More Hip Than Hippie #296 - Transition Towns

The Transition movement represents one of the most promising ways of engaging people and communities to take the far-reaching actions that are required to mitigate the effects of peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis.

Do you live in a Transition Town? Would you like to? Dori & Val chat with Carolyne Stayton of Transition US to learn why transition is necessary, and fun! Also, the Hipsters rewrite Auld Lang Syne and contemplate Canadian porn.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Our new Favorite Listener is Blythe in Sonoma County, CA! She kicked down a big-ass bottle of Gold Digger IPA from NorCal's Auburn Alehouse. The robust hop flavor is enough to start another gold rush! Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: Blythe also sent along a box of assorted artisan oddities from Sonoma Chocolatiers. We've never experienced goat cheese or garlic in chocolate before. We may never again. But we're Hall of Faming the adventure! (Tip: pair these with red wine, not beer.) Dori: 6 hips; Val: 6 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Klean Kanteen presents their fabulous new Stainless Steel Pint Glass, and Greenfeet offers a 4-pack to get the party started. They're perfect outdoors; unlike a Red Solo Cup, you can use them again and again. Cheers!
• Saddle up. Ready to put away some pasta? I Could Eat a Horse spaghetti measuring tool gauges your noodle needs on a scale of Skinny to Whinny!
• Yule love these. Time for some alternative holiday tunes from Yule Logs and Lascivious Biddies.

Hip News

• Paws for a Cause. This year's biggest superhero is Daniel, the cat with 26 toes. By chipping in a dollar per toe, Milwaukee residents helped to save Daniel's home, an animal rescue center.
• FacePeace. Friend request accepted! Facebook and Greenpeace have agreed to work together promoting renewable energy, after the social media giant agreed to power its data centers with clean energy instead of coal.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Roll Your Own!Val's latest obsession is paper flowers, rolled from old book pages, magazine pages, even sheet music. They make great gifts, and all that rolling keeps your hands out of the candy box.

Transition Towns

"The Transition Movement is a vibrant, grassroots movement that seeks to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. It represents one of the most promising ways of engaging people in strengthening their communities against the effects of these challenges, resulting in a life that is more abundant, fulfilling, equitable and socially connected."

• Carolyne Stayton is the Executive Director of Transition US. Her job: Supporting communities in the US to become more resilient and enjoy doing it!
• The movement's founder, Rob Hopkins, was inspired by the film The End of Suburbia.
• There are 12 Ingredients of the transition model. They are not meant to be implemented in numerical order.
• The Transition Network facilitates initiatives all over the world.
• Great resources for starting a transition initiative in your town include the Transition Handbook, the Transition Companion, and the website's Knowledge Hub.

Listener E-mails

Your New Year's Resolution: email your Hipsters! Let us hear from you at hip@greenfeet.com. Save big at Greenfeet's Holiday Sale! Check out our blog!

• Aimee in New York has an idea for those wanting carbonated water without the messy cartridges: try water kefir. It's a healthy soda substitute.
• Alison in North Carolina shares a story about IKEA installing solar panels in the South.
• Druanna in New York would like an update on the benefits and drawbacks of agave, and turns us on to ethically-sourced True Source Honey.
• Kalah in Oregon warns that genetically modified chocolate is in our future. Look for the organic, fair-trade stuff.
• Ann in North Carolina will be living without a stove, oven or kitchen sink for a while. Take a few survival cues from those who have survived a kitchen remodel.
• Ron in New Mexico shared a TWG on our Facebook page: Instead of using stir sticks in your coffee, just add your cream and sugar to the cup first, then swirl. Ask your coffeehouse to use a sugar dispenser instead of packets, too. Thanks Ron!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Kwanzaa or any day!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow Val on Twitter: GrnDiva, at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook!

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

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #295 - Waste-Free Wonderland

A zero-waste lifestyle can save you money and make a profit this holiday season.

Most of us generate about 25% more trash during the holidays. What if cutting back on waste could put money in your pocket? Blogger Bea Johnson returns with tips to make it happen. Also, Val adopts a Nerf gun and Dori is #winning the Christmas card competition (yes, there is one!).

