ColumnWhat fuels our desire to combine food and business.

It was only a matter of time before a small-town Airstream food truck opportunity that involved tacos crossed my path. No, really.

Over a sunny, Saturday morning coffee in Salida, Colorado this weekend, the conversation was going a little something like this:

“We need someone to get the Airstream taco truck going. We already have the Airstream and the space. You ladies in?” Annie, a go-getter, mountain biking bad ass asked us hopefully, in the kind of voice that you know someone is trying to insist on something really hard.

My friend Megan and I looked at each other. We both have jobs, and love our urban friends and living spaces, but I could see the wheels turning in her head thinking about all it would take to make this a possibility. How often are you propositioned with opening a food venture in a small town that several of your friends live in? Not every day.

Let me back up a little.

Food is a constant theme between a close group of friends of mine. New Years was devoted to the overconsumption of tacos in Baja, Mexico, the following winter months sharing recipes and the warmer spring days catching up over outdoor weekend brunches.

We’re spread out, two of us in Portland and others in Colorado. The geographic distance between us has lead to plenty of emails, group texts (often with food photos) and Skype chats, the former being exactly how I first found out about the Airstream.

“I have an idea to run by you,” my friend Beda kicked off one weekend call.

“Yes…” I responded, knowing fully well that anytime Beda has an idea it’s going to be a good one.

“So we’re thinking of starting a taco truck in Salida, because there’s no good place to get a burrito! And it would be in an Airstream,” she continued.

At this point we launched into the logistics of running a food establishment – logistics that neither of us have any experience in – and whether or not it was possible.

“And then you could move down here and run it!” she said.

I laughed and we left things at that.

Flash forward to five months later when myself and my fellow Portland foodie urbanite – yes, we eat sea salt with everything – Megan were drinking coffee with the Salida crew that we had come to visit.

“So, that food truck… we need someone to run it. We already have the wine tasting room and the distillery on board, and the space is right next to the new bike shop. You could serve locally roasted coffee, and breakfast burritos to all the skiers in the winter. You ladies want to move down here and take on the project?” Annie was all over this.

Wine, bikes and tacos? My heart skipped a beat.

These are all things that have become ubiquitous with urban food hot spots, you can barely walk five blocks in Portland, San Francisco or Brooklyn without coming across an off-the-cuff food operation, be it a food truck, a waffle window or a refurbished storage container that sells local food. But rural Colorado where there’s a good mix of mountain bikers, cowboys, river guides and four wheel truck drivers, is something different. On the other hand, isn’t this where free range local beef and real artisan goat cheese is just down the road? Good food abounds even if it’s not drizzled in truffle oil (although if you’re ever in Salida, be sure to try the truffle oil fries at The Fritz).

Can’t you envision an Airstream parked here serving up homemade tacos and burritos?

What is it about a food venture that is so appealing?

“You should open a restaurant!” is a common phrase heard at dinner parties when someone cooks a delicious meal, and who hasn’t had romantic visions of starting a brewery where you can serve local food and craft beer? Grab coffee at a quaint cafe with art on the walls and local bands playing at night while you’re on vacation and you’ll soon find yourself thinking, “we should have something like that here,” as soon as you return home.

Food is primal, and providing our communities with a chance to enjoy it is appealing. Seductive even.

There is of course the reality, and at the back of my mind I always hear my mother saying, “you don’t want to run a restaurant, you need balance.” Mothers like to give that kind of advice, especially if they know you well. There is no denying that a job in the food industry is a stressful and time consuming one. But it’s also rewarding.

Making food is making sustenance, and turning it into an art in the process. It’s about providing people with a place to eat, but also a place to appreciate good food and the community around them, all things that even those of us sitting around drinking coffee and discussing the potential business venture, without any restaurant or food truck management experience under our belts, are passionate about.

I am by no means trying to over-romanticize the everyday logistics that go into such a project, or even say that I would be willing to commit to it.

