Articles Written by Julie Hancher

With Earth Day coming up on Monday, we have a guest post about an event to challenge your bottled vs. tap water knowledge. Elizabeth Kobert is a local coordinator for Think Outside the Bottle. She is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. What do water and national parks have in common? They're both priceless public assets that should be free and accessible to all! We are challenging national parks to Think Outside the Bottle and (Find out more, after the jump!)

If you haven't started seedlings yet for your spring & summer crops, it's time to get started. First thing: which potting mix should you choose? Although Miracle-Gro tends to dominate Home Depot & conventional 'home' stores, you may be supporting a scary brand. Miracle-gro has fertilizers and synthetic chemicals, criticized for not improving soil over the long term but instead leaching unnatural chemicals into streams and ponds. (Find out more, after the jump!)

The Philly Farm & Food Fest returned to the Philadelphia Convention Center this past Sunday. Over 4,000 attendees chatted with local farmers,  artisans & businesses. The second shot at Philly Farm & Food Fest had a great mix of tastes, education & variety. The cheeses were mouthwatering, the sauerkraut was freshly fermented, and there was even crisp local apple cider. I kicked off my locavore dream tour with a (Find out about how the Philly Farm & Food fest went, complete with awesome pics - after the jump.)

Why we're not 'green' One of the biggest complaints about sustainability is how we have to cut back. Stop standing under the faucet and limit yourself to a 5 minute shower. Reduce your energy consumption. Don't buy as much. "The sustainability movement will never completely catch on," a friend recently said to me. "Consumerism drives America." William McDonough & Michael Braungart, authors of the Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability- Designing for Abundance would disagree. Let's go back to those steaming, hot showers. Although I love the environmentalist in me, I also love me some hot, steamy showers on a cold day. But what if we could filter and reuse that water, so I could stand under the faucet until my skin was wrinkly? Instead of worrying about how many fossil fuels the filter process would take, that South Philly wind could power the process. This type of thinking is how The Upcycle challenges you to reconsider sustainability. (Find out more about the Upcycle, released today, after the jump!)

Are you a little too obsessed with Cirque de Soleil or sneak into Barnum & Bailey’s Circus when it comes to town? The good news is you can try the Fly School Circus Arts whether you're a professional gymnast or despise most exercise. I'm a notoriously bad athlete. Just to give you an idea, my short legs damned me to the back of the crowd and on the sidelines instead of ever being a sports captain. I've had kickball teammates tell me I'm not the best of the team but keep receiving invites to stay since I'm the fun, supportive teammate. Yet I took my nonexistent athletic ability and fear of heights, straight to the top of the trapeze. Fly School Circus Arts - My Experience Mary Kelly Rayel was nice enough to invite me to try a class. I figured it was a sustainable alternative to a typical night, so I gave my inter-Cirque-de-Soleil a shot. Find out more about the Fly School Circus Arts experience, after the jump!

Philly Farm & Food Fest is coming to the Convention Center today with hundreds of local farmers, food vendors & artisans. Although thousands in our region will gain new insights and discover new tastes, they're not the only ones who will benefit. Marilyn Anthony is Eastern Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), a member-based nonprofit organization. We talked to Marilyn about how Philly Farm & Food Fest benefits PASA, Fair Food and the local community of local growers, producers & consumers: (Find out more in my Examiner article.)

Do you enjoy running, especially away from the exhaust pipes of cars and traffic? Come out for a 5K to support breathing healthy, clean air in sustainable neighborhoods and our region's overall health. The Clean Air Council's 5K Run for Clean Air is the Philadelphia's largest Earth Day Celebration. This year, the 32nd annual run is coming up on April 20th at 9 AM on MLK drive next to the Philadelphia Art Museum. The 5K Run for Clean Air is a certified-green run and zero-waste event, complete with (Find out more about the 5K and how to win FREE entry, after the jump!)

As many of you may see on our Instagram and Twitter feeds, my new pet Pouncey has quite the range of accessories since his adoption. Although he does try to reduce his carbon catprint, we were both offended when my 'Pouncey toys & treats' mail order came with a box filled of packing peanuts. So what can you do with this tiny styrofoam confetti? (Find out, after the jump!)

Philly Farm & Food Fest is back for locavore lovers this Sunday, April 14th! The 2nd annual Philly Farm & Food Fest at the PA Convention Center (Annex - Broad Street entrance) will be inviting local foodies from 11AM to 4 PM with food samples, 4 cooking demonstrations, 8 workshops & presentations, kids activities and much more. Over 117 farms, food artisans & businesses will sample, sell & share their stories of locavore perfection. Don't believe me? Exhibitors include a variety from GMO Free PA, Greensgrow Phila, Happy Cat Farms, John & Kira's, CSAs, FreshaPeel Hummus, Mompops, Yellow Springs Farm, Capogiro, and my favorite Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey. Find out more about Sunday's event and how to win a FREE pair of tickets, after the jump!