More Hip Than Hippie #278 - Turn It Up to '11!

Experts forecast green trends for 2011.

Taking those tiny green steps can lead to big changes. The Hipsters take a look at the year ahead to see how consumer demand and the economy have influenced the decision-makers. Also, Val proposes a new tax and reveals her home plumbing FAIL!

Beer: We've got that Christmas glow with a holiday ale from Batemans Brewery. Their Rosey Nosey could have been named after Val's stuffed-up schnoz!

Chocolate: It's a catchy idea, but we decided that Komforte's Ramen Noodle bar would have been just as good without the novelty noodles inside.

Finds:

• Drill, Baby, Drill! Nothing should come between you and your wine. Put some torque on that cork with the Bosch IXO Vino Cordless Lithium-Ion Screwdriver with Corkscrew Attachment. Keep it charged; it's going to be a long winter.
• Holidon't. When you're done counting down the 12 Days of Christmas, take on the 12 Unhealthiest Wintertime Drinks. Ho Ho Heartattack.
• Drink this, not that. Need a beverage that will boost your immunity without busting your calorie budget? Val recommends tulsi tea. No corkscrew required.

• Baby, it's hot outside. NASA says 2010 is on pace to be the warmest year on record, surpassing 2005. The year was marked by extreme weather events globally and gusty blasts of hot air from Washington DC.
• California greenin'. The Golden State leads the nation's effort to address global warming by approving rules for the world's 2nd-largest carbon market.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Conquer! That's Val's Word of the Year for 2011. Think about your own word or phrase to inspire you during the year ahead. Focus on one green task to achieve; just don't call it a resolution!

Taking those tiny green steps can lead to big changes. Electric cars? Curbside recycling? You asked for them and they appeared. Now the Hipsters take a look at the year ahead to see how consumer demand and the economy have influenced the decision-makers.

• Food. Expect to see more home-based food businesses, natural sweeteners and smaller desserts. Also pimentos, hay and necks.
• Garden. Eco-scaping, sustainable containers and succulents lead the trends.
• Building. Green building construction starts have increased in value by 50%, and that growth is expected to continue.
• Cars. Look for a wealth of electric car options in 2011. Leading the way, Green Car of the Year, the Chevy Volt.
• Weddings. Keep planning those green nuptials. Instead of gifts, ask for charitable donations.
• Fashion. Everything old is new again! Vintage styles from the 30s to the 80s are back.
• Travel. Don't just see the world, live in it. Voluntourism and slow travel connect you to culture and the environment.

Well, that's it for 2010! What would you like us to talk about in the New Year? Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Dale in Seattle has a word of warning about those dual flush conversion kits, and sings the praises of the Solatube. Um, Dale, write back soon to tell us whether you're a boy or a girl, mmmk?
• Emily in Tennessee thinks creative Hipsters might be interested in Dogfish Head's Off-Centered Film Fest. Get those entries in by March 1st!
• Patrick in North Carolina sends up the alarm about flame retardants in butter. Would that be ass-bestos?
• Erica found the ingenious Chocolate Calculator, proving once and for all that you can't fool cacao.

More Hip Than Hippie #277 - Digging Deep

Writer April Dávila's new campaign, Digging Deep, will help to unearth facts about food.

You think you're busy? Hah! They lovely April Dávila returns to the show to talk about her full plate of projects, including a book based on her "Month Without Monsanto" blog, a novel, a new baby (any day now!) and the launch of an exciting website called Digging Deep. Also, Dori brings home a suicidal Christmas tree and Val cleans up a crime scene.

Beer: We've been bad girls this year, so we got a Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout from Ridgeway Brewery in our stocking. Beer Humbug!

Chocolate: We braved the third and final Kallari Chocolate bar from Amy in San Diego:85% Single Source Organic Ecuador. It's not for pansies.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! It's a pint glass...it's a shot glass...it's a votive candle holder. The Beer & Shot Glass Set provides an evening of endless options for you and a friend.
• Wanna cup? Greenfeet now offers Thanksgiving Coffee. Not just a cup, but a just cup.

