More Hip than Hippie - Happy Green New Year
This week we are talking about our green resolutions, not tasting beer (Val forgot), but eating fudge. We also delve into some more listener emails, and spend a bit of time on the essential oil of lemon.

In the News

• Top 5 Hybrids for 2006 - from about.com
  • Honda Insight (5-speed manual transmission)
  • Honda Insight (CVT transmission)
  • Toyota Prius
  • Honda Civic Hybrid
  • Honda Accord Hybrid
• Dupont - Fined more than 10,000,000 over Teflon. Check out the full details here.
• Sustainable Industries Journal - Sweden wants to get off of the oil soon.
  This publication is more business oriented, Val found it interesting, and thought you might too.
• We've been approached - Sirius-ly. What do you think? Email us at hip@greenfeet.com
• Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley, and also if you get to us through itunes, why not post your review of our show.

 

Tiny Steps that will make 2006 a Little more Green
Easy to adopt changes for the new year.

• Just say no to plastic bags - choose reusable bags. Find yours at greenfeet.com, reusablebags.com or chicobag.com. By using reusable bags you can save 300 to 700 plastic bags in a year.
• Eat organic and/or fair trade chocolate and coffee.
• Wear your clothes more than once before washing.
• Rid your house of antibacterial products. Use just good old soap and water.
• Buy a peace lily or spider plant that will soak up VOCs in your home. Check out How to Grow Fresh Air.
• Slowly Rid your house of plastic. Replace a few items at a time and you will be amazed at how much you can get rid of. Let us know what you use instead of plastic.
• Eat locally and seasonally - shop at local farmers market, fruit stands or purchase from stores that are stocked from the local area.

 

Val's Brussel Sprouts Recipe: Slice them thinly and saute them in olive oil, and salt and pepper with a bit of lime.

Listener Emails

• Bob - Drafty apartments - a few ideas - weather proofing the windows with vinyl sheeting, circulation with box fans, and turn heater down during the day and up in the evening.
• Leigh - Honey for a facial cleanser - straight honey with no oil (tea tree or lavender would work).
• Tory - Use Dvd cases for gift giving. Another idea is to donate them to libraries for their less than well cared for cases.
• Scott - Pubmed.gov - for scientific information on essential oils.
• Kevin - Helping us pronounce hard words like Phenylalanine - his pronunciation guide - â��feeâ��-nil-alâ��-a-neenâ��
• Bob - Gingersnaps are just not for dogs. But ginger is very good to combat sea sickness.
• Dawn - Suggests we rate natural cleaners and soaps. She also heard recently that our government might be invoking legislation to "outlaw" homeopathic medicines and nutritional supplements such as vitamins, etc. from being sold freely at health food stores. Was wondering if we knew anything about it (could it just be a rumor?). We're not sure, but we'll look into it.
• Linda - Wants sweet potato recipe - (She hasn't given it to me yet).
• Jarrod - Mobile phone made of corn - engadget.com
• The good girl - lokiland.org - Shout out!

The Winners of the Quiz
Julia, Leigh, Allison, Robert, Liam, and Brian. Congratulations! Enjoy your CD.
Happy New Year!