Whether you’re planning to gobble up a free-range bird, Tofurkey, or something else today, we thought it appropriate to offer a word of thanks for the many farmers, vendors, and dedicated locavores who have helped make Central Indiana’s food supply more eco-friendly this year. With organic grocery stores, farmers markets, and community supported agriculture programs sprouting up more and more, the Hoosier State now offers a veritable cornucopia of local and organic food options.

We’re especially grateful for the two newest. The Indy Food Co-op, which is scheduled to open in mid-summer of 2009, will serve as a non-profit grocery store that provides local, organic produce and other foods that are both fresh and affordable. Join now through Dec. 31 to be part of the Founding 150 - $150 for a discounted lifetime membership that includes discounts at the store, voting rights, your name on the Founding 150 plaque and many other member benefits. Though a location for the store has not yet been secured, the co-op is eyeing at 10th and Hamilton Streets just east of downtown Indy.

The other newcomer, the Indy Winter Farmers Market, recently opened at 2442 N. Central Ave. Running every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the market offers a variety of winter vegetables and fruits, fresh and dried herbs, sustainably raised meats, baked goods, jams, salsas, all-natural household cleaners, and much more.

Later, turkeys!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

The holidays are stressful enough without some discount-crazed shopper knocking you over to score the last Nintendo Wii. Before you shell out another dime this season, repeat after us: think globally, shop locally. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

OUT: Enduring yet another olfactory assault from the perfume spritzer at the department store.
IN: Enjoying locally crafted scents from Ambre Blends at the upcoming Holiday Gift Show at Zest! Exciting Food Creations (1134 E. 54th St.), taking place Sat., Nov. 29, from 4 to 9 p.m. This annual event will feature exclusive Ambre Blends products and gift sets at special discounted holiday prices. While you’re there, check out the jewelry, scarves, and other goods from local designers such as Jeannerachael Collections, BE Jewelry & Love Touched Knits by B.

OUT: Standing in line all night to save $200 on a flat screen TV.
IN: Zipping to the front of the line at Indy’s first annual Alternative Gift Fair, hosted by Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church and Earth House Collective, taking place Sat., Nov. 29 at 237 N. East St., from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Part church holiday bazaar, part farmers market, the daylong fair features locally made goods as well as plenty of opportunities to give to local and global nonprofits.

OUT: Elbowing your way into Wal-Mart on Black Friday.
IN: Rubbing elbows with fellow eco enthusiasts during a shopping night at Global Gifts. SOLAR and Green Piece Indy will co-host the event at the store’s downtown location (446 Massachusetts Ave.) on Mon., Dec. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. Join us for snacks and demonstrations of gifts made with recycled and sustainable materials (demos at 5:45 and 6:45 p.m.). Mention SOLAR when making a purchase anytime on Dec. 8 (at both Global Gifts locations) and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful will receive 10% of the proceeds.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Retail stores, automobile manufacturers, insurance companies…who hasn’t been affected by the Great Recession of ‘08?

Sadly, Debbie Downers, you can now add the paper and plastic industry to that list. Due to current market conditions, Rock-Tenn has pulled their recycling bins from First Friends Church (3030 Kessler Blvd. East Dr.). Unfortunately, the market is bad enough that they can’t continue the free pick-up service. They hope to replace the bins when things turn around. 

And now, for some good news. Rock-Tenn Recycling, the city’s most conprehensive recycler located at 1775 S. West St., still accepts cardboard and plastics #1 through #7 at their facility just south of downtown Indianapolis.

Republic curbside recycling customers who use one of the company’s 65-gallon or 95-gallon receptacles can also recycle corrugated cardboard and box board (such as cereal boxes, soda case packaging, etc.) in their bin. (Not so for users of the small 18-gallon bin.)

To reduce your impact even more, try pre-cycling. Make it easier on yourself and the planet by selecting products packaged in materials that are easily recyclable, like aluminum, steel, and #1 and #2 plastics. Even better, choose items that require no boxes, cans, bottles, or wrapping of any kind. 

Because while good things come in small packages, the best ones don’t require packages. Our picks: bicycles, books, flowers, puppies, and kisses. 

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Does the idea of doing your holiday shopping on Black Friday make you cringe? Does spending a bundle on wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, bags, tissue paper - which just ends up in the garbage - send your blood pressure skyrocketing? Do you feel like the whole meaning of the season gets lost like a child’s mitten on the Monon Trail? 

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, consider attending the Big GREEN Give, a free event taking place November 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Center.

Your mission: give more, gift less. We’re not suggesting that you say good-bye to stuff altogether…just scale it down by offsetting some of the material goods with thoughtful, non-material ones. Instead of browsing shelf after shelf of poorly lit sweaters, here you will find friendly representatives from local and national non-profits. As you learn about each organization, you can decide which causes best mesh with the values of your friends and family and, voila, buy gifts in the form of a donation packages. With each donation package purchased, you will receive a recycled card with a message about the donation that you can personalize for the recipient. Sure beats shopping at the mall, huh? 

