Driven to Sustain Blog

Every End Is a New Beginning

Tue, 4 May 2010 06:22:28 -0700

What a whirlwind finish. Not exactly ideal, and not much time to let it all sink in, but we definitely did what we needed to do! We got to Vancouver and on May 4th did our last presentation to a very enthusiastic group at a school in downtown Vancouver. After a few media interviews, we drove to Stanley Park to privately log our last kilometres and turn off the tracking GPS. The tour portion of Driven to Sustain is done and now the wrap up begins!

From being together 24/7, Tyson and I are now undergoing the opposite challenge. I am back to work at a beautiful hotel in downtown Victoria, BC while Tyson has gone to work as a foreman for a tree planting company in Williams Lake, BC. Throughout our relationship we have often had months apart, so even though we are used to it, it's definitely a shock going from one extreme to the other so quickly! Despite this, I've settled back into my lifestyle in Victoria very happily!

So, what now?

I'm busy compiling the document package for Guinness to adjudicate in order to make the new record official. Then Tyson and I will be co-authoring a book of our experiences with Driven to Sustain!

To everyone we've met along our way: Thank you for your questions and comments, whatever they were. Everyone we met has shaped our journey in one way or another.

To all those who invited us into your homes: You don't know what a difference you made to our morale! Whether it was a hot meal, a shower, and/or a bed for the night (or 3), we are indebted to you and overwhelmed by your kindness. We began as strangers, but now consider you friends. Keep in touch, and we will gladly return the favor when/if you are ever in our neck of the woods.

To the teachers: Your enthusiasm and supportive feedback is incredibly meaningful to us. We are uplifted and inspired knowing that you are welcoming environmental educators into your classrooms. (As strange and out of the blue as we might seem at first!)

To the students: Thank you for making it all worthwhile! Tyson and I fed off your curiosity and excitement. We hope that we motivated you to think about how you can make your lifestyles happier, healthier, and better for the people and natural world around you.

To all those who donated funds, product, oil, or time and expertise: Thank you for helping to create such a positive experience for us. We feel honored that you value our work enough to give so much of yourselves.

To all our family and friends: It has made all the difference that you have followed us, supported us, and accepted Driven to Sustain as our lives for the past two years-- through all the ups and downs. Your comments, support, and encouragement have kept us going and we are tremendously thankful for having a great web of support. Thank you for sharing in our passion and excitement.

We hope everyone will join us in the next adventure!

All the best, in happiness and health,

--Cloe and Tyson

BRAKEdown in Wisconsin

Sat, 1 May 2010 06:20:55 -0700

As soon as the announcements sounded that the Toronto Green Living Show was over on Sunday, April 25th, Tyson and I started up the van and drove out of the Exhibition Centre. We had no time to lose! We had to get Tyson to Vancouver to start work on May 5th with a party scheduled in my home town, Edmonton, along the way. We prepared ourselves for a marathon finish.

To cut some time, we decided to go south of the Great Lakes, through a few more states, as we made our way west. A man in Wisconsin had contacted us months ago, eager to meet us and fill us up, so we took him up on his offer. After refusing his generous dinner, shower, and overnight invitations we went to park in his driveway to start pumping the oil – intending to get back on the road shortly after.

We knew our brakes needed replacing before leaving Toronto, but instead of waiting for the parts in Canada, we decided to tempt fate. It was pretty much inevitable that as we moved the van to fill up, and when Tyson noticed something felt 'off,' that a brake pad fell out and onto the road.

You would think that this would cause panic, tears, or at the very least a 'head in the hands' moment. But Tyson and me? “Well, I guess we have time for that dinner now” we said to the Coates'.

The brake pads and rotors needed replacing. The parts were in Ontario and we had them shipped to Waterford, Wisconsin. Turns out, we couldn't have had such an unlucky 'brake'down in such a lucky place. Ron is very mechanically inclined- a 'do-it-yourself-er'- and he immediately put his life on hold to get us back on the road to finish our project.

For three days he worked researching how to change brake pads and rotors on the Delica, which parts were interchangeable with an American model (not many), calling various auto parts stores in the area, and then actually doing the labor on his driveway with Tyson. With all his own personal challenges, Tyson and I were blown away by his and his family's generosity, hospitality, and expertise – all for complete strangers! This episode could have been a lot more costly (in time and money!) so if there is any person who helped us at a time we needed it most, it would be Mr. Ron Coates.

Though we had to rearrange our route, we managed to get to Edmonton only a day late, reschedule most of our appointments, and we will make up the time to get to Vancouver for May 4th!

--Cloe

Toronto Green Living Show

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:38:15 -0700

What a great experience! The Green Living Show in Toronto is the biggest of its kind in North America. Hundreds of exhibitors show off their environmentally conscious products and services for the weekend while different speakers and presenters lecture on the main stage. The van, Tyson, and I were invited to be a part of the Ministry of Environment booth. Although having to get Tyson back across Canada to Vancouver so that he can work May 5th, it was an opportunity we couldn't pass up!
All weekend we chatted about Driven to Sustain, our experiences, and the mechanics of the waste vegetable oil. A lot of it was answering the same questions minute after minute, but Ty and I are used to that after the past 5 months of it! Occasionally I would find myself in really unique discussions and now, reflecting back on those conversations, they are still making me think. A retired automotive journalist told me about diesel engines using less petrol when they idle than gasoline cars and for this reason they are more appropriate for city commutes. A doctor interested in economics discussed with me the basic ideas of green economics: taxing materials rather than income or services. Steven Sal Debus, creator and designer of Modrobes, shared his passion for the clothing industry.
Steven was so interesting to talk to. I asked him all about his experiences on the Dragon's Den TV show, about the eco-advantages of different clothing materials, and about the processes that go into making his beautiful recycled pop bottle athletic jackets and eucalyptus clothing. Eucalyptus!! He is a wealth of expertise, passion, and generosity that I am so excited to see grow! My new, Toronto-made, jacket is made of recycled polyester (approximately 25 plastic bottles) that are crushed into pellets, then melted to be formed into filaments that can be woven into fabric. On the inside of every jacket there is an inscription that reads: “Facts: recycled polyester reduces garbage in landfills. Takes 80% less energy to produce than traditional polyester manufacturing. Save Energy Hang Dry.” Go Modrobes!
--Cloe

DtS Ontario Tour partnered with the Ontario Ministry of Environment

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:33:58 -0700

From March 24th to April 14th, Tyson and I have been presenting to twenty-five high schools throughout Ontario. For this portion, Driven to Sustain has been in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and it has been fruitful – speaking to close to 5,000 students! Tyson and I have been in a different city every day with at least two presentations a day. It has been a blur of students, teachers, media, different cities, and excitement.
Interacting with students is the best part of this project. I've come to realize that high school students of today, especially in Ontario, are getting a much different experience than anyone my age had in high school. There are new environmental courses and programs in schools as well as extra-curricular, and (probably most meaningfully) the general curriculum includes daily discussions surrounding environmental issues.
I'm blown away by the successes Ontario schools have created for themselves: the students at Bear Creek Secondary in Barrie fundraised $20,000 to install solar panels on the school's roof and are using the money earned from selling back to the grid to install more! Certain schools in London have a really neat program for litterless lunches where the environmental club chooses one random day a week to check students' lunches. If they are garbageless, the student gets a sticker. Whoever has the most stickers at the end of two months wins special recognition. Numerous schools have special diploma courses in Environmental Sciences, perform energy audits, and have composting programs. Dedicated students and teachers help make this happen and it is inspiring!
Thanks to Jason Colina of Earthfirst Envirotech Solutions Inc, Bayside Secondary School, Jean-Luc in Ottawa, and Trevor in Coldwater for helping us fuel up!
--Cloe

The Day We Broke the Guinness World Record

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:27:52 -0700

As soon as we woke up, my heart was pounding. We were awake early, showered, packed up for the school presentation and went to get our van washed. We played for the first time with the online, live streamed footage and hoped we could find an internet connection outside the school for our families to watch. Finally the time came to drive to the school to set up. We measured the previous record on our GPS and reached Robert F. Wagner School with four hundred metres to spare. We drove twice around the block and then parked in the loading zone of the school. We measured out the last eighty metres and knew where it would be on the pavement in the school tennis courts where we'd break the current record.
We presented to a small group of thirty students as well as the “Green Team” and then went outside. The rain turned to drizzle as we showed everyone the veggie system. We had two leaders in the Green Team hold a ribbon across a space that symbolized one kilometre past the current Guinness world record. Students and teachers crowded around them on either side. Tyson and I jumped in the van – eighty metres away – and drove around the tennis courts towards the ribbon.
We broke through the ribbon with the students (and our friends Andrew and his son Liam) cheering us on. We came to a stop a few metres past the ribbon and jumped out of the van to go back to the excited students. I don't think either of us knew what to do next! The Green Team gave us some green Wagner apparel and we showed them the GPS odometer which now said 38,138 kms.
A few reporters and photographers were present so we posed for photos and answered questions. We spent the next hour and a half with a Reuters videographer and reporter. They came for a ride in the van and filmed us fueling up at a Manhattan French fry restaurant.
Even when we got back to Jo and Andrew's apartment we couldn't yet have a moment to take in the day. Susan, our publicist, was busy enticing news programs and she needed some video and photo media right away. Tyson, realizing that we hadn't gotten anyone to take photos with our cameras, worked on tracking down photos from the students and teachers. He worked into the night while friends of Jo and Andrew’s came to congratulate and party with us.
We couldn't have found a more diverse, kind, and supportive group of people to share our moment with!
--Cloe

The Big Apple

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:03:03 -0700

New York has been great. We've seen the Big Apple now in rain and shine and it is exciting either way! For our last 500 kilometres we left NYC and drove up to Albany to fuel up and to visit one of my friends from Edmonton.

We've enjoyed spending time with the Macdonalds and their little toddler, as well as roaming the streets of Manhattan. Last week we had the luxury of a complimentary room at the Ritz Carlton! From now until Sunday, we have some down time to catch up on work, prepare for the next weeks to come in Ontario, and hopefully relax and see another pocket of New York City.

To let everyone know, the big day where we break the current record is Monday, March 22nd. We will be at Robert F. Wagner Middle School School at 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm and then picking up oil at the restaurant Pommes Frites. Media is invited to each location! We are starting to get excited!!!

-- Cloe

Washington DC

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:20:58 -0800

We drove in on the I-66, and were excited to see the Washington monument and the dome of the White House in the distance. We spent a few hours trying to get pictures of the van with these landmarks.

The combination of having an oversized van, towing a trailer, traffic, construction, security, police, and street signs disallowing stops in certain places made it difficult- to say the least. Eventually we found a place we could park for two hours. We saw the White House, surrounded by more security than normal because the Presidents of Green and El Salvador were visiting; the Botanic gardens; and the Smithsonian air and space museum where we touched a piece of the moon, saw the capsule that returned to Earth from the Apollo 11 mission, and the Wright brothers' airplane.

We would have stayed overnight to see more and visit friends but all the police and security really got to me. I always felt like I was doing something wrong, or not supposed to be there. They are doing an important job- protecting the President and everyone else that works there as well as all the monuments- but I think I will just leave them to it.

-- Cloe

Port Republic Virginia

Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800

As we drove through the tiny hamlet of Port Republic towards the Rodes' family Riverhill Farm, the thought never crossed my mind that it would turn out to be one of the highlights of our travels. We arrived at Glenn and Sheri's farmhouse as the sun was setting behind the Blue Ridge Mountains. We spent the evening learning about the farm, the Rodes family, and their Mennonite background. Their family history in the Shenandoah Valley goes back 5 generations... but we'd learn more about that tomorrow.

