Savvy Veg Picks: Alternative Media Resource Guide

Environment, Sustainable Ag, Food & Water, Holistic Health

Alternative media offers reports from international and domestic sources, that we rarely see in the mainstream press: environment, sustainable agriculture, and holistic health; the real political news; social activism; arts and entertainment; travel.

We know there are other excellent alternative media resources, which we'll add as they come to our attention. Suggest a resource.

Editorial Policy: We list a small number of resources which we think are most relevant to our visitors. This isn't a general directory. Reviews of the resource listings are based on our personal experience and opinions.

Common Dreams

Quite a few of Common Dreams: articles are from mainstream sources - could it be that people are becoming more aware? CD is mainly horribly depressing alternative media, but I see the occasional positive morsel. Some truly great pieces show up here, on a daily basis, from well known writers, including pieces on the global food and water crisis. The best parts for me are the no-holds-barred comments - Common Dreams comes with an active, wide-ranging, opiniated and vocal community of posters. And if you weren't suffering pain and anguish, or at least embarrassment, at being American before, you will be after you read Common Dreams. Read It Anyway!

Grist Magazine

Grist Magazine Self-Described: "We exist to tell the untold stories, spotlight trends before they become trendy, and engage the apathetic. We're fiercely independent in our coverage; we throw brickbats when they're needed and bestow kudos when they're warranted. And while we take our work seriously, we don't take ourselves seriously, because of the many things this planet is running out of, sanctimonious tree-huggers ain't one of them." STH OR Not, Read Grist

The Iowa Source

Iowa's Enlightened Magazine: This is light alternative media, a green lifestyle magazine, with excellent articles and columns by talented people on art, music, health, food, sustainable ag, travel, lifestyle, investing. They've been putting out a high class monthly FREE publication for 22 years in print, and I've read every issue cover to cover. The Source has been online for a couple of years, and they've been archiving all the best content from the last five years, for the benefit of all. And we highly recommend the print subscription.The Source, as we know and love it, is a treasure trove.

Mother Jones

If you're a die-hard bleeding heart liberal tree hugger (ie, committed environmentalist with a social conscience), you'll like Mother Jones. If you're not, you might have a stroke. Either way, read it. You'll find information in this alternative media mag that you won't find most places. For example: In a recent issue, MJ took exception to the worldwide trend toward privatization of water utilies, segregated retirement communities, lie-detector tests, and methane gas drilling in Wyoming. There was a feature article on a tell-all radio show by a gay ex-con, aimed at prison inmates, and sharp left-leaning political commentary, with little sympathy for W. & Co. Read Mother Jones

Utne

Founded in 1984 by Eric Utne. Published every two months. Utne reprints articles from over 2,000 alternative media sources. Content is off-beat, political, and international in scope. Visit Utne, browse the content of their current issue, subscribe to their free ezine, Web Watch, and join Utne Cafe.

New West

New West Network: The Voice Of The Rocky Mountains Based in Missoula, Montana, is a slice of the macrocosm with a wild west flavor. New West covers the Rockies in Growth and Public Policy, Business and The New Economy, Politics, Environment, arts, lifestyle and events, and their Unfiltered Blog - not to be missed. Reading about life in the Rockies from the New West's alternative western point of view is almost as good as being there. Go New West!

Treehugger

Treehugger: I subscribe to Treehuggers newsletter, and always read it right through. It's fascinating! Because: "TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. At TreeHugger we know that variety is the spice of life, so you can find all you need to go green in our up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly video segments, weekly radio show and our user-generated blog, Hugg." Visit Treehugger Today!