Articles Written by Julie Hancher

Let's be real: It's essential to get our youth on board with sustainability. We're psyched to see a Philadelphia school taking action and getting recognized for it! Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School received the national Green Ribbon Schools Award from the US Dept of Education for increasing its environmental awareness, health & wellness. Greenfield has reduced (Find out how Greenfield has earned national recognition, after the jump!)

Massages and a trip to the spa are the time you want to relax and let go of all worries. It's also the last place you want to contemplate what chemicals are being used on your body. Eviama Life Spa is the original, natural Philadelphia spa. Need proof? Owner Penny Ordway genuinely "got" the natural movement before it was even a blip on most people's radars. From the moment you step foot on the second floor, green space through the window and Buddhist statues set the calming tone and remind you how an urban structure can coexist with the surrounding environment. As Penny explain's Eviama's mission: (Find out more about Eviama, and how to get into their VIP party! You won't want to miss this...)

Do you have half-used medications and unused drugs stashed around your home? Perhaps a prescription you didn't take completely but it's sitting in your medicine cabinet? Those pill bottles just clog up your cabinet space and can be a P.I.A. Luckily, there's a collection event on Saturday for your unused drugs. (Find out where & when to dispose of your unused prescriptions safely, after the jump!)

Love the environment and looking for a job? You may be in luck! Philadelphia came in at #9 for green jobs, with 789 job listings according to Simply Hired. There are over (Find out more about our title & why, after the jump!)

We celebrate our "Earth Day" every day, but today gives us an opportunity to reflect on what Earth Day means to those around our city. Philadelphia has thousands of amazing individuals working to help us achieve cleaner air, water, transit and healthier food options. In honor of this green holiday, we asked a few local individuals what Earth Day means to them:

With Earth Day coming up on Monday, we have a guest post about an event to challenge your bottled vs. tap water knowledge. Elizabeth Kobert is a local coordinator for Think Outside the Bottle. She is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. What do water and national parks have in common? They're both priceless public assets that should be free and accessible to all! We are challenging national parks to Think Outside the Bottle and (Find out more, after the jump!)

If you haven't started seedlings yet for your spring & summer crops, it's time to get started. First thing: which potting mix should you choose? Although Miracle-Gro tends to dominate Home Depot & conventional 'home' stores, you may be supporting a scary brand. Miracle-gro has fertilizers and synthetic chemicals, criticized for not improving soil over the long term but instead leaching unnatural chemicals into streams and ponds. (Find out more, after the jump!)

The Philly Farm & Food Fest returned to the Philadelphia Convention Center this past Sunday. Over 4,000 attendees chatted with local farmers,  artisans & businesses. The second shot at Philly Farm & Food Fest had a great mix of tastes, education & variety. The cheeses were mouthwatering, the sauerkraut was freshly fermented, and there was even crisp local apple cider. I kicked off my locavore dream tour with a (Find out about how the Philly Farm & Food fest went, complete with awesome pics - after the jump.)

Why we're not 'green' One of the biggest complaints about sustainability is how we have to cut back. Stop standing under the faucet and limit yourself to a 5 minute shower. Reduce your energy consumption. Don't buy as much. "The sustainability movement will never completely catch on," a friend recently said to me. "Consumerism drives America." William McDonough & Michael Braungart, authors of the Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability- Designing for Abundance would disagree. Let's go back to those steaming, hot showers. Although I love the environmentalist in me, I also love me some hot, steamy showers on a cold day. But what if we could filter and reuse that water, so I could stand under the faucet until my skin was wrinkly? Instead of worrying about how many fossil fuels the filter process would take, that South Philly wind could power the process. This type of thinking is how The Upcycle challenges you to reconsider sustainability. (Find out more about the Upcycle, released today, after the jump!)