Biking becoming a lifestyle

I haven't made many updates to the blog this summer because we're not doing much new. But we are accelerating our adaptation to a different lifestyle in some ways, one of which is our use of bikes for transportation. Many people use bicycle riding for recreation, and there's nothing wrong with that, but we are primarily destination riders, and I think that has helped us keep bicycling as part of our daily routines.

By destination riding, I mean that we use our bikes as a substitute for a car when we have to get somewhere. Our most consistent use of destination biking has been getting to the fitness center in the morning, which is about a mile and a half away -- perfect for a short commute and perfect for a great warm-up. We usually start in April and ride until October or November, giving us about 7 or 8 months of riding. It's hard to describe why this has worked for us, but I'll try. First, it's wonderful to get out in that fresh Michigan summer early-morning air. The temps usually range between 50-60 when we're riding (around 7:30 AM - 9 AM) - great biking temperatures. Also, you get to park your bike right up next to the building instead of the parking lot and stroll right in. Nice. In addition, you pay attention to things you wouldn't normally see when driving, such as the neighbors' flowers or the interesting clouds that day. Finally, I guarantee you'll smile at someone somewhere along your ride - it's courtesy if nothing else. Watch people's faces when they're driving. I do when I'm paused at an intersection. They all look grumpy. Bike people usually smile and wave.

This summer Tom has been working at the Green Garage every weekday 9-5, so he has had to adjust his exercise schedule. His solution has been to bike about an hour down to the Pleasant Ridge area and catch the bus to Detroit (he puts his bike on the front of the bus). I'm sure it's no surprise to you that he has lost weight.

Yesterday I was thinking about our daily rides, and considered the fact that so far I haven't been rained on. So I asked Tom if he had encountered rain in all of his commutes, and he has not. Amazing. I don't know why this is, but we were thinking that perhaps it doesn't rain as much as we think it does. Even if you have a rainy day, it usually only rains for a short period before clearing up. We have learned that biking when the skies are threatening is no problem - 99% of the time nothing comes of it. But it takes a change in mind-set to head out on the bike when there is a questionable sky. I would encourage you to try it - you may find that regular biking becomes a habit that's surprisingly hard to break.

Lasagna garden magic

Mitzi Carter sent in these 2 photos. They each show a zucchini plant, and they were planted in the ground at exactly the same time. The one on top was planted in their lasagna garden, the one below into the regular garden bed. Quite a difference!

A new way to get to work

This summer Tom has been working at the Green Garage Monday through Friday, 9-5. Ah, the retirement life! Anyway, he has developed a new way to get there that doesn't require a car. He heads out shortly after 7 AM and bikes down to Royal Oak, where he catches a bus to Detroit. He puts the bike on the front of the bus, and once down there, gets back on the bike for a short ride to the Green Garage. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Royal Oak, so the commute is a little longer than it would have been in a car. Also, because he has an extended work day and has to miss his usual exercise, this provides a good substitute. Some days he repeats the process coming home, but most of the time I'm down there so I bring him and his bike home (yes, you can fit a bike in a Prius). An added benefit: some quality time outdoors. I also bike every day to exercise, and can attest to the great benefits of biking in the cool summer morning air.

North Cass Community Garden

This is a new garden in downtown Detroit. It's called the North Cass Community Garden, located at Willis and Second. There are 60 plots altogether, each about 4x8. They rent for $25 a year, and this original group sold out immediately. The gardens are the work of Sue Mosey of the University Center Cultural Association in Detroit's midtown area. The lot used to be filled with weeds and other invasive plants, not to mention garbage and other assorted items. Now it's a beautiful spot for people to meet and tend their plots. Some members of the Green Garage are taking care of 2 of the plots, but we are not nearly as creative as the people who came up with this Eiffel Tower trellis for their tomato plants!

Vertical lasagna garden

Here is another idea for your lasagna garden. We moved our garden from the farthest corner of the yard recently and decided to place it up against a south wall closer to the house. That way we'll keep a better eye on it. In order to grow our climbing vegetables, Tom constructed this trellis from wood we found in the woods and some wire. It's attached to the house at the top. Right now we're growing peas up the trellis, and later we'll switch over to a later-summer crop.

Insights into DTE Energy's Green Current Program

The Winter 2009 edition of "From the Ground Up" the official publication of the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, contained an article by Brigit Macomber about Detroit Edison's Green Currents program. The program is supposed to offer residential and business electric customers in Southeast Michigan, for an additional cost on their electric bill, the opportunity to choose that all or part of their electricity be produced from renewable resources.

In reality, 85% of the premiums are being spent on marketing and administration and the remaining 15% is used to buy "renewable energy certificates" which states that green energy was produced somewhere at a certain point in time.

Now it seems that the program is not generating enough money to cover the cost of the marketing so DTE is requesting that the Michigan Public Service Commission force all DTE customers to pay for the Green Currents program. To read an on-line article on this topic go to: GreenCurrents or GreenWash? or to send a message to the Michigan Public Service commission: Take Action.

Spring

First flower of the new year!