Articles Written by Julie Hancher

The best part about the locavore movement sweeping up the nation, is that a farmers' market is often nearby. And it's great to try the local fare regardless of where you are. A recent trip to Missouri and Kansas (OK, over the summer...) lead me to the City Market in Kansas City.

Benjamin Franklin's birthday may have just passed on January 17th, but we're always remembering the Founding Father as we galavant across the city with constant reminders. Benjamin Franklin's claims to infamy in Philadelphia tend to be historically related: signing the Declaration of Independence, frequenting Christ Church, Masonic Temple & more. But did you know Ben influenced much of Philadelphia's green scene? Benjamin may not have founded recycling or bike lanes, but he did have a few impacts. Let's revisit a few of them:

The Decision. Buzzzzzzzz. Christmas Eve 2012, 7:30 AM. My dreams of sugarplums and eggnog were rudely interrupted when I awoke to a mouse slaughter from my electronic "rat zapper". Believe me, I love animals and believe in their rights. However, there is one exception to the rule: pests in my apartment. I can't compromise sanitation for coexistence. After a few 4 AM wakeup calls, culminating with a stare-down with a mouse in my kitchen, I knew I faced a miserable winter unless I did one thing: adopt a predator to solve this problem. Find out more and why you should adopt a shelter animal, after the jump.

Who doesn't love fresh, local veggies in the winter? This carrot, potato & leek soup used the majority of our winter CSA share. Local? Check. Organic? Check. Delicious? Check! I'm sharing this easy dish for our Friday Quickie. Find the recipe & method, after the jump!

Glasses are great for seeing better and looking like a hipster. But what can you do with old frames? If you've broken a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses, try repairing them before moving on to a new pair. Definitely need to move on to new frames? The good news is you can donate them to the greater good and help people in need. We tackle how to recycle old eyeglasses & sunglasses in this week's Where Can I Wednesday.

Philadelphia's green scene wins another accolade, as ranked in the top 10 US Cities for Green Meetings. What perfect timing after the USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference was hosted here in November. Our city was ranked 8th, as Denver, Las Vegas & Chicago respectively took the top 3 spots. Find out more about this recognition, after the jump!

Frozen or not, Philly's own Schuylkill River was named the 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year by the PA Organization for Watersheds & Rivers. Our hometown river won 43% of the popular vote during a 5-week voting period. The recognition even got a mention from last night's Philadelphia2035 update. Find out more, after the jump:

Let's face it - Weather like this arctic blast is almost unbearable - but also reminds us of how lucky we are to have warm homes & warm coats. But do you have old, unused coats in your closets? Click through to find out where you can donate old winter coats in Philadelphia.

Happy Monday, readers! There's been a ton going on in green news lately, so here are some updates & links for you to get a recap. Recent Green P hilly News for January 6 2014: