Doug Fine

In 2006, journalist Doug Fine set out to prove that “you can be a digital age American while reducing your carbon footprint.”

Fine—a former suburbanite and fast food junkie— moved to the Funky Butte Ranch in Southern New Mexico where he powers his home using solar energy, drives a vehicle that runs on vegetable oil, and produces most of his food himself.

On Thursday, April 7 at 1:30 p.m., he will visit Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill Campus where he will share his experiences in a free presentation titled “Farewell My Subaru”, which is the name of the book he authored about his experiences. His presentation will be held in Lecture Hall A, the Spurk Building, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill, MA .

The transition to a green lifestyle wasn’t easy for Fine who shares stories about the coyotes who ate his zero carbon mile chickens, the solar panel that nearly electrocuted him, and his vegetable oil-powered vehicle that smells like Kung Pao chicken, giving him a bad case of the munchies.

In his slide show and talk, Fine will use humor to show audiences how they can move seamlessly to a sustainable lifestyle. As he says, “If this guy can do it, anyone can.”

“Farewell, My Subaru” has been translated into Chinese, Korean, and other languages since it was published in 2009, and has earned Fine an appearance on The Tonight Show. Fine now travels around the world speaking about sustainability and is a regular contributor of adventure and investigative features to National Public Radio.

For more information on Fine’s presentation, contact Kristi Arford, NECC faculty, karford@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3353.

Other Northern Essex events scheduled as part of Environmental Awareness Month include Electronic Recycling, Tuesday, April 5; a presentation on Genetically Engineered Food, Tuesday, April 12; a green trivia competition and Spring Jam with a Peace, Love and Recycle Theme (Lawrence Campus), Wednesday, April 13; Haverhill Goes Green, Sunday, April 17; a presentation on Community Supported Agriculture at Fletcher Community Farm and a Spring Jam with a Peace, Love, and Recycle Theme (Haverhill Campus), April 20. For more details or a complete schedule, contact Linda Shea, lshea@necc.mass.edu or 978 556-3423, or visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu/environmental-events