Chase C. Locke of Randolph, Vermont, was finally arrested last month after many cans of change were reported missing. One resident reported up to $3000 in change stolen.

It is an easy argument to make that the movement towards organic food, local food, and slow food have their origins in Vermont. After all, Vermont had never really changed—its farmers have been growing genuinely quality and natural food all along. For visitors on a quick trip to Vermont, finding those goodies can be a challenge. As some locals explained to me, finding great food items involves being in the know

It was not that long ago when yoga was considered new age silliness, but the practice has boomed across the country. Studios are opening up all over, and health clubs offer classes. For dog owners, canine yoga, or “doga,” is an opportunity to bond with your furry friend.

Two hundred miles west of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, lies Fort Portal. Surrounded by crater lakes, dramatic mountains, and large forests, Fort Portal’s people rely on subsistence agriculture and raising livestock. Jobs are scarce in this town of 46,000. Fair trade, however, promises to provide more opportunity in this lush region.

Spearheaded by Valerie Mayan, Buzz & Growl gives designers and seamstresses space and resources to continue their work and education where opportunity otherwise does not exist. Most struggling designers do not have access to costly professional equipment or space to create proper, sellable work. They are relegated to sewing in confined spaces with improper tools, halting their creative potential and success. You can change that by voting for this project to get a Pepsi-Cola grant!

Now it appears that spewing pollution into the air from coal powered plants could have been a better solution than what has affected the West Virginia communities of Prenter and Seth, in WV’s Boone County. Residents here have sued eight coal companies that they allege have polluted their water wells by the pumping of coal slurry into old abandoned underground mines.

Greenopolis, a site to which I occasionally contribute, released this interview with Ben & Jerry. It was great having Greenopolis there—they have over a million visitors a month and this interview captures the spirit of the boys of Burlington who did good.

For workers who grow coffee, raise bananas, cut roses, and process cocoa pods abroad, fair trade has made a huge difference in their lives. What was once seen as a way to plunge into guilt-free indulgence has now blossomed into a movement that has seen Fair Trade Certified products find their way into over 50,000 retail stores.