Starre Vartan
Starre Vartan is founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick.com and the author of the Eco-Chick Guide to Life. She's also a freelance science and environment writer who has published in National Geographic, CNN, Scientific American, Mental Floss, Pacific Standard, the NRDC, and many more. She lives on an island in Puget Sound with her partner and black cat. She was a geologist in her first career, and still picks up rocks wherever she goes.
Burning Man/Cooling Man?
I have made art projects that have ended up at Burning Man, my friends have all (seemingly) gone to Burning Man, and I was supposed to go to the art and music desert festival this year, but life (in the form of being accepted to grad school unexpectedly) intervened.…
If You Don’t Associate Your Poppy Seed Bagel with Opium, then why….
…..is it still against the law to grow industrial hemp in the United States? According the the NYTimes, a bipartisan team in California is working to change that. Liberal Democrat Mark Leno and Republican Charles DeVore are working together to fight the DEA’s ban on industrial hemp. Hemp grows easily…
Arcosanti
For some reason, in my life, Arcosanti keeps appearing whenever I’m doing research on something else. I’m drawn to this experiment in human living and I think that means that someday I will end up there. Paolo Soleri, and architect who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, is the father of Arcosanti,…
Wilderness in Boston
I recently took a trip to see my college friend Z, who lives in Boston, and look what I found? (Well, actually he found them…) Wilderness areas just a short boat ride away from downtown beantown. That’s Z on the boat with Boston behind him. Run by the National Parks Service,…
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco (one of my favorite artists ever), recently explained why feminism is tied to environmentalism. Reprieve is her new album. Among the more important themes on “Reprieve” is the persistence of patriarchy in world politics. “It’s the elephant in the room,” she said. “As I get older, I really…
What Could be More American Than the T-Shirt?
I love t-shirts, and after several seasons of super-feminine flirty blouses and dresses, they are making a comeback along with the nouveau grunge look. Of course, t-shirts and jeans are always in, but I for one am happy to retire some of my button-up tops for the easy t-shirt. And…
Consumer Reports Does It in Green
A Very Green Kitchen In my house growing up, no appliance or electronic gadget was bought until Consumer Reports was referenced (our local library had all the back issues and it was my job to find the right one). It seems like many of my friends’ families also had this…
Nukes 'R'nt Us
Model and Environmentalist Betcee May, and tireless Environmental Activist Remy Chevalier want to pull the plug on Indian Point, followed by Vermont Yankee and Millstone. If you’ve been following Eco Chick for awhile, you will know that we are anti-nuclear power, even though there are some environmentalists who think that…
We're Famous!!
We’re very excited to report that Eco Chick was recently featured in the Christian Science Monitor! Check out the article, which is about sustainable fashion and includes great info from our own Summer Rayne Oakes. We are very honored to be included in such a reputable international publication. Thanks CSM!!
Give Me Your Blues
I have to admit to being really into the Doors of late. I just saw the movie with Val Kilmer for the first time (I know, it’s been out forever). Some people say Jim Morrison wasn’t that great of a poet, but I still dig him. I bet he never imagined his tunes would…
