Stories

Philadelphia does it again! USA Today named the Schuylkill Bike Path #12 in the nation, along with favorites Minneapolis (#1), Boulder (#2) and Portland (#4). 19 bike paths were ranked total for "direct access to business districts while avoiding city traffic and making few street crossings, exceptionally beautiful (props!) and separate from traffic". The Schuylkill Trail was given props for bringing commuters into the city from the suburbs, where they'd otherwise be out of reach. Find out more about how Philly dominates another list, 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!

Happy Friday, friends! We have a return to our Friday link roundups since there's too much to cover by one little (green philly) blog:

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!)

Early this summer I took a lovely two-week trip to Northern Spain. We traveled to Mallorca, Valencia and Barcelona. Each spot was filled with its own brand of enchantment. There were so many things that I loved about Spain  - the architecture, the late leisurely lunches complete with cava (and often dessert), the opportunity to stumble upon the most charming restaurants and bars in little alley ways and the laid back Euro attitude of course. (Naps at 4pm every work day?  Hey sure, sign me up.)  I was also pleased with many of the environmentally friendly efforts I noticed in Spain. I struggle with dubbing these efforts "environmentally conscious" because it seems to be almost organic, as though the Spanish (and many other European countries for that matter) feel there would be no other way to live. However, we know this isn't really the case.  There is a consciousness behind Spain's efforts. Just a few examples - in 2006 Spain made wind energy their primary source of power, and in 2007 Spanish Socialist government made plans to provide citizens grants to make their homes more environmentally friendly. Here are some of the more pedestrian observations I had in Northern Spain...

Consider getting a rain barrel? Not sure of the benefits or how to use it? Rain barrels save water, help storm water run-off and make watering your plants SO much easier. And with the daily monsoons we've been experiencing, there's lots of FREE water falling from the sky to use. But there's more to it, and there's an exhibit where you can find out more right in Philly.

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:

As Alex mentioned about his green Bonnaroo experience, the ultimate camping & music festival mecca has it all figured out. As a contrast, I experienced Firefly Festival as a first time participant for both Dover Delaware and any camping festival. Although Firefly marketed itself as green, I was wary of their claims. Here’s how Firefly Festival can learn from Bonnaroo and (hopefully) improve for 2014:

This week marked a special landmark: 5 years of Green Philly Blog. We also realized that our 5 year anniversary is the SAME anniversary as Beth's wedding. True love, on both accounts. We want to celebrate our anniversary with you by taking a quick look back. In the past 5 years, we've: