We’re really happy with both designs, and the shirts themselves are a great hemp and cotton blend that just seemed like a more environmentally-friendly choice compared to typical materials.

So, take a look, and if you like them you best hurry to the store! We only have a small number left, and with the amount of things we have happening around here, we’re probably not going to be placing another order for new ones anytime soon.

Otherwise, we’re still working on issue six. I know it’s taking forever, but we have our reasons, and we hope you’ll forgive us once we finally finish it.

T.O.F.U. Store: Shirts

For now, I just wanted to put out the notice that we are looking for a few models to help us sell what is left of the 2011 tour shirts. Sure, we could simply go with the info and pics that are posted through the online store, but where’s the fun in that? Plus, the actual shirts have different colours and we don’t want people to buy something they have not seen!

Instead, we’re hoping that a few kind souls who bought the shirts along the way, or those who may currently be sharing the same city as me (Vancouver) might be interested in helping to promote the new designs. All it takes is a couple pictures with you in the shirt, and we can do the rest!

So, please drop me a line if you’re willing to help us out. If you’re in Vancouver, perhaps we can grab a slice of pizza at Vegan Pizza House?

Kira will hopefully have some pictures to share soon, and I have some more video from the Toronto and Vancouver shows.

Thanks again for all the support, and please say hello if you see us in Portland. We’ll probably be the ones with too many containers of food and sweets in our hands (and at least one of us has pink hair)!

enjoy the weekend,
Ryan & Kira

Fri, Aug. 12th
Toronto, Ontario
The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Avenue)
10pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Tues, Aug. 16th
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mondragon Cafe (91 Albert St.)
7:30pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Wed, Aug. 24th
New Westminster, British Columbia
Karmavore (610 Columbia St.)
7:00pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

I wish it could be longer, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. Sorry to those who are unable to attend, and I hope those of you who can will come and introduce yourselves.

On a related note, the new issue should be out really soon. Due to being sick, moving and a few other things we were delayed, but hopefully we can get back on track this week. I just need to get rid of this nasty cough!

We need to start packing, and that means paring down to the bare necessities (still hoping a food processor will fit in the overhead compartment). While we haven’t really started the hard work of cleaning, organizing and packing, we’re sure that the shirts from the last tour have to find owners. With just a few left, we’re hoping we don’t have to leave our mixing bowls behind to make room for these lonely peppers.

Of course, we know appealing to your emotions for inanimate objects is probably not going to flood our inbox with orders, so we’re willing to make you an offer you can’t refuse (hopefully):

Our old tshirt stock is now $5 (plus shipping).

That’s right, our sweatshop free, fairly traded shirts (justshirts.ca), which were screenprinted by a one-man operation in Halifax, are now available for well below what we paid to make them! If that piques your interest, you can check out the selection in our online store. If you’re still not biting, then we’re out of ideas, and you don’t get a shirt. Sorry.

Purchase a shirt for $5 (plus shipping).

wondering if a spatula will make it through security,
Team T.O.F.U.

With that in mind, here’s the catch: we’re poor.

I know, you’re shocked. How could a magazine that depends on vegan-friendly companies and folks like yourself to support it be poor, right? Well, apparently life can be expensive, especially when you throw in student loans, rent, and a few other things (like food).

Of course, this means we’re trying to get across the country as cheaply as possible, while still maintaining a schedule so that we can book venues in cities along the way. Thus, biking and hitchhiking are out.

Luckily, this is where you come in! Here’s a PROPOSED list of the tour, followed by a list of what we’re in need of at each stop. If you think you can help in any way wherever you live, drop us a line.

Possible T.O.F.U. tour stops

Halifax
Moncton
Saint John
Fredericton
Quebec City
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Brandon
Regina or Saskatoon
Calgary or Edmonton
Vancouver

Things we need help with

• Venues to hold the event (preferably with a speaker system to allow live music)
• Musicians (preferably at least one veg*n member in each act)
• Local organizations to table and promote awareness of the work they do (should be appropriate for a vegan event)
• Couch/floor/reclining chair to sleep in

If you think you have an answer to any of these, feel we should host an event in your area, or just want to be involved but don’t quite know what to do, email us (ryan at ilovetofu.ca) and we’ll start working on this together.

So, feel free to join me in re-visiting the crazy antics of three vegans on the road.

httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C4D7953715297234

Just a quick update on the conference I will be attending this August, which is only a little over four months away. They posted the conference schedule last week, and it looks like I’m going to be a part of some awesome panels. Of course, the whole thing will be great, but you can’t blame a guy for promoting his own stuff, right? If you’re attending, you can catch me talking about this or that during the Activism, Publishing and Small Town, Represent! panels with several other lovely folks.

Classy – The Vida Vegan Con schedule

Speaking of attending the conference, within the past couple weeks it seems the whole thing sold out! So, if you don’t already have your ticket, you’re going to need to keep an eye out for some of the giveaways the organizers will be doing. Stay tuned to the Vida Vegan blog for more details.

Your Time Travels Contest

And if those contests are not enough for you, it seems there is a great one going on over at Your Time Travels. So, if you’ve ever wanted to plan a vacation that had animals and your ethics in mind, you might want to check out the prizes they’re offering, as well as the services they provide on a daily basis. With celebrity judges including Gene Baur, the President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, and Colleen Holland, Associate Publisher of VegNews, they’re out to find some of the most amazing people who are using their talents to help animals.

Came across this little piece of tour footage we posted while on the road, and I figured it might not hurt to give it some attention again. I can’t say I’ve seen a set-up out here on the east coast like the one we highlight somewhere in Southern Alberta, but I’m sure there are plenty of them all around North America, and many other places.

I’m going to assume it’s a veal farm, or at least these cows are going to end up as veal. I’m no professional, so I could be wrong. Either way, they’re a far cry from the happy cows grazing in open pastures that plenty of commercials would have you believe.

So, watch this, and ask me again why I’m vegan.

T.O.F.U. Tour 2009 Photos (facebook.com)

Here’s hoping we have just as much fun in August when the magazine hits the road once again.