Run a restaurant and you need to put food on the table. Every. Single. Day. Or at least every single day you commit to being open. You also have to do fun jobs like inventory, permitting and clean-up. But at the end of the day, you’re still running a business that’s all about food. Shouldn’t everything we do in life be a labor of love? And what requires more love than good food?

We may not all launch a restaurant, but plenty of people out there are passionate about what they eat and drink and pursuing successful business ventures, from baking to support nonprofits, to hosting local farm-to-table tours, to roasting specialty coffee and delivering it on a bike. There is a reward in giving back to a community that you can’t put a dollar value to, and what better way to do so than through food and drink?

It might be a stretch to say “change the world one food truck at a time” but if in doing so we are creating a better conversation around food, what’s to say that this isn’t the tipping point? We all need to eat, and if we can have affordable and equitable access to a healthy product, the faster we can influence a path to positive change in the realm of food politics.

Airstream taco truck in Salida, Colorado? Who knows. But the seed has been planted, and at the very least, it’s fun to dream.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

Images: Anna Brones

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Giving up a house and belongings for life on the road in an Airstream.

It’s no surprise that we love Airstreams. Sleek, retro and the embodiment of simple living, they inspire a sense of wanderlust, making us dream of giving up our belongings and trading it all in for life on the road. That’s exactly what Cece Reinhardt and Brenda Daugherty are doing, living fulltime in an eco Airstream, traveling across the country and telling their stories along the way. Pulled by a truck that runs on biodiesel, it’s all part of On the Green Road, what Reinhardt and Daugherty call “a mobile sustainable living project.” As they traverse the country, they’re sharing stories of tiny living and educating about simple, healthy choices. That’s the kind of tour we want to be on. But the second best thing to being on the tour, is getting an inside look at what living in an Airstream is all about.

Name: Cece Reinhardt and Brenda Daugherty

Website: www.greenrvlife.com

What do you love about EcoSalon? 

EcoSalon is super trendy and fresh. We love that. Our favorites are Foodie Underground and the new Daily Track. Awesome and right on the money.

What inspired you to sell your house and belongings and set out for life in an Airstream?

We wanted to pursue our passions – down-sizing our life, travel, being with friends and family, and educating about simple living. The housing market in California was going downhill and we sold before we were completely upside down on our mortgage. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made. From there, we paid off our debt and pursued our dream of owning an Airstream. At first we were simply going do a green remodel on the weekends as we had time. Then as budget and job cuts ensued with the State of California, Cece lost her Public Health job. With free time and creative thinking, we decided to write off for sponsorship for the eco remodel and Brenda pursued a telecommuting work schedule with her employer. The dream of “On the Green Road” blossomed.

What green features do you have in the Airstream?  

We went two ways with this. First, we wanted to be independent and off grid. We added solar power and a waterless composting toilet so we could extend our time off the grid and off the pipe. Secondly, we wanted to have a healthy living environment, free of toxins and VOCs.  To accomplish this, we added organic fabrics and eco materials that were beautiful and healthy like cork and Marmoleum flooring, bamboo cutting boards, a kirei work desk, Paperstone countertop, a Keetsa eco-friendly mattress, American Clay walls and ceiling, eco veneer on existing cabinets, LED lighting and organic linens/textiles.

Tell us about the upcoming On the Green Road tour. What do you hope to get out of it?

We are traveling across the U.S. and Canada over the next 6 months. As we travel, we focus on education and outreach – promoting tangible green change. With our background in outdoor/experiential education and sociology we feel that by incorporating “hands-on” exposure – feeling, touching, seeing and discussing systems in action, sustainability concepts such as carbon footprint, simple living and green lifestyle take on a more powerful and tangible meaning. In essence, we are utilizing individual products and systems like a composting toilet, solar power and biofuels, putting them together in a mobile studio and hitting the green road to put words into actions. But the discussion and our passion doesn’t end there. Taking steps to free yourself from clutter, live more sustainably and create a passionate self are all connected. We want to encourage and continue this conversation as we work, live and travel.

Oh yeah, we also want to have some adventure and fun.

Your motto is “Conserve. Explore. Inspire.” What keeps you inspired to live this lifestyle?