• Grin and bear it. Threatened populations of polar bears now have some federally protected stomping grounds in Alaska, thanks to the Interior Dept. Sorry, no drills allowed.
• Oil of Olé. The feds shut down more than 4,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico to deepwater shrimping, after trawlers pulled up tar balls in their nets. Tests will determine if the oil belongs to BP.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Stuff it! From our friend Danny Seo's book, Simply Green Giving: When sending out packages, look for natural box fillers instead of styrofoam. Fresh pine needles, pillow stuffing, real peanuts or fresh straw make great recyclable or compostable alternatives!

Cool chick April Dávila returns to the show to talk about her full plate of projects, including a book based on her "Month Without Monsanto" blog, a novel, a new baby (any day now!) and the launch of an exciting website called Digging Deep.

• April and her friend Cassie Gruenstein have teamed up to form the Digging Deep Campaign, a resource to help you make informed decisions about food.
• If you enjoyed hearing about her Month Without Monsanto, you'll love her upcoming narrative non-fiction book, Nonsanto: How Living for a Month Without Monsanto Changed How I Eat, Shop and Garden. Watch April's blog for updates.
• She is pleased about the passage of the revised Food Safety Modernization Act. Listener Mark provided us with highlights.
• April stays on top of food issues on her Facebook page.
• If you're a writer (or aspire to be one), follow April's professional progress on The Unfolding Tale.

Just one more show until we stick a fork in 2010! Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Meredyth in Texas has a teeny weeny greeny on the way and wants a good diaper option. We like Bummis system of washable covers with disposable liners. Congrats on new your little guy!
• Sebastien in Montreal shares a crafty idea for upcycled Christmas bows. Very clever and quite lovely, too.
• Jenn in Minnesota sounds off about invasive earthworms in her area. One word for you, Jenn: Tremors.
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green checks in with good news (beer for dogs!) and bad news (Dagoba Chocolate recall).
• Jess from New Jersey (aka the Dirty Jerz!) puts in a plug for Cloud Cult's music and eco-friendly ways. She also wants more green book suggestions. Anyone?

More Hip Than Hippie #276 - eBooks vs Books: Who's Greener?

A new study finds that e-readers could have a major impact on improving the sustainability and environmental impact on the publishing industry.

According to Amazon, sales of eBooks have outnumbered sales of hardcover books for the first time ever. Will e-readers spell the end of books as we know them? The Hipsters read between the lines to find the greenest way to turn the pages. Also, Val blows out the candles and Dori has a barrel of fun!

Beer: In the foothills above Chico lies the sleepy town of Magalia, home of Feather River Brewing Co. Their Dark Canyon Ale is a pleasing brew that would probably pair well with a hearty meal.

Chocolate: Round 2 of that Kallari Chocolate from Amy in San Diego. The 70% Single Source Organic Ecuador delighted Dori, while Val sent it to the Hall of Fame!

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! When the kids are chomping at the bit for something to do, break out Glee Gum's Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit! Made in the USA, this fun kit comes with everything you need to make 50 pieces of gum...if you stick to it, that is. Check out the chocolate and gummies kits too.
• Polar Excess. Stuff his stocking with eco-friendly luxury condoms this holiday season, then bring on the Ho Ho Ho's!
• Earth and All Her Friends. Coldplay announced they've become patrons of ClientEarth, a non-profit environmental law watchdog.

• Watt a car! Congrats to General Motors, whose Chevy Volt was named 2011 Car of the Year by Green Car Journal.
• Egg Foo Lung. The air in Beijing was so dirty last week, the US Embassy officially described it as "crazy bad". Chinese officials prefer to call it "breathtaking".

