Stories

“Ugh, I hate grocery shopping,” complained my dental hygienist. “I want to buy the healthy food but it’s so much more expensive than the crap.” I realize that this is the perception of so many Americans. Although I frequent Whole Foods, I typically stick to a list or create a budget before heading over. After all, “Whole Paycheck” is the infamous knock that ain’t so far from the truth. Do I shop at Whole Foods or farmer's markets 100% of the time? No. But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about  the "cost" of food versus the cost of “food.” Find out more about the cost of food, after the jump!

Outdoor barbecues, camping, concerts and wonderful summer weather (and lots of rain) tend to bring the pests among us. But scary chemicals like DEET (the most commonly used pesticide in mosquito sprays) have been found in various studies with side affects including harming the nervous system and birth defects. What's an outdoor lover to do? One option is to DIY Insect repellent - and it's a lot easier than you think! Find out how to DIY Bug Repellent, after the jump!:

When I took my first sip of this perfected chocolate kale smoothie I experienced a moment of pure smoothie bliss. I say perfected because even though smoothies are supposed to be easy, peasy it's not always a breeze to figure out the perfect mouth satisfying ratio of ingredients. I played around with this combo until I felt like I had a winner I'd want to make over and over. No matter, this chocolate kale smoothie happens to be vegan but can certainly be customized based on what you have on hand. I will, however, share with you my exact recipe in case you're type-A like me when it comes to smoothies! And, please don't be put off by the kale or the color. The kale is barely detected in this combo ; Yet, you still get your daily greens in! Win-win. This recipe makes for a  good snack, post workout "shake", meal accompaniment or very healthy dessert.

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.