We love the feeling of living a healthy lifestyle – we wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world everyday. By down-sizing our life we also pay into our savings and retirement each month and we don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck. We receive wonderful emails from followers of our website and Facebook page. Knowing that people are making their own life changes and that we have had something to do with that is priceless.

What five items do you never travel without?

iPhone, Verizon wifi, our animals (one cat and one dog), kayaks, Breville Juice extractor.

When people ask you what they can do to live a more conscious/sustainable lifestyle, what do you tell them?

There is not just one way to go green. It’s about balance—taking on what you can, depending on your time, resources and passions. We are just two girls with a cat and a dog, trying to find the balance between freedom, sustainability and passion. Here are things we have found helpful:

Slow down enough in your day to day activities to identify what you are already doing or not doing. Take time to get connected to the nature around you. Disconnect from your iPhone and computer and notice the beauty right there. Our planet is amazing. How nature works is awesome.  Once you get zoned in to this you also start to see things that destroy and interfere with this beauty. When you start to care everything changes.  Your everyday actions start to take on more meaning. What you can do next will just naturally fall into place – recycling, taking public transportation, using less energy, composting, buying less packaging, owning less stuff, spending more time with the ones you love out in the woods, etc. Have fun – being green doesn’t have to be dull and boring. Build a community, in your thought and action. Join together – it takes a village to bring about change.

What is your favorite travel quote?

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

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Allie Bombach of Red Reel Films takes us on a journey to find the simpler things in life.

When we grow up we want to be our readers.

Allie Bombach blew our minds and won our hearts from the first time we watched the trailer for her film, 23 Feet. The documentary, released earlier this year, follows Allie and two friends as they cross the country in a 1970 Airstream, meeting with people who have ditched their traditional lifestyles for the open road and the great outdoors. A director, producer, and videographer, Allie uses her gift for storytelling to promote simple living and respect for the environment – things we definitely dig here at EcoSalon, along with Allie.

Name: Allie Bombach

Website: www.23feet.org

How did you get introduced to EcoSalon?

I started reading EcoSalon because of Foodie Underground and the fabulous Anna Brones, and I’m hooked on the home design tips and interviews with rockin folks. For me, it’s a wonderful source of inspiration and at the same time a guilty pleasure during the work day to check out the recent articles.

Tell us about 23 Feet.

23 Feet is a short documentary about people who live simply to do what they love outside. We set out across the west in the summer of 2010 searching for the community of people who live in cars, buses, and other small spaces ditching the creature comforts of today’s society to raft, surf, and climb. The name 23 Feet comes from my own 1970, 23-foot Airstream that I live in and took from Colorado to Oregon during the production of the film. After the film was finished, we took the Airstream back on the road for an outdoor theater tour in the summer of 2011 that screened the film off the side of the Airstream. We had about 30 screenings in a variety of landscapes from the middle of wilderness to the middle of cities. For me, the whole experience was an exploration in the meaning of home, community, and ultimate happiness and passion in what you do.

The Airstream has a name. What is it, and why?

Roma is her name, and besides all the roaming she does, she just seemed like a middle-aged old woman that would give you great advice. Hence, Roma. Perfect.

You tricked out Roma with recycled and reclaimed materials. What are some of the highlights?

Roma’s got some snazz to her for sure. Her cork floors are pretty awesome and she has reclaimed wood for the desk and bed. What I am excited about is the upcoming improvements to make her really cozy and sustainable. I’m hoping to add a wood stove, solar panels, and one fine day, a composting toilet. As of now, she’s pretty simple with no plumbing, and the truck charges the batteries in the Airstream after a drive. So lots more to do!

I imagine there was a fair share of magical moments on the road. What was the craziest?

