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 News

• Hopenhagen. 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 Greenie™

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!

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