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.
The Easiest, Fastest, Tastiest Summer Lunch: A Mezze Plate
Clockwise starting with the pretzels: Happy Herbert’s Spelt mini-pretzels, Hawthorne Valley Farms lacto-fermented Dilly Beans, Sabra pine-nut hummous, organic Cali fig, organic local carrot, organic local pear, herbed goat cheese, organic green grapes (on sale). I’m a busy Eco Chick and I like it that way; I run two websites,…
The ULTIMATE (Eco) Chick-Mobile!
The second I saw this shot on the gas 2.0 page, I knew I wanted one! This has to be the coolest car ever! This is what I want for Christmas (or before, if possible, LOL). The XR3 is a three-wheeled plug-in diesel hybrid, getting 225 mpg, or if you’re…
Lovely Lingerie That Just Happens to Be Eco Friendly!
I think lingerie might be the toughest thing to find in sustainable fabrics. Here are five lovelies to inspire you, since Summer weather means that bra straps will be peeking out! Clockwise from top left: Cosabella organic cotton thong and underwire bra, g=9.8 bra and panties made from recycled pine…
What to Do with Overripe Summer Fruit? Make a Delicious Crisp!
The crisp with chopped fruit, before oat topping If you’re like me, and have a crazy-busy life, sometimes you come home after three days of running around, and realize that all that delicious fresh fruit you bought at the farmer’s market is….turning (into compost, slowly, on the counter). I find…
"Messing with the Atom is the Highest Form of Blasphemy"
Whenever I hear an “environmentalist” say that the solution to global warming is nuclear power, I shake my head. And then I get (wearily) on my soapbox. Yeah, maybe fission itself doesn’t create CO2, but what about: -mining plutonium (CO2 generating, destroys landscapes, rips open the Earth) -transporting raw materials…
This is MY Kind of Revolution! Time's Square Now Pedestrian (or Lounge Chair!) Friendly
Revolution, you say? YES! Because in this area of Manhattan, just days ago, this area was covered in cars and gridlock. And now people are catching rays, reading, chatting, resting, and yes, even napping! What I call civilized! And, I would argue, I revolutionary act, taking the streets back from…
Cameron Diaz and Gisele Bundchen Being Ridiculously Hot (and Green!) in June Vogue
The June issue of Vogue is packed with Green Goodness! I saved it for my flight to London last week and I was so pleased to find so many verdant gems among the regular great-as-usual Vogue content and reporting. Gorgeous shoot, all sun-drenchy and summery. Here Cameron wears a Hessnatur…
You Might Be an Eco Chick If…..
My wonderfully grey kitty, Penelope, who actually allows me to leave the heat off by keeping my lap warm while I blog, so I think she might have a negative carbon footprint! ……..you get embarassed when you absolutely HAVE to buy a bottled water one night after closing down a…
Observer Ethical Awards Announced: No More Weaseling!
The shortlist for the fourth annual Observer Ethical Awards, in association with Ecover, is announced. Last year’s awards saw Divine Chocolate scoop Ethical Business of the Year, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Celebrity Campaigner of the Year and Ken Livingstone Politician of the Year. Thousands of entries have now been whittled down to…
Some Oil Companies are More Eco Friendly: Who’s Fuelling Your Summer Drives?
Thanks to Flickr user Emutree for this great image! When I first started driving 15 years ago, I had it out for Exxon. I had seen the oil-covered birds from the Valdez oil spill in Alaska and had cried for the sad-eyed seals who were hosed down by volunteers. For…
