Category: Fresh Truck Across America

….and a lot happened in between! This is the part of the post where we bury our heads and apologize for holding out for so long as we’re sure most of you have stopped hitting refresh button on the blog, waiting for our next update. So without further ado, here is a recap of our final leg of the trip!

After leaving Sheridan, WY we entered what we sometimes referred to as the “main event” aka the Rocky Mountains. After five thousand feet of elevation climb we were both physically and mentally over the biggest climb of the journey (insert golf clap here). We then took to flatter lands for a bit before climbing a few thousand feet to enter Yellowstone National Park. Riding through Yellowstone was quite special and unusual; special in the sense of the beauty that surrounded us while unusual as it was the first time we were a) warned of bears while on our ride (talk about motivation to pedal harder) and b) riding along herds of bison (although this attained a sense of normalcy after the third or fourth encounter). We spent the next few days exploring the park and camping in a teepee. No offense to REI – we love our tent, but it was totally trumped by this experience.

We then set out to take on the rest of Montana with the goal of reaching a friends house just outside of Kalispell. This leg of the ride was arguably the most beautiful as each day we enjoyed views of mountains all around us dotted with fantastic rivers and lakes. Along the way we also got the chance to check out a couple of Montana’s cities, Bozeman and Helena, which were surprisingly really fun, neat cities with a lot to offer including a strong cycling community. We even got to camp atop the continental divide outside of Helena which we learned is really cold! Also during this stage, we experienced some absurd mechanical mishaps and subsequently learned some bike maintenance on the fly!

After a few days of enjoying Glacier National Park, fly fishing, water skiing and the company of great friends, we set off for Idaho and Washington. Although our time in Idaho was brief, the scenery was very much a continuation of Montana, and we even came across an awesome fruit and vegetable stand! This is something we had missed dearly from the east coast section of the trip.

We dropped into Washington and stayed in Spokane for two nights. Like Bozeman and Helena, this city really blew us away in what it had to offer. We owe a lot of this to our awesome host, Kate, who happened to have her hands in just about everything going on in the city related to urban farming, cycling and the community as a whole. Amongst the litany of things Kate does, she volunteers with Project Hope, which creates opportunities for youth enrichment in Spokane through community engagement, job training and education. During our stay we got a chance to visit some of gardens throughout the West Central neighborhood which comprise a scattered-site urban farming initiative. In a neighborhood that the city is currently working to improve, it was really great to see that urban farming is playing a pivotal role.

From Spokane we continued our pursuit of the coast through miles and miles of wheat fields before arriving in Leavenworth, a bavarian-themed town (awesome, we know), where our final big climb awaited us in a three thousand foot climb up to Steven’s Pass. From here we rejoiced in the idea of a return to sea-level with the Pacific almost in our grasp. We spent a night just outside of Seattle, in Monroe, before cycling through some of the awesome bike paths the city has to offer and spending our final night in Olympia. Then, exactly eight full weeks from our departure from Boston, we arrived at the Pacific Ocean in the small town of Westport, WA and dipped our tires in the water – completing our journey!

  It still has not really settled in that we are done with the ride (this may be referred to as denial). It’s kind of funny to think about, but overall the challenges we faced along the way were actually made quite manageable because of all of the support we received. So now we wish to say thank you for liking our tweets/photos, sending us messages of encouragement, and not to mention hosting and guiding us through your amazing towns/cities, showing us what made them so unique!

Although this journey was a continuous change of landscapes and culture, there was an ever present theme of caring for the betterment of the community. This was incredibly moving to be a part of and something which will forever shape us going forward. So just as we hope to have inspired you, thank you for truly motivating us to not only pedal on but to continue to work with and celebrate our communities.

Until the next ride…

Dol & Dar

Greetings from majestic Sheridan Wyoming! Ok, so admittedly this isn’t really a “landmark” destination; but ever since we departed from Chicago a week or so ago, things have gotten more remote and today is the first chance we have gotten in front of a computer. Since our “vacation from vacation” weekend in Chicago, we have pumped through 1200 more miles seeing the best of what Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota have to offer. Making it across the country, through back roads and state highways has really made us appeciate the nuanced differences between each state.

I’ll be honest, when thinking of Illinois our thoughts do not often stray outside of Chicago. So with little knowledge we set out into Northwest Illinois expecting flat farmlands. We were right about the farmlands, but totally blindsided by the rolling hills. Towns became quite spread out too which made finding water tricky in the heat. Despite the distance we still encountered some suburban areas with big box retail shops with frequency. It was also here that we left the smaller farms we had enjoyed out east and entered into corn and soybean 160+ acre plots. Sadly, there is not much to snack on at these farms.

