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: 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"!

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.

• Inhale 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.

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!

"...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.

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.

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: 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!

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".

• Oz 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.

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!

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...

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.

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: 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.

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.)

• Pants 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.

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.)

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.

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.