The Chainlink

Riding somewhere for some reason, or just riding to have a good time?

Hiyo Chainlink,

     I just got done watching Food, Inc., Botany of Desire (movie and book) and am reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  etc....   

     I have been visiting farmers' markets for a couple years.  I ate almost all local produce on my Lake Michigan 1/2 tour and organic, non-gmo as much as possible.  I had a farmer in Ludington leave his farmstand  when I asked if he had any organic cherries.  I've been to many markets in the city. (I,I,I) Living in a suburb for the time being, I have found that it's easy to ride 5 to even 30 miles to a farmers market.  I take that back.  You do have to stomach suburban traffic and monsterously wide roads.  For some reason the club ride route doesn't link up to any farmers' markets without diverting across streets that make bikers, "uneasy," to say the least.  If I get around to it, maybe a google map or mapmyride would help.

     This has definitely added a new spirit to my riding.  So, please consider combining our biking powers with something like a farmers' market.  Take a trailer and stock up.  I'd like to hear others' experiences.

-Nate M.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on January 23, 2010 at 6:24pm
At one point I had read pretty much everything by Kingsolver but I think I've fallen behind.
Where do you live Nate? Which club do you speak of? You rode to Ludington?
Permalink Reply by Nate Maier on January 28, 2010 at 2:35pm
I rode to Ludington and back. No particular club. Just the "clubs" route. Sheridan to Everett to St. Mary's.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on January 28, 2010 at 4:02pm
I did see Barbara Kingsolver read from that book a few years back @ Women & Children First. While I did enjoy the book, I do find the premise unrealistic for city dwellers . For one, there is nary a working farm left in Cook county. And it becomes pretty much a fulltime job if you want to be self-sufficient in your food production.

Having said that, if you live in the city, you rarely have to go very far to a farmers market. This is my favorite one, mainly because it is in the evening hours (most farmers markets run in the morning hours or weekend) and it is on my way home from work. In season we do get our vegetables from a CSA. Living car-free, we found the ultimate solution: We are a drop site for Angelic Organics, so the veggies literally come to our front-door. On a nice Saturday more than half of the 40 families that pick up a box at our place come by bike or on foot.
We also grow some vegetables ourselves, mainly stuff that does Angelic Organics does not do: green beans, shallots, etc. And lastly, we have 4 chickens, so plenty of near-organic, free range eggs.

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