More Hip Than Hippie

More Hip Than Hippie #251 - SoupCycle SoupCycle in Portland, OR exemplifies the best features of a green business with a local sensibility. Since the summer of 2008, SoupCycle has cooked and delivered over 10,000 tasty organic soups, saved 3,000 car-miles by using bicycle delivery and funneled $33,000 to local farmers. Co-owner Jed Lazar dishes with Dori and Val about their recipe for success. Also, the Hipsters welcome two luminaries to Chico this week; Dori's fiance Chris, and Oprah! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Kudos to Lost Coast Brewery for using restraint when creating their Raspberry Brown Ale. Nice fruit flavor without that syrupy sweetness. Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Megan in Arizona, who swiped samples of Starbucks' latest offering. TCHO chocolates offer delightfully satisfying mouthfeel with subtle flavors. Hip News and Finds Finds: iWhat? Apple finally debuted the new iPad tablet. It was obviously named by a panel of clueless men, but we're happy to report that it's a pretty green Apple. REMedy. The 1993 hit "Everybody Hurts" has been chosen for Simon Cowell's upcoming charity single to benefit Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Bono & Sir Paul are involved, so it won't suck. Hip News Sportswear, Stereos & Sushi? Target is eliminating all farmed salmon from their seafood offerings nationwide. Weight and see. The CEO of Whole Foods has started a program offering bigger discounts to healthier employees. What do you think? Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Can the coins! Organize and contain those parking meter coins with an old prescription pill bottle or film canister. Stow it in your glove compartment and keep the meter maid away!   SoupCycle A couple of business school students came up with a great green idea and made it happen. Jed and Shauna started SoupCycle in Portland, OR in the summer of 2008; since then, they've cooked and delivered over 10,000 tasty organic soups, saved 3,000 car-miles by using bicycle delivery and funneled $33,000 to local farmers. Jed Lazar spills the beans about his successful business (and his New Age porn star name). Souper! School. Jed and Shauna met while they were students at Bainbridge Graduate Institute in Washington, which offers an MBA in Sustainable Business. Social Media. Follow their SoupCycle exploits on Twitter and Flickr. Shazam! That's just one of the many amazing desserts available at Jed's favorite chocolate shop, Pix Patisserie. Listener E-mails Write a new Hip News theme song and win a Greenfeet prize pack! Send in mp3's plus your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and soup recipes at our MHTH forum! Ann in North Carolina (y'all!) needs an eco-friendly dry cleaner for her soon-to-be-worn wedding dress. Hopefully this green cleaner is close by. Congrats! Shayna in Idaho found the 12 Greenest Cars of 2010. Amy in Idaho gives a shout-out to the new Mary Jane's Farm retail store in nearby Moscow. We agree, the magazine rocks. Rob in Kentucky needs a booklight; they should be in stock any day now! He also doesn't want us to turn into CNN or Fox News. We can respect that. David in New York sent us a More Hip poem on Facebook. OK, enough sucking up...here's a plug for your friend's book about sustainabiity. Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Chinese New Year 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 #250 - Say No to GMO The CEO of Lundberg Family Farms explains his company's opposition to genetically modified foods, and how consumers can avoid GMOs. As more US crops are planted using genetically modified seeds, consumers increasingly demand to know about the risks of eating GM foods. Lundberg Family Farms takes a stand against GMOs; their CEO, Grant Lundberg, tells the Hipsters why! Also, Dori steps up to the cider while Val deals with a head full of snot. Beer and Cider: Beer: Try as she might, Val can't stay away from her new boyfriend Samuel Smith. We give his Organic Apple Cider much Hipster love for its nice flavor. It's a great choice for those who usually find cider to be too sweet. Chocolate: OK, this was a disappointment. Seeds of Change Organic Dark Chocolate with Mango and Cashew is heavily molested with teensy bits of fruit and nuts, so it's a bit chewier than we like. Worse, all that flotsam and jetsam contributed almost no flavor! If we're going to work that hard to eat it, we want more bang for the bite. Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! Looking for the perfect Travel Book Light? Verilux makes a model that folds up flat and shines a glare-free natural light. Best of all, you can power it with rechargeable batteries or a USB port. Would you, could you in the dark? Break in your new book light during Earth Hour 2010! Circle March 27th on your calendar and pledge to turn off your lights at 8:30pm for 60 minutes. You'll be in good company. Hip News Caveat empty. Oops! Bisphenol A isn't safe after all, according to the US FDA. But they can't regulate BPA because of a quirk in the rules. So consider yourself warned. Car maxed. There are actually fewer autos on US roads these days. A combination of driver frustration and improved public transportation means car usage is on the decline for the first time in decades. Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Vote with your dollar! Search for participating companies and verified products on the Non-GMO Project site. Share the lists with family and friends, then go shopping!   Say No to GMO As more US crops are planted using genetically modified seeds, consumers increasingly demand to know about the risks of eating GM foods. The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit consortium of retailers, producers, farmers and distributors who want to give shoppers a choice to avoid these foods. Lundberg Family Farms participates in this organization and takes a stand against GMOs. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. GM foods entered the market in the 1990s. Frankentomato is the not-so-complimentary nickname given to Calgene's Flavr Savr, the first GM food to hit stores. Health risks of GM foods are documented in a report by the Institute for Responsible Technology. Rice is one the few largely unmodified major crops. An experiment with LL601 GM rice did not go as planned. Lundberg Farms has an extensive list of verified non-GMO products. Listener E-mails Plant the seed for a future show topic! Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and rice recipes at our MHTH forum! Bree in California loves her new Eco Smart washer and dryer, but also wants use a laundry line (her HOA says no). Visit Project Laundry List and fight for your right! Sandy in New York wonders if it's eco-friendly to keep charging his beloved Kindle. We think so, especially if you hook it up to a solar charger. Lisa in Wisconsin shares a story about therapists reporting an increase in green disputes. Chris in Montana (not for long!) wants some Hipster tips! Know any great blogs or mags about gardening and self-sufficiency? Val recommends Mary Jane's Farm. Sebastien in Canada (eh!) sent an article about water bottles of yore: revigators. Because radioactive water is good for what ails you. Steve in Philadelphia wants us to sample sucky wheat-free beers for him. The things we do for our listeners... Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Valentine'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 #249 - Birdwatching 101 Birdwatching, or birding, is the biggest sport in America. According to US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are currently 51.3 million birders in the United States alone. You wanted to know more about birdwatching basics, so the Hipsters asked an expert. Birding enthusiast Scott Huber gamely answers your questions about binoculars, feeders, guide books and more. Also, Val inspires Dori to coin a new term: pine face! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Our new Favorite Listener, Jessica, sent along 3 fine Scottish ales from Williams Bros. Brewing: Alba, Grozet and Fraoch. The more you drink, the more fun they are to say! Chocolate: Far from Scotland, coconuts grow, and we are thankful. Seeds of Change Organic Dark Chocolate with Coconut is change we can believe in. Hip News and Finds Finds: What's not to yike? City dwellers can achieve urban freedom with the electric YikeBike, which is due to hit the market in Europe and New Zealand this year. It's like a unicycle for the Jetsons. Fir real? Christmas in SoCal just got a little greener. Rent a living tree for the holidays, delivered to your home and picked up when the fun's over. Living Christmas also has an eco-holiday store; check out the Yeti ornaments. Hip NewsGung hay cheap crap. Hey parents, don't buy cheap Chinese-made toys for your kids! This public safety message is courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Wheels of fortune. Lady Luck has smiled upon Ford Motor Co. Their Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect were named 2010 Car and Truck of the Year in Detroit; now they've announced plans to build lithium ion batteries in Michigan. Meanwhile, Toyota unveils the FT-CH hybrid concept car. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Feather your hair! Scott suggests collecting the hair from your brushes (including pet hair) and saving it until springtime. Once the weather clears a bit, toss those tresses into the yard for birds, who'll happily use it to build their nests.   