Articles Written by Julie Hancher

It's part of our mantra, but we'll tell you again: Take the greener route this summer. Summers an amazing time to take advantage of vacations, near & far, but public transit can get you a lot further than you think. Headed to Atlantic City to gamble or the South Jersey shores? (Find out your boatload of public transit options, after the jump!)

Typically we all make the trip to Good Will when making room in the closet for Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter attire... but where can you donate your used clothing to help fellow Philadelphians? You can benefit three awesome local nonprofits in one swoop! (Find out more about this AWESOME initiative, after the jump!)

A few years ago, I was wary of buying a bike: It was scary, I hadn't ridden a bike since I was a child AND I had no idea where to even start buying one! Luckily, two local guys knew there were people like me out there... and decided to cater to their needs. Jason Hoover and Sandeep Gopal started Edibikes with (Find out more about Edibikes & how the non-bikers can get in on the action too, after the jump!)

Sustainability is about what we're shoving into our mouths as much as recycling & reducing your waste. You're probably aware of the Dirty Dozen - produce you should be purchasing organic because of pesticides in conventional varieties.  Hopefully you've cut back on seafood since overfishing is a critical problem of our oceans... and fish farms aren't exactly a great solution either. However, if you're going to splurge on a fish selection - What should you avoid? Here's the list according to Food & Water Watch:

Hot enough for you Philly? Make the best of that HOT sun outside and use... solar energy to charge up your goods!  Solar backpacks and chargers are

I feel for Lolo Jones' big secret. The dating world is tough, and things that make you different can be uncomfortable to share with someone you're just getting to know. My little secret?

Happpppy Independence Day Week! The celebration to kick off America's birth has begun, and we're celebrating all things red, white & green. (Whattt?) Here's a few links for your enjoyment:

With Dirt Factory debuting in University City this week, everyone's talking about composting. Whether you're a University City resident or not, where can you turn your orange peels & egg shells into plant-satisfying goodness?

One of the beautiful things about a CSA is getting a crapload of veggies which you have no idea what to do with. I may have overdosed after having goat cheese, almond & cranberry salad 7 days straight for lunch. My next dilemma? I had various vegetables and wanted something asian-influenced to go along with my 5% Asian self. Luckily I found a package of spring roll wrappers from the grocery story recently and decided to be creative with them. Note: you can swap out the veggies I suggest with your own fillings. But mine were pretty damn delicious... Here's my vegan recipe: Julie's Half-Assed Veggie Spring Rolls