5 Green Facts for St. Patrick's Day

On St. Patrick's Day, it's easy being green. Here are a few tips and conversation starters to help you celebrate.

• Really Green Beers: Kick off the festivities with your favorite local, sustainable brew (we've got a few suggestions). And remember, buying in bulk is best: Keg or draught beer is greener than individual bottles. Bottles, in turn, are slightly greener than cans.

• Delicious Dishes: Irish recipes favor potatoes and cabbage. These staples can be found in some farmers' markets well into winter, making them great bets for year-round locavores. Use organic veggies and local, grass-fed beef to make Irish stew or corned beef and cabbage. Try substituting seitan or kidney beans to make meatless versions of these traditional dishes.

• Ireland's Environment: A report from the Irish American Climate Project predicts that global warming will endanger the Emerald Isle's verdant fields, cause a drought-induced reduction in the the country's famous potato crop, and lead to more "bog bursts" (think mudslides). Talk about a buzz kill.

• What Climate Change? Don't bother trying to convince Ireland's environment minister, Sammy Wilson, that the island's green fields might turn brown: Wilson doesn't believe in human-caused climate change and has tried to ban public service ads aimed at raising eco-awareness.

• A River Runs Through It: Chicago celebrates St. Patty's Day by dyeing its eponymous river a distinctive shade of green (this year, the Obamas brought the tradition to the White House). While this act seems dubious, a spokesperson for Friends of the Chicago River seems to agree with other environmentalists that the dye is small potatoes compared with the toxins already in the water. Let's hope the attention-grabbing color gets people talking about cleaning up the Chicago River.

--Della Watson