Divine Intervention

Photo 1. Sign on the barn at the farm.
Photo 2. At the farm. From left to right: Devin, Donald, Scott, Matt, Katie, Bill.
Photo 3. Matt on the road. Indiana I think? Maybe Illinois.
Photo 4. The fuel concern is all over the country.
Photo 5. At the farm. Old house now used as a chicken coop.
Photo 6. At the farm. Barn falling apart. Basement = creepy. Zombies possible.
Photo 7. At the farm. More stuff.
Photo 8. Filtering fuel in an alley outside a brewery in Ann Arbor. Our suits make us feel like ghost busters. No, make that Grease Busters!
Photo 9. Devin.
Photo 10. Kansas. Devin's cousin, Sierra, helps Matt filter fuel.

Michigan proved to be a goldmine in terms of oil for us. Our first day fuel hunting was spent in Ann Arbor and our hopes were high since a lot of places told us that we could collect deep fryer oil the following afternoon. We woke up at 4:30am the next morning to be at a diner by five since that’s when they told us to collect. It was surreal being up so early after going to bed past midnight. The sun wasn’t up yet, the birds had just started to sing and someone was practicing with what looked like nunchucks (sp?) in front of the restaurant. However, we were disappointed when we found out that there was water in their oil and consequently weren’t able to use it. A few friends joined us for some early morning hash browns and we gathered ourselves to go back to bed.

It was at that moment that divine intervention appeared in the form of a short, balding man who started talking to Matt about the veggie car. His name was Scott and he’s in the process of starting a co-op in Ann Arbor for alternative fuel on what used to be an old hippy farm. And what came next? The promise of what turned out to be 70 gallons of vegetable oil which when roughly calculated would be about $300-350 worth of regular gas.

After taking a nap, some friends joined us as we followed Scott and his partner Donald to the farm. When we first arrived, my initial reaction was that we were in a horror movie and about to be axed off. I mean, we were in the middle of nowhere and the farm itself was pretty disheveled looking. The reason for the disorderly appearance was just because Scott and Donald are cleaning up the area for the co-op and from what we heard of their ideas, everything sounded amazing. They’ll need a lot of volunteers, planning and work but I really hope it works out.

They said that the land was previously a commune which was later abandoned. There used to be a school bus on the grounds but Scott and Donald drove it on biodiesel to Katrina to help with the relief efforts after the hurricane occurred. Kudos to these amazing men! Meeting them and accepting their vegetable oil was an extraordinary help. (side note: we just want to point out that we appreciate not only those that donate oil but the people that have helped Matt worked on the car itself. You know who you are.)

During our stay in Ann Arbor we were also interviewed by NPR which was exciting. It should air in about a week in a half or so and when we get the link, you’ll be able to listen to it online.

Matt is now driving through the upper peninsula of Michigan on his way to a family reunion in Minnesota while I visit with Michigan folks. Thus, there won’t be any posts for about two weeks.