Articles Written by Julie Hancher

We recently hosted a bookclub with Nic Esposito to discuss his first book, Seeds of Discent. A beautiful evening last week, we appropriately gathered at Head & the Hand Press headquarters over wine, with friends in a conversation that covered sustainability, urban farming and how it all began. Head & the Hand Press Beginnings Nic Esposito had a passion and noticed a problem. Authors with book deals aren't always necessarily better than those who didn't have big publishing companies behind them. Some of the best writers in Philly didn't have published works to their names. Local writers simply didn't have the accessibility of New York to make those essential connections to get their books published.   Yet Philadelphia is a city of sharers, entrepreneurs and people who support their community. Find out more about Seeds of Discent, Head & the Hand and our discussion on urban sustainability, after the jump!

The 7th annual Philly Spring Cleanup Day was on Saturday, April 5th. Over 14,000 volunteers helped pick up 970,900 lbs of trash and 29,940 lbs of recycled materials. Pretty awesome, right Philly? GPB has been hosting a park cleanup at the 8th & Poplar fields for the past 3 years, when anywhere from 7-25 volunteers arrive to pick up trash, dispose of empty 40's, and ultimately better our community. While the volunteers that show up are great, I've noticed the majority of faces helping out are community groups, sustainability professionals and personal friends. Read on for my observations, after the jump!

We're always so humbled to be featured on other publications! Our friends at Be Well Philly included us on their morning checkup for our recent Oil Pulling post. Also, I'm so honored that Philadelphia Neighborhoods included me in their 5 People Making Philly Greener post. Also featured were sustainability rockstars including

Philadelphia can brag about another top 10 list - this time, with energy efficient buildings. Philly is #9 of ENERGY STAR buildings! Philly has entered the top 10 list for the first time.

Ever wonder where you can recycle your TV? Look no further - we solve the problem for you in this week's Where Can I Wednesday column. Don't throw your TV in the trash. Pennsylvania State law, the Covered Device Recycling Act, prohibits you from throwing away electronics (like a TV) with your regular curbside garbage. Here's where to Recycle CRT & LCD Televisions in Philly:

Now that the polar vortex is over, we can enjoy the fruits of spring... and more importantly, the best locavore event in town. Philly Farm & Food Fest 2014 The Philly Farm & Food Fest returns on Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Find out more about the Philly Farm & Food fest and how to win a FREE pair of passes, after the jump!

The Clean Air Council is hosting its 33rd annual 5K Run for Clean Air on Saturday, April 19th at 9 AM. Kicking off at the Philadelphia Art Museum, you can run the 5K, 3K walk or Kids' Fun Run. The 5K Run for Clean Air has become the area's largest Earth Day Celebration, supporting the local guys who fight for a cleaner local environment.

Public Service Message for the ladies: There's tons of chemicals in the products you use... down there. Some of the most absorptive and sensitive tissue on women's bodies exists is the loved v-j region, but many companies don't disclose what they're putting in products made for that area. A recent report even said that chemicals in feminine care products can increase the risk of breast cancer, reproductive problems, asthma and allergic reactions with cancer-causing chemicals and hormone disruptors. Scary, right? These risks are enough of a reason to make the switch to organic tampons & pads.

In just a few decades, sales of consumer electronics have skyrocketed. As consumers upgrade to the latest and greatest devices, old computer towers and bulky monitors are discarded in favor of slimmer, sleeker models. Even the simple act of swapping out an empty ink cartridge contributes to the mounting problem of non-biodegradable waste. What does this do to our environment? What can you do about ink cartridges? Find out where you can recycle ink cartridges in Philadelphia for our Where Can I Wednesday column, after the jump!