Birdwatching 101 You wanted to know more about birdwatching, so we asked an expert! Birding enthusiast Scott Huber gamely answers your questions about binoculars, feeders, guide books and more. He also explains the difference between a birder and a twitcher. Thanks for all the questions on our Facebook page! Who is Scott Huber? He's the Education Director for Altacal Audubon and a board member with Audubon California. What is that bird? Consult a trusty field guide like or Kenn Kaufman. For kids, start with the Golden Guide. When should you start birding? Now! Attend a local bird festival to find experts and info. Where can you birdwatch? Anywhere, with a pair of binoculars or an app like iBird or birdJam. How can you attract birds to your yard? With a fantastic birdhouse and birdbath. Why support the Audubon Society? So future generations will have birds to watch.   Listener E-mails You are the wind beneath our wings! Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and bird droppings at our MHTH forum!   Shayna in Idaho reminds us to wash those reusable bags regularly. Bad things grow in there. Jessica in Pittsburgh can't stand it when people say cold weather disproves global warming. Memorize this article, or just steer clear of the topic. We feel your pain. Jenny in Canada (eh!) is allergic to onions and can't find an organic soup that doesn't have them. Make your own Tomato Soup or Chicken Soup, and hold the onions! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Groundhog 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 #248 - From Odwalla to Adina Odwalla founder Greg Steltenpohl is back in the beverage business with Adina for Life, a drink company with a social conscience. Sometimes an opportunity comes along that you just can't pass up. Greg Steltenpohl helped to bring natural and organic beverages to consumers worldwide with Odwalla. Now he's bottling sustainability and social responsibility with a new line of beverages. As co-founder of Adina, Greg shares his progressive vision and his entrepreneurial tips with the Hipsters. Also, Dori and Val say goodbye to Julie Andrews and hello to John Coltrane, while their hometown of Chico joins the mile-high club! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Stop the presses! Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. just released their seasonal Glissade Golden Bock. We could taste a glimmer of springtime in its brisk bouquet. Another winner. Chocolate: Back we go to World Market, for their Pomegranate Dark Chocolate bar. With a bit of juicy fruit flavor in a crisp 64% cocoa bar, it's not a fave of ours...but it's still a good value at $1.99. Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! First the dryer, now the washer has balls! The Ionic Laundry Ball lets you do up to 700 phosphate-free loads of wash without using detergent. Just toss it in with the dirty clothes, then sit back and count the money you've saved! Right turn, Clyde. Sick of the canned voice on your GPS? The Garmin Voice Studio allows owners of their Nuvi model to voice their own navigation tips...or whatever. Check out their new ecoRoute cable if you want to track your fuel efficiency. Hip NewsFresh air. The US EPA has proposed stricter health standards for smog, which could place many more communities out of compliance. Big Oil hates it, so it must be good. The need for seed. Mark your calendar for January 30th, National Seed Swap Day. Organize your own with gardeners you know or use a free site like Seed Swaps. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Plan to scan! Cut through those piles of paper by scanning recipes, schedules, receipts, reference documents or whatever you can into your computer. Be sure to back them up regularly. Don't have a scanner? Try to find one second-hand and save a little cash!   From Odwalla to Adina Greg Steltenpohl is back in the beverage business! Adina for Life, Inc. produces drinks with a social conscience. Drink No Evil. That's the tagline for Adina beverages, which include Fair Trade certified coffee & tea drinks as well as organic juices. Holistics. This line of Adina fruit drinks is formulated with the principles of Ayurveda in mind. Odwalla was Greg's baby from 1980 until 2001, when it was sold to Coca-Cola. Interra Project is another of Greg's ventures. This non-profit project rewards consumers for shopping locally with a Community Card.   Listener E-mails Your New Year's resolution is to email your favorite Hipsters, right? Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and juicy stories at our MHTH forum!   Trystan at Yahoo! Green is a reusable bag ninja! She and her husband used only 7 plastic bags in 2009, thanks in part to their plentiful cache of ChicoBags. Even better, her hometown voted to ban plastic bags starting in 2011! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for MLK Jr. 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 #247 - Eco-Resolutions Happy New Year! Start the new decade with a plan to lighten your footprint on the planet. Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet? Maybe you prefer to call them "intentions". Either way, set forth some clear, specific, measurable goals. The Hipsters are tackling food and waste in their quest for a greener 2010! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Our new Favorite Listener is Jen in Portland, who personally delivered Santa's Butt! This tasty porter from Ridgeway Brewing in England is definitely the finest Butt we've seen this winter. Chocolate: Sticking with store brands, we sampled World Market Chipotle Chili 64% dark chocolate bar. Nice spicy kick and a great value at about $2. Hip News and Finds Finds: Dori's Wedding Update! The big event happens in sweltering July, so Dori & Chris chose an indoor venue with air conditioning. This vintage Chico building will easily hold about 75 guests under it's vaulted roof. Green because the wedding and reception will happen in one place, eliminating extra travel; frugal because the rental rate for 8 hours on a Saturday is only $400, tables & chairs included! Web sight. You can look an endangered species in the face every day this year, thanks to the IUCN. They'll post a daily feature detailing a Red List species of animal, bird or plant that's under threat of extinction. Will work with food. Need a career change? Use your mad farming skillz to land a Sustainable Food Job. Hip NewsCash for Clunkers, Part Deux. Get your US government rebate for replacing old appliances this year. Check the Energy Savers chart to see when your state's program begins. Bug 'em! Tell the EPA to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose inert ingredients in their formulations. They're accepting public comments until late February. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Teach, don't preach! Pick one green issue you'd like to share with your friends and family this year. Teach them about the merits of reusable bags, composting, fair trade...whatever you're passionate about. (Probably best to avoid political hot potatoes like global warming, though.) Educate yourself and lead by example!   Eco-Resolutions For 2010, the Hipsters set some solid green goals. Val: reduce household waste by 25%; source food within 100 miles; use less than 10 plastic bags. Dori: plan a low-waste or waste-free wedding; produce more food at home with a garden and chickens; start blogging about both. A big thanks to all our listeners who shared their goals with us on Facebook! Reduce your use of plastic bags. Sign up for Big Ed's Pledge and get support from like-minded Hipsters. Eat locally. Learn more about the 100 Mile Diet. Waste not. Plan events using compostable plates and flatware, real glasses and linens, recycling bins and local and/or organic food & drinks. Here are more tips for a green wedding. Produce some of your food. If you love fresh eggs, think about adding backyard chickens. Hot wire fencing with a solar charger is an energy-efficient way to keep dogs (Val) and goats (Dori) from destroying your garden.   Listener E-mails Your New Year's resolution is to email your favorite Hipsters, right? Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and green goals at our MHTH forum!"The Legend of Dori's Engagement Ring" Contest is over! Read the winning entry here! Gwyneth in New Brunswick (eh!) found a great vintage engagement ring on eBay and some cool wedding dresses on Etsy. Congrats to you and your frozen fiance! Eileen in Florida wonders if Tetra Paks contain BPA or phthalates. Nope! They use #2 plastic plus paper and aluminum; check to see if your town will recycle them. Tina in Texas isn't sure if she should use an old energy-hog clothes dryer 3 months of the year, or get a new one? Tough call; we think you should use it sparingly while you save up for a more efficient model. Kristi in Michigan visited China and shares her green observations. World-travelling Hipsters, feel free to do the same! Sebastien in Canada (eh!) was the first of several Hipsters to send along the story of the Japanese man making edible sake bottles out of squid skin. Hey, how about beer bottles made of chocolate? Genius! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Elvis'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 #246 - French Kiss Renowned documentary filmmaker Gerard Ungerman discusses his passion for truth, justice and environmentalism. Frenchman Gerard Ungerman recently moved to Chico (for l'amour!) and found an enthusiastic community of like-minded green folk. The Hipsters delve into his past work, current projects and his latest endeavor: chronicling the life of the Green Diva herself! Also, the final show of 2009 affords Val the chance to fulfill her fantasy of naming an episode after a Meg Ryan movie. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We keep the cold at bay with another full-bodied ale. Winter Seasonal Imperial IPA from Mendocino Brewing Co. is a crowdpleaser, so bundle up and make a beer run; this Limited Edition brew won't be around for long. Chocolate: Store-brand goodness! Safeway Select Dark Chocolate with Lemon and Pepper is full of lively flavor, if a tad bit sweet. We thinks it's made by Lindt; the packaging gave us a hindt. Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Thing! Give your skin a buzz with Honey Face Cleanser by Rand Hill Naturals. It's just raw honey with a blend of essential oils. Use it daily, you'll bee thrilled with the results! Common cents. The Audubon Society helps to "change" the world with their Pennies for the Planet campaign, focusing this year on endangered coastlines. Roadkill. Yes, Dori found it. Hip NewsNopenhagen. No big results came out of the COP15, just a vague promise to do better. So long, and thanks for all the fish. Tapped out. Looks like bottled water sales are slipping. Is it because the economy's down, or could it be the result of Hipsters like you choosing reusable bottles? Depends who you ask. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Check your vision! For 2010, create a vision board with images of the things you want to accomplish or attain. Use a shadow box if you want 3D images, or just put together a simple collage. You can make one for your personal goals, one for your professional goals...as many as you want! Just make sure to hang it where you can see it every day and turn those visions into reality!   French Kiss Renowned documentary filmmaker Gerard Ungerman recently moved to Chico (for l'amour!) and found an enthusiastic community of like-minded green folk. Now he's involved in several new projects, including Green Transition Chico. But his latest endeavor may be his boldest: chronicling the life of the Green Diva herself! Films. Gerard's work is created without corporate money or outside grants through his company, Free-Will Productions. Education. Gerard hosted the Green Film and Solutions series through CSU Chico. Community. Since making Chico his new hometown, Gerard has become part of the movement to create a Transition Town here. Interested? He recommends the Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins.   Listener E-mails Dear Santa, can we have some more e-mails please?! Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and naughty French phrases at our MHTH forum!Win a Greenfeet Prize Pack! "The Legend of Dori's Engagement Ring" Contest is on until 12/25/09! Just come up with a history for her 1930s-era ring; most creative tale wins! E-mail your entry to us today! Ashanti in Texas wants to find a green job now that she's made the move to Austin. Try Greenopolis and Grist, or the Yahoo! resource list. Check out show #196, Green Around the Collar. Maggie in Spain seeks inexpensive green freebies. Google "eco-friendly promotional products" and be sure to choose something useful! Jen in Portland geeks out on Val's clean ducts. She says to check dsireusa to find tax credits for weatherization improvements. She also promises to bring us beer in the new year. Don't threaten us with a good time! Elsie in Moss Landing, CA shares an article about the downside of carbon trading. Sounds like someone should film a documentary about this... Brooke in New York left us a message on Facebook about the Rat Fan Club, which is based here in Chico! Who knew? Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Boxing 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 #245 - A Drinking Problem Despite federal regulations, you can't take drinking water safety for granted. Prozac and makeup and lead, oh my! We all want to trust our tapwater. Unfortunately, more than 20% of US water-treatment systems have broken some of the rules of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Hipsters flush out the facts and provide some solutions. Also, Val spews (off-air) expletives as winter descends upon Northern California! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We're staying warm with another heady brew. Old Plowshare Stout from North Coast Brewing Co. has enough rich flavor to take the chill off a December night. Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener, KC in Korea, supplied a pair of pleasurable treats. Lotte Ghana bar is smooth & sweet; Jeju Orange Chocolate and Cactus Chocolate are fun candies. Komapsumnida! Hip News and Finds Finds: Beer Magazine. This month's articles: Beer and Chocolate Pairings; Green Brewing; An Interview with George Wendt (Norm!). Really, do we need to say more? Hip NewsHot in herre. A new report ranks 2009 as the 5th warmest year on record, and this decade was warmer than the previous two. Let it hang all out. Copenhatin'. GOP lawmakers will go to the COP15 to promise the world no new US climate laws until "scientific fascism" ends. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Tap into the truth! Figure out what's floating around in your drinking water. Go to the EPA website and locate data about your local water quality. There's also lots of great info about water, so dive in!   A Drinking Problem We all want to trust our tapwater. However, as many as 19 million Americans are sickened by it each year. What the heck is in it? How do we find out if our water is safe? Can we do anything to purify it? H2OMG!   