Lyssa Wade

Lyssa was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Grand View University. She majored in Mass Communications with a concentration in photography. While completing her studies at university, life took her on a different trajectory. She still has a love for photography, however, an interest in food production, sourcing, and aggressive urban farming took precedence which led to several lifestyle changes and the birth of Veggie Thumper, a plant based food bus.   

Lyssa has an amazing host of past and present ancestors, a son, two parrots, and a flock of chickens. Lyssa has been acknowledged for her contributions to the Des Moines food scene and is a passionate food, water, land, and air protector. Lyssa is forever grateful for Earth’s offerings and is disappointed and ashamed at humans' lack of respect given to Earth. This has been fuel to feed her lifestyle changes which were accelerated by loss and later, the experience of rebirth and taking the time to discover her true self. She shares her story as an Open Book because sometimes experiencing a moment vicariously and only having a hint of insight can evoke change. If she can help be the catalyst that inspires a change, why not?