Fri, 19 December 2008 More Hip Than Hippie - Sierra Nevada Brewery More Hip Than Hippie #200 - Sierra Nevada Brewery Ken Grossman is the founder of Sierra Nevada Brewery here in Chico, CA. His sustainable business practices have earned nearly as much praise as his award-winning beer. We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. That's why we invited him to be our special guest for our 200th show! Val's hubby Rob was so excited, he sat in on our interview. We learn how Ken started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters. Also, in the spirit of Chico legends, we present the music and comedy of local showman Moriss Taylor. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Duh! You can't try it just yet, but Sierra Nevada Brewery will release Torpedo Extra IPA in bottles next month. We'll try to leave some for you guys. Chocolate: Thanks to Charter Hipsters Kellie and Carly in SF, we indulged in a sampler of NeoCocoahand-crafted truffles. Ding Ding Dang!   Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Things! Get organized for the new year with a Recycled Sari Buckle Wallet. Handmade in family cooperatives in India, these wallets are stylishly sturdy with plenty of pockets. Best of all, they don't look like you found them at the mall! Drafted. If you're in New England, pay tribute to American Veterans by quaffing a beer! High and Mighty Brewing pledges $1 from every bottle of their "Home for the Holidays" brown ale will go to IAVA, a charity for veterans and troops. Carp Diem. Concerned about the quality of your seafood? CleanFish empowers you to vote with your fork. Heaven scent. Now you can smell like Val! Experience Illuminated Perfumes by Roxana. Hipsters get a special deal on her handcrafted, all natural fragrances; mention More Hip when you buy any full size solid perfume and get a free sample of her liquid perfume, OR buy any full size liquid perfume and get a free sample of her solid perfume. Order here!   Hip News Waterworld. NASA says 2 trillion tons of land ice has melted since 2003, due to global warming. Ski lift. Lighter snowfall is forcing skiiers uphill. Researchers say warmer temps in the Rockies could eliminate the snowpack by 2100. March of the Lame Duck. The Bush administration is moving to protect 7 penguin species, while ignoring 3 others. Hmmm, 70%...isn't that his disapproval rating? Organ-ic. A group of Texas high school students created a digital pipe organ from a pile of recycled electronics. What's your kid done lately? Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Just say no! As you list your New Year's Resolutions, focus on just a few things you would like to stop doing. Stop smoking; stop adding to the landfill; stop eating meat. Post a short list on your mirror so you'll see it everyday. Just don't stop listening to podcasts! Sierra Nevada Brewery We've long admired Ken Grossman for his quality brews and for his commitment to sustainability. Learn how he started out in the beer business and what he's doing to keep his brewery green. Ken also shares some product news and a tip or two for homebrewing Hipsters! Beer in the headlights. Ken started as a homebrewer with a passion for his product. Top o' the Hops Sierra Nevada ales are consistently among the top brews in the US. Crystal clear. Among Ken's green innovations, Sierra Nevada Brewery uses clean energy to operate its facilities in Chico, CA. Launch the Torpedo! Coming in January 2009, bottles of Torpedo Extra IPA will be available year-round. And there was much rejoicing. Word to the Weiss. Look for Ken's voluminous contribution to the Practical Brewer, a manual for the brewing industry. Bock star. UC Davis commemorates Ken's support for the next generation of brewers.   Listener E-mails Help us kick off our next 200 shows! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!   Shout-outs! Thanks so much for mentioning us in your blogs: Two Smart Girls, ReadWriteWeb and SJSFalter. You rock! Jenny in Ontario (eh!) wants us to shut up about the weather, and give macrame the respect it deserves. We'll grant half her wish. Phil in Prince Edward Island (eh!) is our new groupie. He likes big worms, dark chocolate and Zebra Eco pens. We love you man! Rick in Virginia alerts us to the truth about oil prices, thanks to this interview on Financial Sense Newshour. Trystan at Yahoo! Green busts our chops. We didn't mention loofahs as an alternative to plastic sponges. Um, don't you have an article to write, or something? Kristi in Minneapolis shares a Beer Buying Guide for those of us who vote with our pint glass. Cheers! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com. Direct download: More_Hip_200_Sierra_Nevada_Brewery.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 7:09 PM

