More Hip Than Hippie #240 - Log Homes

Log home living provides a natural energy-efficient habitat with timeless beauty and comfort.

Log homes are often thought to be rustic cabins set on remote mountaintops. They've had a bit of a bad rap from environmentalists, who insist that timber should be left where it stands. The Hipsters get to the root of the controversy with Larry and Sherry Trimboli, owners of Sierra Log Homes in Chico, CA. Also, Val recounts her battle with swine flu (and recommends this to lessen the symptoms)!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We split an easy-drinkin' bottle of Wolaver's Brown Ale from Otter Creek Brewing. Dori took one for the team, quaffing most of the beer for her poor porcine pal Val.

Chocolate: WTF? Another diet chocolate bar? Trader Joe's Simply Lite Dark Chocolate with Almonds wasn't the best low-carb sugar-free bar we've had, but it makes a mighty tasty laxative.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

 

• Val's Favorite Thing! Looking for an American-made gift with plenty of eco-cred? Snuggle up in a vibrant Winter Knit Scarf. The yarn is spun from reclaimed cotton and certified by both Made in Green and Oeko-Tex.
• Cod almighty. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch helps you make the best choices, so you won't have to flounder around the fish market.
• Moby Dick. For a cool $1.6 milion, you can own an armored, jewel-encrusted bulletproof SUV from Russian automaker Dartz. No, that isn't cowhide on the seats; you're sitting on a whale penis.

Hip News

• In the bag. Two of the country's biggest retailers want you to kick the plastic bag habit. Target and CVS have launched reusable bag programs with financial incentives for shoppers.
• Think Tink. The United Nations has named Tinker Bell as its "Honorary Ambassor of Green". So is Peter Pan the ambassador of peanut butter?

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Action figure! As the holiday season begins, take the time to list 5 actions you plan to take to reduce your footprint. Use recycled wrap? Offset travel? Compost your waste? Yule be glad you did!

 

Log Homes

Sierra Log Homes provides materials, design and engineering services.

 

• The preferred material for log homes is dead standing lodgepole pines, which dry out naturally before being harvested from forests.
• Log homes maintain moderate temperatures through thermal mass, making them quite energy efficient.
• Any home can incorporate elements of log home living, like siding and rails.
• Western forests are under attack by mountain pine beetles, which leave behind vast stands of dead trees.
• Larry and Sherry will launch the "Planting It Forward" program with the Arbor Day Foundation in 2010!
• Get more info about the log home lifestyle.

 

Listener E-mails

Whew! Thanks for all the e-mails! Send a question or a compliment to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and swine flu remedies at our MHTH forum! Send Val at least 25 beer caps for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Mary in Memphis, TN wants to recycle her old bras and undies. Bras make great purses and knee pads; undies, not so much.
• Emily in Indiana would like to put CFL globes in her bathroom. Just remember, they take a few moments to warm up!
• Elizabeth in Minnesota (dontcha know!) can't believe the FDA wants us to flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet. Chisago County has a successful takeback program. We agree that manufacturers should step up too.
• Jessica in Washington DC signed up for SmartBrief, a useful (and free) newsfeed focusing on sustainability.
• KC in Korea will cease to be a San Diego Chargers fan if they move to LA! Why is their proposed new stadium exempt from environmental laws?
• Steve in New Jersey loves him some butternut squash soup with spicy green pumpkin seeds, a la Martha Stewart.
• Kate shares the scoop on Seventh Generation's Million Baby Crawl. Join this virtual march to Washington to say "no" to toxins in our homes.
• Alex in Cleveland will argue the case for hemp in his English class essay. Duuuuuude!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Veteran's Day 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.

More Hip Than Hippie #239 - The Great Pumpkin

Americans buy plenty of pumpkins in October, most of which go to waste after Halloween. Consider purchasing and eating locally-grown, organic pumpkins; next year, maybe you can grow your own!

Did you know that 90% of pumpkins sold in the US are used for making Jack-O-Lanterns? Most of those pumpkin parts are thrown out after Halloween, but these nutritious gourds are too good to waste! The Hipsters carve out a few tips for growing, eating and saying goodbye your Great Pumpkin. Linus would approve.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Belgium's Mikkellar Simcoe IPA was OK, but somewhat forgettable. Val's attempt at a Belgian accent? Priceless.