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Go for a spin! Now that you've turned on the heat, it's time to reverse your ceiling fan. The blades should be revolving in a clockwise direction to push the air up against the ceilings and down the walls. A ceiling fan can help lower energy consumption in the winter by up to 10%; just don't run it when no one's in the room!

• According to Cleantech, e-readers are greener than books...if you really use them!
• The impact of books and e-readers is measured in a variety of categories.
• More people read eBooks on laptops than on e-reader devices. Of course, if you prefer using your phone, there's an app for that.
• If you're giving an e-reader gift for the holidays, you're not alone!
• Amazon has an excellent program for recycling the Kindle.
• The folks who brought you The Story of Stuff made a quick primer on the environmental impact of electronics.
• Chin up, technophobes. PC World has 5 reasons you don't need an e-reader.

OK music lovers, let us know which holiday song we should lip-synch for your viewing pleasure! Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Sarah in NYC needs coffee! We like the French press, percolator and Melitta manual drip for a variety of reasons. As for seasonal essential oils, try cinnamon, clove, orange and peppermint.
• Alex in Cleveland discovered a cool, convenient water bottle alternative: the Vapur Anti-Bottle.
• Trystan at Yahoo! Green chilled us to the bone with a story about a possible chocolate shortage in the future.
• Sarah from Wisconsin employed ChicoBags to make clever shoebox gifts for kids around the world, thanks to Samaritan's Purse.
• Laurel in NYC called our attention to Broadway Green Alliance and their fab fundraisers to help 'green' the theatre industry. Check out Broadway Bands!
• Kati in Chile is spreading the word about us in her adopted country. ¡Gracias!

More Hip Than Hippie #275 - Zero Waste Holidays

Zero Waste Home blogger Bea Johnson shares her ideas for simplifying the holiday season.

Each year, at least 25% more waste is generated during the holiday season than any other time. Stop the madness! Our bonne amie Bea has some tips to help curtail the clutter and trim the trash. Also, Val is caught cupping with the president of Thanksgiving Coffee!

Beer: Healdsburg sits in the heart of CA's wine country, but Ricardo's Red Rocket Ale from Bear Republic Brewery makes a good argument for planting hops instead of vines! It's "aggressively hopped", much to our delight.

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener, Amy in San Diego, sent us Kallari Chocolate's 75% Single Source Organic Ecuador. It's a riot of rich flavors in a smooth, creamy bar. Did we mention their good planet-saving karma? Hall of Fame!

Finds:

• Launderlust. Crank out small loads of dishtowels, diapers or delicates quickly and efficiently with Wonder Wash. This hand-powered machine saves water and requires no electricity. Look for it on Greenfeet soon!
• Jack of Hearts. Congrats to Hipster Hero Jack Johnson, recipient of Billboard's 2010 Humanitarian Award. Will her ever come on our show? We're Sitting, Waiting, Wishing...

• Lead us not... The US EPA has decided not to ban lead in fishing gear, despite support from 70 organizations in 27 states. Um, Happy "National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week" to you, too!
• Dutch treat. The Netherlands is the first country to commit itself to using only sustainable palm oil, by 2015. Goed werk!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Chalk it up! You love to buy fresh produce, but sometimes forget it's in the fridge crisper, right? Try affixing a chalk board or white board to the door of the fridge, then keep a list of the goodies as you load them inside. When you use up that celery or spinach, erase it from the list. No more veggie mush in the produce drawer!

Each year, at least 25% more waste is generated during the holiday season than any other time. Who better to offer tips on trimming the trash than our waste-busting French friend, Bea Johnson? She's gearing up for the holidays with her mantra in mind: Keep It Simple. From food to gifts to decor, let's rethink our rituals!

• Holiday cards and gifts are a major source of trash. Try a Reusable Card with a fabric Wrapsack instead. Bea is a big fan of furoshiki.
• Create new decorations at home! Melt down old candle pieces to make recycled candles. Color them with melted crayons.
• String your popcorn garlands on a living Christmas tree, then plant it in your yard. You can even rent a tree!
• Bea has blogged about papermaking. She recycles scrap paper into stationery, then gives it as gifts.
• A homemade Christmas stocking is perfect for holding small gifts and treats, NOT useless crap!

