Have rising fuel prices left a sour taste in your mouth? Did your last fill-up nearly make you pop your cork? But enough with the bad wine puns. If you’ve overlooked them in the past, here are a few reasons to reconsider Indiana-produced wine.

All of the grapes, none of the guilt. Wines that are produced locally take fewer miles to travel to your dinner table. And you don’t have to go far to find them-numerous liquor and grocery stores around town carry Indiana labels such as Oliver, Chateau Thomas, and Easley.

They like them! They really like them! Several Hoosier wines took home medals from last weekend’s Indianapolis International Wine Festival, an event that drew more than 3,200 entries from around the world. Among the winners: Chateau Thomas Winery’s 2005 CDP wine (Indiana-made Wine of the Year), Huber Orchard and Winery’s Razzy Apple (Best Indiana-grown Fruit Wine), Oliver Winery’s 2007 Creekbend Estate Late Harvest Vignoles (Best French-American Wine), Buck Creek Winery’s Alley Cat (Best Indiana-grown American Varietal), and Mallow Run Winery of Bargersville, who took the Indiana Governor’s Cup as the Best Indiana Winery.

You might save a little money. Sure, it’s no 3-buck Chuck, but in many cases, locally produced wine will cost you less than the imports. And here’s an idea: Use the money you save by skipping the pricey Californian, Australian, and French varieties on a new set of stemware. (Because everyone has a clumsy friend who tends to break things.)

If you still want to get your vineyard fix and, just maybe, reenact that classic scene from Sideways where Paul Giamatti goes nuts in the tasting room, plan to tour the Indy Wine Trail, seven of the state’s award-winning wineries. And the next time your California friends come a callin’ and ask for a glass of wine? Now you’ll be able to tell them who put the “Napa” in Indianapolis.

Piece out,

Meghan & Renee

It’s not that we’re against shopping-we just can’t stomach the ever-increasing stack of store catalogs that arrives almost daily in our mailboxes. With nearly every major retailer offering online commerce these days, what’s the point of getting paper versions (most of which you never even signed up to receive)?

Reduce your mail carrier’s load and help save a few trees: Sign up for Catalog Choice, a no-fee service that allows you to opt out of nearly every kind of catalog. Simply sign up, choose which catalog titles you don’t want, and voila! You’re off the list.

Meghan recently bid farewell to Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and J.Crew catalogs for good…though she has yet to find a foolproof purchase-prevention program for these stores.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

No one expects you to scour every yard sale in town for a gently used dishwasher. But instead of buying new each time you begin a home improvement project, consider the HomeStore, operated by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis. When we first walked into the huge warehouse at 1011 E. 22nd St. (near the Monon Trail) we saw armoires, full cabinet sets and, yes, even toilets. Upon further inspection, our search revealed windows, paint, appliances, doors, tile, light fixtures…the list goes on. All items are sold at 50 to 75% off regular retail prices and the profit goes right back into the community, helping Habitat for Humanity build safe and affordable homes for families in Indianapolis.The HomeStore also accepts donations of new and used building and remodeling materials that are in good shape (and, in most cases, will pick them up from your home or business, if you request it). Not only is your donation tax-deductible, you are you keeping these materials out of the landfill. Renee recycled her old thermostat (after swapping it out for a programmable one) during her visit.

The next time you get inspired by HGTV to remodel your kitchen or motivated by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build something for others, think outside the big box stores and head to the HomeStore, where saving green and living green go hand-in-hand.

Piece out,
Meghan & Renee

We know, we know. When we sent you that tip on swapping your incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents, you had every intention of doing so. But if you still haven’t taken action to reduce your carbon footprint (and your electricity bill), we have good news. The Indianapolis Zoo recently launched My Carbon Pledge. The easy-as-pie program, which encourages Hoosiers to make a pledge that they will replace incandscents with CFLs, is catching on around the state. The goal? To replace 1 million traditional light bulbs with the energy efficient variety and, in doing so, reduce Indiana’s CO2 emissions by 150 million pounds per year-the equivalent of removing 13,000 cars from the road. Signing up is free, and your first name and pledge, whether 1 bulb or 100, will be posted on the site.
 
Reducing CO2 emissions does more than make a statement: It helps fight climate change and gives animals that have suffered from drastic changes in the Earth’s temperature (ahem, polar bears) a better chance at survival.
 
Pledge your allegiance to the planet. Pick up a package of CFLs on your next shopping trip, then log on to My Carbon Pledge and make your promise public. You can even register your pledge under the Green Piece Indy team as our readers compete to lead the state in number of bulbs changed.
 
Piece out,
Meghan & Renee

Our hearts go out to the Hoosier families affected by the recent flooding. And though it may seem unnecessary at the moment, conserving water is important as our area’s infrastructure deals with excessive wastewater and runoff, and as we move into the drier, hotter months of July and August. In earlier Pieces, we’ve written about good watering practices, native plants, and using mulch to conserve moisture. A landscaping concept that combines all of those is Xeriscaping™. (Don’t worry: Like most words that start with “x,” it sounds fancier than it is.)
 
Xeriscaping™, the practice of landscaping to conserve water, isn’t all cacti and rocks. Dr. Mary Welch-Keesey, a Purdue University Consumer Horticulture Specialist at White River Gardens, prepared a downloadable handout titled “Xeriscaping™ in Indiana.” Dr. Welch-Keesey recommends:

• Choosing drought-tolerant plants, especially natives, and planting them near each other based on their water requirements
• Reducing overall lawn size with more flower beds, or not irrigating as much of your lawn
• Using soaker hoses to water your lawn and flower beds, which you should do early in the morning about once a week, to build roots and reduce evaporation waste

Planting procrastinators, take heart: The handout also includes a long list of recommended plants that, after established, will reduce your watering chores.
 
