Articles Written by Julie Hancher

Whether it's August or feels more like "Rain-Fall", there's never a bad time to cleanse your life... which means getting rid of those piles of clothes you haven't worn for a year and those 'registry' gifts you never bothered opening. One great way to do that? Hosting a yard sale! (or apartment/condo/room sale.) In honor of Where Can I Wednesday, we're addressing How Can (you) host the best yard sale in Philly.

The Hemp Heals Music Festival returns to Philly on September 7 at the Festival Pier! Hemp Heals was founded to spread awareness of Hemp as an industrial product and promote holistic approaches to living & eating healthy. Hemp has a variety of advantages environmentally and is different (and often confused) with its redneck cousin marijuana. Find out who's playing and how you can win FREE tickets, after the jump!

“Ugh, I hate grocery shopping,” complained my dental hygienist. “I want to buy the healthy food but it’s so much more expensive than the crap.” I realize that this is the perception of so many Americans. Although I frequent Whole Foods, I typically stick to a list or create a budget before heading over. After all, “Whole Paycheck” is the infamous knock that ain’t so far from the truth. Do I shop at Whole Foods or farmer's markets 100% of the time? No. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about  the "cost" of food versus the cost of “food.” Find out more about the cost of food, after the jump!

Outdoor barbecues, camping, concerts and wonderful summer weather (and lots of rain) tend to bring the pests among us. But scary chemicals like DEET (the most commonly used pesticide in mosquito sprays) have been found in various studies with side affects including harming the nervous system and birth defects. What's an outdoor lover to do? One option is to DIY Insect repellent - and it's a lot easier than you think! Find out how to DIY Bug Repellent, after the jump!:

Philadelphia does it again! USA Today named the Schuylkill Bike Path #12 in the nation, along with favorites Minneapolis (#1), Boulder (#2) and Portland (#4). 19 bike paths were ranked total for "direct access to business districts while avoiding city traffic and making few street crossings, exceptionally beautiful (props!) and separate from traffic". The Schuylkill Trail was given props for bringing commuters into the city from the suburbs, where they'd otherwise be out of reach. Find out more about how Philly dominates another list, after the jump:

Animal conservation is more and more important... and seeing exotic  creatures up close doesn't always mean you have to leave city limits. As the Philadelphia Zoo is a must-see on any Philadelphian's list, their sustainability efforts are important too. The Philadelphia Zoo has been around for over 150 years. Back in the day an admission fee of 25 cents would get you a pass to see 1000 animals. Since the 1800s, the zoo has prioritized education and wildlife conservation in its mission. Over 1.2 million visitors annually have green opportunities. Find out more about the Philadelphia Zoo's Sustainability Efforts, after the jump!

Happy Friday, friends! We have a return to our Friday link roundups since there's too much to cover by one little (green philly) blog:

Who knocks Jersey for the spray tans, big hair and GTLs?! There are brand new GREEN bragging rights across the river to one-up us. Camden County installed 7 new FREE electric car stations including locations at the Cooper River Boathouse, county libraries and colleges. According to (find out more, after the jump!)

Consider getting a rain barrel? Not sure of the benefits or how to use it? Rain barrels save water, help storm water run-off and make watering your plants SO much easier. And with the daily monsoons we've been experiencing, there's lots of FREE water falling from the sky to use. But there's more to it, and there's an exhibit where you can find out more right in Philly.