We sat in the living room chatting and eventually the discussion turned to politics as well as how it applies to 'environmentalism.' Glenn, though not ashamed to tell us that he never completed grade 10 in order to work on the farm, spoke intelligently and meaningfully about complex issues as they applied to him and the family farm (complete with southern drawl). He explained his opinions with examples from his farm experience in a way that I (a city girl) could actually relate and come to understand. I pointed out that though we may be classified as opposites in terms of the political scale, we are both actually striving for the same goal. I have a feeling that I will be rethinking and replaying this conversation for years to come when I think about government, agriculture, and the 'environment.'

Tyson and I slept well after eating beef hamburger patties from the farm, strawberry shortcake from the garden, and showering with homemade corn gluten soap.

We got up the next morning to pancakes and pork sausage as well as an offer for a guided tour of the land! Tyson and I jumped into Glenn's suburban-- all eyes and ears-- as he told us stories of battles on the plains, the scorched earth policy, his pacifist Mennonite ancestors, and the “underground railroad” of smuggling people out of the area during the civil war. He took us through Dayton where the Old Order Mennonites live. We watched the women in head scarves pinning laundry on the washing line and the men in black hats driving carts in the fields.

After the tour, we came back to the farm to fuel up. Glenn presses his own soy plants to extract crude oil-- something we haven't seen before. We took a bunch of 5-gallon cubies of WVO, a bag of beef jerky and we were on our way! It was great to get a day at a Virginia farm.

-- Cloe

St. James

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:16:57 -0800

The places that are highlighted in our travels are not so because of the landmarks or tourist attractions, but the people we meet. Tyson met Bill & Raquel Lewis when our alternator wore out (they fueled him up and invited him to stay in their home while the van was in the shop) and I had the pleasure of meeting them when we came back through Missouri.

All in one 24-hour period I learned the process of making scented candles in their Halo Candle shop, drove an old tractor with a bail of hay to feed the cows (and almost made Bill regret it), discovered that Raquel is a relative of an ex-Mexican president from the '70s, and experienced a 'sonic boom' that shook the house.

It was definitely an exciting time! Thank you both!

-- Cloe

The Midwest experience

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 08:11:41 -0800

Have you heard the quote “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste”? The saying comes to mind when I think about Tyson standing on the side of the road somewhere in Colorado trying to find someone who will give him a boost when the battery went dead. (This was during the time when I wasn't travelling with him.) Eventually, a man named Robb Yagmin stopped to give him a jump.

The appearance of our van is enough to raise questions. We attract curious people all the time, everywhere. So it was inevitable that Robb would get the whole 'who, what, why, where, how” schpeel about the project while the battery charged. What was different about this time, was that Robb- being a past anchorman on the Kansas City news- turned out to be quite connected to the media scene in Missouri.

Tyson and he arranged to keep in touch and when we were back in Missouri, they planned for Robb to arrange press for us. And that he did! “Yagmin” kept us on our toes for 3 days straight in 3 different cities. From Kansas City to Columbia to St. Louis we were a flurry of school presentations, media interviews, and recommended restaurant suggestions all thanks to him! It definitely helped that the Holiday Inn in Kansas City, The Regency in Columbia, and another Holiday Inn in St. Louis supported us through the madness as well.

(Feel free to catch the media interviews on our Facebook fan page!)