Moving onto Iowa we were thinking it had to flatten out, come on – it’s Iowa! All we can say is that we were naive and along with the corn and soybean farms, the hills were there too. In addition we were introduced to some heavy odors from cattle and pig farms (Lesson learned: do not try to eat a granola bar while passing through these farms). Our route also became comprised of almost only small towns with historic downtown areas separated by massive farms. The trickiest thing about this state was our introduction to dirt roads. When trying to navigate your way across a state like this sometimes what Google Maps thinks is a road is far from it. This can prove pretty tricky and definitely tacked on some miles as we searched high and low for pavement.

Out of the corn fields and into cattle country, we embarked on South Dakota. Here the towns continued to spread further and further away and without the high corn stalks the land was quite expansive with rolling hills stretching miles beyond what the eye can see. It really set in how far out we were as most towns hosted populations less than 300 people and the town center consisted of one storefront that functioned as a post office, convenience store, restaurant and gas station. As we moved across the state and into the Badlands, the elevation kicked up a bit but the awe-inspiring scenery helped cushion any pain and lack of oxygen. The Black Hills were well, hilly, but also a host of amazing sights including Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and some really cool caves (pun intended).

As we continue our trek, Wyoming has continued the ongoing trend of remoteness coupled with expansive ranges of hills. Yesterday we biked 110 miles, seeing only one convenience store along the entire trip. On the plus side we did see some wild antelope and beautiful red rock hills (that’s consolation for dehydration, I think?). But seriously, moving west has brought such amazing sights that more than make up for the lack of convenience of the eastern states. We take off tomorrow for our first try at these Rocky Mountains, so wish us luck and we’ll catch up again in Montana!

Take care,

Dol & Dar

Some days of our trip can be pretty rough, battling mile after mile (we just passed mile 1,000 – woo!), while others are pretty cushy. When scheduling out our route, we always knew we would stop in Chicago to see one of our best friends, Sarah, but we couldn’t be sure as to how long our stay would actually be. Thankfully we have been very much keeping to our schedule, allowing us to enjoy a full 3 days which we have dubbed #vacationfromvacation!

To catch you up a bit, after our stay in Cleveland we headed out to visit our friend Dave at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for a couple of nights. From there we trekked across the state of Michigan, enjoying flat landscapes and ridiculously good produce (cherry season = many stops at farm stands).

We arrived in Lakeside, MI on the 3rd to Sarah’s lake house on Lake Michigan. The next day we made our first stop to Granor Farm, a farm located just down the road from the house in Three Oaks, MI. Granor Farm is a 25 acre plot growing USDA-certified organic vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits.  Their produce are available through their on-farm store, CSA program, and local restaurants. We interrupted the farmers playing with the chickens and ducks work to get a tour and learn more about their operation.  The farm started back in 2009 when its founders purchased 10 acres of land, noticing a lack of local, organic farming in the area. With the distinction of being an organic farm, there is a strong focus on soil quality through both old and new techniques. To strengthen its connection with the community, the farm has also started to host monthly potluck dinners this year. Each potluck will have a theme to highlight what vegetables are in season. The first get-together took place on June 23 and featured leafy greens. Future potlucks are expected to focus on crops such as squash and tomatoes. While a relatively small operation with two full-time employees and three interns, Granor Farms produces over 70 produces and continues to grow, pun intended.

Next our vacation brought us into Chicago where we visited the Chicago Lights Urban Farm.  The farm’s mission is to empower youth and community residents in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood to have increased economic opportunities through access to organic produce, nutritional education, work force training, and microenterprise development. It also provides a safe sanctuary and programs for children and youth to learn about urban agriculture. Beginning as a community garden in the neighborhood in 2003, it became an Urban Farm in 2010 through an expanded relationship between Chicago Lights and Growing Power –a nonprofit organization empowering communities by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high quality, safe, and affordable food. Having heard a lot about Growing Power and it’s founder, Will Allen, we were really excited to see this farm. While at the site we saw the youth corp program in action which employees 15 teens during the year and 30 during the summer months. Additionally, the farm is host to a summer program for children ages 5-13. The teens are involved in all facets of the farm including planting and maintaining crops and even setting prices for the produce they grow. The children’s program focuses on growing a mix of things which can be readily eaten (tomatoes, strawberries, etc.) and plants which are fun to watch through the growing process such as watermelon and pumpkins. While continuing to grow their outreach program, the farm also built a greenhouse this past November which will allow for increased growing as well as the ability to host more educational classes at the site. This year the farm also has plans to implement an aquaponics system to improve soil quality. It was really awesome to hear about how popular this farm has become amongst its community and to see everyone working together.

And with that, and way too much eating (I blame America’s birth for that one), our vacation from vacation is coming to an end. We hit the road tomorrow headed for Iowa!

Take care,

Dol & Dar

When the city of Cleveland comes to mind, you might not get overly excited, as thoughts such as the one’s conveyed in this video are conjured up. Prior to our arrival we felt similarly, mostly considering Cleveland to be a pass-through city in the grand scheme of places to visit in the US. After our visit this past weekend our views were dramatically shifted. While Cleveland is definitely one of the cities hit hardest by the recession, it is also one of the most persevering and innovative cities to continue to fight its way out of the economic hole. Returning to its Midwest roots, farming is one way in which Cleveland is strengthening its community and making serious strides towards its recovery.

Our first stop on Saturday was conveniently a couple of blocks away from our hostel, at the Ohio City Farm. The farm is 6 acres and is located right in the Ohio City neighborhood nestled between housing complexes and local businesses. The farm is a really great example of the community effort that is taking place in Cleveland, as various partners play a role in its continued success. When the local housing authority was made aware that this plot of land could not sustain a housing complex, it was decided that a farm would be created in the space. Joining other local organizations, government officials and businesses, the farm broke ground in 2010. Since then, the farm has grown bigger and bigger, inviting more partners into the plot to farm on its land. One of the biggest supporters being Great Lakes Brewing Co. with offices, a brewery and a restaurant all located within the neighborhood, it made perfect sense to grow their hops and produce for their restaurant in the neighborhood too. Another way in which the farm furthers its reach into the community is through the employment of members of The Refugee Response organization, a program designed to help refugees adjust to life in Northeast Ohio. Additionally, the farm accepts food stamps and other food assistance benefits, participating in the “Double Value Produce Perks” program in which every dollar is matched for purchases up to $10. As you can see in the pictures, the Ohio City Farm produces a great variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, but in addition to that, it serves an amazing medium for community involvement from many different facets of life in Cleveland.

Next we headed over to City Rising Farm for an afternoon of volunteering. On the ride over, we noticed an obvious lack of grocery stores in the area, with only a couple of corner convenience stores. After speaking with Elle, a founder of City Rising Farm, we learned that some residents in the area have to take two buses, costing upwards of $5, to even get to a grocery store. This issue of inaccessibility is what the City Rising Farm initiative is working to resolve. The organization is built around the idea of

helping people in under-served communities learn to grow fresh local food and build healthy long lasting relationships with each other so they can use those skills and relationships to create opportunities in their own neighborhoods. At the garden we were able to work with local students who are part of a summer work program, providing neighborhood students with summer jobs in their communities. The students showed us around the garden with a great sense of pride, pointing out all of the fruits and veggies which they had planted in the previous week and even let us plant some of our own! These produce, once harvested, will be donated to residents of the community. Besides yielding fresh produce, these community farms really work to grow the community and build relationships within the area by bringing together people of various backgrounds and skills. This emphasis on networking is a key to the sustainability of City Rising Farm and the city of Cleveland.

Our final stop in our Cleveland tour de urban farming brought us to the Bridgeport Mobile Market. This mobile farm stand is the most recent addition by the Ward 5 community developer, Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC) to improve the community’s access to healthy foods. The market provides residents with access to locally sourced, fresh produce (grains are on their way soon too), in areas which grocery stores are not readily available. We caught up with the truck at the Ward 5 community parade. The response was extremely positive with people coming in and out, leaving with bags of produce and smiling faces. In addition to the mobile market, BBC also offers residents healthy versions of their favorite foods including sandwiches, salads and baked goods through its café-style restaurant. Furthering their comprehensive approach to improving the diets of residents, the BBC also includes CornUcopia Place, which is a community kitchen, hosting at least fifty cooking classes and demonstrations each year for residents to learn how to cook healthy meals. The community kitchen also allows space for urban agriculture entrepreneurs to clean, prepare, and package their produce for sales and distribution. It was truly special to see the BBC’s efforts in action, providing residents with the resources and knowledge to live a healthier lifestyle.

At the end of the day we couldn’t help but feel great, for one thing – we were constantly being fed throughout the day, but more importantly we were able to see the strength of the communities within Cleveland, working together to better themselves. This was truly something special to be a part of and we can honestly say that we look forward to our next visit to Cleveland!

Also, before we end this post we want to send a special thanks to Dan of Neighborhood Progress. Through a google search and a string of redirected e-mails, Dan was able to put us in contact with all of these great organizations and we truly appreciate his help!

Take care,
Dol & Dar

So as of now we are 1 week in and 509 miles deep into our trip. Today we decided to be tourists. Meaning we crossed the Canadian boarder, rode a ferry, got a SWEET pic in front of a giant waterfall, and a little soaked along the way (check out these stellar photos we got along the way).