Big box stores rarely stock a wide selection of native plants, so we recommend referencing the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society’s excellent resource page of nurseries in Indiana and the Midwest that carry native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees.
 
Drying out never felt so good.
 
Piece out,
Meghan, Renee, and Kevin (GPI’s superstar guest tip-writer!)

Ah, Dad…he taught you to tie your shoes, bait a hook, and swing a golf club. But here’s your chance to teach him something about going green. Sign him up for a free Living Lean & Green workshop, hosted by the Citizens Action Coalition Education Fund. (A $15 donation to cover the workbook is appreciated.) The five-session class will introduce Dad to the impact of global warming on our community and offer numerous home energy-saving strategies that also save money. Dad taught you to be fiscally responsible, too, didn’t he? Upcoming workshops include:

• Hussey-Mayfield Library, 250 N. 5th Street, Zionsville
  Wednesdays, June 25; July 9, 16, 30; August 6
  6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (June 25 session begins 6:00 PM) 
• St. Vincent Health - North, 10330 N. Meridian Street
  (Registration limited to St. Vincent employees)
  Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7
  11:00 AM to 12:30 PM 
• Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road
  Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7
  6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Ready for Dad to take the next step? Enroll him in Creating Your Sustainable Home. The class will review green home standards (such as LEED, NAHB, and PATH) and use them as strategies for greening an existing home or as a starting point for buying or building a green home. Participants will also learn about the systems, methods, and materials that make a home more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Sat., Jul. 12, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Road.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Anyone with an Internet connection (i.e., you) knows that an online White Pages, Yellow Pages, or Google search yields much quicker, easier results than thumbing through the flimsy pages of a phone book. Yet we still get hard copies that keep piling up on our front porch. At the request of many GPI subscribers, here’s how to get rid of ‘em.Most paper recycling drop-off centers don’t take phone books because the whisper-thin paper that comprises them has already been recycled so many times it is no longer of value. Luckily, Rock-Tenn Company (formerly Indianapolis Recycled Fiber) recycles phone books at their downtown drop-off facility at 1775 S. West St. or at First Friends of Indianapolis.

But what if you want to look something up and you’re not near your computer? Meghan uses Google SMS. Simply send a text message to Google (that’s 466453 in text lingo) and enter a query (ex. Whole Foods Market Indianapolis) as your text message. In seconds, Google texts you back with the phone number and address.

Want to help ban phone books altogether? Visit Paperless Petition for more information.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

What’s that we hear? Is that a biodiesel-powered tour bus rolling into town? And it’s carrying our favorite band? Well turn it up man! An eco-friendly concert is something we’ll give a round of applause any day of the week. After all, think about all the miles those rock stars log…all the electricity they require to power their show…all those empty beer bottles to recycle. We were tickled green to learn that several of our favorite artists are upping their environmental commitment by using biodiesel to power their buses and generators, recycling, using biodegradable or reusable dishes and utensils, selling organic cotton tees at their concerts, and hosting tents at different venues that help educate their fans on going green. Among those making a difference (and coming to Indy this summer!) are: 

• Jack Johnson - June 13 @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
• John Mayer - July 5 @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
• Dave Matthews Band - July 25 & 26 @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
• Vans Warped Tour - July 31 @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
• Bonnie Raitt - Aug. 15 @ Caesars

Rock on, Indiana!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

By now, you’ve probably visited or at least heard of Indy’s farmers markets-those jovial community events where you’ll find just-picked tomatoes piled alongside pints of ripe red strawberries, fresh sweet corn, juicy peaches, and crisp green beans. Other vendors sell Indiana-raised meats, potted plants, decadent baked goods, and more. Locally grown and locally raised foods tend to be fresher, better-tasting, and more nutritious than the grocery store stuff since they can be picked and transported to the market in a matter of hours. And because it requires less fuel to haul, you’re reducing your carbon footprint. Did we mention that you’re also helping Central Indiana farmers and their families make a living? Yeah, it gives us warm and fuzzy feelings, too. Here’s a quick rundown of our favorite markets in the area. For more details, check out Local Harvest.Tuesdays - New this year: Wishard Memorial Hospital Farmers Market, in the courtyard behind the Bryce Building, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesdays - Original Farmers Market at Indianapolis City Market, at the intersection of Market and Delaware streets downtown, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thursdays - 38th & Meridian Farmers Market, at the northwest corner of 38th and Meridian streets (parking lot of North United Methodist Church), from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Fridays - The Green Market at Traders Point Creamery, 9101 Moore Road, Zionsville, from 4 to 8 p.m. We’re also excited for the brand new Westfield Market, running from 4 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Main and Walnut streets in downtown Westfield.

Saturdays - How could we pick just one? Binford, Broad Ripple, Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, Noblesville…with proper planning, you could hit them all in one morning!

Sundays - Though not every week, Irvington hosts a fabulous market the second Sunday of every month at Ellenberger Park, 5301 E. St. Clair St.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

When the mercury rises this summer, plenty of Indianapolis residents will crank up their air conditioner-and their electricity bill. Fortunately for Indianapolis Power and Light customers, there is CoolCents. The voluntary program works like this: IPL installs a little device on your air conditioner that, only during periods of critical energy demand, will shorten the number of minutes your air conditioner compressor is on. Don’t worry: This typically only occurs during the weekday hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (not on holidays, weekends, or in the evening), so you’ll likely be out of the house.  What’s in it for you? A $5 credit for every month you participate between June and September. What’s in it for IPL? Your participation helps to reduce the amount of expensive peak electricity they need to purchase during the summer. Make cents?
 
To enroll, simply visit IPL online or call 800-305-0982.
 
Piece out,
Renee & Meghan