-- Cloe

Denver

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:01:43 -0800

One beautiful part of this trip is to be able to visit family that we don't often get to see-- or have never met! Tyson's cousin Rob and his family live in Denver, CO so we spent a night with them and their three kids. The next day we drove to Divide, CO to fuel up at our trusty supplier there- Dan D. We decided to make use of couchsurfing.org and stay in Denver for a few more nights. Estefania kindly welcomed us over to her house- as well as her neighbors house- to watch the Canada vs. Russia Olympic hockey game with a few friends. They had barbequed hamburgers (made from scratch) and grilled fresh asparagus and sweet potato. To top it all off: a few large bottles of home brew beer!Canadian hockey, grilled veggies, and homemade beer and burgers! Think we'd landed it lucky? It only got better!   We explained our project: that we learn about sustainability and speak to the media as we go. One of the guys, Dan, pipes up, “Well, you've come to the right place. Jordan and I work at NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and Kirk works for NPR (National Public Radio).” Here I am, sitting amongst these kindred spirits, thinking I'd hit a gold mine!

We ended up visiting NREL and though we couldn't tour the facility because of short notice and not being American, we had a great conversation with an engaging volunteer who showed us with a working model how hydrogen fuel technology works, as well as solar panels, and wind turbines. There is a lot more to wind turbines than I knew. (Not only can the whole head of the windmill turn into the wind, but so can each individual blade in order to gain the optimum wind. Very cool.)

Kirk came through for us and we were interviewed on the Boulder NPR station. We were treated like best friends at the French restaurant nearby (A' Côté Bar a Absinthe) and met a lot of beautiful people.

To sum up our experience in Denver: Like we'd come home!

-- Cloe

Olympic Fever

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:19:33 -0800

We made it to Vancouver in time for the torch run across the city and the opening ceremonies the night after. The city was buzzing, we caught up with friends and family, and I was lucky enough to see a real, live, Olympic men's hockey game! (Thank you so much, Menzies family!) Despite not being the biggest sports fan, nor a big city fan, Tyson also gladly allowed himself to be drawn into the Olympic fever. One of the highlights for me was introducing two of our biggest fans (my sister and her husband) to the van for the first time!

Some people assume that because of our mission Tyson and I are amongst the “Olympic opposers.” When they hear we went to Vancouver to enjoy the Olympic atmosphere, they are confused. I've thought a lot about peoples' journeys to becoming Environmentalists or Activists or other such titles. I've witnessed people become burnt out, depressed, and even end their lives because of the seemingly never-ending fight. Seeing this has helped me realize that I need to choose my battles and see hope in the efforts people are making instead of dwelling on how far we still need to go.

Vancouver 2010 is attempting to be the “greenest” Olympics ever. I applaud them for their compostable beer cups and their emissions-free pop machines but I also hear the protesters fighting for funding for the homeless. I agree with them. A lot of resources have been redirected from our local issues. But I have to choose a different battle. I am glad they are here, with a voice for the vulnerable, but I can't be one of them at this time.

The Olympics experience for me brought friends and cultures together. I got to see friends from Ontario, Alberta, and my sister from Edmonton; I had conversations on the street with people from the United States, Japan, and France; I joined the German fans and sang their songs at the hockey game. My experiences recharged my batteries and we all need that somehow.

I am worried for Vancouver and the amount they are having to spend on these Games. I've read that Montreal is still recovering from the Olympics in 1976. An idea came to mind while I was in Vancouver. Instead of one city having to foot the bill for new facilities and all the extra security and resources that are needed for the Olympics, what about holding the Olympics in several cities around the world- each city hosting one or two events. (Our communications systems are so good these days, why not?) The bill for each city would be less, it would put less stress on just one epicentre, and more places could benefit from the publicity and tourism. Sure it would take a lot more forethought and planning, but I wonder how that would pan out if we tried it... Just an idea.

-- Cloe

Connections

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:11:53 -0800

During our relaxing stay with the Fleets, Tyson managed to track down one of my mom's first cousins (Iwona and her husband Stefan) whom she hadn't seen or heard from since they were teenagers. I contacted her and we met for a brief but highly satisfying brunch on our way to San Francisco. This adventure has it all!

From there we made our way up to San Francisco which is one of my favorite cities so far. We were invited for dinner at the home of Mike Nemetz and enjoyed a great meal with his family. He filled our tank and our various cleaning supplies and sent us on our merry way.

I couldn't believe how many pedestrians, joggers, rollerbladers, surfers, and cyclists were enjoying the public spaces during the day. To Tyson's annoyance and my glee, the van was wrestling for space on the roads! I wish we had more time here, but we are working our way up to Vancouver for the opening of the Olympics. We'll be back for sure!

-- Cloe

A Real West Coast Californian Experience

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:06:56 -0800

Driving from LA up to San Francisco was one of my favorite stretches of road. We took the scenic route and hugged the cliff as we overlooked blue oceans below. I kept my eyes peeled for migrating whales, but to no avail. We did, however, manage to find thousands and thousands of mating and calving elephant seals at various beaches along the highway 1. These beings are larger than Steller sea lions and the males have long “proboscis” (noses) that kind of resemble an elephant's trunk. Tyson was definitely in his element and we spent several hours at various places along the highway getting to know these incredible animals.

We spent a couple of nights with Neville and Jane Fleet in their beautiful home on the top of a mountain and surrounded by redwood trees. (Neville used to play cricket with my dad when they were about 10 years old.) From here we saw coyotes hunting in the nearby state park as well as sea otters, pelicans, and California sea lions off the pier in Santa Cruz. The area is a heaven for wildlife and we felt lucky to see it. To add to the impressive wildlife, I loved being in central California for the food. We ate locally every night (without even meaning to) and tried “biodynamic” wine for the first time. (If anyone knows exactly what this means, please email me.)

-- Cloe

What a Wonderful World

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:21:48 -0800

Tyson and I have been amazed with the flood of trusting, generous, and simply kind-hearted strangers we've met on this tour. People like Colleen in Tucson have spent countless hours scheduling schools, media, etc. for us; companies like EDG have opened their mechanic shops to us; families like the Pouliots in Tucson as well as Rebekah in Los Angeles and Sarah in Albuquerque have welcomed us into their homes; people like James Bingham in Albuquerque have taken us out for dinner; not to mention people like Charles Bensinger and Jim S. in Capistrano Beach who go out of their way to supply us with WVO at no cost. The list goes on... and this isn't counting our friends (though these people have become our friends) nor all the important people who helped Tyson when he was on his own.   I mentioned this to a class yesterday at North Hollywood High School and one student in particular approached me at the end of the presentation to tell me she really appreciated me saying that- that the world isn't as scary a place as the news, or the government, or your parents make it seem to be. We all need to be careful and “have our wits about us” (as my dad would say) but we have met so many more kind and happy people than we have scary and mean ones- and in this category, I put that lady at the grocery store yesterday who, when I tried to give her back her plastic bag because I had my cloth one threw it in the garbage. So if this is the worst we see, we are either very lucky, or live in a more beautiful world than we thought.  -- Cloe

The Environmental Enthusiast Ed Begley Jr

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 13:51:33 -0800

Today was one of our more exciting days in Los Angeles. We met Hollywood star Ed Begley Jr. who graciously gave us a tour of his eco-conscious home. Ed has done a lot to make his home an environmental abyss. In fact, he has a whole TV series about it – Living With Ed. In the yard he's planted drought resistant plants as well as fruit trees to help in eating locally. (I'd never heard of a solar barbeque before seeing his.) Above being conscious of using recycled materials and not over-consuming, Ed is particularly energy conscious; he uses solar tubes, solar panels, a green switch, and the most energy efficient appliances wherever he can. He showed us his electric car and how his solar panels work. I was really excited to catch a glimpse of his father's Academy Award- and he even let me hold it!

Tyson and I are so happy to meet such a kind hearted environmental ambassador in the Hollywood scene. At the moment, like on Oprah and Fox News, he is marketed as an 'eccentric environmentalist.' I know I'm looking forward to the day when Living Like Ed (and not Living With Ed) is the accepted norm.

Thank you for the tour and support, Ed!

The McDonalds Experience

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:07:22 -0800

I haven't eaten at McDonald's for probably about a decade. Yes, I've read Fast Food Nation, and yes, that strengthened my resolve not to eat there. In the past couple of weeks on the road I've relaxed my ruling to allow myself McDonald's coffee. My two experiences there so far may seem normal/inconsequential to you, but it's rattled me enough to write about it. Here goes.

The first time I went into McDonald's (El Paso, Texas) to order my coffee, I brought in my change jar to use up some of the coins. They asked me the typical questions (what would I like and what size) while I counted out my pennies. I remembered then that I had my own mug back in the van so I said, “Oh, I have a mug! I'll be right back!”

-- Why did I do this? I've learned that everyone has their own battles. Even within environmentalism, some people devote their time to lobbying for alternative energy, some are fanatic about water conservation, others about animals. One of my biggest battles is waste management. It is such a gratifying way of seeing a difference you are making. After recycling and composting, my family of five laid out less garbage bags than any of our neighbors and that was such a visible, and satisfying, accomplishment! Hence, I like to think of myself on a non-disposable diet which is why I left the line in McDonald's the grab my coffee mug. --

I got back to the front of the line, gave the cashier the mug, said, “There's my mug.” I've often brought my own coffee mug to coffee shops and obviously didn't think that further explanation was needed. I went back to counting the pennies as quickly as I could. I got the exact change and handed it all to the guy, noticing that my mug was still in front of me, on the counter, empty. He counted the change, put it into the register and said, “Great, your order is on this side.” I looked down at my empty mug and said, “What about my coffee?”
“It's right over here.”
He passes me a disposable cup with a plastic lid.  I said, “I wanted it in my mug...” He calls back to his coworkers, “She wanted it in her mug...”  They all looked baffled. I look from the disposable cup, to him, to my mug, trying to figure out what he must've thought I brought the mug in for. I'm still trying to work it out. I was at a loss for words so I didn't even think to explain the whole disposable/waste/garbage/landfills concept. I walked out of there shaking my head trying to figure out the miscommunication...

The next time I went to get a coffee in McDonald's (just south of the Grand Canyon, Tusayan, AZ) I brought my mug in from the start and handed it to the cashier. Two other customers came in after me and ordered while my coffee was brewing. When it was finished brewing, the cashier automatically grabbed a disposable cup, and poured a coffee. I said “I have my own mug” as he was doing it, but that didn't even register. He handed the plastic cup to me and I said again, “I would like it in my mug.” He started to take the lid off to pour it into my mug and I said, “No, don't waste it, that's the whole point of why I brought in my own mug.” I took his disposable cup of coffee and handed it to the next person in line.

Again, I walked out of there frustrated. After serving thousands of people by grabbing from the mountain of disposable cups, I can understand that the action becomes automatic. I know that people rarely walk in with their own mugs in these places, so granted, the employees don't come across that very often. What irked me about these two scenarios, though, is that there was absolutely no understanding of my intent: of the idea to Not Waste.

There are, however, always reasons to be optimistic. Tyson and I meet dozens and dozens of people who are informed, creative, and motivated in the ways they act for a healthier world. I think of these brief “McDonald's” snapshots of the automatic, throwaway mentality as focus points from which we can progress. I know we are smarter than this.

