Stevia - The Bittersweet Story

Stevia-based sweeteners are touted as "natural", but often don't bear much resemblance to the plant itself.

You've seen "stevia" in the supermarket and on beverage labels, under a variety of names. Is it safe? Who put these sweeteners on the market? The Hipsters respond to a listener request for details and discover a bit of controversy. Find out how a little plant from Paraguay became the object of corporate lust and regulatory wrangling!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Rejoice! Sierra Nevada Brewery celebrates 30 years of excellence with the first in a series of collaborations. Fritz & Ken's Ale is a smooth dark stout produced with Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing Co. We're in heaven!

Chocolate: The beer paired very well with a bar of Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Cacao Nibs. Rich in texture, this ethically traded treat is perfect to share with a friend.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Get glowing with an exfoliating Honey Face Mask. Made from unfiltered orange blossom honey and pure essential oils, this truly natural mask hydrates skin and even tastes great! Coupod: Save 15% on this product by entering Greenfeet promo code BEESKNEES at checkout! Order by March 31, 2010.
• Where the wild things are. Ready for "Rebel Monkeys" and "Thunderbeast"? The Nat Geo Wild channel premieres in the US on March 29th. Rawr!

Hip News

• Fanplastic. Scientists have developed a new plastic that can be recycled more than once.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Purl of wisdom! From Listener Liz: "Knitters, check out local thrift stores for sweaters you can recycle! There are a ton of tutorials online for this. Many stores don't know what they have, and you can find good quality cashmere, wool and other fibres that can be dismantled and reknit into wonderful new projects!"

 

Stevia - The Bittersweet Story

Adam in Sevierville, TN writes:

"I heard your podcast on fake sugars, and know to stay away from them. But I've been wondering about the no calorie natural sweeteners like the Stevia plant. Are these safe? Will they destroy my insides, or are they like some crazy drug?"

• A member of the chrysanthemum family, Stevia rebaudiana is also known as sweet leaf.
• Stevia is sold only as a dietary supplement, not a sweetener, because the FDA says it's an unsafe food additive.
• Two popular sweeteners, Truvia and PureVia, are produced by processing a part of the stevia leaf, rebiana (or Reb A).
• When the FDA granted their petition to approve rebiana as a sweetener in 2008, food giant Cargill Inc. partnered with Coca-Cola to make Truvia, while sweetener giant Merisant partnered with PepsiCo to make PureVia. Enliten Reb A sweetener is made by Corn Products International.
• A study by WHO found that stevia is not only safe, but also potentially beneficial for treating hypertension (page 45).
• You can find pure stevia extract in products like NuStevia. Better yet, grow your own!

Listener E-mails

• Sandy in New York defuzzes his face with an eco-friendly straight edge razor, plus the old-fashioned soap mug and brush. We approve.
• Bridget in Chicago is excited to volunteer at the Green Festival in May. She also needs to find green attractions in the Napa/Sonoma region...anyone? Bueller?
• Rich in San Diego wants students to know they can buy and sell textbooks at online marketplace ValoreBooks.
• Kate in Wisconsin shared a funny and inspiring article about Bea, a blogger who lives with zero waste.
• Alex in Denmark returns! He and his girlfriend Inger created this animation video to promote his environmental art exhibition in Odense. Wish we could be there!
• Liz in Ottawa (eh!) unlurked herself with a novella about progressive dinner parties, upcycled art and DIY weddings. Thanks for the Teenie Weenie Greenie too!

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 #255 - Geoengineering

As the rate of global warming accelerates, more politicians and pundits propose geoengineering as a possible remedy.

Fighting pollution with pollution? That's the idea behind Solar Radiation Management, which is a form of geoengineering. At the request of a listener, the Hipsters shine a light on this somewhat controversial concept and its consequences. Also, Val prepares to entertain a houseful of stinky 12-year-olds, while Dori gets her Beatlemajesty on!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: To say that our beer and chocolate didn't pair well this week would be an understatement. Kirin Ichiban Special Premium Reserve's light flavor might taste great with an Asian meal, but it's not one we'd grab out of the cooler.

Chocolate: On the other end of the spectrum is Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Lover's 85% cacao chocolate bar. Highly edible and much smoother than you'd think. Thanks to Charter Hipster Alison in NC, who sent this along with some lovely handcrafted goodies. Mwah!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Colored bowtie. That's one of the things to watch for when you play Oscar Bingo during the Academy Awards show. We got that square, thanks to Robert Downey Jr.
• Frozen assets. What do candles, batteries, panty hose and cheap booze have in common? Among other things, you can freeze them to save money!

Hip News

• Hot air. Our hard-working reps in Congress are trying to gut the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. We can't let the poor coal industry suffer, right?
• Orange crush. Officials in the city of Orange, CA get a big raspberry! They're suing a couple for replacing their water-guzzling lawn with drought-tolerant landscaping.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Sow there! Spring is coming, so take the time to plant something. Whether it's a starter for your garden or some herbs in your windowsill, it's a valuable opportunity to begin sourcing your own food.

