Driven to Sustain | Podcasts for the Environment

Sustainable Forestry

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 12:28:10 -0400

Globally, our forests are being mismanaged and exploited. The act of harvesting lumber is tainted by many environmentalists as destructive and quite possibly the worst thing one can do to the environment. However through sustainable forest management, harvesting tree fiber (lumber) to use for the construction of environmentally minded earth homes, paper, or furniture is the best possible way to store carbon. We (the public) desperately need to reevaluate our priorities for the environment and begin to use certified sustainable wood produce for a future without the threat of climate change.

Follow Driven to Sustain as we visit sustainable initiatives across North America and promote environmental sustainability in schools and the media while we break the Guinness world record for “Longest Journey by Car Using Alternative Fuel”. Visit www.driventosustain.com for more info!

The Unsuspecting Cloe

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:22:29 -0500

The naive, honest, and trusting Cloe Whittaker falls victim to the hands of Tyson Jerry

Broken Down

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:19:37 -0500

Fully loaded with fuel and determined to find warmer weather, Cloe and I made a break for the southern States. From Toronto, we were convinced that in three days of driving would easily reach Florida. Once deep within the sunshine state we would continue our work shooting the documentary, educating in schools, and promoting sustainable living within the media.

That plan quickly changed when this happened...

The Hutterites

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 22:15:02 -0500

Tyson and I were keen to visit the Hutterite colony that neighbors our friends’ farm. She called the leader of the colony to ask permission for us to come. We imagined that we’d spend an hour there and be on our way but we were in for much more of a life experience!
We drove through the prairie fields of Southern Alberta (seeing Tyson’s first hare!) to eventually reach the gravel road leading to the Miltow Colony. We rolled up to the last row of houses that look much like military bunkhouses, got out of our van, and were greeted by Sam, the financial manager of the colony. We didn’t see anyone else yet but we were intrigued. Sam is a round-faced, gentle-looking man. He, and all the men as we were going to see, wore black coats, black pants, and black hats that add a few inches to their height.
He beckoned us inside where we sat on a steel bench in a room with a desk, a couple of metal chairs, and a wooden clock on the wall. They offered us pork sausage and juice boxes that we accepted as two girls about our age entered the room. Michelle and Lorna were beautiful, smiling girls who, like all the other women, wore black and white polka dot headscarves, black coats, and striped skirts that went down to their black shoes. They all did their hair in a centre part with tight rolls away from their faces. Michelle was our main guide for our tour of the colony but we quickly discovered that everything happens in groups. Especially tours with outside people.
In these days we saw, learned, and experienced so much. It is so interesting how self-sufficient they are. Michelle, and the troupe of girls that we accumulated, toured us through everything: the smoke house; the butchery/meat preparation building; the chicken, cow, and pig pens; the grade school which is taught by government teachers; the greenhouse; the kitchen; the church; the ‘lagoon’ where they capture the methane to power the pig buildings; the composter; the carpentry, blacksmith, and mechanic workshops.
We were invited for dinner so we stayed and then we asked if we could stay overnight, in our van, in the heated mechanic shop, so that we could filter our oil faster in the morning. They were definitely comfortable, but curious, about our van and about us staying.
I got to know a few of the girls enough to love their individual personalities. They were happy people and we were happy spending the day with them.
-Cloe

Quick Update

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:12:49 -0400

We have finally made it to the Alaskan boarder. It was extremely difficult to bank enough fuel and make it as far as we have. We won’t be able to reach Fairbanks, AK especially since tourist season is over and our fuel sources left with them. The many challenges during the first two weeks were:
- A broken roof rack
- Getting accustom to towing the weight, maintaining highway speeds, and driving as fuel efficient as possible.
- Maintaining a work / love relationship in close corridors with your significant other.