Of course, the Big GREEN Give isn’t all about doing good deeds - it’s also designed to be fun. Shoppers can make a “Trash to Treasure” holiday craft, enjoy a free snack and holiday music, and learn how to make their holidays a little more eco-friendly and, in many cases, a little more economical.

Can’t make it to the Big Green Give, but still want to give charitable gifts that support a local company? Check out Endangered Species Chocolate donation gift collections. Each gift comes with ocean, chimp or cat themed chocolate and a donation in the recipient’s name to Ocean Conservancy, Chimp Haven or Exotic Feline Rescue Center (a big cat rescue located in Indiana).

Out with being in the red, in with being green!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

O beautiful for recycling bins,
of empty glass bottles of beer,
For mountains of plastic and aluminum,
And cardboard stored for years!

America! America!
Go shed your home of these,
And if you would, go tell your ‘hood,
To get to A.R.D.!

That’s right, patriots: America Recycles Day (ARD) is happening this Saturday, November 15, at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring the kiddos and take part in the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. Learn how to reduce trash and keep our planet clean by participating in this day of fun activities. Rumor has it the Incredible Hulk will be there.

Speaking of green superstars, will Green Piece Indy be there? You betcha! We would love for you to stop by our table and say hello.

Also on the ARD calendar, a press conference at 1 p.m. announcing newly installed pedestrian recycling bins along Mass Ave. The event will be held at Davlan Park, on the northeast corner of Alabama St. and Mass Ave. In the event of rain, meet inside the Davlan Building, 430 Mass Ave.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

We’ve gotta admit, the upcoming Recycled Threads fashion show sounds suspiciously like a Project Runway episode: designers purchase cast-off clothing from local resale shops, retool each piece to create a fashionable outfit, slap the outfits on a bunch of models, and parade them down a catwalk in hopes of winning the cash prize. The difference between the Bravo show and this event? Besides the absence of a new Saturn and an appearance at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week? Well, for one, you won’t have to arm-wrestle Victoria Beckham to sit in the front row.

Be there this Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m., as local designers compete at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road. While you probably won’t see any organic silk organza, you’ll find oodles of repurposed garments and accessories procured from secondhand, consignment, and thrift shops that have been cleverly transformed into women’s wear, menswear, and clothing for teens and children. Recycled Threads designs will be judged on a variety of criteria, including stylishness, cost savings, and audience approval.

Already made other plans for Friday night? Cancel them. Get to this show. In the immortal words of Runway host Tim Gunn, make it work!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

By now, carrying your reusable cloth bags to the grocery store has become second-nature. And with all the cute styles out there, you can practically match them to your outfits.

But don’t limit yourself to the supermarket. Use these stylish sacks for holiday shopping, and pat yourself on the back as you say no thanks to the wads of unnecessary tissue paper.

Take them to the hardware store when you load up on energy-saving CFLs and, of course, strands and strands of twinkle lights (never fear, they’re actually more efficient than you think.)

And finally, BYO bags on your next trip to the library. Sure, borrowing books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs is more eco-friendly than buying new. But if you tote them home in a plastic bag (sadly, the least green offering of the library), it kind of cancels out the good deed. Bonus: Don’t miss out on the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library’s upcoming book sale, Nov. 14-22. Score used books at rock-bottom prices ($2 for most hardbacks, 50 cents for paperbacks) during this event held at the Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian St.

Piece out,
Meghan & Renee

With the election coming to a close today, you now have time to exercise your other patriotic duty: holiday shopping. Somebody’s gotta support the economy, right?

‘Tis the season to shop local, green businesses. Our latest favorite: Celerystreet.com, an Indianapolis-based online purveyor of green goods, from gardening and kitchen supplies to apparel, jewelry, bath products, and desk accessories.

This is not just the latest crop of recycled knickknacks. In culling their inventory, Indianapolis couple JD and Evelyn Guinn takes into account how the products are made and with what materials, where they are created and by whom. The result: attractive eco-friendly gifts at a click.

But don’t take our word for it - come see for yourself. Celerystreet.com is hosting an open house at their northwest side warehouse (8575 Zionsville Road) this Thursday, Nov. 6, from noon to 7 p.m. RSVP by e-mailing kelly@celerystreet.com. You can also browse the warehouse showroom on Fridays during Celerystreet.com’s holiday shopping hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7, 14 and 21; December 5, 12 and 19).

To sweeten the deal, first-time Celerystreet shoppers - either online or at the warehouse - receive a 10% discount. Think of it as your own personal economic relief plan.

 Piece out,
Renee & Meghan