I am rarely at a loss for words but when it comes to describing Doug Fine it occurs to me wild and crazy green guy doesn’t even cut it.

I first met Doug about two years ago. He was introduced to me by Colleen Crowninshield, Manager of the Tucson Clean Cities program at Pima Association of Governments, as part of an event associated with the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey. AFV Day is part of a national biennial event to raise awareness about alternative fuel vehicles.

Doug Fine, author of “Farewell, My Subaru,” actually took “alt fuels” and “alt lifestyle” to new levels. To begin with, he travels the world speaking about his sustainability realizations – of which there have been many. In his best-selling book, he explores his journey of discovering whether or not a digital age human could live without petroleum without giving up his digital age comforts. Without ruining the ending and with lots of funny chapters in between, Doug concludes that he could live off the grid and live off the grid he does. Trust me when I say his book informs and delights.

But of course, he could not stop there. In 2011, Fine turned his attention to America’s 40-year-old War on Drugs. Of course he did! He found one county in California that has legalized, regulated and taxed the cultivation on the cannabis plant. In his newest book, “Too High to Fail: Cannabis and the New Green Economic Revolution” Fine extrapolates a model for the multibillion-dollar legal, cartel-crippling economy that can result when the failed Drug War is finally called off and cannabis is regulated like alcohol in North America.” I admit I have not read it but it is now officially on this list.

Doug is so passionate about his discoveries that he travels the world speaking about his sustainability realizations. OPTIONAL: and his Drug Peace research. Did I mention that he drives his vegetable oil-powered truck whenever he can? If you are in Tucson this coming Thursday, you can meet Doug and see his truck. To see him is to almost not believe him.

Here are details about this lead-off event for National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey. “An Evening with Doug Fine” will be held on Thursday, October 18th from 6-8 p.m. at the pavilion at Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s important. Hope to see you there.

Want to hear about it on green talk radio?  Visit my website to hear a podcast of the show aired on October 11, 2012.