 

Geoengineering - The Sky is Falling

Christy in Bend, OR writes:

I have a potential show idea for you. I have recently been learning about cloud seeding or "geoengineering" and all of the aluminum it is introducing into our water tables. There is a movement afoot in the government to fast track legislation that would encourage more of this short-sighted solution to global warming. I am really surprised so few conscious and conscientious people know about this issue.

• Definition. "Geoengineering is the intentional large scale manipulation of the global environment..."
• Method. Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is a controversial cloud-seeding technique used to mimic volcanic eruptions.
• Effects. Any attempt to artificially mitigate climate change will have ramifications.
• Politics. The Obama administration and other governments haven't ruled out using it as an emergency measure.
• Statement. The American Meteorological Society calls for more research and urges caution.
• Alarm. Some people feel strongly that the government is already using SRM, as evidenced by chemtrails in the sky.
• Support. Proponents of geoengineering research include billionaire Bill Gates.
• Solutions. Other ideas for climate mitigation include carbon scrubbers and biochar.

Listener E-mails

• Rachel in Virginia wants to start a CSA with a grant from Pepsi Refresh. Vote for her project!
• Jenn in NC discovered she's a "yellow D" when it comes to energy efficiency. Find your score by taking the quiz at A Simple Switch.
• Tom in the UK think aspiring vegetarians will love DeliciousTV. He also shares info about town dollars and plugs his buddies at the Broken Spoke in Courtenay, BC, Canada (eh!).
• Lisa in New Jersey loves cloth napkins and shows you how to make them on her blog.
• Sara in Virginia found a cool way to reuse old fur coats: donate them to the HSUS for wildlife in need.
• George in Colorado wonders if Greenfeet will start selling chocolate soon. Sweet idea!
• Sue wants an update on biofuels. Our last stab at the topic was an interview with Springboard Biodiesel. (Vote for their Pepsi Refresh idea too!)

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 #254 - Sustainable Community

Sustainability: A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community...and an Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon be Like by Stuart W. Rose, Ph.D. offers guidance on how and why to live sustainably.

The Hipsters chat with Dr. Rose (we get to call him Stu!) about his sustainable community of homes in Virginia, as well as his ideas for navigating societal changes that may be coming our way. Also, Dori and Val prepare for the release of 4 new beers from Sierra Nevada Brewery! Life is good.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: More easy-drinkin' brew from the Big Easy. Abita Beer's Fall Fest has a great taste for any season.

Chocolate: Mouthgasm! In the name of all that is sacred, get yourself some truffles from Pix Patisserie in Portland, OR. Each piece is a scrumptious work of art. Thanks, Jillicious!

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Need a great lunchbox for grown-ups? Try the stainless steel Lunchbot, a safe plastic-free option that's just the right size for your yummy leftovers. Go ahead, glue on a picture of Scooby-Doo or the Brady Bunch.
• Fear of fur. Love the look of fur, but hate the cruelty? Sport faux fur by Imposter, a new line that donates 10% of sales to saving animals. Look for the IM logo.

Hip News

• How sweet it ain't. Fake sweetener aspartame now wants to be called AminoSweet, so you'll forget it's bad for you. Skip the agave nectar too; it's processed like HFCS. Bitter is better.
• Olympic metal. Kudos to Vancouver! Their Olympic medals are the first in history to contain gold, silver and copper recovered from end-of-life electronics, eh!

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Break the mold! Instead of using bleach to clean up areas affected by mold, try this chemical-free alternative: mix a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with 2 parts water. Put it in a spray bottle and blast away the mold safely and inexpensively!

 

Sustainable Community

Sustainability: A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community...and an Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon be Like by Stuart W. Rose, Ph.D. offers guidance on how and why to live sustainably. He strives to show a way to reduce the depletion of Earth's natural resources and to predict global changes which could occur in the next few years. Rose hopes that Sustainability will help suppress the fears connected to living on Earth's natural resources by sharing how sustainability has worked in an actual housing development.

"My goal in writing this is to provide a real, practical and positive picture of what we can do to make it through the coming transition - and realize a fantastic new way of living."

• Guidance. Dr. Rose's book details his experience with starting a housing development and offers tips for living sustainably.
• Community. Stu and his wife live in Garden Atriums, their housing development in Virginia.
• Inspiration. The writings of Lester Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, led Dr. Rose to pursue life in a sustainable community.

Listener E-mails

• Annie in California found PeopleTowels, a green company helping us cut waste by bringing own towels to public restrooms.
• Carri in Kansas recommends checking out Mother Earth News, which she reads cover to cover. She also tipped us off to non-GMO Baker Creek Seeds.
• Megan in Montana wants to stop using plastic bags at the bulk bins. Try these mesh bags for everything except flour.

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 #253 - Snowmageddon

A succession of powerful winter storms pounding most of the US this month has been dubbed, among other things, Snowmageddon.

The sun is shining at More Hip HQ in Chico, but winter has a tight grip on much of the country. The Hipsters check in with snowbound blogger Robin Shreeves to find out how she and her family are coping in the winter wonderland of New Jersey, then get a lesson in climate change from Jon Stewart. Also, Dori and Val mark a More Hip milestone!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: In honor of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, we try a little brew from the Bayou: Abita Beer's Turbodog Brown Ale. Another reason for Louisiana to be proud.