Chocolate: We broke out the backup chocolate this week: Godiva Chocolatier Gems Dark Chocolate Truffles. Again, kinda meh...but the shiny purple foil makes a satisfying crinkly sound.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

 

• Lots of dough. This year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book features some eco-friendly luxuries, like the Mission One electric motorcycle and a chandelier made of plastic bottles. And the $25,000 cupcake car. Yes, the hat's included.
• Novel idea. Already rather eco-friendly, e-readers just turned a shade greener with the new LG Display solar cell e-book. Can you use it at the light-brary?

Hip News

• Say watt? The center of the power universe will be in New Mexico, if the Tres Amigas Superstation goes on as planned. The proposed super hub would streamline the flow of renewable energy.
• Hard times. Struggling financially, one brothel in Berlin is offering discounts to "green" customers who arrive via bike or bus. Still, business is up and down.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Plant some garlic! Find a sunny, weed-free patch and bury the unpeeled cloves about 2 inches down in the ground, pointy end up. Put some mulch on top and let it grow. Your reward will be a bountiful harvest next summer. After pulling the bulbs out of the ground, let them dry for a few days, then braid them together. You'll keep the vampires away for the rest of the year!

 

The Great Pumpkin

Chances are, you'll purchase at least one pumpkin this month. Sales of organic pumpkins are on the rise, but most of the conventionally-grown gourds hail from Illinois...meaning they're quite well-travelled by the time they reach your supermarket. Maybe it's time to think outside the pumpkin shell this Halloween!

• Grow. You can plant pumpkins after the last frost. They need a good 3-4 months of sunshine and lots of room to stretch their vines.
• Feast. Just about any pumpkin is perfectly edible and packed with nutrition . Check out these delicious recipes. Mmmm, Pumpkin Milkshake!
• Bury. This year's pumpkin scraps can help create next year's Jack-O-Lantern! Compost your pumpkin by cutting it into small pieces after removing all the seeds, candle wax and decorations.
• Treat. Don't miss out on the Pumpkin Smash! Get 'em at Jamba Juice, or make your own.

Listener E-mails

** (crickets) ** Hey! What happened to the e-mails? Send a question or a compliment to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and pumpkin recipes at our MHTH forum!

• Jodi in Washington loves her stainless steel French Press mug from Planetary Design. She rocks the Boot Cut design because it's durable and tough to tip over.
• Alisa in New York recommends taking a Navy shower to reduce water consumption. For those less adventurous, we suggest using a shower timer.

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for All Soul's Day 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.

More Hip Than Hippie #238 - Clutter Kills!

Clearing the clutter from your home saves money and time. It could also improve your health and well-being.

We all have bits of clutter spread about the house, right? But left unchecked, those piles of papers and heaps of laundry can quickly get out of control. The Hipsters deliver tips for sorting out your stuff, once and for all! Also, Dori puts up apples and Val is ready for her close-up.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Val broke out another find from her Pacific Northwest Road Trip this summer. Samuel Smith Organic Cherry Ale is so fruit juicy, it could have come from the farmer's market!

Chocolate: Dori's trip to Montana yielded (gulp!) a sugar-free chocolate bar. After a guarantee of goodness from the clerk at the Pan Handler Plus, the Hipsters agreed that ChocoPerfection lived up to the hype. Sweetened with oligofructose and erythritol, it sets the standard for low-carb diet chocolate.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

 

• Val's Favorite Thing! Dry skin in winter? Here's ZUMthing for you...Zum Gentle Facial Cleanser. Made with organic coconut, olive and jojoba, plus lemon and geranium pure essential oils, this fragrant froth is great for all skin types, all year long!
• Noah's Arse. Our little honey Rick Springfield bares his bum on Showtime's comedy "Californication" this month. What does this have to do with living green? Nothing. We just like it.

