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with the least impact on Mama Earth

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Hi there! We’re Dustin and Noami

For a long time we felt like we were living a life that wasn’t our own – chasing after someone else’s idea of success and happiness, consuming too much and not living enough. So we made a radical shift. We downsized our possessions and set out to pursue a life of simplicity & travel. We’re eco-vanlifers & digital nomads, living on the road since 2016. We’re here to share with you everything we’ve learned along the way.

What's inside

Digital Nomadism

Dreaming of traveling the world, but still need to pay the bills? Our Digital Nomad Series will give you the tips, advice, inspiration and resources to help you build a sustainable income on the road.

Recent Posts

37 Gift Ideas Eco-Conscious Nomads Will Love in 2021

November 17, 2020 No Comments

The holidays are upon us. And as every vanlifer can attest, space in the van is always a premium. So if you’ve got an environmentally

Essential Digital Nomad Gear For The Overland Traveler

October 28, 2020 1 Comment

2020 can be called a lot of things, and most of us will be happy when it can be called “over.” But with everything this

How To Reduce Amazon Packaging and Minimize Plastic Waste in 2020

October 28, 2020 3 Comments

Currently, there is only one way to request reduced packaging from Amazon. Follow the steps below to tell Amazon to minimize packaging on your future orders.

How to Find Remote Jobs & Freelance Gigs – A Digital Nomad Resource

August 25, 2020 No Comments

Noami and I have been traveling full time since 2016. When we tell folks that we’re full-time nomads, they usually say something like: “what do

DIGITAL NOMADISM 101:
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO BECOMING AN OVERLAND DIGITAL NOMAD

July 31, 2020 No Comments

Most, if not all articles on digital nomadism focus on the international traveler (globetrotter). Though what we’ve shared here can be applied to ALL manner

Noami & Dustin sit side by side on a log sharing a meal around a campfire. A tent is setup just in view.

11 Tips for an Eco Friendly Camping Season

July 24, 2020 No Comments

Sustainable Camping Habits For the Outdoors It’s cold outside friends! But spring is right around the corner. And this is shaping up to be a

Follow our journey on instagram @irietoaurora

FLY FISHING 🎣 Wading knee-deep in ice cold wat

FLY FISHING 🎣
Wading knee-deep in ice cold water, casting my line overhead, snagging my first bite - it was exhilarating! No doubt I would love this experience, cause fishing is in my DNA. #ad

I grew up in a tiny, rural fishing village on the island of Trinidad. My father’s family were fishermen, as was he since he was a boy. So from an early age I developed a strong connection to the water and a deep love for fishing and life in the sea. This upbringing facilitated my first connections to nature, and taught me some of my first lessons in sustainability. So wherever I go in the world, being on the water feels like home.

Shout out to @take_me_fishing for the push I needed to get out there.

Tbh, the barriers to entry for fly fishing kept me away. The high cost of gear, lack of access to locations, and lack of representation was intimidating.

Though, now that I’ve done it, y’all better believe I will again. It reminded me that fishing is one of my favorite ways to get outdoors. And as BIPOC, we deserve to experience the myriad of ways nature can facilitate healing.

The thing is, before you can be your best self on the water, you need to see your best self on the water, amiright!

If you’re new to fishing, I recommend heading to TakeMeFishing.org for how-to tips, interactive water-access maps, and lots of BIPOC inspo. They’re a national non-profit working to ensure EVERYONE has access to the wellness benefits of nature.

And, did you know that every state has Free Fishing Days where residents can fish without purchasing a license? Neither did I. You can find a list on their website ☝🏾

So if you’re a BIPOC who loves to fish, or if you’re just getting out for the first time, tag me in your post and pics so I can reshare. And use #TheWaterIsOpen
We ouchea, and we fishin’!

I feel fortunate that some of my earliest childhoo

I feel fortunate that some of my earliest childhood memories were made in the outdoors - waking up to the eerie sounds of howler monkeys outside my bedroom window, running barefoot in the rainforest with my brothers, fishing and swimming in the rivers, hunting and foraging for food, hiking to waterfalls and mud volcanoes - though we didn’t call it hiking, it was just life, we were just kids playing outside.

As an immigrant and first-generation American, my connection to the outdoors has evolved a lot since moving here at 17. I’ve disconnected and reconnected with nature more times than I can count.

But you see, the outdoors in America is very different from how I experienced it growing up in Trinidad. The barriers to entry and unwritten rules for how you’re supposed to “do” the outdoors meant that feeling a sense of belonging wasn’t always a given. And so, I set out to redefine what outdoorsy means for me. Because, guess what y’all, everyone has a right to feel a sense of belonging in the great outdoors.

I share more about my personal and cultural connections to nature as an immigrant and first-gen on the new mini-series “Belonging” by @outsidevoicespodcast

I’m honored to have my voice alongside the powerful voices of @roving_ranger , @queerquechua and @xicanaafuera
See stories for the link.

In this series I talk about what redefining outdoorsy means to me, and I know this means something different for everyone. So, I’d love to know, what does “redefining outdoorsy” mean to you?