OK music lovers, let us know which holiday song we should butcher for your listening pleasure! Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Charter Hipster Doug Hilton wants everyone to know he's had his last round of chemo and is cancer-free! That Hipster Mojo is a powerful thing.
• Katie in Texas paid 23¢ for electricity last month, thanks to her solar panels. See if Sungevity can help you go solar at home.
• Chelsea in Georgia stumbled across a clever concept for plastic spray bottles: Replenish.
• Patty in Rhode Island is a frugalista Hipster who finally un-lurked herself. Nice to meet ya!

More Hip Than Hippie #274 - SOS (Save Our Stuff!)

Save money by extending the life of things you already own.

We're all trying to economize these days. Frugalistas know that it's better to use up what you have than to blow big bucks replacing it. The Hipsters share some tips on making your stuff last longer. Also, Val prods Dori to put out for NaNoWriMo!

Beer: From Chico air and soil springs an organic brew beyond compare. Sierra Nevada Brewery's Estate Homegrown Ale is everything we love about beer, in a big-ass bottle. Find some, bite your way through the wax, enjoy!

Chocolate: Pairing nicely with our beer was a bar of Chocolate Santander Columbian Single Origin. At 65% cocao, this dark chocolate would be great to shave over cheesecake or another rich dessert. Thanks again Chris!

Finds:

• Strung out. Rock your wrists with cool bracelets made from the guitar strings of rock gods! WearYourMusic donates a portion of the price to the artist's charity of choice.
• Val's Favorite Thing! A stylish bottle brush that's eco-friendly and easy to use? Got it! The Reach Bottle Brush is made from recycled materials, and cleans inside and out at the same time. Use it on travel mugs, water bottles, jars, even musical beer bottles...
• Play 'Freebird'! While we think Southern Bells is a cool idea, it seems likely that our beer bottle band would disappear faster than Taylor Hicks.
• Give Bees a Chance. A young Washington lad is single-handedly saving the bee population (OK, his mom is helping too). They've created Henry's Stingers, spicy honey varieties that benefit bees.

• Agra Cadabra. A new report by Green Century ranks food and beverage companies in their efforts to remove BPA from product packaging. Props to Heinz, Hain Celestial...and ConAgra?
• What the Dell? Newsweek released their green rankings of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the US. Techies are leading the way.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Bake it easy! Cranking out cupcakes? Instead of expensive paper liners, pour the batter into squares of parchment paper. Costs less, no mess, and all the calories disappear! (OK, we made up that last part.)

We're all trying to economize these days. One way to keep from spending too much money is to extend the life of things you already own. The Hipsters found some spiffy tips for saving stuff like clothing, food, wine, car tires, razor blades, even your Christmas tree!

• Could you go 3 months without washing your jeans? The United Nations hopes so! Instead of machine washing, try soaking them in a tub of mild soap, like Dr. Bronner's.
• Air-drying your clothes on a drying rack is easier on fabric and thread. If you need to wear them right away, throw a couple of dryer balls in the machine to speed up the process.
• Keep your fruits and veggies fresh by figuring out where to store what.
• Leftover wine? Hey, it could happen! Keep air out of the bottle with a specially designed vacuum pump. Or just drink faster.

There are only a few more shows in 2010. What would you like us to talk about? Give us your input at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Sandy in White Plains, NY is flushed with pride at his latest eco-find: the HydroRight Dual Flush converter kit.
• Leanne in Washington is making great green purchases, including Fire & Light recycled glassware for her Thanksgiving feast. Scoop up the lavender pieces before they disappear!
• Leslie in Buffalo, NY managed to make many green choices while biking across the country. (Example: the Diva Cup.) We salute you!