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We enjoyed our last beer from Highwater Brewing so much, we decided to go back for more. Good call! Their Pom Cherry Bomb Specialty Ale was a summer release that transcends seasons. The delightful sweet cherry/tart pomegranate combo pairs brilliantly with plain chocolate. Dori: 5 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: Our New Favorite Listener is Kelly in Washington, who sent a whole care package of her local faves! First up: Seattle Chocolates Pike Place Espresso Truffle bar, a seamless blend of flavors inside a creamy dream. Dori: 5 hips Val: 5 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Grow To Go. Our friends in the UK can send this Edible Festive Bouquet of herbs to foodie folks. Why can't we find this in the US?
• Easy Rider. Daimler is driving into the carshare pool with Car2Go, an all-electric service focusing on convenience. Now in Amsterdam and San Diego, it's going big next year.
• Live and Let Fry. Sir Paul McCartney has released The Meat-Free Monday Cookbook in support of his vegetarian campaign.

Hip News

• Shopping list. The Daily Green gives you permission to pass up the organics aisle when you purchase their Clean 15 foods, which are low in pesticide residue. Save your money for organic versions of the Dirty Dozen.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

From Zero Waste Bea: Use your sink strainer! Keeping bits of food waste out of the garbage disposal saves water and electricity. Empty the contents of the strainer into your kitchen compost bin or feed it to the critters.

Waste-Free Wonderland

Did you know that cutting back on household waste can not only save money, but also make a profit? Our amie Bea Johnson explains. Feel free to gaze at her hunky husband.

• Bea and her family hit the big-time in Sunset magazine!
• On Bea's blog, The Zero Waste Home, she lays out a plan for making it though the holidays waste-free, and making a little cash.
• She is a big fan of using furoshiki and reusable bags instead of gift wrap.
• By using a gift registry, we can make sure our gifts are truly appreciated.
• She makes Elf Yourself videos to share with family and friends.
• Bea uses principles of collaborative consumption, as outlined in the book What's Mine is Yours.
• Her family uses BRB Vacation Rentals to fill their house when they're away.
• Some food for thought from Bea: her posts on Decluttering and Heirloom Guilt.
• She left us hungry for Welsh rarebit and thirsty for Morpho!

Listener E-mails

Hurry! You could win a $100 Greenfeet gift card! As always, you can let us know about your questions, stories or green triumphs at hip@greenfeet.com. Want to be a Greenfeet Ambassador? Reach out and touch Val@greenfeet.com! Check out our blog!

• Kelly in Washington (our Favorite Listener!) loves her insulated Klean Kanteen with the cafe cap. She also recommends Moving Boxes Made Green or a similar service to cut back on waste when you relocate. Hey Kelly, we found Gary Gnu on Facebook! 
• Sophie in England shares the brilliant beer delivery horses used by Wadworth brewery. Eat your heart out, Budweiser!
• Karen in South Carolina wants to make sparkling water at home, but doesn't want to deal with replacement cartridges. Does anyone know of a hand-cranked carbonator?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Christmas, Hanukkah or any day!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow Val on Twitter: GrnDiva, at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook!

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

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #294 - Hipstah Mitzvah

Linda Cohen is the author of 1,000 Mitzvahs: How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire and Change Your Life.

It's the season of Thanksgiving here in the US, so the Hipsters turn to longtime listener Linda Cohen for a lesson in the power of kindness. Find out how a painful loss turned into guide to gratitude. Also, Val gets stuffed on her birthday and a holiday tribute reappears!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Hall of Fame! Highwater Brewing is one of the Bay Area's newest breweries, but they know their stuff. No Boundaries IPA has a fresh hops aroma, no bitterness...and a delicious secondary flavor they won't identify. A big-ass bottle of hoppiness! Dori: 6 hips; Val: 6 hips

Chocolate: You can always count on Equal Exchange to produce a decent organic, fair-trade treat. Chocolate Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt is a new offering that's finely flavored, but lacking that smooth mouth-feel we crave. Dori: 4 hips Val: 4 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Need a truly functional conversation piece for the kitchen? Try the All Forked Up Salt & Pepper Shaker. Made in the USA, these cleverly crafted spoons will 'shake up' any meal!
• Potty mouth. We missed World Toilet Day on November 19th, but Matt Damon didn't. And this isn't the first time we've heard him talk dirty.
• Me talk dirty one day. Author David Sedaris left his mark on Chico too!

Hip News

• Pachydorable. When Chhouk the elephant was found mangled in a poacher's trap, experts fashioned a jumbo false foot. Awwww!
• Wonderful world. The votes are in, and the New 7 Wonders of Nature have been revealed. (Val & Dori came in 8th.)

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Attitude of Gratitude! At Thanksgiving or anytime, let the good feelings flow by hosting a Gratitude Party. Provide slips of paper so guests can write a complimentary note to each other, then put them in individual containers to take home. Gratitude is really the gift that keeps on giving!

