More Hip Than Hippie #267 - Pimp My Shrimp!

Shrimp trawling accounts for one third of global seafood bycatch.

Shrimp is the world's most valuable seafood, but many other creatures die in the process of getting it to our dinner plates. Poor practices by fisheries and farms take an unacceptable toll. Dori and Val dive into the effects of bycatch and what consumers can do to protect sea life.

Beer: The angels sing! Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has released their fall offering, Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale. Rich with light malty smoothness, this brew will pair nicely with those warm soups and hearty meals that we can't bear to think about in July.

Chocolate: Val forgot the chocolate. And the angels wept.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! For fans of the farmer's market, ChicoBag presents the new Produce Stand collection. The starter kit includes 3 easy-to-tote reusable bags, each designed to optimize freshness.
• Cold comfort. Do you leave the ceiling fan on when you're not in the room? FAIL! Here are 5 air-conditioning myths, busted.
• Roadkill swill. A Scottish brewer is selling 12 bottles of the world's strongest beer...inside the bodies of dead animals. Hare of the dog, anyone?

• Hot, fat and crowded. Due to climate change, squirrels are getting fatter and having more babies. And probably watching more daytime TV.
• Sea change. President Obama has established a new national ocean policy, which will provide a framework for "eco-system based" stewardship of our waterways.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Show off your six-pack! When you finish off that sixth bottled beverage, don't throw out the cardboard carrier--use it as a handy tote for condiments! Fill each compartment with fixin's for burgers and hot dogs, or with spoons and forks wrapped in napkins. Val got this idea from a brewery (surprise!).

Listener Amy in San Diego writes:

I've been reading books about the food system lately, and right now I'm working my way through Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I wanted to share an interesting tibdit I learned about "bycatch." Bycatch is actually a euphemism for sea creatures that are caught by commercial fisherman that they don't want.

• Fish, turtles, seabirds and other animals suffer the effects of bycatch.
• Concerned scientists are designing fishing gear to reduce seafood bycatch.
• The Monterey Bay Aquarium points you to sustainable choices with their downloadable Seafood Watch pocket guide. Check out their app for your iPhone.
• Speaking of the Aquarium, Dori found her new favorite sea creature there: the Leafy Sea Dragon!

• Emily in Tennessee knows that the one thing missing from your martini is...seafood! No problem, thanks to Alaska Distillery's Smoked Salmon Vodka. Go ahead, drink like a fish.
• Meredith in New Orleans wants PJ's for her teenie weenie greenie, but doesn't want flame-retardant chemicals. Check out Carter's, or just stick with t-shirts and sweats!
• Gabrielle in Oregon needs ideas for inexpensive trinkets for her summer camp. Try making necklaces from recycled wine corks or recycled wood blocks. Send pics!
• Elizabeth in St. Paul, MN shares another side of the raw milk debate.
• Brigid in Chicago watched Fast Food Nation and now wonders where her organic grass-fed beef is processed. Organic meat is processed separately; ask your farmer for details.
• Katie in Toronto (eh!) wants to feel good about eating bananas, and hopes this article will help.
• Amy in Massachusetts cuts her sugar usage by mixing it with a bit of stevia. Her fave tea recipe: 5 bags of Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea, 2 bags of Peppermint tea, a little stevia. Amy, look at this!
• Suzana in Canada (eh!) is looking for tips on green entertaining. Try some of Trystan's Tips, and stayed tuned for an upcoming show on that topic.