Articles Written by Julie Hancher

Water water everywhere... but do we have to worry about what we can drink? Journalist Alex Prud’homme is coming to Philadelphia to discuss his book, “The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Fresh Water in the Twenty-First Century”.  Find out more about this event and how to score tickets, after the jump!

United by Blue pledges to remove one pound of trash for every product sold. But these Philly-based philanthropists don't just stop at oceans... They help when it matters most. This past Saturday, 100 volunteers school 'bussed' their way up to Staten Island, New York for Hurricane Sandy assistance efforts. Since (find out more after the jump:)

A train derailed this morning in Paulsboro, New Jersey and instantly made national news. Why?

We received an invite to review Washy Wonder, a tool to "encourage reuse" and be greener. Besides the fact that I keep mixing up the brand name for a place in Chinatown that ends with a "happy ending", this product appalls me. The Washy Wonder is made by polypropylene, or #5 plastics. The point of this "tool" is to wash plastic bags up to 25 to 30 times to save them from the landfill. Let's break this down.

After a long and exhausting day, I like to unwind with a good glass of wine... so much that I'm enjoying one in my hand as I type this post! (OK, maybe alternating typing & drinking...) But once you (or I) polish off a few bottles of sweet, sweet heaven, where can you recycle wine corks?

Want a soft serve-inspired dessert that's totally guilt free? Helllooooo, Banana Whip. This past summer, my sister-in-law raved about the Bashful Banana in Ocean City, NJ. I enjoyed their banana whip at least twice during the week (on top of soft serve a few times...) This frozen dessert not only satisfied my sweet tooth but I learned it was ONLY made of bananas. I had no clue how this was possible since I had previously put bananas in the blender for smoothies, and it's nothing like frozen yogurt. Don't worry friends, I've discovered the secret. And it's good. AND, this recipe is easy enough to be called a.... Half-assed recipe!

Black Friday is here! Don't feel like dealing with those lines and craziness? Stay cozy on your couch & shop for everyone on your list! Here's 10 of my recommendations that you can purchase online for Black Friday:

Why not balance out a local beer extravaganza with a talk about the state of our Carbon Dioxide emissions? I did just that by attending back-to-back Philly Beer Week-sponsored Bathtub Beer Fest and Bill McKibben's 350 Do the Math tour! (Find out about both events, after the jump).

Love it or hate it: We're about to be in the chaotic holiday season. The 4th 'R' of achieving green-ness is the one not often discussed: Refuse it. (Find out more, after the jump!)