Chocolate: Our new Favorite Listener is Tony in Chicago, who shared the Chocolove for Valentine's Day. It even came with a love poem.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Green on the go. Everything about the Green Silence running shoe from Brooks has an element of sustainability. Recycled materials, water-based adhesives and non-toxic dyes keep you on the right track!

Hip News

• A new leaf. Looks like Europeans can agree on something! In an online vote, they chose the Euro-leaf as the new logo for organic foods produced in the EU. It must be placed on all their pre-packaged organic food after July 1.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Support wildlife! When it's time to replace that worn-out bra, give it a new life...as a bird feeder! Fill the cups with seeds and drape it over a tree branch. Snowmageddon

South Jersey resident and Mother Nature Network blogger Robin Shreeves has used her weather-related captivity to cook, read, make crafts, play board games and organize photos. And shovel snow.

• Eat. Robin's informal poll of frostbitten friends revealed a spike in the consumption of chocolate chip cookies.
• Drink. Wine is the beverage of choice because it won't go bad when the power's out, nor does it require chilling. Plus, as Robin found, you can't make beef bourguinon without it.
• Read. Robin loved Julia Child's My Life In France; Val recommends Seth Godin's Linchpin; Dori enjoyed Joanne Harris's follow-up to Chocolat, The Girl With No Shadow.

Listener E-mails

• Katie in Toronto (eh!) takes reusable Envirosax when she goes shopping. She also discovered TerraCycle's fun products and brilliant fundraising program.
• Mike in Oakland shares a story about Bill Gates funding GMO research. Nope, Bill is no Hipster.
• Michele in Arizona is wearing 4-year old undies, because she washes them in cold water and hangs them to dry. She also has good ideas for your old shower curtains.
• Kamille in California sent a story about Brita filters being recycled by Preserve Products. Blogger Beth Terry should be pleased.
• Patrick in NC found t-shirts recycled into custom laptop sleeves, for a good cause.
• Cynthia in Los Angeles discovered the only non-profit stop-junk-mail organization, 41pounds.
• Whitney in Texas sent us a simple recipe for pumpkin soup. Can Val eat it with her spoon earrings?

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 #252 - Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets offer companies and consumers the ability to neutralize a portion of their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in clean energy sources.

Since the first program was launched in 1989, carbon offsets have become a billion dollar industry. How do they work? Should you buy them? Dori and Val follow up on a listener's request to shed light on the subject. Also, Hollywood beckons! The Hipsters offer their services as Academy Awards hostesses, while Kleen Kanteen spends a day at The Office.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: Really, we thought Dick's Brewing Company would provide a satisfying mouthful with their IPA. Sadly, there was so much, um, head, we had to bring in backup. Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale gave us what we needed.

Chocolate: We had a complicated relationship with our big ass bar of Divine Mint Dark Chocolate. We love that it's Fair Trade Certified, and the mint was nice and subtle. But the chocolate wasn't as smooth as we might have liked.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Thing! Whether you prefer red or white wine, you can keep it green. Tote your vino in an insulated NeoGreene Wine Bottle Carrier. Made from non-toxic materials, it's lightweight, adjustable and comes in fun color combos.
• And the Oscar goes to... an environmental film? Both Food Inc. and The Cove are nominated for Best Documentary. See who wins on March 7th.

Hip News

• Shamboo? The FTC is warning retailers to stop marketing rayon textiles as bamboo. Turns out bamboo fiber isn't smooth and silky, after all.
• Fried eggs. If you're having trouble getting pregnant, your mattress could be to blame! Flame retardant chemicals called PBDEs are found to decrease fertility in women.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Warm and cozy! Remember those stretchy wrist bands you wore during your workouts in the 70s and 80s? Turns out, they make great coffee cup cozies! Dig them out of that box with your Jane Fonda workout videos and slip 'em into your glove compartment for easy access. Now when you drink your coffee, you won't "feel the burn"!

 

Carbon Offsets

Hi Dori and Val,

My husband and I recently took the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. I planned to buy carbon offsets for the flights. The whole trip was crazy expensive. So I expected the carbon offsets to cost a fortune as well. We racked up 20,000 miles and emitted over 6,000 lbs. of CO2. I was amazed when the offsets cost only $41.65! We probably spent that much on two salads at the airport!

Kelly in Annapolis, MD

• What is it? A carbon offset is a "financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions." One offset equals one metric tonne of reduced carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.
• Size matters. A metric tonne of CO2 would fill the average family home. Most households produce 15 tonnes each year.
• Do the math. Figure out your carbon footprint using the EPA's Household Emissions Calculator.
• Choose. A report from Tufts University ranks the best offsetters. Kelly and Val both use TerraPass.

Listener E-mails

• Lisa in Michigan stuns us with the news that it's cold up dere in da north! Happily, she's found plenty of local beer in da Mitten to give her a warm glow.
• Chelsea in Georgia has indeed spotted sushi in Target, but hasn't been able to bring herself to try it.
• Robin in New Jersey wisely took us along on a long car trip. We still enjoy you on MNN!

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.