Eco-Celebrity of the week - Willie Nelson

Today I'm excited to tell you about one of my favorite musicians...who happens to be ranked as one of the top Eco-Celebrities ~ Willie Nelson! Known for his legendary outlaw country music, long braids, and pro-marijuana stance; Willie is also a long-time advocate for family farmers and environmental causes.

25 years ago, Willie began his activism career by teaming up with Neil Young and John Mellencamp to organize the first Farm Aid Concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001. Farm Aid has raised more than $37 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.

Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews will be performing at Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, October 2. Buy tickets and check out the rest of the incredible line up here.

The eight-time Grammy winner, has toured so extensively he’s on his fourth tour bus, Honeysuckle Rose IV, which runs completely on biodiesel. That brings us to another of the causes Nelson is known for - BioDiesel! Willie became interested in biodiesel when his wife purchased a Volkswagen Jetta that ran on vegetable oil. He says at the time he had no idea what she was talking about, telling an interviewer he thought “she’d been in my stash a little bit.” Nelson now peddles his B20 biodiesel in several U.S. locations. BioWillie, as it’s known, is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. It’s been found to have a positive environmental benefit with minimal cost increase. Willie says demand is there, but more product is needed to keep our highways smelling like French fries. Earth Biofuels, maker of BioWillie diesel, boasts a board of directors that includes Morgan Freeman and spokesperson Julia Roberts.

info via therenewableplanet.com

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Farm Aid, coming up on October 2 and the AWESOMENESS that is Willie Nelson...we raise our glass to you Willie - our Eco-Celebrity of the week! Keep up the great work!