Media on our ride

Our indymedia working group will work with the village to make sure individuals are comfortable. The media working group is open to all riders with the caravan and is open to village input. The aim of our indymedia working group is to get the message about bicycle transportation/social justice and the US Social Forum to the wider world.

If you are interested in joining the media working group, please email grassroutescaravan@gmail.com and we will add you to the media list-serve.

-thistle and boi

Application and Fees by May 17th

Just reminding folks that fees and applications should be in by the 17th of May. We'd like to know how many folks to plan for. Fee information has been updated on the Apply Now page. Remember to make your checks out to Grassroutes Caravan! Thanks so much for yall's applications and help.

New Rider Application Deadline and Media Working Group forming!!!

Greetings. I rode in the grassroutes caravan to St. Paul in 2008. I am Stephen Mikesell aka Laughing Coyote, bicycle enthusiast, anthropologist, backyard gardener, clay stove builder and volunteer at WORT, 89.9 FM Radio in Madison. I encourage everyone thinking about coming on this ride to get moving on it and sign up!!!

Abby tells me we need to know how many are coming to get the discounted ferry tickets. Please apply by MAY 17th!!!

This year, I am helping to organize a media working group, which will document the ride and promote its experiences and values to the wider world. I have video cameras, computers and connections for operating a mobile Indy Media Center, and anybody interested in "being the media" are welcome to participate. If you would like to be part of the media working group, please contact me!

First Practice Ride of the Season!

We're hitting the trail!

MilitaryRidgeTrail2.jpg

Meet at the head of W. Wash on the Capitol Square, grab a snack at the farmer's market, and we'll depart at 12 noon. Our route will follow the SW commuter trail to Fitchburg, then get on the Military Ridge trail to Riley.

Madison, WI to Riley, WI (Google Maps)

If you have a facebook, RSVP here

Fill out your application and join us for the ride of a lifetime!

We are set to do our Grand Kick-off Extravaganza at the Just Coffee Warehouse, 1129 East Wilson Street in Madison, on June 6th. http://www.justcoffee.coop/

There will be live music, great food, permaculture workshops, info-sessions and more!

I heard rumor that there might even be a pinata in the shape of an SUV that we can SMASH to pieces before we ride.

We are also planning bike maintenance workshops and practice rides to get ready to roll.

There are still a few spots left for the leg of the journey on the Michigan side so send us your application now!

~ Thistle
of the Elements Collective
Organizing Force Behind the Ride

* Schedule for the Evening *

5:00-5:15 Gather, meet and greet, get some food and buy raffle tickets

5:15-5:20 Welcome to the benefit by Thistle

5:20-5:50 Performance by Thistle and the Thorn http://www.myspace.com/thistlespace

6:00-6:40 Orphan Bloom plays http://www.myspace.com/orphanbloom

6:40-6:55 Members of the Elements Collective talk about the ride and do a raffle drawing

6:55-7:10 Clown Army takes over the bar! Starring Monica Martin as Comandante Clown

7:10-7:20 Final raffle drawing

7:20-8:00 Subvocal plays http://www.myspace.com/subvocal

Madtown2Motown benefit at the high noon saloon March 26th! Thank you to our local business sponsors!!!

Just wanted to give a shout out of appreciation to the following Madison businesses, organizations and restaurants who are supporting our benefit extravaganza:

Download the poster here.

Organizations:

Madison Infoshop
Family Farm Defenders
Food Not Bombs
Drumlin Farm

Restaurants providing yum yums for the show:

The Weary Traveler Freehouse
Tex Tubb's
Ha Long Bay
Gotham Bagels

Raffle Prizes:

Lazy Jane's, Revolution Cycles, Four Star Video Heaven, RP Pasta, Just Coffee, Rainbow Books, Mimosa Bookstore, the Pipe Fitter, Community Pharmacy, Glass Nickel Pizza, B-side records, Alchemy Cafe, Machinery Row, the Porchlight, Mother Fool's, Budget Bicycle, Machinery Row Bikes and Lakeside Press.

Zine out now!

At long last... we present the Madtown 2 Motown Zine!

This zine has been a group effort and a labor of love! We hope this zine will not only be an entertaining read, but also shed some light on the philosophies that inspired us to create this mobile village and the delights we will encounter while on it.

Download the zine

Pamphlet about the ride, new application deadline, and zine coming soon!

Check out the pamphlet we've created about the ride under the "Info" tab at the top. We're distributing this pamphlet far and wide, so if you haven't seen them at the places you frequent, print out a few and release them into the wild.

One thing to note is the new application deadline of April 25, 2010. At that point, we will review the applications and confirm riders. We've already received a few -- thanks to all who've submitted already, and keep 'em coming! Even though there's still snow on the ground here in Madison, the ride will be capped at 50 people. So if you know you want to be a part of this, it's not too early to secure your spot.

Also - watch this space, in a few days, our zine giving much more detailed info about the bicycle village will be here.

PERMIBUS to accompany the GRC!

Heart of the Village

I am pleased to announce that the Elements Collective will be partnering with the Skills for a New Millennium Tour, a mobile collective of folks who travel the country and provide empowered learning to individuals, groups and youth. Meet Stan, Megan and Delyla, the backbone of the Skills Tour. With our combined forces, we will make this caravan one of the most resilient mobile villages ever. Did I mention that Stan, Megan and Delyla's primary mode of housing AND transportation is a biodiesel powered bus? It's called the Permibus, and it will be functioning as our caravan's food and medical support vehicle. "Think of us as your village heart/hearth space", Delyla told me.

Last summer the Permibus visited Madison, WI. Many of us have fond memories of that week. For some of us it was getting to hold Isis or Ginger, a couple of chickens who tour with the Permibus. Others recall walking down a sidewalk and catching the aroma of vegetable canning only to look up and catch sight of Delyla reaching out the bus window to offer a pickle. The Permibus crew gave a lot of tours of their home and topped off the week with an intense medical training. This summer the Permibus will be returning to Madison. They will be teaching some incredible workshops. See their menu of offerings at www.permibus.org. According to their website, "Changing the world is not a part time project. This work requires revolutionary ways of living that must be learned over time." Whether you can ride out from Madison with us for part of a day or the entire Caravan, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. So download an application and make your plans to pedal with us today!

-Seth

Syndicate content