Announcing Permaculture Pedal: A Madison Moving Planet Caravan of Cyclists

Hello. This is an invitation to join a bicycle caravan tour of Madison’s community permaculture gardens on Sunday, September 25th. On this weekend people around the globe will be demonstrating on foot, by bike, with skates, unicycles and tandems a unified demand for solutions to our present climate crisis.

Permaculture Pedal will be a special event of exploring ecological solutions already being practiced in the Madison community. We believe that these kinds of practices can be of great value in these uncertain times. We’re NOT asking you to just take our word for it, however. We’re asking you to come see for yourself.

If you’re ready to get on your bike the 25th and ride with us for all or part of the caravan, please go directly to our registration page to let us know exactly where and when you’ll be joining us. It’s simple; it’s easy; I did it myself. For a fuller picture of what the day will look like, read on.

The morning will be a convergence of bikers in downtown Madison where Ride the Drive will be taking place. Some of us will be leaving as a group from an east side meet up point, others will depart from a meet-up point on the west side. Check our registration page for locations. Our arrival downtown will be an opportunity to bring the 350 message to those Riding the Drive. We will do this through placards, racing bibs, leaflets, and, hopefully, direct engagement. It’s a mobile demonstration.

Shortly after noon we go deeper into the Permaculture aspect of Permaculture Pedal. This is a caravan focused on demonstrations of solutions, after all. Our first stop will be at at St. Stephens Lutheran Church community garden. This particular garden is special because the land has been scultped by volunteer power to hold water. Representatives from the Madison Permaculture Guild will be on hand to explain how the contouring of the land functions to channel water to the nearby garden beds. St. Stephens is also where we will have lunch – picnic potluck style. From there the caravan will take a very scenic route to our dessert stop, the Forest Products Lab, site of a small forest garden featuring crab apple trees, currant bushes, irises, nanking cherries, yarrow, and lots of other goodies. Experts will again be on hand to explain how all these plantings embody the permaculture principle of creating mutually beneficial relationships.

But Wait, there’s a little bit more. Between St. Stephens and the Lab there’s another amazing garden just a little ways off the beaten path. A hydration station will be set up there where you can get water, meet members of Madison’s own Wellness Collective, and appreciate the Joining Forces for Families Garden. There isn’t a planned tour, but the garden speaks for itself.

All of these gardens were created and are sustained by incredible volunteer power. We plan to encounter them with a spirit of appreciation and celebration. If you’re down with that, please proceed to our registration page, let us know you’re coming, and prepare to Pedal Permaculture.

If you have further questions, feel free to call 608-217-3845.