Wed, 17 December 2008 More Hip Than Hippie - A Grain of Salt More Hip Than Hippie #199 - A Grain of Salt Desalination is the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. As more reverse osmosis plants are being built, water conservation remains a vital solution to managing worldwide shortages. Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse as the population grows. One solution is desalination. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? The Hipsters discuss the pros and cons of this emerging technology. Also, as the temperature in Chico dips to 40 degrees, Val declares herself "over winter." Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Three simple ingredients combine to make Cru d'Or Belgian Style Ale a winner. This flavorful brew from North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, CA contains only water, organic malt and hops. Trifecta! Chocolate: Guys, buy this by the case. Zazubean's Lunatic bar claims to take the edge off women's "monthly madness" with its blend of cacao nibs and mint. We liked it. You got a problem with that?   Hip News and Finds Finds: Splinter Wonderland. A Potted Christmas Tree seedling makes a festive hostess gift. Or plant a hundred of your own and open a Christmas tree lot next year. Cha-ching! Beam me up. Black & Decker's new Thermal Leak Detector is a handheld gun thingy that finds hidden energy leaks in your home with a colored beam of light. OK, you can pretend you're Captain Kirk while you use it. Green 'zine. Need a new read? Boho offers great fashion and lifestyle tips, on eco-friendly paper. The name means "both ho's", right?   Hip News Barack this town. President-elect Obama unveils his energy and environment team. "My administration will value science. We will make decisions based on the facts." If this is a dream, don't wake us. Smelluva job. Another last-minute ruling from the Bush administration exempts farms from having to report toxic manure fumes. What about those fumes coming from the White House? Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Pack your snacks. Before you hit the road for the holidays, make sure you've packed plenty of food and drinks. Bringing your own eats from home cuts down on waste and saves you money. Remember, they always !@#$ you in the drive-thru! A Grain of Salt Fresh water is in short supply in many parts of the world, and the problem is going to get worse in coming years. One solution is desalination, the process of turning saltwater into drinking water. How does this work? Will it solve the water crisis? Learn the pros and cons of this ancient process. Salty. Only 3% of earth's water is fresh; less than 1% is available for drinking and washing. Thirsty. The World Bank reports that 80 countries now have dangerous water shortages, and more than 2 billion people have no access to clean water or sanitation. Brainy Desalination technology advanced in the mid-20th century, and the first reverse-osmosis plant opened in 1965. There are now more than 12,000 plants worldwide. Thrifty. Since desalination is expensive, Food & Water Watch advocates better management practices. Start with water conservation in your home, and support efforts in your city and state.   Listener E-mails Want to pepper us with questions? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!   Kevin in Illinois is a teen greenie who loves nature conservation. He volunteers to restore habitat near his home and would like to hear a show about that topic. By the way Kevin, you rock! Janel in Arizona overcame her fear of composting and recommends it to all. Thanks for unlurking! Myssi in Colorado found Eco-Cycle, her local recycling site. Check out their Zero-Waste Holiday Guide. And Myssi, we're waiting for the Giddy Up! Jenny is resolving to go raw vegan in 2009. She was inspired by Compassionate Cooks, a podcast that is not for the squeamish. Good luck! Meredyth inexplicable thought of us when she lined up beer bottles on her kitchen counter. The occasion? Baking beer bread! See the recipe in our forum. **Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!** Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com. Direct download: More_Hip_199_A_Grain_of_Salt.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:56 PM

Wed, 10 December 2008 More Hip Than Hippie - ReMake It! More Hip Than Hippie #198 - ReMake It! Designer Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits turn recyclable materials into functional new products. As the market for recyclables bottoms out, learning to reuse those materials is more important than ever. RePlayGround is a website devoted to crafty ideas for giving discarded scraps new life. The Hipsters ask Tiffany about her inspirations, and about the rumor that she talks to her trash! Also, Val suffers the world's most unexciting back injury and adopts a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Beer and Chocolate: Beer: Val flashed her malt-face, but was able to finish her glass of Hazelnut Brown Nectar from Rogue Ales in Newport, Oregon. The bottle would make a cool lamp! Chocolate: It's always a treat when a package of chocolate shows up in the mail! Thanks to our friends at Zazubean for the organic dark chocolate bars they sent our way. First up: "flirt", 70% cocao with acai and cherries.   Hip News and Finds Finds: Byte me. It looks and smells like a bar of chocolate, but it's actually a solar-powered calculator. Perfect for adding up the calories in your real chocolate bar. Spongeworthy. Gather your pals for a Green Cleaning Party, where everyone mixes their own cleansers. Just don't mix them with your margaritas. Holy Pteropus! Get in on the bidding to name a new species of bat. May we suggest Bruce Wayne?   