The production was wild. We had no idea if what we set out to do would actually work! We didn’t know if we would find characters, or even if we would make it to Oregon. The truck pulling the Airstream broke down several times, and it seemed like surprises were around every corner. And because most of the budget came after the film was edited, we found ourselves sleeping in a lot of random spots. It was pretty adventurous. The film screening tour was one moment of bliss after another. We were on the road for four months, winding in and out of national parks and major cities. Connecting with so many people who have lived (or want to live) the lifestyle documented in 23 Feet was very magical. To tell a story is one thing, to have that story compel people to tell you their story is a whole different gift. It made all that hard work worth every moment and then some.

What five items/products made life on the road easier?

In a small space, the things you own are few, but very important. From your toothbrush to your water bottle, everything needed to be sturdy and worthy of the road.

Innate Gear Thermos – I swear you can put your coffee in hot and it will still be piping 8 hours later. It’s a miracle bottle.

French press – Any appliance that doesn’t need electricity is a great find. Plus, my favorite way to make coffee.

Slippers – Just because you are on the road, doesn’t mean you can’t be cozy. I travel with slippers everywhere I go.

Horny Toad dresses – They don’t wrinkle, they are super comfortable, and they are super easy to clean. I love me some Horny Toad.

Dr. Bronner’s soap – All purpose awesomeness. Just a few drops and you’ll shine like a new penny. It’s way better for the environment too. (Ed. Note: We love their hair conditioner too.)

What creature comforts did you miss the most?

The only thing I can think of is plants. I miss having little plants around. It’s like a class 5 earthquake in the Airstream when we are on the road, so no plants have been able to take that kinda shock! Other than that, you won’t find me missing TV or a dishwasher.

Any plans for a sequel? In other words, what’s up next?

My business partner Sarah Menzies and I run a production company called Red Reel. We had such a powerful reaction to the outdoor theater tour last summer that we are excited to be able to continue the grassroots unique distribution for projects to come. As far as the stories in the works, we’re sticking with character driven pieces, and pointing our lens to the movers and shakers of environmental and social change. Right now Roma is sitting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with my family, and Sarah and I are calling San Jose Del Cabo, Baja, home for the winter. We’re filming in the water and editing our 2012 spring films. If there were a sequel to 23 Feet, I think we might take it onto sail boats, but right now, 23 feet of home has turned into about 3 feet of suitcase, and life couldn’t be better.

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In the 1950s, Airstream trailers were the pinnacle of luxurious travel: roomy, comfortable and futuristic, resembling nothing more than a Jetsons-like flying vehicle ready to take to the skies. Today, Airstream aficionados drool over the rounded aluminum bodies and mid-century modern interiors. While many still function as campers, others have been transformed into homes, studios, traveling boutiques and even bowling alleys. These 10 Airstreams and other tiny mobile dwellings prove that small can be stylish and surprisingly multi-functional.

Kristina Spaulding’s Dreamy Curves

Can this Airstream get any dreamier? Pale birch, linen and chrome adorn the curvilinear interior of Kristina Spaulding’s 1967 Tradewind. Spaulding wanted the inside to have the same feel as the iconic exterior, cutting many of the curved shapes herself with a jigsaw. The postcard-covered kitchen counter is a nod to the many journeys Spaulding has made in her traveling home.

Masculine Wood MObi

Modern minimalists who still crave organic textures will love MObi, a restored Airstream with lots of wood and white. Packed with a surprisingly large kitchen, a sleek bathroom and a flat screen television with surround sound, this more masculine version of the tricked-out classic camper has all the necessities and more.

Tiny Modern Airstream Abode

Imagine waking up every day in a bright and cozy Airstream trailer that serves as your home, and then heading to work – in the converted cargo trailer that’s towed behind your truck. That’s reality for architect Andreas Stavropoulos, who has converted both from run-of-the-mill prefab boxes into comfortable, livable spaces.

Sarah’s Airstream Studio

Of course, Airstreams aren’t just for livin’ on the road. They make ridiculously adorable work studios, as proven by this extreme makeover by crafter Sarah of 26 Letters. Sarah’s eye for design is obvious, with carefully chosen modern furniture and accessories and pops of color against a bright white ‘canvas’.

Airstream, or Bowling Alley?

Of all the wacky things you might come across in Vegas, would you ever expect a bowling alley in an Airstream? The trailer – located at the Silverton Casino – seems to have been widened to accommodate two lanes of fun.

Adelante Boutique’s Airstream ‘Curb Service’

Austin, Texas boutique Adelante has repurposed an Airstream into the chicest little mobile boutique you ever saw. The customized 1976 model will roll up to any curb for private parties including bridal showers, with partygoers sipping on “streamtinis” while perusing racks of clothing, shoes and accessories.

Eye-Popping Airstreams at Grand Daddy Hotel

Need someplace to stay while traveling in South Africa? It would be hard to find a more unique experience than the curious gaggle of rentable Airstreams at the Grand Daddy Hotel. This one, designed by Sarah Pratt, was inspired by the blue dress of a certain heroine in The Wizard of Oz.

Contemporary Prairie Schooner

A young couple named Libby Reinish and Tristan Chambers made this ‘contemporary prairie schooner’ in a span of just a few months and now live in it while traveling cross-country. Inspired by gypsy wagons, this tiny portable home packs in plenty of creature comforts, but perhaps none quite as unexpected as the little caged lookout for their cat.

Woodie Love Bug Custom Trailer

The small and shiny ‘Woodie Love Bug’ is like a homemade cross between an Airstream and a teardrop trailer. Custom-made by Dayton Taylor and Vintage Trailer Crazy, these trailers are 12-feet-long fully customizable mobile homes crafted from oak, birch and metal.

Protostoga: 21st Century Wagon

Another project taking a cue from the shiny metal of Airstream exteriors is the ‘Protostoga‘, built as an extension for the owners’ more traditional-looking – but still highly unusual – tiny house. “It will function as a flex space,” creator Ann Holley told Tiny House Blog. “It can be a guesthouse, vacation cottage, dining room, mobile studio, escape pod, reading room and much more.”

Main image: Grand Daddy Hotel

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Since their introduction in the 1930s, Airstreams have become an iconic emblem of travel. Sleek, hip and, most importantly, functional, Airstreams are the name of the game for those looking to travel in style. But they’ve also allowed people to adventure in smarter, slower and more conscious ways, all integral parts to green travel. Let’s face it, long term travel is good for the soul, and Airstreams certainly facilitate that process, allowing travelers to establish a deeper connection to and appreciation for the places that they find themselves in.

A good friend of mine is about to take off on her own Airstream adventure, so suffice it to say, I’ve got the iconic travel mode on the brain. But committing to buying and up-keeping an Airstream isn’t for everyone. Fortunately thanks to plenty of travel options, that doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on Airstream ambiance. Here are some of our favorites.

Rooftop Trailer Park

In South Africa, the Grand Daddy Hotel offers the ultimate in trailer park class. The boutique hotel installed a rooftop trailer park with seven different Airstreams, each of them boasting a customized design by local artists.

Vintage Vacation

On the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, you can get a little taste of Americana thanks to Vintage Vacations. They’ve got seven of them turning the campground into a funky and fresh destination.

Trailer Park a la Europa

For those looking to go super retro, the Euro Trailer Park might be your best bet. In fact it’s the only retro trailer park in Europe, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. What better way to enjoy this beautiful area of France than a funky consortium of silver bullets? There are nine Airstreams for hire, and we’re sure you’ll meet plenty of colorful characters too.

Park It Where You Want

It comes as no shock that hip and trendy Portland, Oregon would offer up an Airstream vacation, but the best part about Silver Dreams is that they’ll park the upscale hotel suite on wheels anywhere in the Portland area that you want to stay.

Enjoying the Arts

Art and travel come together at El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. A community that aims provide a creative and sustainable space that’s welcoming to both locals and visitors.

Airstream Spa Style

Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico has combined spa services with Airstream class in their Silver Moon. The lodging has just the basics, but pair it with the destination’s spa services, including deep stone massages and Japanese organic facials, and you’ve got one luxurious but off-the-beaten-path travel destination.

Images: johnrobertsheperd, Grand Daddy Hotel, Airstream Europe, El Cosmico

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