More Hip Than Hippie #262 - Makin' Bacon

Llano Seco Rancho manager Dave Sieperda touts the benefits of sustainable farming and organic pork.

Oh yes, there's a difference between organic and conventional meats. The Hipsters chew the fat with ranch manager Dave Sieperda as he explains how his sustainable operation works, why organic meat is more expensive and why it's better to produce bacon from happy pigs. Also, Val talks uniboobs and rock star toes while Dori searches for a bottle opener.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Don't hate us because we're Chicoans! Sierra Nevada has finally bottled their Crystal Wheat, calling it Old Chico...but it's only available here. Um, road trip?

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener, Brenda in Minneapolis, made our day with healthy, organic Fair Trade Innercalm In-Fused chocolate from Intelligent Nutrients. Thank you for sending along copies of David Wagner's "Life as a Daymaker".

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Vampire slayer. The adorable Bugplug uses sensors in its "eyes" and "tummy" to power down your energy-sucking gadgets. This award-winning concept won't hit the market until a company adopts it.
• Oil for one, one for oil. Aspirin? Dice? Umbrellas? Check out the Daily Green's list of 60 surprising products made from oil.

Hip News:

• Nonscents. Top-selling fragrances for men & women often contain secret chemicals that could harm you, according to a new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. That's right, Halle Berry and J. Lo could be disrupting your hormones.
• Power pants. Japan's population is aging, which means fewer baby diapers and more adult diapers. One company is turning the grand-nappies into biomass fuel pellets for heating.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Branch out! If you need a trellis in your garden, fashion one from tree branches and jute twine. Grab some shapely branches from your own or a neighbor's tree, string twine between them and let your vines climb.

 

Makin' Bacon

Consumers know that organics usually taste better, but there's more to the story. Dave Sieperda is the manager of Llano Seco Rancho, a sustainable farming operation here in Northern California. Dave explains how his operation works, why organic meat is more expensive and why it's better to produce bacon from happy pigs!

• Dave manages the beautiful 18,000 acre Llano Seco Rancho in Butte County, CA. The ranch has been family-owned since 1861.
• Dave follows organic practices that are better for the animal, the land and the consumer.
• Can organic farming feed the world? The debate continues.

Listener E-mails

• Rob in Kentucky posted this cartoon on our Facebook page. We had to share.
• Carrie in PA fears that her beloved soy candles source back to Monsanto. Sorry to say, it's probably true...can you learn to love beeswax?
• Annie in Calistoga bought a recycled vinyl bag from Elbow Grease Designs and loves it!
• Sarah in NYC needs a big Klean Kanteen and some good glass containers. She also shares Green My Parents for the kiddos, and 1BOG for group solar discounts.
• Chrissy in NC is excited to find a great way to reuse non-stick pans: cool birdhouses!
• Elizabeth in Minnesota uses rhubarb in lentil soups and dal. That sounds yummy...and so does this pie! (Thanks Janis!)
• Melinda in SC passes along recipes for making your own soap, lotion and deodorant.
• Sebastien in Montreal (eh!) watched "Food Inc." and promptly joined a CSA and a co-op. Bon idée!
• Emily in Tennessee discovered a delectable delicacy in a homebrew magazine: Bacon Beer. Let the angels sing.

 

Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes!

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.