Hipstah Mitzvah

It's the season of Thanksgiving here in the US, so the Hipsters turn to longtime listener/new author Linda Cohen for a lesson in the power of kindness. Remember, gestures don't have to be grand, time-consuming or expensive to transform a life!

• What the heck is a mitzvah?
• Jews are commanded to observe 613 mitzvot. Linda provides another 1,000 for good measure!
• Visit her blog and buy her book, 1,000 Mitzvahs.
• If she's inspired you to do good works, get started with VolunteerMatch.
• Linda is also a devoted fan of ChicoBags!

Listener E-mails

We're grateful for our listeners! Let us hear from you at hip@greenfeet.com. Want to be a Greenfeet Ambassador? Reach out and touch Val@greenfeet.com! Check out our blog!

1. Michele in Arizona loves her Fagor Duo pressure cooker/canner, but has a caveat for those ready to pursue pressure canning. Listener Karen tried microwave canning. Can you use a grill?
2. Kevin in Texas found a cool method to spray oils and sauces. And yes, we have the perfect BPA-free bottle!
3. Donna in England shares videos of the Pacific Garbage Patch, and a chap who exemplifies Low Waste Living.
4. Tom in England assures us that a pumpkin is a fruit, not a veggie. (heh heh...you said ovary!)

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Thanksgiving or any day!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow Val on Twitter: GrnDiva, at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook!

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

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #291 - How To Be Car-Free!

Cars are convenient, but they're not always worth the overall cost of ownership.

Cars. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. Or can you? The Hipsters chat with Trystan Bass, Senior Editor at Yahoo! Green, who has never owned a car. How does she do it? (Planning, research and organization!) Also, Dori and Val deliver a Major Announcement.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Ay caramba! Chili Pepper Spicy Ale from Six Rivers Brewery brings the heat! A fine wheat ale made with a blend of real peppers, this brew is in a category all its own. Split the big-ass bottle with a friend and pair it with a plain chocolate. Dori: 4 hips; Val: 5 hips

Chocolate: Sometimes less really is more. E. Guittard single origin Tsaratana 61% Semisweet is a beautifully balanced bar that melts in your mouth. Dori: 5 hips Val: 5 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Need to clean your cucumbers? Wash your walnuts? Scrub your squash? Try Organic Chico Produce & Nut Wash, a home-grown product making its debut with Greenfeet! A citric acid blend renders your food virtually germ-free without any chlorine. Mix up a batch from concentrate and wash your worries away.
• Placebook. Listener Rob turned us on to OhSoWe, a place where real neighbors can virtually interact to build a sense of community. It's like a 21st-century block party.

Hip News

• Meltdown. The European Union has devised a long-term plan for managing nuclear waste. Unfortunately, it involves shifting the waste to poorer nations.
• Pass on the gas. Washington state is building electric vehicle charging stations as part of an effort to create a West Coast Green Highway from Canada to Mexico.
• Bagging on plastic. The city of Portland, Oregon is the latest to ban plastic bags! Sign ChicoBag's petition to fight the lawsuit brought by the plastic bag industry.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Get the red out! To keep tomato-based sauces from staining your plastic containers, just coat the container with a light spritz of cooking spray.

How To Be Car-Free!

How does one manage to live in the suburbs without an automobile? Hipster Trystan Bass has done so for over twenty years. She utilizes carpools and public transit, telecommutes, and plans her decisions around transportation. Instead of making car payments, she indulges in the things she enjoys. Could you make the leap to a car-free life?

• It's never been easier to plan your life around the bus or subway schedule. Try the SMART-WAY public transit app.
• For out-of-the-way trips, rent a Zipcar.
• Find out if your town is easy to navigate on foot. Walk Score has done the legwork.
• Rather than lugging groceries around, try an online shopping and delivery service like Peapod.
• Studies find that shopping online is greener than traditional retail, in most cases.
• Subway commuters in South Korea use a virtual supermarket for shopping on the go!
• Greenfeet's new Eat & Drink category is filled with goodies that will be delivered to your doorstep.
• Can you stand to know what your car is really costing you? Try the TCO calculator.
• One thing Trystan likes to do with all that extra money: Travel!

