycling center. Chances are they'll let you raid their fridges for little or no cost!   DIY Decor, Part 2 The Hipsters welcome "House Whisperer" Christine MacShane back for another round of spectacular decorating tips. Do you love her pink toolbelt and hardhat? Moxie Trades carries perfect gifts for the tradeswoman in your life!   Mini pumpkins are often discounted or free after Halloween. Clean them out to hold votives, flowers...even the first course of a meal! Wreath forms can be adapted to each season. Just tuck in decorations instead of gluing them down. Large napkins are easy to make, provide great "coverage" during meals and can be used to wrap leftovers, furoshiki-style! Unmatched earrings make terrific wine charms. Local food products serve as ideal hostess gifts, as well as backup gifts for unexpected guests. Assemble them into attractive gift baskets!   Listener E-mails Nice to hear from you! Send a question or a compliment to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and pleas for goat clemency at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Emily in Ohio wants to whiten her teeth safely and naturally. OK, try mixing baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to form a paste, or maybe brushing with cider vinegar. You could try rubbing your teeth with strawberries too. We prefer Uncle Harry's method. Patrick in NC found an article linking BPA to the "terrible two's", particularly in little girls. Lisa in Wisconsin shares the story of an eco-friendly pub with a worm bin and a "Low-Power Happy Hour". Cheers to the Bittercreek Alehouse in Boise! Rick in Virginia believes Canadians got the right idea when it comes to cough etiquette, eh? Sebastien enjoys this video trailer for next year's Going Green Film Festival in Beverly Hills. Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Thanksgiving or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #240 - Log Homes Log home living provides a natural energy-efficient habitat with timeless beauty and comfort. Log homes are often thought to be rustic cabins set on remote mountaintops. They've had a bit of a bad rap from environmentalists, who insist that timber should be left where it stands. The Hipsters get to the root of the controversy with Larry and Sherry Trimboli, owners of Sierra Log Homes in Chico, CA. Also, Val recounts her battle with swine flu (and recommends this to lessen the symptoms)! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We split an easy-drinkin' bottle of Wolaver's Brown Ale from Otter Creek Brewing. Dori took one for the team, quaffing most of the beer for her poor porcine pal Val. Chocolate: WTF? Another diet chocolate bar? Trader Joe's Simply Lite Dark Chocolate with Almonds wasn't the best low-carb sugar-free bar we've had, but it makes a mighty tasty laxative. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Val's Favorite Thing! Looking for an American-made gift with plenty of eco-cred? Snuggle up in a vibrant Winter Knit Scarf. The yarn is spun from reclaimed cotton and certified by both Made in Green and Oeko-Tex. Cod almighty. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch helps you make the best choices, so you won't have to flounder around the fish market. Moby Dick. For a cool $1.6 milion, you can own an armored, jewel-encrusted bulletproof SUV from Russian automaker Dartz. No, that isn't cowhide on the seats; you're sitting on a whale penis. Hip NewsIn the bag. Two of the country's biggest retailers want you to kick the plastic bag habit. Target and CVS have launched reusable bag programs with financial incentives for shoppers. Think Tink. The United Nations has named Tinker Bell as its "Honorary Ambassor of Green". So is Peter Pan the ambassador of peanut butter? Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Action figure! As the holiday season begins, take the time to list 5 actions you plan to take to reduce your footprint. Use recycled wrap? Offset travel? Compost your waste? Yule be glad you did!   Log Homes Sierra Log Homes provides materials, design and engineering services.   The preferred material for log homes is dead standing lodgepole pines, which dry out naturally before being harvested from forests. Log homes maintain moderate temperatures through thermal mass, making them quite energy efficient. Any home can incorporate elements of log home living, like siding and rails. Western forests are under attack by mountain pine beetles, which leave behind vast stands of dead trees. Larry and Sherry will launch the "Planting It Forward" program with the Arbor Day Foundation in 2010! Get more info about the log home lifestyle.   Listener E-mails Whew! Thanks for all the e-mails! Send a question or a compliment to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and swine flu remedies at our MHTH forum! Send Val at least 25 beer caps for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Mary in Memphis, TN wants to recycle her old bras and undies. Bras make great purses and knee pads; undies, not so much. Emily in Indiana would like to put CFL globes in her bathroom. Just remember, they take a few moments to warm up! Elizabeth in Minnesota (dontcha know!) can't believe the FDA wants us to flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet. Chisago County has a successful takeback program. We agree that manufacturers should step up too. Jessica in Washington DC signed up for SmartBrief, a useful (and free) newsfeed focusing on sustainability. KC in Korea will cease to be a San Diego Chargers fan if they move to LA! Why is their proposed new stadium exempt from environmental laws? Steve in New Jersey loves him some butternut squash soup with spicy green pumpkin seeds, a la Martha Stewart. Kate shares the scoop on Seventh Generation's Million Baby Crawl. Join this virtual march to Washington to say "no" to toxins in our homes. Alex in Cleveland will argue the case for hemp in his English class essay. Duuuuuude! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Veteran's Day or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #239 - The Great Pumpkin Americans buy plenty of pumpkins in October, most of which go to waste after Halloween. Consider purchasing and eating locally-grown, organic pumpkins; next year, maybe you can grow your own! Did you know that 90% of pumpkins sold in the US are used for making Jack-O-Lanterns? Most of those pumpkin parts are thrown out after Halloween, but these nutritious gourds are too good to waste! The Hipsters carve out a few tips for growing, eating and saying goodbye your Great Pumpkin. Linus would approve. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Belgium's Mikkellar Simcoe IPA was OK, but somewhat forgettable. Val's attempt at a Belgian accent? Priceless. Chocolate: We broke out the backup chocolate this week: Godiva Chocolatier Gems Dark Chocolate Truffles. Again, kinda meh...but the shiny purple foil makes a satisfying crinkly sound. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Lots of dough. This year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book features some eco-friendly luxuries, like the Mission One electric motorcycle and a chandelier made of plastic bottles. And the $25,000 cupcake car. Yes, the hat's included. Novel idea. Already rather eco-friendly, e-readers just turned a shade greener with the new LG Display solar cell e-book. Can you use it at the light-brary? Hip NewsSay watt? The center of the power universe will be in New Mexico, if the Tres Amigas Superstation goes on as planned. The proposed super hub would streamline the flow of renewable energy. Hard times. Struggling financially, one brothel in Berlin is offering discounts to "green" customers who arrive via bike or bus. Still, business is up and down. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Plant some garlic! Find a sunny, weed-free patch and bury the unpeeled cloves about 2 inches down in the ground, pointy end up. Put some mulch on top and let it grow. Your reward will be a bountiful harvest next summer. After pulling the bulbs out of the ground, let them dry for a few days, then braid them together. You'll keep the vampires away for the rest of the year!   The Great Pumpkin Chances are, you'll purchase at least one pumpkin this month. Sales of organic pumpkins are on the rise, but most of the conventionally-grown gourds hail from Illinois...meaning they're quite well-travelled by the time they reach your supermarket. Maybe it's time to think outside the pumpkin shell this Halloween! Grow. You can plant pumpkins after the last frost. They need a good 3-4 months of sunshine and lots of room to stretch their vines. Feast. Just about any pumpkin is perfectly edible and packed with nutrition . Check out these delicious recipes. Mmmm, Pumpkin Milkshake! Bury. This year's pumpkin scraps can help create next year's Jack-O-Lantern! Compost your pumpkin by cutting it into small pieces after removing all the seeds, candle wax and decorations. Treat. Don't miss out on the Pumpkin Smash! Get 'em at Jamba Juice, or make your own. Listener E-mails ** (crickets) ** Hey! What happened to the e-mails? Send a question or a compliment to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and pumpkin recipes at our MHTH forum! Jodi in Washington loves her stainless steel French Press mug from Planetary Design. She rocks the Boot Cut design because it's durable and tough to tip over. Alisa in New York recommends taking a Navy shower to reduce water consumption. For those less adventurous, we suggest using a shower timer. Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for All Soul's Day or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #238 - Clutter Kills! Clearing the clutter from your home saves money and time. It could also improve your health and well-being. We all have bits of clutter spread about the house, right? But left unchecked, those piles of papers and heaps of laundry can quickly get out of control. The Hipsters deliver tips for sorting out your stuff, once and for all! Also, Dori puts up apples and Val is ready for her close-up. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Val broke out another find from her Pacific Northwest Road Trip this summer. Samuel Smith Organic Cherry Ale is so fruit juicy, it could have come from the farmer's market! Chocolate: Dori's trip to Montana yielded (gulp!) a sugar-free chocolate bar. After a guarantee of goodness from the clerk at the Pan Handler Plus, the Hipsters agreed that ChocoPerfection lived up to the hype. Sweetened with oligofructose and erythritol, it sets the standard for low-carb diet chocolate. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Val's Favorite Thing! Dry skin in winter? Here's ZUMthing for you...Zum Gentle Facial Cleanser. Made with organic coconut, olive and jojoba, plus lemon and geranium pure essential oils, this fragrant froth is great for all skin types, all year long! Noah's Arse. Our little honey Rick Springfield bares his bum on Showtime's comedy "Californication" this month. What does this have to do with living green? Nothing. We just like it. Hip NewsSeeds of change. Good ol' Monsanto is the focus of a federal antitrust investigation. Seems they may be trying to control the market for seeds. Food Inc., anyone? Toxic transaction. A new report claims we're routinely exposed to BPA when we handle plastic-coated paper receipts. Suddenly all that cocaine on your currency doesn't sound so bad. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Push the envelope! The next time you receive mail with a return envelope enclosed, set that extra envelope aside. Use it instead of a bank envelope when you make an ATM deposit. Or, just stick a blank label over the return address and mail a nice letter to your grandma! Clutter Kills! We all have bits of clutter spread about the house, right? But left unchecked, those piles of papers and heaps of laundry can quickly get out of control. The result is a stressful home that takes a toll on your time, your money, even your health. A little light cleaning every day helps, but how can you clear that clutter once and for all? Stress. Do you think clutter doesn't affect your life? Think again! Flow. Combat clutter by guarding against the invasion of stuff. Energy. Use the principles of feng shui to keep clutter from blocking your Chi. Organize. If you just can't get a handle on it, turn things over to a higher power: Messies Anonymous. Priority. If