From Restaurants to Roof Gardens

I spend most of the day riding around trying to find veggie oil, often with Alma’s help. We collect about 80 liters (20 gallons) thus far.

It is so much fun talking with people about running my truck on veggie oil, to watch their expressions as understanding grows. Many people, surprised and pleased, thank us for the information.

Alma can explain everything rapidly in Spanish. She educates people about the ecological, economical, and anti-war benefits of running veggie oil. It takes her a moment to get into, but once she does, she’s a pro!

And people are so helpful, referring us to this place and that place, to try this friend or that former employer. We find our best oil and largest quantities at hotel restaurants for tourists.

But the most touching is the people who hand us a bowl of used oil or a few cups full! They apologize for not having more but I so love that they are willing to give up what they have!

It is time consuming and hard work but we do it!

We have a lot of competition too as there seems to be a company that buys used veggie oil to mix it with feed for cattle and other animals.

So know that when you buy beef that is not organic, it has been fattened by this horrible veggie oil that comes from deep fryers not to mention it is most likely hydrogenated and full of preservatives.

When we quit looking for oil, I park in a supermarket parking lot to pick up distilled water for my batteries before heading away from Mazatlan and into the mountains. A young man approaches me speaking Spanish and english.

First he asks what kind of a christian truck is this? He see’s the womyn’s symbol and thinks it is a cross! When I explain it is not christian, I am not christian, we get into a conversation about growing organically.

He talks of how less than 30 or 40 years ago, people grew all their own food in their yards, next to the rivers, on the side of the mountains.  He speaks of pesticides, fungicides, chemicals. His eyes are deeply sad and I can see the degree of his understanding.

We talk about growing veggies now and I give him a package of seeds: pumpkin, arugula, and cantaloupe. He is so excited and happy and promises to plant a garden in pots on the roof of his apartment building!