Philly

We love getting to know local, green women that are making a difference like Julie Slavet, Katherine Gajewski & Sandy Bauers. Today we get to know another woman, defending our waters for the future generations. Maya K. van Rossum is Delaware Riverkeeper of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, an organization with over 14,000 members and active volunteers. Maya has worked for the DRN for almost 20 years and testifies before state and national governing bodies to protect the river from threats including fracking, degradation, dumping, pollution and detrimental construction. Some of her accomplishments include: Find out more about Maya, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and more, after the jump!

You probably know our love of hating single use bags. PennFuture was nice enough to let me guest post about why they're bad for Philly and what we can do. After all, "Since 2009, many U.S. cities – including L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C., Austin, Portland, Aspen AND the Hawaiian islands have all either passed plastic bag fees or bans. Entire countries including South Africa, Ireland, Oman, Ethiopia, China and France have either implemented fees or bans. So what’s the holdup for Philly – and the U.S.?" Read the article on our friend PennFuture's blog in its entirety:

OK, bike fever has hit this week. Like, every time I turn around there's a new event or awesome thing happening. If you're a biker, you should LOVE Philly right now. And if you're not, buy a damn bike immediately. Find out about Philly bike shares, Naked Bike Ride & the Full Moon Bike Ride - after the jump!

I don't like all these back-to-school commercials. I'm annoyed with the "looks for Fall" emails from my favorite fashion sites flooding my inbox. I love summer, longer days and the slightly slower pace that comes with it. Don't get me wrong - I adore Fall too. I'm.just.not.ready. However, seasons do change and cooler weather is coming so I'll buck up and find things to get excited about. One Fall activity high on my list? Running and racing outdoors! I find the crispness of Fall ideal running weather. And, I always get pumped this time of year for fun Fall races. I like to run a 5k at the end of the summer or beginning of Fall to ease me back into running (which I often take a hiatus from when it's sweltering outside). Whether you're a seasoned runner or just getting into races the 5k is a really manageable distance.  If walking is more your thing- no worries - almost all 5ks welcome walkers as well. Read on for two Philadelphia 5ks worth signing up for...

Marc Vetri isn't just an all-star chef... he is also passionate about young people eating healthy and making wiser lifestyle decisions. This passion is why the Vetri Foundation's Eatiquette program is helping transform lunchrooms locally. I spoke with the Vetri Foundation's Director of Culinary Operations, Tia McDonald to find out more about the program.

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!

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!

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!)

Farmers' Markets are the best part of spring and summer. Yet one of the most bountiful & popular in Center City is Rittenhouse Farmer's Market, which takes place year-round. As Rittenhouse Farmer's Market Manager Ben Bergman explained, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes of the Farmer's Market. After reading Omnivore's Dilemma changed his life, he wanted to get closer to the local food movement. He understands the importance of becoming a locavore tasting each season, explaining, "When you're buying local food, you're connecting yourself to where you live." What will you find at Rittenhouse Farmer's Market? Here's our beginner's guide: