BioTour is a journey into America that aims to enliven the Sustainability Movement while exploring the depths of America—the people, land, and cultures. BioTour addresses the vital issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and peak oil while presenting pathways toward sustainablility in renewable energy, active democracy, and understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

(BioTour Website www.BioTour.org).

    I recently flew from San Francisco to Minneapolis, a good day’s worth of flying to go about 2000 miles. On my layover in 105-degree Phoenix, I contemplated my decision of accepting the ticket from a couple of strangers riding an old school bus across country. I sat there with my laptop, my camera equipment and my sanity, the things that are worth the most to me and in danger of being lost forever.

    Outside the airport in Minnesota, I waited for my ride, excitement and anxiety growing. Who were these guys roughly my age who had decided to live on a bus for months, if not years, at a time? Would I get along with them? Did they ever shower, and would I be able to? Did I have too much stuff to live on a bus? Where would I go to the bathroom? Where would we sleep? Would I be adequately nourished and, more importantly, able to feed my morning coffee addiction? Most of these questions have probably gone through your head, as it has the heads of many of my friends and family, along with the contemplation, is she nuts?

    The Big Blue BioTour Bus rolled up to the loading zone in all its glory, and I finally jumped on the veggie-mobile for the next three months. My first impression? This is sweet. Much roomier than I imagined and the furniture is fluffy and covered with pillows. The walls are decorated with intricate designs and colorful art, there are drums and a long board in the corner, a shelf spilling over with books and cabinets in which to put my stuff. As I looked around and breathed in the bus with ease, I realized that I was going to be okay.

    Now, I’ve always led an earth-friendly way of life, eating locally and organically, recycling almost everything and riding my bike almost everywhere. I subscribe to the Green Guide and the Organic Consumer Association e-newsletters. I like to camp and hike and eat tofu. I occasionally hug trees. I took this job to gain more experience as a photojournalist and travel the country, while also promoting a good cause. But it wasn’t until I joined the BioTour team and met Alan Palm and Ethan Burke that my perspective on taking action really started to change. In the first few days of being on the bus and being involved in its activities (yes, the bus is an entity in itself and provides us with action on all street corners), I have learned about what’s really going on in the environment and in concerned politics as well as what we all can do to start making the wrong things right. And this is a job cut out for ALL of us.

    We in the U.S. live in a sort of quiet chaos, seemingly normal and easy above water and kicking like hell underneath. This is mainly due to a fact that is published but not readily known: We are approaching peak production of almost every non-renewable natural resource, including oil, coal and natural gas. Essentially, this means that what we are pulling out of the ground at this moment cannot be exceeded ever again, and the amounts will inevitably decline and disappear. So instead of riding around with hippie written all over us (although we were informed that there is no ridding ourselves of that label in a bus saying “vegetable-oil powered” on the side) and preaching to people that the global warming apocalypse is upon us and their non-partisan ecological sins need to be fixed with bicycles and veggie burgers, BioTour takes a different approach: Using facts, discussing options, admitting that there is no “silver bullet, only a silver buckshot”, and listening to people from different backgrounds who may or may not agree with us.

     In the following blogs, I will tell the story of riding the BioBus as an outsider, a newcomer, a skeptic and an eager learner. We will talk to students who organize petitions and marines who have seen the front lines. I already foresee this being a most incredible experience and I am looking forward to relaying a message from two very eager, passionate individuals set out not only for personal experience, but to change the world. 

     And as for my worries: Alan, Ethan and I have become quick friends and are happy that we all encompass certain necessary qualities for living in very close proximities; We all bathe as often as we find a shower or body of water; I actually packed quite appropriately for bus living (a first for me); We do our duty anywhere from rest stops to friends houses to grassy parks; The bus sleeps 5 or 6 comfortably, but the back bed could fit as many spooners that are willing and able; I am well fed, well exercised, and seem to find a cup of coffee here and there, although the first couple days of going without was reminiscent of Leo’s Jim Carroll-heroine withdrawal in Basketball Diaries.

Read more blogs and see what we do: www.BioTour.org