Herbivore hits the road for Farm Sanctuary

[Guest guest]

http://vegnews.com/web/articles/news.do

 

Animal Philanthropist

 

By Aurelia d'Andrea

 

 

 

Business guy and grassroots fundraiser Josh Hooten hits the road on two wheels

for a good cause.

 

Josh Hooten wears a lot of hats: business owner (he’s the founder of Herbivore

Magazine and Herbivore Clothing), family guy (dad to daughter Ruby and husband

to wife Michelle), blogger, and now, philanthropic adventurer. On May 6 Hooten

leaves his home in Portland, Ore., will climb upon his two-wheel steed, and will

head in the direction of Orland, Calif. Why? To raise $10,000 for Farm

Sanctuary, celebrate 10 years of being vegan, and inspire others to adopt a

compassionate lifestyle. Before hitting the road, Hooten chatted with VN about

food, philanthropy, and farm animals.

 

VegNews: Six hundred miles. Sheesh! I’m already tired and you haven't even

left yet. Why a cycling fundraiser instead of, say, a bake sale?

Josh Hooten: Why didn’t I think of a bake sale?! I could have avoided riding

up so many damn hills! Actually, if I had a bake sale I’d eat everything

before it even got started, and I’m chubby enough as it is, so that’s out.

You know, I’m just a big fan of bikes as a mode of transportation. I wish more

people would ride them, as the benefits to our bodies, our inner lives, our

planet, etc. are huge. Perhaps someone will be inspired to start commuting a few

miles to work by bike when they see me taking this on. I believe bikes connect

us to our own bodies, our communities, and our environment in a very meaningful

way, so I’m trying to promote that as well.

 

VN: What is it about Farm Sanctuary’s work that prompted you to make the

organization the beneficiary of this fundraiser?

JH: I’ve been fortunate enough to visit both farms, and I think those lovely

creatures that are lucky enough to live there have so much power to inspire

people to go vegan, which is the best thing anybody can do to help animals. The

power those animals have when we are allowed to watch them live free of torment

and confinement is just amazing to me. It’s hard to go there and not leave

changed. I’m really looking forward to getting back down there and hanging out

with the critters again; it just never gets old, and the re-invigoration I feel

never wanes.

 

VN: You’ll be camping out most nights, eh? What kind of campfire fare will you

be tucking into each night? What kinds of comestibles will you be carrying with

you?

JH: First, you spelled “cosmetics†wrong. I will be carrying lots of black

eyeliner and black fingernail polish so as to appear more emo and piratey. And,

yes, camping most nights. I’ll have my little camping stove and one

decent-sized pot. I’ve mapped out the grocery stores along the way, so I will

have access to pasta, veggies, oatmeal, black tea, bagels, beans, peanut butter,

tofu, and, if the fates are on my side, soy ice cream, preferably Temptation

from Chicago Soy Dairy.

 

VN: What’s happening at Herbivore Clothing Company these days?

JH: We’re doing tons of new designs on hoodies, belts, shirts, all kinds of

stuff. We’re always adding new cookbook titles to our offerings. When I get

back we’re going to get a couple of books off to the printer that will feature

collected interviews from Herbivore Magazine. Most of our issues are now out of

print, so we’re going to anthologize the best stuff. I helped found the Let

Live Conference, which is coming up June 26?28. I’m going to be tabling with

our stuff at most of the bigger conferences this summer and Fall, so hopefully

folks will stop by and say hi. We’ve got some other book projects in the works

as well, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something!

 

VN: What’s next?

JH: I’ve been urging people to try and get creative in their advocacy for

animals for a long time now. Figure out what you’re good at and what you

enjoy, and find a way to help animals doing it. I’m trying to walk that walk

with this bike ride, so whatever is next will be along those lines.