Southern Vermont Pizza and the Art of Being a Hippo

"Hey, look at him", I'll never live that way
And that's okay, they're just afraid to change - Blind Melon

Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other. - Tupac

Change. The universal constant. Lifeblood of the galaxy. The antidote to a boring existence.

Today's question is: "How do you change...yourself, your life, the world around you?"

The answer is at once simple and elusive. Action. Where you go from there, what actions you take TODAY, who you enlist for help, and how smart you move when you start moving are all important parts of the puzzle.

Now let me personalize today's question. How do you quit your job, spend all your corporate money, and start a community/world changing business from your front yard with less than $100?

So far, it's been going pretty well. Quitting my job and spending the money was easy. Traveling for a year was so amazing. Even moving out of NYC to the green hills of Vermont was pretty easy, thanks to Amber and Miles. Falling in love shines a new light on many "illogical" courses of action.

Starting Pizza Hippo was a little more involved. In fact, it was an act of desperation. Sometimes it takes extreme circumstances (and a broken down Volvo) to kick start our dreams.

At any rate, selling Vermont's Best Organic Pizza from my front yard in South Windham, Vermont was an incredible experience and a great beginning. But it was just that, a great beginning.

Pizza Hippo certainly transformed our little community on Windham Hill Road, but the reach was too small. And it was probably illegal. (Like I said, an act of desperation.)

This season, we're planning to expand to five farmer's markets in Vermont (Brattleboro, Townshend, Bellow's Falls, Londonderry and Putney) as well as potentially opening an actual legal and legit pizza stand.

We're also partnering directly with Kindle Farm School to bring you the best in local, organic vegetables, all the while supporting the Kindle Farm kids' and staff's hard work.

My dream is to transform communities through the power of organic food (and to become a hippopotamus).

Today's action include starting this blog to chronicle our struggles.

What are you doing today to change the world around you?