Hip News Token effort. American drivers got out of their cars last summer. Public transit ridership saw its biggest increase in 25 years, thanks in part to $4 a gallon gas. Maybe Detroit can manufacture subway cars. Gorgasm. The President-elect and VP-elect meet with Al Gore this week to discuss economics, alternative energy and green technology. Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Rack 'em up! At this time of year you probably have to heat your home at night, but by morning the hot, dry air is tough to take. Listener Karen suggests hanging laundry on a drying rack next to a heat vent. The moisture from the wet clothes humidifies that painfully dry air, and your clothes are ready to wear! ReMake It! Don't just recycle, reincarnate your garbage into usable products! Tiffany Threadgould's ReMake It kits let you turn glass bottles into lampshades, magazines into stationery, wine corks into trivets and bottle caps into magnets. Learn what inspires Tiffany to reinvent recyclables, and try her Hipster Scarf and Potholder project. You'll look like a crafty genius! Scraptastic. Tiffany's studio is called RePlayGround. It's utopia for fellow design junkies. Show 'n Tell. Pick up her series of recycling project books, "This Into That". Watch her video, It's Easy Being Green. Juicy couture. Tiffany works with TerraCycle to turn used juice boxes and foil wrappers into fun products. Trash crash. The market for recyclables has bottomed out, so reusing them really makes sense. No bitchery. Can't sew? That's no excuse! Val swears by her Stitch Witchery.   Listener E-mails Don't make us recycle old questions! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and your New Year's Resolutions at our MHTH forum!   Karen in West Virginia discovered that the computer mouse her son used as a toy, contained a hefty amount of lead. Her lead test kit found other household sources, including phone cords, computer cables and vinyl mini-blinds. Carri in Kansas continues to keep it green in her red state. She's planning to build a strawbale house, complete with goats and a garden. Jenny in Canada (eh!) wonders about the wisdom of getting a gadget that tells you which plants will grow in your soil. She also gives us a heads-up about a new Gardening Mama video game to get the kids interested in plants. Bloomin' beautiful! Maggie in Spain shares a cool find: Paper Water Bottles. **Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!** Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com. Direct download: More_Hip_198_ReMake_It.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:32 PM

Fri, 5 December 2008 More Hip Than Hippie - Planes, Trains & Automobiles More Hip Than Hippie #197 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles Before you travel, calculate the carbon footprint for your journey and find the greenest route to take. Over the river and through the woods? Forget it, Grandma's got a condo in Boca Raton! Finding the greenest way to get there takes a little research, and the Hipsters unpack some info to help you get on your way. Also, Dori picks a winner for the Amazing Race, and Val's Christmas lights are better than yours! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: What's the Scuttlebutt about this Porter brewed in Everett, WA? Well, the beer's dark and the label's cute, but it wasn't a Hipster fave. Chocolate: Lovely listener Isabelle in Belfast sent along her favorite Swiss (not Nestle!) chocolate. Camille Bloch Ragusa Noir with truffle filling was a sweet treat, though it left Dori with a napkinful of discarded hazelnuts.   Hip News and Finds Finds: Val's Favorite Things! It's a recycling 2-fer: use an old CD and an old circuit board to create a stylish desk clock. A great conversation piece, made in the USA and affordable at about $25. And oh-so-timely! Eight crazy lights. Hanukkah has gone high-tech with the LED Motherboard Menorah. Adds a geeko-friendly glow to the Festival of Lights.   Hip News Worst of Both Worlds. One-third of the toys tested by a non-profit group were positive for chemicals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Among the worst offenders: Hannah Montana brand jewelry items. Identify the toxic toys, and avoid low-cost children's jewelry. Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Dish it out! Make the commitment to serve at least one organic dish at your holiday dinner, whether it's the meat, the veggies, the dessert or even the wine. Point it out to your guests if you like; you may convince the meanie at your table to go for seconds! Planes, Trains & Automobiles Off to grandmother's house you go for the holidays! But how does a Hipster travel, by plane? Train? Car? The green solutions vary by the type of trip you're taking and the number of people on board. Use these tools to figure it out, then enjoy your journey! Planes. Generally considered to be the least green option, since their carbon emissions go right into the upper atmosphere. But for long distance travel, flying may be your best choice. Try to purchase carbon offsets. Should you fly? Trains. Rail travel is almost always greener than a car for a single traveller. But a recent report from the Cato Institute argues that "feeder" buses between stations can counteract environmental gains. Should you ride the rails? Automobiles. Carpooling generates the fewest greenhouse gases per passenger, so driving shorter distances with your family or friends could make sense. Make sure your car is well-maintained and not overloaded with crap. Should you drive?   Listener E-mails Your ideas travel fast! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and travel itineraries at our MHTH forum!   Eileen in Dominica unveils her tropical island sanctuary. Calibishie Cove offers low-impact luxury that at least 2 Hipsters would love to experience! Meredyth in Texas alerts us to an article about the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. It seems "recycle" is another word for "incinerate". Elizabeth in St. Paul, MN loves a new iPhone app called the Good Guide, which indexes green products so you can shop for the greater good. Bonus: it's free! Jodi introduces us to Green Changes, a company that creates eco-friendly apparel and helps spread the word about sustainability. **Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!** Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com. Direct download: More_Hip_197_Planes_Trains__Automobiles.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 6:05 PM

Wed, 3 December 2008 More Hip Than Hippie - Green Around the Collar More Hip Than Hippie #196 - Green Around the Collar The green economy could soon be the fastest-growing job segment in the United States. Despite rising unemployment, the future looks bright for green collar jobs. The Obama administration wants to create 5 million new jobs in the fields of renewable energy, alternative transportation, research, engineering and more. The Hipsters look at the advantages of green industry and how you can prepare to find employment. Also, Val reveals the secret ingredient for rockin' cranberry sauce! Beer and Chocolate: Beer: A bonny brew from Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Great Scot Organic Pale Ale had us reeling with its smooth golden flavor. Mike Myers would approve. Chocolate: Many thanks to listener Trystan for supplying the Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate bar. At 80%, it was too much for us to finish in one sitting, but it was fun trying! Hip News and Finds Finds: Which coaster are you? These rubber coasters made from recycled automobile tires let you represent. Sorry flyover states! Here is comes to save the day! The Mighty Wallet lives up to its name. Made from a single sheet of Tyvek, it's thin, flexible and almost indestructible. Choose from 2 cool designs: comic pages, or airmail envelopes. Oooh! Aaah! Seriously, this fountain in Japan is the coolest thing that ever happened to water.   Hip News Big Bucks. The CEOs of Ford and Chrysler say they'll work for $1 per year if they have to take government bailout money. Ford will also sell their 5 corporate jets. Brew me up, Scotty! Space beer has landed! The Japanese brewed the beverage from barley grown on the International Space Station, and Sapporo is offering tastings to earthlings. Beats the hell out of Tang. Teenie Weenie Greenie™ Mission: Recyclable! Should you choose to accept it, your mission for the holiday season is to reduce by half the amount of waste your household generates. This message will self-recycle. Green Around the Collar Need a job? Become a part of the new green economy, which is about to open an industry full of jobs around the world. Learn about the advantages of green collar jobs, where to find them and how to train for one. Researchers at Duke University conclude that green collar jobs present the next frontier for US manufacturing. The green economy is expected to account for roughly 10% of new US jobs over the next 20 years. President-elect Obama wants to invest $150 billion to create 5 million new green collar jobs. Get the training you need at your local community college or green organization. GreenBiz can tell you where job seminars are happening. Go for a degree at one of the top 15 green universities. (yay Chico State!) Young adults can get job training with the Green Corps. The Green Jobs Guidebook is free and full of great info for those wanting to work in California. Good with kids? Camp counselor makes CNN's list of the Top 25 Green Gigs. Sorry, "More Hip Than Hippie" Podcast Co-Host is taken!   Listener E-mails Hot under the collar? Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and job openings at our MHTH forum!   Shout-outs! Thanks to Spatially Relevant and Spaced Out Looney for the blog mentions! Amanda in Toronto (eh!) hopes to buy a Toyota Prius, but wants to make sure they're a good choice. Val shares the Prius love. Melissa in Newfoundland (eh!) wonders whether natural sea sponges are worse than plastic bath puffs. Look for farmed sponges, or a natural cellulose alternative. Whitney in Texas wants to know if her polymer clay sculptures are killing her kids! Probably not, but baking them in a toaster oven outdoors may be a good idea. (The sculptures, not the kids.) Maggie in Madrid is a frequent flyer, and wants to offset her carbon. Check with airlines' websites, or visit Carbonfund, NativeEnergy or TerraPass. By the way, it's still "offset" in Spanish! Theresa found the high-tech way to kill weeds without chemicals...using boiling water. Use the gray water you collect in the shower. **Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE! Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com. Direct download: More_Hip_196_Green_Around_the_Collar.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 5:34 PM