Articles Written by Julie Hancher

Good news for rotting vegetables in Philly today. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability recently discovered that we spend $6.1 million per year transferring uneaten food to landfills, and are now considering a composting program like Austin, New York and San Fran....

What a week! After the Mayor's Office of Sustainability became permanent, Mayor Nutter topped off the excitement by creating a Philadelphia Bicycle Advocacy Board to make our city more bike friendly. Whoa! And have you snagged a ticket to the Green Philly/Nexus Big Green Party yet? Let's move on to the best excitement: TGIF! And because we can't stop, won't stop; Here's what you can look forward to over the weekend. Philly Weekend events for November 7 -9th:

Ready for an inspiring day of discussing local business challenges and innovation? Innovation is essential for small businesses, public sectors & the local economy. And the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) is tackling all sorts of discussions around innovation on November 15th. Find out more, after the jump!

Want to talk healthcare, higher education, and sustainability? The Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) is hosting an upcoming summit for sustainable "Eds & Meds" development to find financial resources. And free breakfast! DVGBC and St. Joseph’s University Real Estate and Construction Alumni are hosting their 2nd Healthcare & Higher Education Summit focused on Incentives & Financial Resources for Sustainability. This event will consist of 2 panels, one for financial drivers, and one for financial resources. Panelists include:

There's gonna be some changes made... We've been dropping a few hints just like your girlfriend waiting for the ring... After 6 years of publishing online, we've got a website makeover in the works. Although our lips are sealed on the final product, it's coming SO soon. (So don't hold any appearance mishaps against us in the meantime...)  Don't be alarmed if you see this screen late in the evening or over the weekend. We promise, the site will be back soon. Find out more about our redesign & upcoming Big Green Party, after the jump!

You guys totally did it! According to Philly.com, Philadelphia voters approved all 3 ballot questions on the polls yesterday, including the question that made the Mayor's Office of Sustainability permanent. This means the Office will live on for years, even after Mayor Nutter leaves office in Jan 2016 & his green-loving legacy behind. Find out more, after the jump!

Moving neighborhoods in Philly is a BIG deal. Changing the comfort of your go-to coffee shop and favorite 'pub can feel like you're moving across the world. Nic Esposito felt a similar panic moving from West Philadelphia,“kicking and screaming” to Kensington.

Confession here. I've never been much of a soup girl. I mean, not that I was ever opposed. How else can you heal a cold without Chicken Noodle? (Now it's "Chickn" noodle.) Or the occasional Grilled Cheese MUST has Tomato Soup for that gooey, dipping perfection. But beyond that? I didn't want to waste time making soup. But now that I've been getting a CSA for over 3 years and my schedule has NOT slowed down, it's nearly impossible to keep up with all of these damn veggies. But now, I can can saute a few, add water/stock and Voila! I can divide soup into mason jars, stick them in the freezer and pull out a lunch without worrying about BPA or whether it's organic. Because, duh, I made it from farm-fresh, local & organic vegetables. So soup has saved me. Find the recipe for this delicious soup, after the jump:

It's a midterm election year! That means we get to sleep in and skip the polls, eh? Wrong! Although we're not voting for a new Commander-in-Chief, there's plenty to consider in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Namely, WTF will make important decisions about taxes and funding for the keystone state?! Here's a looksy at the November 2014 Philadelphia Ballot for those teacher's pets who want to come all prepared. Let's preview the Philadelphia polls and who the environmental champions (and losers) would be.