If you browse blogs, listen to NPR or read major newspapers, you've probably heard of the blog Stuff White People Like. It's brutally funny, and hits home in a way that both hurts and feels good to acknowledge. Going about my day I've started having thoughts of, "that's totally Stuff White People Like!" Here's the results of a quick scan of the blog's take on my favorite green topics, with excerpts and links to the topic page on the original blog.

#5 Farmer's Markets: "White people like Farmers Markets for a number of reasons. The first is their undying need to support local economies (see future post), and the idea of buying direct from the farmer helps them assuage the fears instilled in them from reading Fast Food Nation (and yes, every white person has read this book)...If they are single, this is a good place to meet other single white people who share their passion for sustainability."

#6 Organic Food: "When faced with eating food that has been processed and loaded with nitrates, sodium and saturated fat, or organic rat poison, 10/10 they will take the rat poison."

#48 Whole Foods & Grocery Co-ops: "White people need organic food to survive, and where they purchase this food is as important as what they purchase. In modern white person culture, Whole Foods has replaces churches and cathedrals as the most important and relevant buildings in the community....

These stores are excellent for bringing children, as there is nothing that they actually want.

“Oh, mommy, look chocolate!”

“No Joshua, that’s carob.”

“I want it.”

“Ok.”

The child will then take a bite and realize that nothing in the store can be trusted."

#60 Toyota Prius: "The Prius might be the most perfect white product ever.  It’s expensive, gives the idea that you are helping the environment, and requires no commitment/changes other than money...There are a few ways you can use this to your advantage.  If you are carpooling to an event or party you can always say “can we take your Prius? my car doesn’t get good mileage and I feel guilty driving it.”  And bam! Free ride!"

#61 Bicycles: "The combination of rare bicycles and expensive parts makes it easy for white people to judge other white people on the quality and originality of their bicycles. This is important in determining if someone is or isn’t cooler than you. And of course, it goes without saying that white people who ride bikes like to talk about how they are saving the earth. If you know a person who rides to work, you should take them aside and say “Hey, thanks. Sincerely, The Earth.” Then give a thumbs up. That white person will ride home on a cloud."

#64 Recycling: "Recycling is a part of a larger theme of stuff white people like: saving the earth without having to do that much. Recycling is fantastic! You can still buy all the stuff you like (bottled water, beer, wine, organic iced tea, and cans of all varieties) and then when you’re done you just put it in a DIFFERENT bin than where you would throw your other garbage. And boom! Environment saved! Everyone feels great, it’s so easy!"

#76 Bottles of Water: "Currently, white people on the cutting edge are really into metal bottles of water with a twist cap. It is recommended that you buy one of these as soon as possible. Having one will give you precious leverage over any white person who is drinking from a plastic bottle. “Oh bottled water? really? I mean it’s cool, but I kind of thought you cared about the earth.” If you see someone drinking a Fiji water, you do have the opportunity to go in for the kill. “Do you know that your bottle of water has a bigger carbon footprint than me?"

Naturally, #44 is Public Radio. Listen to the NPR interview with the writer of Stuff White People Like here.

Now I think I have to start a blog about stuff green people like...suggestions?

EcoMetro Calendar

Sustainability Conference
Learn about many different project grant opportunities to fund grassroots projects in the areas of energy, water quality, waste reduction, graffiti prevention, transportation and Climate. Free! Please preregister at www.afors.org.
March 8, 8:30am to 4:40pm
Augsburg College

Lure of Shoes Exhibit
The exhibition will showcase a spectacular collection of vintage wedding shoes, slippers, carriage boots, stiletto pumps, clogs, wedges, sandals, platforms, hiking boots, and a superb collection of children’s and infants shoes. Vintage handbags, purses, and a few suitably chosen hats will tastefully accessorize the show. $5 adult admission.
Now through Summer 2008
Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis

Omnifest 2008
Omnifest brings six films to the Omnitheater for one month. Film’s showing this year are Everest, Cowboys: Ride Around the World, Roar: Lions of the Kalahari, Indonesia: Dance of Life, Amazon, and The Alps.
Begins today, March 7
Science Museum of Minnesota
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon for 2 for 1 admission or $10 off a dual membership.

Locals Night at Trotter’s Café
Receive 10% off your meal if you live within 2 miles. Another 5% off if you walk, bike or bus to Trotter’s.  Local Musicians.
Dinner starts at 5, music starts at 6
March 8, PapaJohn & Hot Club
March 15, Nick Robin
March 22, Dunquin
March 29, Chris Wilson
Trotter’s Café, 232 North Cleveland Ave. (at Marshall), St. Paul
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon for 25% off any menu item.

