Stories

Big news today: This post is the 1000th post we've published on Green Philly Blog! We just celebrated 5 years of publishing in July and have seen blogging evolve tons since we started. Although we're typically not a behind-the-scenes publication, I've decided to make an exception in today's post. More people have been asking me for advice/opinions and maybe it's time to mix it up a bit. Whether you want to get into blogging or maybe have started (but haven't quite latched on yet), here's a few gems I've learned over the years. Here are 7 Lessons Learned about Blogging from 1000 Posts:

Want to tour Bartram's Garden and have a FREE farm-to-table dinner? Chevrolet is hosting a farm-to-table dinner at the Coach House at Bartram’s Garden in Southwest Philly on November 14th and wants you to attend! Find out how to enter, after the jump!

According to a 2012 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia is one of the top 4 cities in the Northeast with the least amount of car commuters, ranking 4th behind New York City, Washington, and Boston. Philadelphia ranks 5th in the country, behind San Francisco.

Monday. I’m sure you looked at the alarm clock this morning, rolled over and put your pillow over your head, begging for 8 more hours of sleep and another day of the weekend. (Or was that just me?) Monday also has another new meaning in Philadelphia: Meatless Mondays. But what does this resolution mean for Philadelphians? What’s the point of eating meat most, some or none of the time?

My favorite part of autumn CSA shares are all the squashes & pumpkins that are abundant. Besides amazing recipes like butternut squash risotto & gnocchi, soups and delish gourds, there's another hidden gem to savor: the seeds. It's so simple to make! Find out how, after the jump.

Happy Halloween from Green Philly Blog and our mascot, Pounce DeLeon.

We all love those blue bins to stash our recyclables in to feel better about our collective waste on trash day. But who monitors how much Philly is recycling overall?  Director of Recycling Phil Bresee arrived in Philly July 2012, with the mission to increase recycling participation and improve our city's 'green' efforts. A Maryland native,  Bresee got his start in Frederick and then Howard County, Maryland prior to moving to Florida in 2004. He's clearly passionate about the cause, which was apparent for those who saw his recent Nerd Nite presentation.  We sat down with Phil recently to talk trash, recycling and Philly overall.  Green Philly Blog: Mayor Nutter has focused on environmental issues (including recycling) in his Greenworks Campaign since his election in 2007. With 2 years to go in office, what recycling progress have you seen in 2013 compared to his start?

Last weekend (while Julie was in Nashville with her digital marketing hat on) I was preparing my game face for a friend's game night party, and contemplating appetizers. I knew I wanted to experiment a little in the kitchen and create a new recipe to bring over. I narrowed it down to a dip for easy portability. I decided  I wanted it to be seasonal, and then zoned in on autumn fruits and veggies ... and unsurprisingly arrived at pumpkin. Yes, I'm a little pumpkin obsessed this season.  This pumpkin pie dip is on the sweet side but can easily be served as an app or a healthyish dessert. The pumpkin taste isn't too overwhelming but this dip definitely screams fall and festive. This recipe did not photograph so well, but I'm telling you it's no problem because once you taste it you just won't give a damn. Fresh is almost always best but I was in a time crunch so I used canned pumpkin I had on hand. The ingredient list is pretty short and all you need is a good hand mixer (or a strong bicep, and a spoon). I served it with sweet potato cinnamon crackers, apple slices and carrot sticks. It would also be delish with graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips. My team may have lost in an epic battle of Taboo but my pumpkin pie dip was a hit! If your friends like pumpkin even a little bit this will definitely go over well at your next soiree.

Hey there, readers! I went to Nashville this past weekend to learn some awesome digital marketing "stuff" at Keen Digital Summit, created by one of my fav bloggers Kristin Luna. Between eating local, trying out the bike share & learning, I didn't have a chance to blog some more awesome green advice. We'll be back tomorrow, and coming soon to the blog: a trial in bike sharing in other cities, which is a preview for Philly! ;-) See ya soon!