If you plan it, they will come

I have to admit I got misty eyed a few times yesterday while leading the (rescheduled) DC urban farms bike tour. I think it really hit me when we arrived at the Washington Youth Garden, part of the National Arboretum, which was the second stop along the route to five urban food growing spaces around town. The near-tears state was no doubt partly due to the near loss of 15 cyclists en route -- a few folks had stopped to help a fellow biker change a flat and had only my less-than-stellar, turn-by-(mis)turn cue sheet to lead them to the next site -- and relief when they showed up about 20 minutes later. God bless smartphones. (Note to self: do not type up cue sheets after wine-filled dinner party the night before the bike tour. It was a lovely meal, even so, Sheffy.) However, I suspect that part of the emotion as I rolled onto the Arboretum grounds with 50-some cyclists in tow surely came from the realization that it was here, just over 2 years ago, that my friend Tom helped me practice shifting gears on my first real bicycle. I know! Ollie and I are all grown up and leading tours now. Well, one so far.

It was perhaps one of the most gorgeous days I can recall experiencing in the District: 78 and sunny with a light breeze. What perfect weather to introduce a whole new group of bicycling food lovers to some of the more amazing farms and community gardens around town. Things kicked off with seed packet spoke card making and a tour of the Neighborhood Farm Initiative's main garden in Fort Totten. Then the group proceeded to get an introduction to youth gardening and environmental programming at the aforementioned Washington Youth Garden (sweetened by some trail mix goodies, courtesy of a store credit from GLUT), a primer on composting and bee keeping at the Farm at Walker Jones (with fresh fruit and granola bars donated by Whole Foods), a look into intergenerational gardening and youth enterprise at City Blossoms' Marion Street garden (featuring lovely fresh herbal teas and lemonade for thirsty riders), and, only slightly behind schedule in spite of everything, an overview of permaculture, rain collection, and community programming at Common Good City Farm. The excitement and enthusiasm of farmers and cyclists was positively infectious, and I found myself grinning uncontrollably. Yes, even before a couple of beers at the closing happy hour at Big Bear Cafe. (Love that place.)

As things wound down, one person after another came up to thank me for organizing things and ask me when the next ride would be. Well, avid cyclists, future urban farming volunteers, and potential supporters, I hope this is the beginning of a tradition of local food-focused bicycle adventures around my favorite city. We shall see. (I will be sure to get a second opinion -- and a little less wine in me -- before printing out the cue sheet for round two.)

Thank you to The Greenhorns for providing the impetus for this bike tour, to the nearly 60 cyclists who attended the event, to the organizations that donated snacks. But most of all, thank you to my urban farming friends who are teaching us how to grow food, build community, and live more sustainably in the nation's capital.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Greenhorns report

So this Saturday's urban farm bike tour that was so meticulously planned... was rained out. But the screening of The Greenhorns went rather well. Those who braved the storms were rewarded with a beautifully filmed documentary, piles of great, local food (and so much beer we didn't even break open the last keg), and great tunes. Hopefully this is the beginning of a Greenhorns MidAtlantic chapter. How cool would that be?

Of particular culinary note was the farm-themed parsnip cake with cream cheese frosting, complete with rows of veggies and even fences -- beat it, Bambi -- donated by the good folks at Buzz Bakery. How cute is this cake??

Thankfully chef Tiffany, the creative force behind the farm cake, remains unaware of my own cake decorating... experiments. Whew.

Anyhow, folks, I will let you all know when the urban farm bike tour is rescheduled. It may be a few weeks: getting five or six community garden groups to agree on a single date on which to hold workshops is a bit like herding cats. Very environmentally and socially conscious cats. Stay tuned. (Meow!)

An irresistible fleet of bicycles is coming through DC on April 16!

It's really happening. I have been enamored with The Greenhorns for a few years now. The posse of like-minded young, sustainable farmers and food advocates kindly helped to promote my bikeable feast project from afar and now, at long last, I'll get to meet a few of them in person because they are coming to my hometown! Oooh, I can't wait to show 'em around....

For those of you readers with ADHD, here's the short version:

(Hey, pay attention! Hey, over here! Stop looking at that shiny thing!)

WHO:
The Greenhorns and you!

WHAT:
DC Urban Farm Bike Tour, Greenhorns documentary screening, and reception

WHEN:
Saturday, April 16th, 2011

Bike tour/workshops from 1:00-6:00pm

Film screening and reception from 6:30-9:00pm

WHERE:

1pm meet @ Mamie D. Lee Community Garden, 100 Gallatin St., NE (Fort Totten)

6pm @ Letelier Theater, 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard (Georgetown)

COST:
$10-30 sliding scale for film and reception (bike tour/workshops are free)

RSVP to my friend, Farmer Mo (only necessary for film attendance, as seating is capped at 90). If you have questions about the biking part of things, drop me a line. Otherwise, just show up. Those of you cyclists who have been following this blog KNOW not to show up without a helmet. I'd bring a bike lock, too. And a water bottle. And maybe some sunscreen. (And I'd pray for sun that day.)

Isn't this poster gorgeous? Kudos to Laura Cline, who does all of the Greenhorns' fantastic artwork, and who teamed up with local artist Karri Roberts on this project. Just need to add on a few more logos for additional groups who recently contacted me about donating tasty, local food.... Oh, this is going to be good.

Even Ollie's excited. Look, she's donned a new sticker for the event (freshly painted over with clear nail polish so it lasts more than 5 minutes...). Come join us on April 16!