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📸📍Ute, Pueblos & Southern Paiute land

Back in 2014 I took a leap of faith and invested i

Back in 2014 I took a leap of faith and invested in @theDivaCup. I cannot begin to say how incredibly empowering and life changing this little silicone blood collector has been for my life.
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It’s low-maintenance, eco-friendly, money-saving, & can be worn for up to 12 hours - it’s really the ultimate period tool for my road travel & outdoorist lifestyle.
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DivaCup has been instrumental in revolutionizing the period game for over 15 years. And as a #DivaPartner and long-time user, I’m honored to support a company determined to challenge the period status quo. Through their social impact program, DivaCares, they’re working to advance menstrual equity by brining issues of period poverty to the forefront.
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Growing up in a rural village on the island of Trinidad, it was not uncommon for people who menstruate to miss school due to lack of access to period products. And period talk was awkward and associated with profound shame.
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I can attest to the fact that stigmatization surrounding periods can have real long-term psychological effects, like poor self-esteem and quality of life. And this is a reality for many menstruators around the world, even right here in America.
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Look, menstruation should not be a limiting factor in anyone’s life. PERIOD. (pun intended) Which is why I’m DELIGHTED to be part of the conversation to normalize and destigmatize periods. Stay tuned for more on this conversation!

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Today I’m dropping a Q&A in stories! Bring your questions about periods in vanlife, the outdoors, or periods in general. Head to my stories or feel free to drop your questions in the comments or DM me if you’re a little shy. No limits. I’ll do my best to give an A for all your Qs.

#DivaCup #TryDivaCup #menstrualcup #EndPeriodPoverty #ad

—-
📍 Blackfoot and Flathead native land

Hi Loves 🌈 ♥️ I’ve been busy & joyfully j

Hi Loves 🌈 ♥️ I’ve been busy & joyfully juggling blessings. But since we’re one week into Plastic-Free July, I wanted to pop in with a lil’ reminder.

Promoting this lifestyle and ignoring the ways in which privilege makes it possible is elitist. And “proposing problems with elitist solutions is environmental racism.” —> h/t @thefullestco

Let’s not forget, this is a lifestyle very much dependent on access.

The reality is:
☀️ not everyone has the money to invest in plastic-free swaps.
☀️ not everyone has the time to prioritize plastic-free living.
☀️ not everyone has access to fresh, local and/or bulk shopping.
☀️ not everyone is able-bodied and can forgo the convenience.

I believe that with a mindful approach to our consumption, we can cultivate a more inclusive plastic-free movement.

So, for those of you doing your best, keep it up… Don’t let the pursuit of others make you feel like you’re not doing enough.

Sustainability is NOT an all-or-nothing game and it will look different for everyone.

Grateful for the voices of: @cerowastecindy @browngirl_green @queerbrownvegan @jhanneu

—
📍Blackfoot and Flathead native land

Hey y’all! Happy last day of Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈
I have 2 important things to share with y’all today.

1.
Remember @bombas ? We last joined forces for Black History Month, and I’m stoked announce that we’re back together again! #pairedwithbombas

Did you know that homelessness disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community? And BIPOC & transgender individuals are the most vulnerable.

As an influencer, I have a responsibility to make sure the brands I partner with align with my values. And once again @bombas has stepped up to the plate. They created a fabulous collection to celebrate Pride - The Bombas Pride Collection. Like everything Bombas creates, this collection gives back.
One Item Purchased = One Item Donated to orgs working to help our LGBTQ+ neighbors in need.

It’s not too late to get your Pride on in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Head to my stories for more + a discount code.

2.
Since this is the last day of Pride Month, let’s reflect. What did you unlearn and learn, and how do you plan to continue uplifting and centering the LGBTQ+ community?

It’s really important that we continue the work of unlearning to break down the oppressive ideas of cis and heteronormativity.

Gender and sexuality are a beautiful spectrum and we all deserve the right to exist as our full, true selves.

And no one owes us an explanation about their life, so we gotta stop making assumptions and imposing our own biased beliefs onto others.

Keep learning, keep growing, keep dismantling systems of oppression ✊🏾

Happy Pride friends! 🌈

——
📍Blackfoot and Flathead native land

SHOUTING CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to my friend, Christ

SHOUTING CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to my friend, Christine @afrominimalist for dropping the book I’ve been needing in my life! the Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less.

I’ve already read it cover to cover, and y’all it’s truly life-changing.

For me, adopting a minimalist lifestyle kind of happened by accident. #accidentalminimalist here 🙋🏾‍♀️. It wasn’t until preparing to move into an eighty square-foot rolling home that I realized I had a serious problem with over-consumption.

This was back in 2016. #vanlife was in its infancy, and #minimalism was little more than a trend for white people. Tbh, it was one of the hardest & loneliest times in my life. There was a lot of shame and vulnerability involved as I combed through 15 years of chasing the “American Dream.”

There was no community to lean into, at least none that was relatable to me. And no one was talking about the emotional difficulties that come along with letting go of your stuff. Everything out there was about adhering to a certain aesthetic and counting your possessions to make sure you qualify as a minimalist. Those Euro-centric standards were unattainable.

For me, getting rid of my possessions felt like ripping away my identity. As a Black-identifying immigrant, my attachment to things stemmed from the socioeconomic factors associated with my race, ethnicity, and upbringing. And this is true for many BIPOC and immigrants.

So, I’m ELATED that there’s finally a book on minimalism for us, from the voice of a Black woman!

Whether you’re seeking, practicing, or never heard of minimalism before today, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of the Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living With Less.

This book is the first of its kind -- it gives people permission to live this lifestyle authentically, without worrying about the “rules.” Black people already got too many rules. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Thank you Christine. What a gift!

——
📍Native land of the Cheyenne, Crow, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ peoples

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