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.