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 News

• Cash 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 Greenie™

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.