you can only declutter one room in your home, the bedroom should be it! Listener E-mails Michelle in Sydney, Australia sent a link to this and other photos of last month's great dust storm Down Under. She recommends that Hipsters read The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery. Alisa in New York wonders if it's OK to toss the water from her dehumidifier out into the yard. Go ahead, Alisa, you're not p*&%ing in the wind! Beth in Missouri is kicking her waste company to the curb by reducing, reusing and composting. She also thinks the Wine Cork Trivet kit makes a great gift. We humbly agree. Jaimelee in Kentucky loves the holidays. She's passing out Equal Exchange cards for Halloween and eating a local heritage turkey for Thanksgiving. Bob in Palm Harbor, FL wants to hear a show about homes made from recycled materials. You mean like this? Tina in Texas is greening her office, one utensil at a time. Great job! Thanks for the blog link too. Oh, and we totally think you should steal your friend's porn star name. Shout-outs! Thanks to Bruce in Scotland and Chrissy in NC for keeping our inbox warm! Our inbox runneth over! Keep those e-mails flowing in! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and photos of elusive moose on our MHTH forum! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for United Nations Day, or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #237 - DIY Decor, Part 1 Decorating your home or office for the fall season? Artist Christine Mac Shane tells how to save money when you do it yourself. Now that autumn has arrived, bring the best of the outdoors inside! Look to nature for inspiration in your decor. The Hipsters shake down the "House Whisperer" herself, Christine Mac Shane, for crafty ideas that won't break the bank. Also, Val provides the first bad Halloween joke of the year while Dori goes in search of Val's elusive moose! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We found Blue Heron Pale Ale from Portland's Bridgeport Brewing Co. to be very drinkable, but not roadtrip-worthy. Chocolate: There's bacon in our chocolate! Vosges Haut Chocolat created Mo's Milk Chocolate Bacon Bar with applewood smoked bacon, alder wood smoked salt and milk chocolate (41% cacao). Val had a porkgasm. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Wood you, could you... Slice up some twigs and attach them to a pot with RooWood glue. Easy, right? You just created a Vivified Vase. Congratulations. Have a cookie. ...in the park? What is the deepest lake in the United States? You'd know if you read these Surprising Facts About National Parks. Because there's no such thing as too much trivia. Hip NewsJust beet it. Hipster Hero Judge Jeffrey White has ruled that Monsanto's Roundup Ready GMO beets cannot run rampant across the land. Recycled Oil. To draw attention to global warming, more than 55 celebrities will join to record a remake of Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning. Get your free download starting Oct.1st. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Shelluva tip! Listener Jenny repurposes those annoying plastic packaging shells that encase so many toys these days. She uses them as plaster molds for arts and crafts! Their detailed shapes make cute Christmas ornaments and other crafty items. Just recycle them when you're done.   DIY Decor, Part 1 Hang on, we're headed "outside the box" as local Chico artist and designer Christine Mac Shane offers up a veritable cornucopia of decorating ideas for fall! Think grapevines, pine cones, black paint and glitter... Star. Christine graces the Chico airwaves every week with her decorating segment, Welcome Home. Afar. While spending time in Japan, she became a fan of furoshiki as an eco-friendly alternative to gift wrap. Bar. No, it's not her porn star name; Violet Crumble is Aussie Christine's fave chocolate. Listener E-mails We feel the love! Keep those e-mails flowing in! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and lame Halloween jokes on our MHTH forum! Trystan at Yahoo! Green is bursting with homemade holiday tips. Check out her craft cred. Greg in Pennsylvania recommends Kitchen Literacy by Ann Vileisis to readers interested in the origins of our food culture. Patrick in NC shares another good reason to plant trees. Steve in New York invites Hipsters to his solo eco-art show at Midoma Gallery. Moises in Hong Kong put the lime in the coconut with his smoothie recipe. He shares more raw vegan recipes on his blog. Muchos besos y abrazos, Moy! Shout-outs! Thanks to Trevor, Kim and everyone else who sent us pity e-mails. We love you, man! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Dori's birthday or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #236 - Permaculture 101 Permaculture systems build sustainability into all aspects of human existence. Lazy gardeners, rejoice! There's a school of thought that embraces the idea of letting nature take its course in your yard. Permaculture looks at systems like landscaping and agriculture holistically, working with the land instead of against it. The Hipsters enlist local experts Meagan Fischer and Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper to explain this land design concept that puts "the designer in the recliner"! Also, Val busts out some Latin and Dori makes a nomination for the Porn Star Name Hall of Fame. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Uh-oh, malt face! Val curled a lip after sipping Titan IPA from Great Divide Brewing Co. Not as hoppy as most India Pale Ales, so we were a bit unhoppy with it. Chocolate: Yes! Rich and crumbly, the Coconut Macaroon Truffle Bar with sea salt and dark chocolate rocked our socks. Note to Seattle Chocolates: we read the ingredients, so you might want to rethink calling it "all natural"! Hip News and Finds Finds:   Val's Favorite Thing! Add some pizazz to your place settings with Vintage Flatware. Each 5-piece set is unique, with hand-selected utensils that go together...but don't exactly match! Silver plating gives them all a sophisticated sheen. Great gifts! The Big Chill. What should you do with those leftover spices? Egg whites? Wine? Freeze 'em! Check out these Clever Uses for Ice Cube Trays. Hip NewsInhale to the Chief. The EPA is set to review Bush-era smog standards. Some of the nation's largest public health groups think they may have "misunderestimated" the science. Last call. Climate change poses a threat to the quality of our beer. This time, it's personal. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Listener Molly cuts the pockets from her boyfriend's cargo pants to use as storage containers. They're useful to hold small craft items, or for makeup organizers on the go. They also come in handy as sleep compartments for her pet degus!   Permaculture 101 "...if you're a scientist, you could liken it [permaculture] to a miraculous wardrobe in which you can hang garments of any science or any art and find they're always harmonious with, and in relation to, that which is already hanging there. It's a framework that never ceases to move, but that will accept information from anywhere." - Bill Mollison, co-founder of the world-wide permaculture movement. What. The term permaculture is short not only for "permanent agriculture", but also "permanent culture". Who. Two Aussies, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, wrote the book on permaculture. Where. The Chico Permaculture Guild is one of many such organizations in communities across the globe. How. Become certified as a permaculture designer through a course of study. Visit Stephanie's business, Gaia Creations. Read about Meagan in the Chico News & Review. Listener E-mails Hello, is this thing on? We need e-mails! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and photos of your degu on our MHTH forum! Angela in Connecticut loves to make reusable luminaries for the holidays. Delightfully crafty! Molly in Cincinnati needs to replace her rusty baking sheet. Happily, Greenfeet will soon carry enamelware that will make all your baking dreams come true. By the way, Sextus Bighorn? Really? Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Native American Day or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #235 - Handmade Holidays DIY holiday crafts offer a thoughtful, low-cost gift option for a tough economy. With only 7 more paydays until Christmas (!!), the time has come to plan your homemade holiday gifts. The Hipsters have some ideas to help DIY novices keep it manageable. Remember, if you start now, you have time to throw out your mistakes! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Really, does it get any better than this? A new release from Sierra Nevada Brewery, in a big ass bottle! Their Estate Brewers Harvest Ale is all Chico, baby. Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Gayla in SC, who provided a bar of CocoBon CocoFusion 72% Dark Chocolate. Thanks, y'all! Hip News and Finds Finds:   Global hottie. Hollywood's latest eco-disaster film, 2012, is noteworthy for one reason: John Cusack! Opens November 13th. 4 the planet. Autumn brings a windfall of good flicks for greenies: No Impact Man takes his book to the big screen; Crude exposes Chevron's underbelly; The Age of Stupid gives us a glimpse into a grim future; and the amazing Ken Burns returns to PBS with The National Parks, a must-see doc about "America's Best Idea". Hip NewsOz and Effect. Not such a g'day for Australia, as the land Down Under moves atop the list of the world's biggest CO2 polluters per capita. (China still pumps out more gasses overall.) Channel your energy. Shopping for a better boob tube? Hold off until May 2010. New Energy Star standards will kick in, so qualifying televisions will be up to 40% more efficient than their competitors. Programming will still suck, though. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Avoid wasting time and water in the shower or tub. Use a dab of nail polish to mark the spot on the faucet that produces the perfect water temperature. Now you have more time to sing the More Hip theme song while you lather!   Handmade Holidays With only 7 more paydays until Christmas (!!), the time has come to plan your homemade holiday gifts. If you've never done the DIY thing before, keep it small and manageable! Come up with a list of recipients, then add a few extras for unexpected parties or guests. If you start now, you can try a few new things to see if they work for you. Rule #1: Don't stress out. Rule #2: Have fun! Greenies. For the aspiring Hipster, fashion a cloth hankie; or, put together a sustainable lunch kit complete with napkins, utensils and a cool box. Seeds. The gardener on your list would likely love some Baker Creek heirloom seeds. Lemons. Yummy Meyer lemons are coming into season. Whip up some marmalade or limoncello for hostess gifts. Volts. Families could make good use of rechargeable batteries and a charger. In fact, they can save over $100 a year on batteries alone! Dollars and Sense. Put together a Responsible Shopper Kit, with a ChicoBag, some produce sacks and a list of tips from GreenAmerica. Whoopee! Give the gift of romance to that crazy busy couple...a beeswax candle, a CD of love songs, a bottle of organic wine and a babysitting coupon. brownchicken, browncow... Listener E-mails Hey, where are all the e-mails? Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and DIY gift ideas on our MHTH forum! Shout-out! Thanks to Miranda for mentioning us on her blog, Eclectic Eccentricities. You rock! Shelly in Florida wants a safe, BPA-free French press coffee mug. Three letters for you: REI. Thanks for the tip on Holy Mackerel Mango Shandies! Moises in Hong Kong loves the eco-wisdom of Alan Watts. Warning: beer consumption may hinder your ability to understand and appreciate deep philosophical teachings! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Autumnal Equinox or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #234 - Rare Earth A looming shortage of Rare Earth Elements may change the technology that we take for granted in our everyday lives. As industries strive to develop greener technologies, one group of natural resources finds itself in great demand. Rare Earth Elements are an integral part of hybrid and electric motors, as well as wind turbines, computers, cell phones and more. The increasing need may well outstrip supply in the next few years. The Hipsters unearth the facts on these momentous metals, while trying to pronounce their names correctly. Also, Val does recon on a couple of pilots and Dori discloses the first official More Hip Hook-up! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We love our new Favorite Listener, Lynda in Florida! She not only kicked down the Brewfest mugs as promised, but also sent 2 bottles of her local ale of choice. Our first sip of Holy Mackerel "Mack in Black" from Gordash Beer Co. wasn't too promising; maybe it was the unexpected taste of pomegranate juice. Val narrowly avoided making a malt face and we came to appreciate this thick, heady brew. Chocolate: We discovered the Pleasure of New Tree Belgian Chocolates! With 3 individual bars of rich, smooth 73% goodness in a tiny box, you get controlled portions of glorious GMO-free chocolate. Or you can just devour all three, like Dori did. Hip News and Finds Finds:   Lard almighty. As State Fair food continues to (d)evolve, we suppose we should've seen this coming. Deep-fried butter debuted in Texas this summer. Next year, can we just skip the middleman and drink a jug of hot grease? Electric Car is the name of a catchy new tune by They Might Be Giants. The kids will love it; you will too, at least the first 10,000 times you hear it! (We played a little clip in the show.)   Hip NewsPants on fire. Turns out your SIGG water bottle contains trace amounts of BPA in the liner, if you bought it before August 2008. You can return it to the company for a replacement, or do this instead. Hot-blooded. Well ladies, your blood has something in common with a CFL--it contains mercury! A new study detects the metal in 30% of American woman, a huge jump from a decade ago. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Yes we can! Believe it or not, it's time to start on those homemade holiday gifts. Begin by collecting empty cans with attractive labels. Poke a couple of holes in the bottom and plant flowers or houseplants, either from seeds or starters. By the time the holidays roll around, you'll have lovely living gifts! (Because of BPA in can liners, we don't recommend putting in food or herbs.) Rare Earth As industries strive to develop greener technologies, one group of natural resources finds itself in great demand. Rare Earth Elements occupy 17 slots in the Periodic Table and are an integral part of hybrid and electric motors, as well as wind turbines, computers, cell phones and more. The increasing need and dwindling supply of REEs opens up a new can of worms, both environmentally and politically. Rare? Well, not so much. REEs are abundant in the earth's crust. However, there aren't many rich deposits from which to extract them. Where? While mines are scattered across the globe, 95% of REEs are found in China. Pair. Two REEs are essential in the manufacture of hybrid vehicles: neodymium and lanthanum. Scare. The Chinese are tightening their grip on REEs in order to meet their own industrial needs. Wear and tear. China became a leader in REE mining by ignoring environmental concerns. Molycorp hopes to restart US operations in 2012.   Listener E-mails You are an elemental part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and rare gems our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Shout-out! Laura in England left us a comment on Podcast Alley. She recommends using magazine pages for wrapping small gifts. Cheers! Megan in Canada (eh!) makes her own yogurt and thinks we should do the same. Check out her instructions on our forum. Jaimelee in Kentucky loves a new mag called Urban Farm. Congrats on your beautiful new Teeny Weeny Greeny! Tori in Florida is a conscious cop who wants to find a CSA near her. Any tips to help her curb emissions in her patrol car? Adele in Ontario, Canada (eh!) is a school teacher who loves to collect yogurt cups, boxes, TP rolls, etc. for classroom projects. We'll keep looking for some Canuck beer down here! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Autumnal Equinox or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #233 - Health is Wealth While the future of health care in the US is uncertain, taking responsibility for your own health now could save you money in the long run. Did you know that chronic diseases account 75% of health care costs in America? Many are treatable, even reversible, when managed properly. But your best chance of avoiding the health care morass is prevention. The Hipsters discuss ways to take control of your own well-being. Bonus: these ideas impact your health without impacting the planet! Also, Val gets ready for her cinematic debut, but Dori can't get a movie date. *sigh* Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Needing hydration on a stinkin' hot day, we opened a big-ass bottle of Floating Rock Hefeweizen from Mammoth Brewing Co. Not our fave, but a pretty good thirst-quencher. Chocolate: Fonda in Missouri has once again claimed the title of New Favorite Listener by sending a box of Shaman Chocolates. Val loved the Organic Milk Chocolate with Macadamia nuts and Hawaiian Pink Sea Salt. Dori remained nutless, braving the 82% Extra Dark. Fonda, you rock! Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! Yes, her dryer has had balls for years, but now Nellie's PVC-Free Dryer Balls have taken the experience to a whole new level. Get your own pair, then add a fragrance stick for good measure. Blue is the new green. Head for SoCal this Labor Day weekend, so you can attend the Blue Planet Film Fest. Tickets to this very green event in Santa Monica are available through InTicketing, which will plant a tree for each one sold.   Hip NewsCures what ales you. Need another reason to enjoy a frosty glass of brew? A study finds that drinking beer regularly could stop your bones from going brittle! Nice to know as you're about to fall off your barstool. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Contain yourself! Listener Meghan came up with several clever ideas for those used yogurt containers. carry cherry tomatoes at the farmer's marketsort and hold small household items and hardwaresort and hold little toys, like Barbie shoesuse as rinse cups for watercolor paintinghold crayons,etc. in the cardonate to a preschool or kids' museumcut the bottom out of 2, bind them into binoculars! Thanks Meghan, you're brilliant!  Health is Wealth Did you know that chronic diseases account 75% of health care costs in America? Many are treatable, even reversible, when managed properly. But your best chance of avoiding the health care morass is prevention. Eat fresh food, wear sunscreen, use natural cleaning products; the Hipsters discuss ways to take control of your own well-being with a few tips from our friends at Yahoo! Green. Bonus: these ideas impact your health without impacting the planet! Exercise to prevent chronic disease and control weight. Obesity rates rose in 23 US states last year. Sleep at least 7 to 9 hours per night. Missing even an hour every night can raise your blood pressure and make you a grouch. Wash your hands, but stay away from anti-bacterial soap. Triclosan is not your friend. Tap water is best, but you can change things up with the original energy drink: coconut water. Try flavored Vita Coco or ZICO.   Listener E-mails Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and tips for staying healthy at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Robin in New Jersey has 3 menfolk willing to pee on her compost pile, but wants to know if she should dilute it first. Indoors=yes, outdoors=no. Now let it flow. Rebecca in Oregon wonders which is the greener choice, homemade or locally produced ice cream? No need to worry about your footprint in this situation...but you might want to watch your assprint! Kyle in Davis, CA works hard to bring sustainable dining practices to the UC Davis campus. Can you make us honorary Aggies? Patrick gets a charge out of hybrid batteries from Rayovac and Sanyo. Speaking of batteries... Michelle in NY introduced us to the aptly-named website RecycleMySexToy. An idea whose time has, er, come. Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Labor Day or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #232 - Cash for Clunkers The popular "Cash for Clunkers" program, or CARS, has new automobile sales in overdrive. As an economic stimulus program, "Cash for Clunkers" is a big success. New cars are flying off the lots and automakers are putting employees back to work. But is the program taking gas-guzzlers off the road, as intended? What repercussions are being felt down the supply chain? The Hipsters motor through the facts surrounding the Car Allowance Rebate System, as it's now called. Also, Val attends her family reunion and gets locked in a brewery. Really, is anyone surprised? Beer and Chocolate: Beer: The Heirloom Amber Ale from Pike Brewing Co. in Seattle is a crowd-pleaser. Crisp and refreshing, weighty enough for ale drinkers, but accessible to those just starting to leave the cheerleader beer behind. Chocolate: Our new favorite listener is Tony in Chicago! He resisted the urge to bust open the Cafe-Tasse Chocolat Bio bar, sending it to us intact. Sweet little cocoa bits wrapped in velvety organic chocolate...almost as delicious as George Clooney! Hip News and Finds Finds:   Book 'em, pt. 1. OK college students, stop the madness with the bookstore prices! Check out Chegg and BookRenter for textbook rentals. You even get a prepaid return envelope. Book 'em, pt. 2. You say you'd rather own a used copy? Go to Bookfinder, Campus Books or eCampus for some deals. Book 'em, pt. 3. Or go treeless! Six campuses are testing a program using the Kindle for accessing textbooks. Make sure you get a huge bottle of Paperback to go with it.   Hip NewsHot wings. Good ol' Exxon Mobil will pay a fine for killing migratory birds in 5 states. Their gas pits and oily wastewater apparently do not make a successful marinade. Mass. transit. Officials in Boston are creating a citywide bike-share program. Wicked pissah! Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Got sawdust? Put it to use in your compost bin or pile. Tossing a handful of sawdust on top of fresh scraps helps to break the material down quickly, with less odor. Cash for Clunkers As an economic stimulus program, "Cash for Clunkers" is a big success. New cars are flying off the lots and automakers are putting employees back to work. But is the program taking gas-guzzlers off the road, as intended? What repercussions are being felt down the supply chain? The Hipsters motor through the facts surrounding the Car Allowance Rebate System, as it's now called. The rules. Find all the details about Cash for Clunkers at the program's official site. Top 10. Which cars are the top trade-ins? Which new cars are rolling off the lots? Oddly, Ford tops both lists! Sticker shock. The popular program is giving used car dealers a bit of a headache. A Hummer? Really? Environmentalists find the Cash for Clunkers program isn't as green as they had hoped. Load of scrap. Auto recyclers keep busy these days, but are upset with limits on their ability to recover car parts. Mercury rising. General Motors has dropped out of ELVS, a partnership that collects toxic car parts to prevent mercury pollution.   Listener E-mails Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and photos of your trade-in at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Nicole in Connecticut wants to cut down on wasted yogurt cups. You can recycle them or buy bigger containers to scoop from...or you can make your own yogurt! We have faith in you! Charlie in Los Angeles (she's a girl!) liked the story of a teenage boy who figured out how to make plastic decompose in just 3 months. We'll all be working for that kid someday. Lynda in Florida spent time bonding with good beer at Portland's Brewfest. A stop at Voodoo Donuts didn't yield any glazed genitalia, sorry to say, but she did share a chocolate recipe with us. We're sitting by the mailbox waiting for those Brewfest mugs! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for back-to-school or anytime!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #231 - Mellow Yellow Is yellow the new green? Learn about the surprising benefits of urine, one of nature's most abundant untapped resources. "Civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water." President Theodore Roosevelt was onto something when he said that, over 100 years ago. Forward-thinking folks are taking a fresh look at urine as a resource rather than a source of waste. The Hipsters flush out some compelling arguments for harvesting this nitrogen-rich substance; in fact, when it comes to agricultural fertilizers, urine is #1! (sorry.) Also, Val reports from her trip to the X-Games, Dori leaks some personal info and we close the show with the poetic stylings of Woody Harrelson. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Yet another find from Val's trip to Idaho, Leinenkugel's 1888 Bock offers a hint of citrus in a mild lager. Not bad, but didn't really blow our skirts up. Chocolate: What's this? A chocolate-covered crouton? Theo Chocolate's 3400 Phinney collection includes the Bread and Dark Chocolate bar, a combo that didn't really satisfy. Flavor Fail! Hip News and Finds Finds:

More Hip Than Hippie #230 - Live & Let Chai Chico Chai founder Sarah Adams shares the benefits of the increasingly popular drink often referred to as "chai tea". A cup of spicy chai invokes images of the sultry Indian subcontinent. Creating your own chai may seem difficult, but Sarah Adams makes it deliciously easy with her special blend of tea, sweetener and organic spices known as Chico Chai. Sarah breaks down the basics of brewing the beverage at home, as well as giving the Hipsters a few ideas for, shall we say, less conventional concoctions? Also, Val nurses a touchy tummy, leaving Dori to drink alone. For the team. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Thanks to our lovely guest Sarah for contributing a bottle of Hard Blackcherry Red Branch Cider. Pink, fizzy freshness. Chocolate: Due to Val's inability to ingest solids, we sat out the chocolate this week. On the plus side, Val is just one stomach flu away from her goal weight! Hip News and Finds Finds: Rock Your Birdie. Singer Justin Timberlake opened Mirimichi Golf Course in Memphis, the first Platinum LEED certified golf course in the US. He's bringin' eco back. Mug shot. Still think you don't need a reusable coffee mug? Plug your digits into the Coffee Waste Calculator for an espresso shot of reality.   Hip NewsDim bulbs. So, the US Dept. of Energy is wasting enough electricity to power more than 9,800 homes for a year, according to an audit. D'OE! Just moo it. Sportswear giant Nike will stop using leather sourced from cattle raised in the Amazon. Officials say they're committed to curbing deforestation. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Rediscover rubbish. If you're dealing with bored kids this summer, raid the junk drawer! Create a treasure chest by filling a personalized shoebox with marbles, seashells, rubber bands, old pipe fittings...anything that's fun and free. Kids will use their imaginations to turn the trash into treasure. Just recycle the trinkets when they're done! Live & Let Chai Five years ago, Sarah Adams started a specialty tea business called Chico Chai. Using her own blend of organic spices, she began to share her love for this Asian beverage with the population at large, to great success! Fresh from her Chai-versary celebration, Sarah sat down with the Hipsters to reveal her affinity for water buffalo milk, her secret other career, her puffy porn star name and the glory that is chai. Chai is just another word for tea. The spicy, milky beverage we love is really masala chai. Spices commonly used in the drink include cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, star anise, vanilla bean and lemongrass. Usually 2 or 3 of these is enough! Loose leaf chai should steep in a tea ball or tea stick. For stronger chai, simmer the leaves in a pot of water, then strain. Chaitini for the over-21 crowd: Chico Chai concentrate, a splash of half-and-half, a shot of vanilla vodka and a shot of Stoli. It's to chai for! Order Chico Chai from our good friend Maisie Jane. Namaste!   Listener E-mails Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and chai recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Noah in Oakland, CA wants to put his mad skillz to work as a volunteer overseas. We recommend Habitat for Humanity or the Peace Corps. Eileen in Dominica loves the Smell of Books, but thinks the site may be a joke. Sadly, we agree. Steve in New Jersey, the long-lost Mr. Designer, took a break from selling Carmen Electra Stripper Poles to share this link about diapers. See why we've missed him? Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for back-to-school or anytime!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace! Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #229 - Microwave Myths Are microwave ovens safe for our food and our families? Since 90% of American homes have a microwave oven, we must think they're pretty safe. But concerns about radiation linger, as do questions about cooking with plastic. The Hipsters serve up facts and expose fiction about the appliance that's been nuking our nachos for decades! Also, Dori spends big money and Val gets punny. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We love the bite of an India Pale Ale on a stinkin' hot day, so Red Chair IPA by Deschutes Brewery should have hit the spot. Alas, though it's named after the oldest operating ski lift at Mt. Bachelor, Red Chair only took us up to the bunny hill. Chocolate: Another middle-of-the-road choice. Rapunzel Swiss Organic Dark Chocolate isn't bad for only 55% cacao, but we wouldn't give up our firstborn for it. Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! Tea drinkers, this one's for you...the JOEmo Stainless Tea Travel Mug brews your favorite beverage on the go, keeps it hot or cold longer and comes with its own zippered bag. It's ideal for commuters, with an innovative lid that lets you drink from any side. Just push the button in the center of the lid to dispense the tea. Keep your eyes on the road and your tea off your clothes! Show me the greenbacks. E Magazine lists some great Green Opportunities for job-seekers. From geeks to globetrotters, there's a career for everyone.   Hip NewsOff-the-Walmart. The world's largest retailer opened a new can of worms with their latest announcement. They want to establish a global eco-ratings index for all kinds of products. Let the debate begin. The reel world. Now that we've all seen Food Inc. - right? - get set for a new film by Robert Stone documenting the history of Earth Days, coming soon. In the meantime, watch the latest doc by our friend Gerard Ungerman; it's called Belonging. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ A quick tip from Real Simple magazine: turn a muffin tin upside down and use it for a cooling rack! You could set a hot pie or casserole on it and let the heat flow out through the channels. Val plans to use one as a DIY laptop cooler. Microwave Myths Most of us use a microwave oven nearly every day. But what about the radiation? Is it harming our food or our health? Is a microwave ever dangerous? How would we know? Our friends at the Daily Green did some research and busted the myths around microwaves. Waves. Microwaves are simply radio waves that are absorbed by water, fats and sugar, then convert to heat. Efficiency. Using a microwave to boil water won't net you much in energy savings, but preparing a meal will reduce energy use by about two-thirds compared to a conventional oven. Safety. Microwave ovens are quite safe when used properly. If you feel your oven is leaking radiation, invest in a home leak detector. Labels. The term "microwave safe" is unregulated, so it has no verifiable meaning. Tests have shown that some "microwave safe" products leach BPA at toxic levels.   Listener E-mails Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and microwave recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please! Katie in Toronto (eh!), the long lost Audiokitty, checks in with an appalling article about packaging and a catchy jingle. Welcome back! Tabitha in North Carolina is going green, baby! She and her buddy Melissa wonder about water filtration systems. We recommend carbon filters over reverse osmosis, but start with a water test kit to see what you're dealing with. Jasmine (aka Bullet ViaVista) has a recommendation for birth control, but makes a good point: perhaps Hipsters should breed more! Liz in Kentucky wonders about the "green" cred of her beloved Ghirardelli chocolate. Er...have you tried Dagoba? Michele in Arizona plans a trip to Idaho soon. Don't miss Pilgrim's Wall o' Beer, or your chance to see Idaho's Athol! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Summertime or anytime!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #228 - Know Your Nuts Why are organic almonds so much more expensive than conventionally-grown almonds? At the request of a listener, the Hipsters crack open the facts about nuts by enlisting a local almond farmer, Maisie Jane Hurtado. Learn how they're grown and harvested, then discover why growers don't pronounce the "L" in almond! Also, Val reveals her aggie roots and Dori promotes pedal power. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Idaho's Laughing Dog Brewery is not one of Val's favorites, but their full-bodied Devil Dog Imperial IPA scores big! This hoppy ale hits the midsummer sweet spot. Chocolate: Two great tastes that go great together: Coconut and Curry! Theo Chocolate paired them up in their line of 3400 Phinney bars, which are also organic and Fair Trade Certified. This slightly exotic flavor combo (in creamy milk chocolate, no less!) shook up our weary palates. Hip News and Finds Finds: Listener Dana's blog, Green Mom On-the-Go, is in the running for a Nickelodeon Parent's Pick Award! Send her some Hipster mojo!   Hip NewsG8 UPD8. Leaders of the G8 nations agreed that a) global warming is a real problem, and b) developed nations need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the next 40 years. Details? Um...December...Copenhagen...yeah. Fair drinkum. Residents of Bundanoon, Australia voted to ban the sale of bottled water, possibly the first community in the world to do so. Says a Bundy: "It's time for people to realize they're being conned by the bottled water industry." Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Open wide! The new 12-oz. Wide Mouth Klean Kanteens are flying off the shelves. Val is collecting your brilliant ideas for the many different ways to use these bottles. Send your suggestions to hip@greenfeet.com, so Val can publish them in an upcoming Greenfeet newsletter! Know Your Nuts Listener Eileen sent us this e-mail: Hi ladies, Since you live in almond country, can you enlighten your listeners on the organic/conventional issues surrounding almonds? Organic almonds cost a LOT more than conventional - when you can even find organic ones. Usually when the cost of an item grown organically is much higher than conventionally, it means that the item is already hard to grow with pesticides (thus using a lot) and is REALLY hard to grow organically. I worry that conventional almonds are farmed pesticide-intensively. Any answers? Meet our friendly neighborhood almond farmer, Maisie Jane Hurtado! Almonds have two layers of protection from herbicides: the shell and the hull. You won't find these healthful nuts among the Dirty Dozen foods. Farmers may use a variety of methods to grow nuts conventionally, including IPM. Labor, fertilizer, processing and fees are all more expensive for an organic operation. Find organic almond goodies at Maisie Jane's California Sunshine Products. Val is all about the dark-chocolate covered almonds; Dori is tempted by the almond butter pie. Just don't pronounce the "L"! Organic Wine? Maisie Jane's brother is a vintner. Check out Bertagna Son-Kissed Vineyard. We're totally crashing their next family reunion.   Listener E-mails Melissa in North Carolina reminds us to look for the Oregon Tilth label, another reputable certification for organic products. Anna in Alberta (eh!) applauds her country's new organic standard. She also taught us the word Kijiji! Jenn in North Carolina wants to keep her critters safe, so she found out how to make a non-toxic cleaning kit. Amanda has 5 cats and a load o'litter! We recommend the NatureMill composter. Or this. Be a part of our show! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and almond recipes at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps or labels for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Summertime or anytime! Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.