The Slow Food movement is picking up speed as farmers markets sprout up across San Antonio. Fortunately, Texas Public Radio is here to harvest hints and tips on buying local produce and planting abundant backyard and community gardens. Join us for “Grown in Your Own Back Yard,” on Sunday, August 30 from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Pearl Stables. Gardening experts will be sharing advice on soil preperation, sustainable water practices, community gardening and more. The Culinary Institute of the Americas will also be on hand with cooking demonstrations on how to prepare your local produce. Full details about this event can be found at www.tpr.org.

Remember…hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

See you Tomorrow!

The week of May 11th is National Bike to Work Week. May 15th is National Bike to Work Day. Now is the time to prepare for cycling to work if you are not already a commuter.

Here are a few tips gathered by cyclists in the region who commute. If you have never considered using your bike to get to work or school: now is as good of time as any.

Bicycles are not just for recreation any more. Ride on!

Prepare Yourself

• Keep it as simple as possible. You will not stick with it if it is too burdensome.
• Dress for the ride; not necessarily for work (at least at first).
• Work clothes can be at the office already or carry them with you. Leave a pair of work shoes, a towel, toilettes, personal hygiene supplies at the office. These tend to be bulky items.
• Know your route. Rush hour traffic is not a good time to experiment with the roadway. Map your route prior and consider riding the route on a weekend to give yourself practice. The route you take by car might not be the route you want to take by bicycle.
• Pay attention to the weather. Be ready with rain, cold and hot weather gear.
• Velcro straps or plain rubber bands work great if you ride with work clothes on to keep the pant legs from getting caught in the chain/rings/etc.
• Get a helmet that fits correctly; and please wear it.
• Think fun and adventurous thoughts.

Prepare Your Bike

• Get the best bicycle for the commute. Take time to find a bike that fits you. A road bicycle might not work for commuting unless you have more than 8 miles one-way (Skinny tires are less comfy and prone to flats).
• Use quality tires to deter flats; but be ready with safety supplies such as extra tubes, a patch kit, a multi tool including a chain tool and CO2 cartridges with an inflator nozzle. Practice changing a flat in a nice safe location so when you have to change it on the street it will be second nature.
• When riding at night a headlight and a taillight that can be seen for 500 ft is essential to your safety. Two rear reflectors are a protection in case the battery goes dead on one before the other.
• Install a rear rack on your bike so you can attach basket/panniers for carrying needed items such as clothes, laptops and purses.
• Consider using a high quality messenger bag if your bike does not have baskets or panniers. For some, it is much more comfortable than a back pack.
• Put fenders on your bike for those commutes when you get caught in the rain.
• Check your bike for loose nuts and bolts, check the tire pressure, make sure the seat adjustment isn’t loose, make sure the handle bar adjustment is tight, the chain is not too loose or too tight and the pedals rotate smoothly.
• You and your bike are ready to roll!

Your Commute

• Ride safely, stay alert and obey the rules of the road.
• Ride within your abilities - and your bike’s!
• Make yourself visible with the use of reflective clothing, bright headlights, and a good easy to see rear flasher or two.
• Be predictable and signal your intentions. Make eye contact with drivers. Claim your lane.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
• Please wear your helmet
• Enjoy the ride!

Parking

• Ask your employer to provide safe, secure and convenient parking for your bicycle if you can’t take your bicycle into the workplace . That means your bicycle is out of the elements and relatively safe from theft.
• One automobile space can be converted to allow for up to 10 bicycles.

An Option to Consider

• Consider riding the bus if don’t want to bike commute because you will get to work sweaty but wouldn’t mind commuting from work to home. All VIA Metropolitan Transit buses have bike racks.

The seasoned pros at Firecat Studio create and execute business websites, email campaigns, and social media campaigns. They teach clients to use inexpensive, readily available tools like WordPress, Joomla, CoolerEmail, MailChimp, Facebook, and Twitter to effectively promote their businesses in today’s online business+social marketplace.

Become a GreenCamp San Antonio sponsor today!

Alan Weinkrantz and Company gets companies covered in national media - both online and in traditional media like newspapers, magazines, industry trade journals, radio and television. With their deep industry contacts and ability to serve up compelling story angles, Alan and his team have been taking emerging American and Israeli technology companies from obscurity to prominence since 1982.

Become a GreenCamp San Antonio sponsor today!

The Karavan Dance Troupe is dedicated to presenting Middle Eastern folkloric dance, including belly dance,  as an art form. Formed in 1988, Karavan Studio offer 20 classes a week, appear in San Antonio area restaurants and perform at festivals, conventions, parties and parades throughout the state of Texas.

Become a GreenCamp San Antonio sponsor today!

The Pilates Room@Synergy is a fully equipped Reformer studio with a trained comprehensively and PMA-CPT™ certified teacher, Carolyn Bell. Clients receive private Pilates instruction with sessions customized to their individual fitness goals and physical assessments.

Become a GreenCamp San Antonio sponsor today!

Become a GreenCamp San Antonio sponsor today!

GreenCamp San Antonio will be there, literally in the center of the action. Look for us in the middle of Maverick Park. We’ll be the ones with the GreenCamp San Antonio banner!

Here’s more information about Solar Fest 2009

• 8 am “Run on the Sun” 5K
• 9 am - 4 pm Festival & Expo

Maverick Park (Broadway and 10th Street)

About Solar San Antonio

We are a non-profit advocacy and resource center dedicated to renewable and sustainable energy applications. Through community outreach, we strive to decrease energy costs and improve the quality of life in South Texas.

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