Hip News

• Seeds of change. Good ol' Monsanto is the focus of a federal antitrust investigation. Seems they may be trying to control the market for seeds. Food Inc., anyone?
• Toxic transaction. A new report claims we're routinely exposed to BPA when we handle plastic-coated paper receipts. Suddenly all that cocaine on your currency doesn't sound so bad.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Push the envelope! The next time you receive mail with a return envelope enclosed, set that extra envelope aside. Use it instead of a bank envelope when you make an ATM deposit. Or, just stick a blank label over the return address and mail a nice letter to your grandma!

Clutter Kills!

We all have bits of clutter spread about the house, right? But left unchecked, those piles of papers and heaps of laundry can quickly get out of control. The result is a stressful home that takes a toll on your time, your money, even your health. A little light cleaning every day helps, but how can you clear that clutter once and for all?

• Stress. Do you think clutter doesn't affect your life? Think again!
• Flow. Combat clutter by guarding against the invasion of stuff.
• Energy. Use the principles of feng shui to keep clutter from blocking your Chi.
• Organize. If you just can't get a handle on it, turn things over to a higher power: Messies Anonymous.
• Priority. If you can only declutter one room in your home, the bedroom should be it!

Listener E-mails

• Michelle in Sydney, Australia sent a link to this and other photos of last month's great dust storm Down Under. She recommends that Hipsters read The Weather Makers by Tim Flannery.
• Alisa in New York wonders if it's OK to toss the water from her dehumidifier out into the yard. Go ahead, Alisa, you're not p*&%ing in the wind!
• Beth in Missouri is kicking her waste company to the curb by reducing, reusing and composting. She also thinks the Wine Cork Trivet kit makes a great gift. We humbly agree.
• Jaimelee in Kentucky loves the holidays. She's passing out Equal Exchange cards for Halloween and eating a local heritage turkey for Thanksgiving.
• Bob in Palm Harbor, FL wants to hear a show about homes made from recycled materials. You mean like this?
• Tina in Texas is greening her office, one utensil at a time. Great job! Thanks for the blog link too. Oh, and we totally think you should steal your friend's porn star name.
• Shout-outs! Thanks to Bruce in Scotland and Chrissy in NC for keeping our inbox warm!

Our inbox runneth over! Keep those e-mails flowing in! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and photos of elusive moose on our MHTH forum!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for United Nations Day, 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.

More Hip Than Hippie #237 - DIY Decor, Part 1

Decorating your home or office for the fall season? Artist Christine Mac Shane tells how to save money when you do it yourself.

Now that autumn has arrived, bring the best of the outdoors inside! Look to nature for inspiration in your decor. The Hipsters shake down the "House Whisperer" herself, Christine Mac Shane, for crafty ideas that won't break the bank. Also, Val provides the first bad Halloween joke of the year while Dori goes in search of Val's elusive moose!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We found Blue Heron Pale Ale from Portland's Bridgeport Brewing Co. to be very drinkable, but not roadtrip-worthy.

Chocolate: There's bacon in our chocolate! Vosges Haut Chocolat created Mo's Milk Chocolate Bacon Bar with applewood smoked bacon, alder wood smoked salt and milk chocolate (41% cacao). Val had a porkgasm.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

 

• Wood you, could you... Slice up some twigs and attach them to a pot with RooWood glue. Easy, right? You just created a Vivified Vase. Congratulations. Have a cookie.
• ...in the park? What is the deepest lake in the United States? You'd know if you read these Surprising Facts About National Parks. Because there's no such thing as too much trivia.

Hip News

• Just beet it. Hipster Hero Judge Jeffrey White has ruled that Monsanto's Roundup Ready GMO beets cannot run rampant across the land.
• Recycled Oil. To draw attention to global warming, more than 55 celebrities will join to record a remake of Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning. Get your free download starting Oct.1st.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Shelluva tip! Listener Jenny repurposes those annoying plastic packaging shells that encase so many toys these days. She uses them as plaster molds for arts and crafts! Their detailed shapes make cute Christmas ornaments and other crafty items. Just recycle them when you're done.

 

DIY Decor, Part 1

Hang on, we're headed "outside the box" as local Chico artist and designer Christine Mac Shane offers up a veritable cornucopia of decorating ideas for fall! Think grapevines, pine cones, black paint and glitter...

