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Hey readers, have any exciting spring or summer travel plans coming up? If you're flying and can manage it financially try to fly direct. Layovers in your itinerary can add miles to your carbon footprint. When you take one flight as opposed to hopping on a few to reach your final destination you'll help save excess emissions. (Plus, you usually arrive feeling a little less frazzled and your luggage is less likely to go missing.) When this just isn't possible - financially or logistically (flying direct internationally is often tough) - be sure to be aware of your impact while vacationing.

Craving a winter food fest destined for locavores? The Brewer's Plate 2013 hosted by Fair Food Philly promises to be a tasty celebration of local breweries, restaurants, farmers & artisan producers all from within 150 miles of the city. Find out more, after the jump!

Last year, we visited where you can recycle your old sneakers, which included local spots like Philadelphia Runner. We also addressed how to recycle your old flip flops, since we all know how many we can collect for a little post-run relaxation. So what are you to do in 2013? Good news for you runners - there's more opportunities this year to give your old kicks a new life! (Find out how and where, after the jump!)

Are you a historic house enthusiast, a masonry aficionado, or someone with an interest and appreciation for preserving architectural history? Either way the Designer Craftsmen and Historic Home Show is a worthwhile event to check out. The Historic Home Show is happening at the Valley Forge Convention Center March 8-10th. The Historic Home Show serves as a great educational resource for learning about restoring, renovating and preserving the nation's architectural heritage. We're teaming up again this year with LimeWorks.US to offer a free ticket to a few lucky GreenPhilly readers! LimeWorks.US  owner Andrew deGruchy will present on Saturday March 9 at 12pm on Historic Masonry Dos and Don’ts.  

“Spare some change so I can get some food?” The man on the corner, aged beyond his years covered with wrinkles, begged for my spare change. Instead of digging into my pocket, I rolled my eyes and assumed he’d blow it on booze. Like many people, this is what hunger in my city looked like to me, until it didn’t. I was shocked when a young co-worker confided that she has been on food stamps. A single mother, employed full time, still struggling to make ends meet. Yet her challenge to put food on her family’s table is one that many Americans face daily. This man and co-worker represent the tip of the food iceberg. World Environment Day reflects on why food is too valuable to waste locally and abroad:

Need some fresh plants in your life? TreePhilly is back for 2013! Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo paired up for the Spring 2013 TreePhilly giveaway. Now through March 31st, any Philadelphia property owner can request a free yard tree on their private property. New additions to the 2013 giveaway include:

I don't know about you but I could use some greens after all the Valentine's treats I've consumed for the past week. Luckily, this warm brussels sprouts salad recipe should do the trick. (It's all about balance, right?) And, let's just take a second to pay homage to brussels sprouts. As a kid I remember them as mushy and bland with a bit of an offensive aroma. But, after trying them roasted a few years back my feelings towards brussels completely changed. It turns out they're seriously tasty when prepared the right way. I mostly enjoy them baked and crispy but in this recipe I sautéed em for a change, and they tasted delish. This is one of those dishes that's really simple but the contrasting flavors makes it taste like you put a lot of work into it. Click through for the recipe!

This weekend an estimated 40,000 people marched in Washington DC to support action for climate change. They gathered outside President Obama's doorstep to urge immediate rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline and energy extraction practices that threaten the environment. The Keystone XL Pipeline project would pipe some of the planet's dirtiest oil from Canada through America to be shipped overseas through the Gulf of Mexico. This tar sands oil proposal could be disastrous for our planet - producing tar sands crude that kicks out two or three times as much carbon pollution as producing conventional crude oil.

It's easy to get into the reusable groove at home, but what about when you're on the road (or flight)? I recently traveled to Austin to run a half marathon. Although I packed my stainless steel water bottle for the trip, my carry on suitcase was essentially full with all of my other goods. Before starting our day, we wanted a quick breakfast on the run. Asking for a bagel and coffee ended up with this much waste: (Find out more, after the jump!)