Learn How to Pair Great Food with Great Tea!
Expand your knowledge of fine food and tea! Sample some of our great food and deserts. Come for dinner – stay for the class! Class Location: Trotter’s, 232 Cleveland Av, N, St Paul, MN 55104; 651-645-8950. Limit 20 per class. Class is $10.00 per attendee.  Must be pre-paid by cash, check or credit card. Registration fees are non-refundable within 72 hours of the class date. Sign up at Trotter’s or TeaSource
March 11, 7-9:00 pm
Trotter’s Café, 232 North Cleveland Ave. (at Marshall), St. Paul
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon for 25% off any menu item.

Blue Sky Guide and o2 host Green Drinks: Park Your Car!
Join our Blue Sky Guide staff for an eco-friendly social gathering at the Red Stag Supper Club (Minnesota's first LEED certified restaurant). Charge your eco-spirit, make some new connections, and learn a thing or two. Red Stag offers a wide variety of organic/locally-sourced dishes, fine wines and local brews.  ALL ages are welcome. Theme: Park your car! Get the latest on car-sharing, mass transit, bikeways and alternatives to car ownership in the Twin Cities. Beer specials too!
March 12, 6-7:30ish
Red Stag Supper Club, 509 1st Ave NE, Minneapolis
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon at Red Stag for buy 1 get 1 free lunch specials.

ReUse Center Expands into the East Metro
Join us for the Grand Opening of our new Maplewood store.  We will have refreshments from 12pm to 4pm (store open from 10am to 7pm). For more information contact Brandon Christiansen at 612 -278 -7160.
March 22, 12-4pm
1723 Hwy 36 East (NW corner of Hwy 36 & White Bear Ave.) Maplewood
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon at the Minneapolis ReUse center for 20% off any item.

Celebrate American Indians in Science
Celebrate the 8th Annual American Indians in Science. This event introduces visitors to individuals from the Twin Cities' American Indian community who have made significant contributions to science, engineering, and education. Meet presenters from a wide variety of disciplines who will share their areas of expertise through hands-on activities and dynamic displays.
March 29, 1-4 pm
Science Museum of Minnesota
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon for 2 for 1 admission or $10 off a dual membership.

Find a Green Career
Green career opportunities are unlimited, but where are they and how do you snag one? What action can you take now to get on your green career track and work for a sustainable world? Barbara Parks from Green Career Tracks will help you answer these questions and get you started on creating your own green careers customized plan. Register online at www.doitgreen.org or RSVP with Ami Voeltz at 612-345-7973 or ami.voeltz@doitgreen.org. Workshops are $5 each, payable online or at the event.
March 13, 6-8pm Nokomis Public Library, 5100 34th Ave S., Minneapolis
March 15, 2-4pm Washburn Public Library, 5244 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
March 20, 6-8pm North Regional Public Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis

Common Roots Food and Wine Tasting
Locally produced, organic, fairly traded, sustainable, AND delicious….never thought these words would be used to describe the next food/wine tasting you’ll be attending? Then let Etica Fair Trade wine, PastureLand dairy Co-op ($1 off butter or cheese), Peace Coffee ($2 off a pound) and Common Roots surprise you with an expertly-paired spread of Minnesota-made cheeses and desserts, and fairly traded wines and coffees. Members of these companies will be on hand to share the stories behind these ethically produced and purchased treats. Free and open to the public!
March 20, 5:30–7:30pm
2558 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
*Use your Blue Sky Guide coupon for free coffee or tea with purchase of a bagel.

Community Garden Spring Resource Fair
Will Allen from Growing Power in Milwaukee is kicking off the Spring Resource Fair, highlighting his organization’s innovative work on bridging cultures through gardening. Activities for the kids, workshops, and engaging educational displays during the day. Raffle prizes, music and food top off the fun! Free parking and free entry. Come see what community gardening resources are available for you! Go to www.gardenworksMN.org or call GardenWorks at 612-278-7123 for more details.
March 29, 9am-2:30pm
First Christian Church, 2201 1st Ave S, Minneapolis

Metro CERTs Network Kick-Off
Interested in localizing your energy? Join community, business and non-profit leaders, elected officials, students, state agency staff, and congregations as they kick-off the new Metro CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Team) Network.  Come and network, see old friends, meet new ones, enjoy local and organic refreshments and hear about exciting community-based energy projects happening in the Twin Cities.  There will be a very short program at 6:30pm.  Get your taxes done early, so you can attend!
RSVP’s and Questions contact Diana McKeown at the Green Institute 612-278-7125 or dmckeown@greeninstitute.org.
April 15, 5-8pm
Landmark Center, 75 West 5th Street, St. Paul

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Previously, I wrote an article about making one's own baby food without the waste and expense of buying those little plastic tubs (or even the jars). I have decided to make it one step easier for you: here are some recipes!

