Melissa's major influences in life:

• Living in Glacier National Park and Netherlands (my right of passage in understanding that there was more to this world then the small farm town I grew up in)

• The small town I grew up in where community, local living, and helping others was the norm

• The first time I ate an heirloom tomato at the farmers market living in San Diego (I didn't even know what a farmers market was or an heirloom tomato, but it was heavenly and I was hooked)

• The many random and not so random people I've met that bring curiosity, more questions, and passion to life.

How I got to this point of going across country on a bike to document sustainable methods:

• Deliberate reflection on dormant passions of sustainability and media

• Getting over the fear

• Working at a tv station: that provided me the opportunity to learn about editing, directing, and camera work while shooting county/city meetings and community events.

• Desire to do a massive road trip and learn about what is going on in terms of sustainable practices (I'm excited to talk with others, camp, push myself, while I hope to empower others, along with myself as I gain the tools necessary to implement something afterwards)

• Planning it with someone else