As much as my work with local food systems has peeled back the cover on Where Things Come From and How They Get That Way, I know I’ve remained mostly ignorant of where the heavier things come from. There’s something about the solidity of bolts and steel and engine parts that makes them seem as though they’ve always existed just as they were. Hanging out in machine shops and scrap yards changes that. The big, heavy stuff of which buildings, cars, and other serious machinery is made of has stopped being inevitable and become negotiable. For more stories, check out the picture narrative.

Other developments in communications include a redesigned site (by the end of this week!) that will accommodate more and bigger images as the centerpiece. We’ve also found a sweet little gizmo to make a map that’s easy to manipulate–which means we can list more details about stops and routes, and you can see more of the tour (or converge with us somewhere along the journey if that’s the plan).

We’re finishing the vegetable oil fuel system, and now is the best time to subscribe and support the tour–your contribution will help us finish the conversion and you won’t miss any special content!