For apples, firmer pears, prunes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, green beans, greens (kale, collard greens, spinach, etc.), peas, potatoes, rhubarb, squash (summer or winter), or yams/sweet potatoes, remove any peels, cores, and/or tough stems. Wash the item thoroughly. Chop it into small pieces (one-inch cubes should work). Add the item and enough water to the pan/microwaveable dish so that it will not entirely boil away (a few tablespoons should do). On the stove, bring everything to a boil, and cook until tender. Keep a lid on the pan to minimize nutient loss. In the microwave (which saves power), cover the dish and microwave for several minutes. Once the food is very soft for a young baby, or tender-crisp for an older one, remove it from heat and allow to cool slightly.

The Estethica exhibition at London fashion week, which wrapped up its fourth season on February 13th, showcases some of the best in sustainable fashion around, with an emphasis on UK designers. The event has firmly established its reputation for raising awareness and promoting the concept of ethically-minded fashion within the industry and the public, showcasing long-established ‘green’ brands alongside emerging sustainable fashion designers. Estethica celebrates designers who choose to work with recycled materials, organic and other sustainable fibers, and those who adhere to fair trade labor standards.

This year’s exhibition was packed once again, featuring regulars like People Tree, Junky Styling, Terra Plana, Ciel and Katharine Hamnett, as well as international brands of note, like Beyond Skin, Fin, Viridis Luxe (photo at the top), Noir and Izzy Lane (one of the designers featured in the Portland Fall Fashion Week 2007 shows). Not to be forgotten, accessories lines, such as the jewelry collection of Fifi Bijoux and bag-designers Nahui Ollin, Sonya Kashmiri and Pibiones all made an positive impression. Trends spotted, courtesy of Bonnie Alter at Treehugger: “lots of greys, whites and blues (despite the fashion mag’s insistence on colours this spring), clothes are either casual or over the top and most interestingly-many designers are working with socially deprived groups to develop new skills or maintain old ones.”

Talk about cradle to cradle planning in design, I love the fact that Makepiece’s collection is designed to be composted when the outfit has been worn to pieces. Now that’s closing the loop.

Not all brands were from across the pond. San Francisco’s Del Forte Denim exhibited, as did one of our long standing favorites, Stewart+Brown.

According to Orsola de Castro, founder the UK ‘green’ label From Somewhere and co-curator of the event, “Support for the sustainable fashion movement has been incredible worldwide, but in the UK we have exceeded all expectations, with unprecedented moves toward a more ethical fashion industry. Estethica is central to this shift.” Source: Crush Communications Press Release.

Estethica has helped pave the way for similar events in the US, from growing ‘green’ exhibits at mainstream fashion trade shows like the S(eco)nd show at Pool and the Go Green Initiative at Designers & Agents, to the flurry of ‘green’ fashion weeks this past fall, including those in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and more, all vying for the title of “Greenest of Them All”. With each new ‘ultimate green fashion’ event, it becomes clear that eco-fashion is not only here to stay, but growing at an exponential rate. Designers are realizing that not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also an investment in our future, with great potential for financial reward along the way. As Matilda Lee, Green Pages Editor for The Ecologist, said, these designers “should be commended for holding fast to their principles of putting sustainability on the agenda and for valuing long term vision over short term gain - in short: for designing with the planet in mind.”

Thank you Estethica for giving us one more example of the fact that style, sustainability and smart business are not mutually exclusive.

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Return to Sender With Recycled Cards

Research from Hallmark shows that Valentine's Day is the second most popular holiday for greeting cards, with as many as 180 million cards sent each year, and that's not counting children's valentines. Encourage kids to make their own cards with papers and materials from locally owned Wet Paint.

Adults who want to skip the heart shaped boxes and pink foil can send a love note on handmade cards created through a letterpress workshop at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts on the 13th.

These cards from Urban Bird Designs (sold at Mississippi Market) are made with images from books found at estate sales. Created using wind energy and printed on 100% recycled paper, they employ cute puns such as "deer to me" (pictured, right) and are blank inside--perfect for a gift certificate. Give your deers a four-class yoga card to Mind Body Solutions, body products by Garden of Eden, or a dance lesson at Arthur Murray.

If you love art you’ll find lots of goodies at the Uptown Art Fair, Powderhorn Park Art Fair, and Loring Park Art Festival.

The Walker Art Center is a great place to meet new friends and take in a free Thursday night art lecture. There’s something every Thursday including international dancers, workshops like zine printing, art films, and much more, see their calendar.

The best part of embracing local living is meeting the people around you. Meet other locals at places like the neighborhood farmers market, where you’re more likely to chat than in a store.

Peapods Natural Toys (251 Snelling Ave S) has fair trade toys, organic cotton dolls, and cloth diapers.