The EPA has identified at least 9 Unexpected Things in Drinking Water. The Safe Drinking Water Act passed in 1974 to ensure the quality of Americans' drinking water. The Environmental Working Group released its list of cities with the best and worst tap water. Congrats to Arlington, TX! Find out what's flowing from your faucet with a water test kit. Household systems like Brita can filter out most contaminants. Be sure to change the filters regularly. Turn your tap water into a science project! Teach kids to reclaim dirty drinking water with a fun kit.   Listener E-mails What, are your fingers frozen? We need e-mail! Send your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and Christmas lists at our MHTH forum!Win a Greenfeet Prize Pack! "The Legend of Dori's Engagement Ring" Contest is on until 12/25/09! Just come up with a history for her 1930s-era ring; most creative tale wins! E-mail your entry to us today! Alisa in New York is in a lather about laundry! She recommends a cup of baking soda in the wash to soften hard municipal water. It won't harm clothing or the water supply. Win. Patrick in North Carolina is bloated with BPA after a chicken soup binge, and would like an alternative to canned soup. Try those aseptic packages or spend a little more for glass. He also shares a TED moment and disses Julie Andrews. Does someone need a spoonful of sugar? Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Christmas 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 #244 - Natural Pet Treats Animal lovers can extend their pets' lives by adding homemade natural supplements to their regular diet. Responsible pet owners insist on good nutrition for their furry family members. The Hipsters talk to Tammy Furmanski and Richard Holmes, who have researched the best foods for healthy nutritional supplements that are tasty, too. (Um, we'll take their word for it...) Also, Val goes into wedding-planner mode as Dori and Chris make it official! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Gotta love a beer that looks like motor oil when you pour it! Dark but not heavy, Porteus Porter from Elysian Brewing Co. warms a wintry day with its slightly smoky flavor. Chocolate: Dori's new fiance(!) supplied a box of yummy handmade chocolates from The Parrot, a cool retro shop in Helena, MT. We loved their ginger crystals dipped in either dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Hip News and Finds Finds: Dori's Engagement Ring! She and Chris chose a vintage 1930's piece as part of their green, frugal wedding. Concoct a legend for the ring and email it to us by Christmas; most creative story wins a Greenfeet prize pack! Val's Favorite Things! A collection of Green Science Kits inspire creative play, using recycled materials. With 7 to choose from, these clever kits will keep the kids busy, in a good way! Urge to surge. Spark some geeky romance with the Candlestrip, a "power strip" candleholder with "power cord" candles. Hip NewsHopenhagen. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) is underway this week. Stay informed so you'll know who to blame. Leading the charge. It's official: the Chevy Volt will launch in California late next year. Partnering with the state's utilities, Chevy plans to set up charging stations and collect performance data before rolling out nationwide. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Sock it to me! Americans generate 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, and gift wrap comprises a good chunk of that. Get creative this year; use socks, t-shirts and other bits of fabric instead of wasteful paper. A ChicoBag makes great wrapping for a gift within a gift!  Natural Pet Treats Responsible pet owners insist on good nutrition for their furry family members. Tammy Furmanski and Richard Holmes researched the best foods for healthy nutritional supplements that are tasty, too! Purpose. Tammy and Richard's goal is to provide healthy treats for cats and dogs via Chico Pet Company. Passion. Resources for their recipes include OnlyNaturalPet.com and the book Food As Medicine. Pet food. They recommend a raw food diet including healthy table scraps. Wellness and Wysong products also get thumbs up. Problems. Unfortunately, commercial pet food recalls are all too common. Press. Tammy and her business were profiled in the Chico News & Review. Listener E-mails Rob in Kentucky keeps us supplied with eco-funny comics like the one above. He also has a laundry tip: clean out the lint trap halfway through the drying cycle to speed things along. Thanks y'all! KC in Korea wonders what to do about older Nalgene bottles, which may contain BPA. Err on the side of caution; repurpose them as dry good containers and go for safer bottles, like Klean Kanteen. Tina in Texas makes her own cheap 'n easy laundry detergent. Great idea, but be careful with the Fels Naptha soap. Keith in Hawaii reviewed our Biodiesel 101 show for his Environmental Politics class. Mahalo! Katie in Toronto (eh!) is still alive and still listening! We love you man! Happy Holidays! Keep sending your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and clever giftwrap ideas 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! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Winter Solstice 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 #243 - Dirty Laundry Eco-friendly clothing goes beyond organic cotton and hemp. Your laundry habits are more important than your fashion sense. If you're trying to be more eco-conscious about your wardrobe, you should know that the fabric you choose is only a small part of the equation. The energy used to care for your garments accounts for about 2/3 of their carbon footprint. The Hipsters air out some tips for washing, drying, ironing and dry cleaning that'll help you green your jeans! Also, Val turns another year older and offers to slip Dori the pickle. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: We pop across the pond to merry old England for this flavorful brew. Ripon Jewel Amber Ale from Daleside Brewery pays tribute to the Yorkshire cathedral of the same name. Chocolate: "Let chocolate change your world", says the label. Done! The Lake Champlain Raspberry Truffle bar featured an elegant fruity ganache and yummy chocolate, but at a paltry 54% cocoa still proved to be a bit too sweet for our bitter palates. Hip News and Finds Finds: Pig out! If a Bacon Wrapped Turkey is wrong, we don't want to be right. Pickin' and Grinnin'. Greenfeet's popular Pick A Present promo is back! Go ahead, get yourself a little something this season. And share a giggle too; the official Bad Joke Contest is underway! Win a Greenfeet prize pack with your nice clean joke. Email your entry to ThePrez@greenfeet.com by Dec. 4th. Hip NewsRemote control. The California Energy Commission approved the nation's first energy-efficiency standards for TVs. Next up: making SNL funny again and putting music back on MTV. Jolly good fellows. Forty conservationists have been singled out for TogetherGreen Fellowships this year. Check out our past show about this joint venture between Audubon and Toyota. Big dork. After receiving angry e-mails from Greenpeace and Pamela Anderson, Russian automaker DARTZ will forgo using whale penis leather in their new armored car. Must've been a hard decision. Teenie Weenie Greenieâ Tag, you're it! Make your own gift tags this year using cookie cutters as patterns. Once you've finished baking your holiday sugar cookies, trace the cutters on some festive paper. Cut out all those stars and snowflakes for instant gift tags that are Santa-approved!   Dirty Laundry If you're trying to be more eco-conscious about your wardrobe, you should know that the fabric you choose is only a small part of the equation. The energy used to care for your garments accounts for about 2/3 of their carbon footprint. Washing, drying, ironing and dry cleaning can all be adapted to help green your jeans!   Detergent. Look for products that are biodegradable and free of phosphates. Save on packaging with concentrated and powdered detergents like Nellie's Laundry Soda. Washer. Save water and money with a front-loading machine bearing the Energy Star label. Dryer. The 2nd biggest energy hog in your home, dryers should be used sparingly. Cut costs by employing the moisture sensor and cleaning the lint screen regularly. Use a clothes drying rack or clothesline whenever possible. Here are some tips for softening those crunchy line-dried garments. Bleach. Non-chlorine bleach brands like Seventh Generation are safe and non-toxic. You could also add half a cup of borax to your wash load. Dryer sheets. Avoid the stinky chemicals. Mrs. Meyers uses plant-based softeners and essential oils. Dry cleaning. Just say no to dry-clean-only clothing! Earth911 has the scoop on wet cleaning. Laundromat. Surprisingly eco-friendly, since commercial machines tend to be more energy efficient. Some are even switching to alternative energy. Reuse. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, wearing your jeans at least three times before washing them results in about 5 times more energy savings.   Listener E-mails We're thankful for great listeners like you! Keep sending your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and dirty laundry 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! Tina in Texas is ready for her annual cold. She found Better for Grownups reusable cotton sateen tissues in a box. Gesundheit! Ann in NC recommends GoodSearch for finding worthy charities to support. They donate to every charity you search! Melinda in SC loves Melissa and Doug products because, unlike Mattel and Disney, they don't make toxic toys. Alison in NC teaches us something new about the non-toxic claim on labels. Kevin throws down a challenge to fellow Hipsters: when you're out at a restaurant or coffee shop, give 'em your porn star name to call out! Way to work it, Glitter! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Hanukkah 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 #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.