• Star. Christine graces the Chico airwaves every week with her decorating segment, Welcome Home.
• Afar. While spending time in Japan, she became a fan of furoshiki as an eco-friendly alternative to gift wrap.
• Bar. No, it's not her porn star name; Violet Crumble is Aussie Christine's fave chocolate.

Listener E-mails

We feel the love! Keep those e-mails flowing in! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and lame Halloween jokes on our MHTH forum!

• Trystan at Yahoo! Green is bursting with homemade holiday tips. Check out her craft cred.
• Greg in Pennsylvania recommends Kitchen Literacy by Ann Vileisis to readers interested in the origins of our food culture.
• Patrick in NC shares another good reason to plant trees.
• Steve in New York invites Hipsters to his solo eco-art show at Midoma Gallery.
• Moises in Hong Kong put the lime in the coconut with his smoothie recipe. He shares more raw vegan recipes on his blog. Muchos besos y abrazos, Moy!
• Shout-outs! Thanks to Trevor, Kim and everyone else who sent us pity e-mails. We love you, man!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Dori'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.

More Hip Than Hippie #236 - Permaculture 101

Permaculture systems build sustainability into all aspects of human existence.

Lazy gardeners, rejoice! There's a school of thought that embraces the idea of letting nature take its course in your yard. Permaculture looks at systems like landscaping and agriculture holistically, working with the land instead of against it. The Hipsters enlist local experts Meagan Fischer and Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper to explain this land design concept that puts "the designer in the recliner"! Also, Val busts out some Latin and Dori makes a nomination for the Porn Star Name Hall of Fame.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Uh-oh, malt face! Val curled a lip after sipping Titan IPA from Great Divide Brewing Co. Not as hoppy as most India Pale Ales, so we were a bit unhoppy with it.

Chocolate: Yes! Rich and crumbly, the Coconut Macaroon Truffle Bar with sea salt and dark chocolate rocked our socks. Note to Seattle Chocolates: we read the ingredients, so you might want to rethink calling it "all natural"!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

 

• Val's Favorite Thing! Add some pizazz to your place settings with Vintage Flatware. Each 5-piece set is unique, with hand-selected utensils that go together...but don't exactly match! Silver plating gives them all a sophisticated sheen. Great gifts!
• The Big Chill. What should you do with those leftover spices? Egg whites? Wine? Freeze 'em! Check out these Clever Uses for Ice Cube Trays.

Hip News

• Inhale to the Chief. The EPA is set to review Bush-era smog standards. Some of the nation's largest public health groups think they may have "misunderestimated" the science.
• Last call. Climate change poses a threat to the quality of our beer. This time, it's personal.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Listener Molly cuts the pockets from her boyfriend's cargo pants to use as storage containers. They're useful to hold small craft items, or for makeup organizers on the go. They also come in handy as sleep compartments for her pet degus!

 

Permaculture 101

"...if you're a scientist, you could liken it [permaculture] to a miraculous wardrobe in which you can hang garments of any science or any art and find they're always harmonious with, and in relation to, that which is already hanging there. It's a framework that never ceases to move, but that will accept information from anywhere." - Bill Mollison, co-founder of the world-wide permaculture movement.

• What. The term permaculture is short not only for "permanent agriculture", but also "permanent culture".
• Who. Two Aussies, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, wrote the book on permaculture.
• Where. The Chico Permaculture Guild is one of many such organizations in communities across the globe.
• How. Become certified as a permaculture designer through a course of study.
• Visit Stephanie's business, Gaia Creations. Read about Meagan in the Chico News & Review.

Listener E-mails

Hello, is this thing on? We need e-mails! Send a question or a lovenote to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and photos of your degu on our MHTH forum!

• Angela in Connecticut loves to make reusable luminaries for the holidays. Delightfully crafty!
• Molly in Cincinnati needs to replace her rusty baking sheet. Happily, Greenfeet will soon carry enamelware that will make all your baking dreams come true. By the way, Sextus Bighorn? Really?

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Native American Day 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.