livin' the lifestyle

The recent shift to sunnier skies has many Portlanders dreaming of cruising down stumptown’s tree-lined boulevards on a bike. For many, these visions might also be accompanied by questions about how to best take advantage of a bicycle to meet the needs of everyday life –like a simple trip to the grocery store, or a family outing to Oaks Park. While the option of cycling for utilitarian purposes seems simple enough, when you consider carrying more than yourself on a bicycle the picture can get a little fuzzy.

If you’d like to map out your own course towards a summer filled with low-car utility and family bicycling, consider joining me this Saturday, May 16, for the Low-Car Lifestyle Clinic at the Portland Farmers Market. Sponsored by the fine folks at Joe Bike and the Portland Farmers Market, this free presentation will include live demonstrations on a variety of utility bicycles, in addition to my experience and perspective on a wide array of topics related to utility and family transportation (by bike).

Low-Car Lifestyle Clinic
Saturday May 16, 2009 / 11:00am – 12:00pm
Portland Farmers Market (center presentation pavilion)
@ Portland State University in the South Park Blocks

Especially tuned for those new to family and utility cycling, this clinic will provide the tools to help people map their own path to augmenting or replacing automotive transportation with bicycles. This clinic is definitely for you if any of the following questions have entered your mind recently:

• how do I safely transport my kids around town on a bike?
• can I get a bike that will pack a bunch of groceries and my children effectively?
• what if I need to pack something really heavy or awkwardly shaped?
• should I use a trailer or get a bike built just for the job?
• is this going to cost me a fortune?
• where do I start? who do I call?

The Low-Car Lifestyle Clinic is presented as part of the Portland Farmers Market’s bike month activities. The weather should be grand and the market will no doubt be bustling –I hope to see you there!

Related Posts

• October 13, 2009 -- Portland Pedal Power (2)
• March 17, 2010 -- Flushing The Bike Plan Into The Sewer? (3)
• February 22, 2010 -- “I Thought Of That While Riding My Bike”* (2)
• November 1, 2009 -- The Boogeyman Redux (0)
• July 1, 2009 -- What’s In A Name? (4)

I’ve always been a decent cook and provider for my family, but the abrupt season change has me contemplating a different path: Making more food myself all of the time (not just some of the time), and using local ingredients to do so.

Sure, I’ve always been a Farmer’s Market fan, and I do shop at New Seasons—from time to time, that is. But while I know (and agree with) the benefits of buying local, sustainable, organic food—well, the spirit is willing but the flesh is often weak. More accurately, I don’t often find the time, energy, or copious disposable income to always buy local, to always cook for the family instead of grabbing something to go on the way home from work.

But I’m now taking my lead from Tricia. I’m getting inspired by people like Audrey, my friend LeLo (who’s been canning and preserving all summer) or that whirling dervish of energy, Sarah Gilbert.

And I now have my very own sourdough starter sitting out, beginning the fermentation process & capturing the wild yeast from the air. I’ll get my crockpot started on some homemade applesauce and apple butter tomorrow (after a visit to the Portland Nursery Apple Tasting, that is.) And I’ll figure out if it’s possible to buy local and sustainable *without* going bankrupt, or spending all of my time in hunter and gatherer mode.

What advice can you offer me about how to make the changes I seek without losing my mind in the process? And—what changes are you making in your lives as the world turns chilly?

Related Posts

• January 16, 2010 -- From Our Mailbox: Gardeners Go Road-Trippin..! (3)
• January 7, 2010 -- OurPDX Shared Links for 1/7 (0)
• June 13, 2009 -- OurPDX shared links for June 13th (2)
• May 26, 2009 -- Have a Tasty Adventure This Weekend (0)
• May 11, 2009 -- Low-Car Lifestyle Clinic @ Portland Farmers Market (0)