-- Cloe

Algae

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:18:25 -0800

Where we can fuel up determines a lot of where we can go. In some cases we have to bypass places we want to visit simply because we don't have enough fuel, or because we don't have enough time. In New Mexico it was a bit tricky to find oil. We asked Colleen for help and, in a roundabout way through various helpers, we managed to get in touch with Charles Bensinger- a professor at the Santa Fe Community College.  We called him as we were driving through Santa Fe (totally last minute!) to ask if he had any WVO or biodiesel to spare. Classes were cancelled because of the snowstorm we were driving through, but despite this, Charles drove into the city to meet us and fill us up. Turns out, Charles has developed a certificate program at the College all about alternative fuels. With help from James Bingham, the pair teach a hands-on class on how to make biodiesel from WVO. Tyson and I felt very privileged to be the ones to use their first batch!  Charles showed us the classroom where they were also learning about and growing algae. I haven't learned much about algae, but from what Charles told us, it is super exciting!   - Algae can create 3,000-5,000 gallons of biodiesel per year/acre compared to 100-250 gallons from soybeans and only 40-60 gallons from corn. - It can be grown vertically in different tube systems of water (so it doesn't have to take up land space). - Algae can grow in waste water and uses CO2. So put it next to an industry and it can become a closed system. (That's my favorite part.) - One big problem is that the lipids that are used to make fuel are inside cells so the cell walls need to be broken (a process that is extremely energy intensive) before the fuel can be made.  -- Cloe

Earthships in The Greater World

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:15:04 -0800

A few years ago, I saw the film “Garbage Warrior” and was immediately captivated. With my borderline obsession with eliminating waste, it was like a beacon in the night. “Earthship” is a term patented by architect Michael Reynolds for his earth-home design.
Some key points about Earthships and earth-homes: 
λ The foundation and structure of the houses are made from used tires rammed each with 200 lbs of earth, stacked like bricks, and then finished using adobe or cement so that the tires aren't visible. Glass and plastic bottles are also used to make beautiful designs in the walls.
λ Earthships are “off the grid” which means they are self sustaining and don't rely on public utility services. They are heated and cooled using passive solar heating. They are built into a mound of earth with an entire wall of glass to capture sunlight.
λ Rain water is captured from the roof and feeds into an underground cistern. This water, after different degrees of filtering, is used throughout the house for showers, toilets, dish water, and even drinking water. The grey-water from showers and dishes flow to a large system of planters that are located against the wall of glass. These homes, even in Canada, can grow tropical plants and trees such as grapefruit, avocado, and banana. (One Earthship we visited had a pond with tilapia fish for eating!)

The Earthship crew- of about 20 people- do highly skilled, detailed work with projects in many countries all over the world. It's one thing to see these homes on film, but it was really satisfying to be able to experience them in real life. The “Greater World” Community as they call it, is just outside of Taos, New Mexico. Despite being in the middle of the desert, as soon as we walked in and breathed the humid air, we were enthralled.   Thank you for the tour, Kirsten!

-- Cloe 

Fun Times and Hard Work in Tucson

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:53:37 -0800

Tucson, Arizona has been a hub of informed, supportive, and generous people. We had an absolute blast presenting at three schools, mixing with the mechanics at EDG (Environmental Development Group), being interviewed by Fox News, and being welcomed into the homes and lives of many! Thanks for all this goes to our funky friend Colleen Crowninshield of Clean Cities Coalition for putting this together for us.

From Edmonton, when I was trying to find a fuel source in New Mexico, I emailed her among many people I thought would have connections to the WVO scene. We couldn't have been luckier! Clean Cities is an American, federally funded organization designed to reduce the States' dependence on foreign oil. Colleen participates in all sorts of alternative fuel events, sits on many committees of the like, has all sorts of amazing contacts, and welcomed us into her already busy work schedule with open arms!

With her acting as our agent for 3 days, we accomplished so much. The most amazing part of it all was to see the students (nearly 1,000!) really engaged with our presentation and see those wheels turning in their brains.

Some of the content, however, was a bit confusing for some of the younger ones: Early on in our presentation I explained how the distance we are driving is equivalent to driving the circumference of the globe, and then across Canada again. After the presentation when we were saying bye to everyone, one boy waved me over and asked, “Do you like swimming?”  “Yeah, I sure do! Why?”  “Well, you must be a good swimmer to get across all the oceans...” And he walked away.   It took me a minute to figure out where the confusion had come from, but then I had a good laugh and made sure in my mind to explain it better next time.

-- Cloe