Niagara Falls was a much-needed break after some tough days of riding. Last week was riddled with days of excessive rain, excessive headwinds, and excessive flat tires. Setting out on this trip, we expected to be roughin’ it so these problems have been expected. Although the days have been challenging, we have been surprised by the ease we have experienced each night. On the first night we were welcomed by the most amazing meal of fresh-made pesto pasta, and artisan sausages cooked by some very hospitable beekeepers. The second night a friend’s family cooked us one of the largest Italian meals I have ever eaten…essential for recovery! For nights three and four, we were welcomed by a surprisingly modern farmhouse with all the amenities our hearts could have desired. Night five was the first night of camping, and just like all campgrounds included electricity access, free wifi, and a flat screen television; along with two of the nicest campground hosts we have ever met! Riding on day 6 was extremely tough, and we did not make it to our planned destination, but this was not a problem because the pizza place we ate dinner at was happy to have us camp behind their building (just don’t tell the owner)! And day seven we made it to Buffalo! Where a college friend welcomed us with an air-conditioned apartment and some of the finest wings the city has to offer.

Trekking forward, we know that the nights will quickly become more bare bone, and these sorts of accommodations will become much less frequent; but as of now we want to say Thank You!!! The welcoming arms at the end of each day has been what made it possible to push forward in the next day’s riding. Alright Cleveland, here we come!

Welcome to Corbin Hill Farm! As its name implies, the farm sits atop some many steep inclines (which we found out about the hard way) above the Schoharie Valley amongst vast amounts of rolling green hills. Aside from the rural landscape, Corbin Hill is not a traditional farm in any sense. First off, when pulling up to the farm, the two of us immediately noticed that there were not rows of plowed fields, or any sort of farm animals roaming around the site. This is because Corbin Hill is a food project, as they describe it. Specifically, they will source and aggregate fruits and vegetables from local farms in the upstate New York region to distribute as a farm share to low income families in the Bronx and Harlem. Essentially providing a link between the urban communities of New York City and the rural farm community of upstate New York.

When we arrived on Day 1, we were welcomed by Corbin Hill’s director of farm & produce, Haider. In this role Haider is responsible for filling orders with all the farmers in the region, and based on what produce are available on any given week, he must then create a well rounded farm share basket to deliver to the shareholders. Once we were changed, and had taken a tour of the Corbin Hill property, Haider took us to a few of the local farmers from who they purchases fruits and vegetables. These farms range in both size and offerings. Some of the larger farms are able to provide an array of produce while smaller farms focus on maybe or two items such as garlic.

On Day 2 we got to working! Our assistance with various jobs was fantastic means for us to get a glimpse into the different aspects of the Corbin Hill operation. In the morning the two of us worked to fix a trellis so that new wire could be laid for assisting the growth of some raspberry bushes. Corbin Hill works to go beyond just providing the NYC community with fresh fruits and vegetables, and looks for opportunities to give CSA members and other community groups experiences that help them connect with their food source. This summer, once the raspberries have ripened, Corbin Hill will be hosting a visit for a group of CSA members to visit the farm and pick the berries.

That afternoon we over to the Carrot Barn, a sister farm of Corbin Hill that provides the facilities for packing the farm shares each week in addition to contributing to the produce included in the shares. At the Carrot Barn we were introduced to Corbin Hill’s Supply Chain Manager, Francis, who we assisted in implementing the new labeling system he developed for tracking and transporting the fruits and vegetables. The CSA works with dozens of farms throughout the area and to further connect its shareholders with their food sources, each crate will now be labeled with the farm which its contents came from. So far this season, shareholders have really enjoyed this new labeling system as it provides even more transparency to their produce. As an added bonus, the participating farms will be able to further their brand in the NYC community.

We wrapped up our day with sandwiches, a massive cookie and lots of chocolate milk (we’re kind of adults) at the Carrot Barn’s restaurant. In addition to remembering how great farm fresh chocolate milk is, we also saw the links between Corbin Hill Farm and Fresh Truck. Creating the bridge between communities and healthy foods permeated throughout our experience at the farm. Its this sort of positive action and energy that we are excited to see more of along our ride and tell you all about! Now off to Niagara Falls!

Hi and welcome to the Fresh Truck Across America blog!

We hope to accomplish a lot with this blog and really appreciate your reading. While we thought it would be great to have you all ride with us this summer, we mulled it over and decided this blog could serve as a nice way to bring everyone along for the journey.

Okay, enough about you…back to the Fresh Truck! The Fresh Truck is part of an incredibly important movement in the Boston community to provide healthy foods and nutrition education to residents. This movement goes well beyond Boston and is something that is happening all over the country. That’s why throughout our ride we will be stopping along at farms and meeting with health organizations to learn more about their role in improving America’s food system. We are super excited to learn about all of the amazing programs out there and to share that information with you. The more we can spread these stories the further their impact can reach and ultimately improve our nation’s health.

So stay tuned all summer to follow our ride and learn about some the exciting programs happening throughout the country that are changing the way communities are eating!

And for even more of our ride be sure to follow us on twitter @FreshTruckBikes and the instagram hashtag #dolanddarbikeacrossamerica for updates and pictures too.

Take care,
Dol and Dar