Listener E-mails

We may be on hiatus, but we'd still love to hear from you! Ask a question, share a story or gloat about your green triumphs at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Donna in the UK has discovered the joys of hemp! She now loads up on goodies from the Hemp Shop. Anyone know a natural product to waterproof her backpack?
• Kathleen in California found evidence that flushing kitty litter is harmful to sea otters. Back in the box, Fluffy!
• Kelly in Washington gives her Nook that "book smell" with a cool leather cover from Oberon Designs, made in the USA.
• Ridley in Idaho has a Hipster Call to Action: Encourage Fed Ex Office stores to recycle paper, by contacting district and regional managers. Vote with your dollar!
• Jeff in Vermont has the scoop on InsectShield. Its active ingredient is Permethrin, a derivative of the daisy plant.
• Michelle in Pennsylvania recommends reading Chick Days by Jenna Woginrich. Another good chicken book is Joel Salatin's Pastured Poultry Profits. Have fun at the U2 concert!
• Karen in South Carolina is concerned about maggots in her compost. Just tighten the lid and keep the flies out.
• Lynda in Florida wonders if we still hate all canned beer. No, we've come to love a few. We also love your chickens, One and Two!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Switzerland Day or any day!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow Val on Twitter: GrnDiva, at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook!

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

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.

More Hip Than Hippie #290 - Fueling the Future

Looking thirty years into the future, fossil fuels will no longer be able to power our world. What is likely to replace them?

The Hipsters face a post-petroleum world with an overview of current energy sources and their future prospects. Also, Farmageddon comes to Chico!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: As fruity beers go, Abita Brewing Co.'s bland Strawberry Harvest Lager didn't offer much punch. Perhaps it pairs well with cheese, but it lacks the flavor to stand alone. Dori: 3 hips; Val: 4 hips

Chocolate: Tony in Chicago continues his reign as Our Favorite Listener with another winning dark chocolate bar. Kallari 75% Single Source Organic Chocolate is bold but not bitter, and big enough to share! Dori: 5 hips Val: 5 hips.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! She learned to swirl, sniff, slurp and swallow California Olive Ranch EVOO. Now she's carrying it at Greenfeet! Check out the Everyday EVOO, Select Artois and Select Oroville for a flavorful and nutritious kitchen staple.
• Can they make a tiara? Those jaunty metal caps are the crowning glory of any bottle of beer. Now, the Craft Beer Cap Hat Band lets you wear them atop your own crown.
• Just one more thing... Val's boyfriend Peter Falk passed away, and PETA saw fit to honor him for his animal rights activism. On another note, they also named 2011'a Sexiest Celeb Vegetarians (Columbo wasn't on the list).

Hip News

• A-fjordable healthcare? A Swedish study finds that pollutants are linked to diabetes. We find that Swedish studies are linked to Muppet impersonations.
• The future's so bright... Our local Butte Community College made history this month by going grid positive with solar energy. Maybe that's how alum Aaron Rodgers got that megawatt smile!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

In the bin! Make it easy for your summertime guests to recycle. Set up clearly-marked outdoor bins in your yard and leave them in place all season.

Fueling the Future

Looking thirty years into the future, fossil fuels will no longer be able to power our world. What is likely to replace them? In the article Energy: the new thirty years war, world security expert Michael Klare sizes up the current prospects.

• The governor of New York is poised to lift a ban on fracking in the state.
• Flood waters have breached the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station in Nebraska.
• Coastal areas can tap the technology of wave energy.
• Several governments are interested in Malta's smart grid, implemented by IBM.
• The bottom line for us all: maximum energy efficiency, all the time. Do the work!

Listener E-mails

It doesn't take much energy to send us an email! Ask a question, share a story or just unlurk at hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our blog!

• Lee Ann in Texas bought a fuel efficient car with the help of a program called AirCheck Texas, dedicated to getting gas-guzzlers off the road. She gave her new car an amazingly awesome name.
• Elizabeth in Minnesota wonders what to do with her compost during the frigid winter months. Let it freeze, and consider starting an indoor system too.
• Christine in Arizona accidentally bought a buff treated with Insect Shield. Ask for the MSDS and let us know what's in it!
• Sebastian in the Netherlands is thrilled that his employer, Capgemini, is encouraging green living. Could they be Hipsters?
• Alison in N. Carolina was one of several listeners to share the story of in.gredients, a zero-packaging grocery store in Austin. Neat-o indeed!
• Katie in Texas is taking green steps with her new Teenie Weenie Greenie, and learned that drinking Guinness encourages breast milk production. Slainte!
• Whitney in Colorado wrote a post about us in her blog, Trust Your Gut Nutrition. Mwah!
• Samantha in Missouri unlurked to share her green lifestyle changes. We love you and your beer-brewing hubby!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Bastille Day or any day!

Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow Val on Twitter: GrnDiva, at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook!

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

More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.