Bakfiets And Box Fits

So Kyle finally got the bakfiets from our friend Gorman. I had to pass on it because I just don't have enough space for a bike that big. Plus Kyle has Ethan, who will love riding in that thing! Heck, I can't wait to ride in that thing!

For now I have to be content with a smaller box on the front of my bike:


But it can still hold a lot of stuff. Children, well, no. Food from the Cooper Young Farmers Market, yes.

Where Do You Shop?

After reading this hypothetical question from the Memphis Flyer I began to consider where we actually shop and where we can improve our spending habits. Most of our food comes from Kroger (side note: almost every Kroger in Memphis has a nickname. There's Kroghetto on Union, Kosher Kroger in East Memphis, Freddy Kroger at Poplar/Highland...) while most of our paper and cleaning products come from Target. But we're thinking that we can eliminate a lot of our Krogering by patronizing local joints while at the same time trying to keep the expenses down. Here's what we've come up with so far:

Vegetables and fruit - Easy Way, Farmers Markets
Pasta - Valenza Pasta
Herbs and natural soaps - Maggie's Pharm (trying to go phthalate-free)
Beer and liquor - Joe's, Tip Top, Bosco's
Chocolate - Dinstuhl's

So as you can tell our diet consists of vegetables, pasta, and cocktails. We've gotten meat from farmers markets and it's always been delicious but the one that is the most convenient time-wise is only open in the summer. I know of two meat markets in Memphis but is there one in Midtown? Where are we going to get bread and cheese? Toilet paper?

I can easily forgo one-stop shopping if I can get better products and support local business. Besides, it gives me the opportunity to ride my bicycle for more errands.

What about you? What is your favorite local place for essentials? (Especially cheese!)

Fresh Food by Fresh Bikes

I hope that in my absence you all have been following Taco and Gorman's endeavors over at Community Powered Cycling. They've been putting up some great posts about the recent activity among City Council, City Engineers and The Mayor. Check it out and get up to date.

A little while ago they also made a post about Farmers Markets and described ways to make them more accomadating towards bicycles. I have a confession to make: I've never been to a Farmers Market. At least, not in the sense of a 'weekly gathering of local farmers who sell their product to the public' type of Farmers Market. I've been to a food co-op in Knoxville and I've been to the Trolley Stop Market on Madison but my weekends are usually devoted to work.

Em and I have considered a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - one purchases a "subscription" from a local farm early in the season which will guarantee a weekly supply on seasonal fresh veggies delivered to a drop-off location) but we're hesitant because of our schedules. What if we can't make it to the drop-off?

A gentleman in Minneapolis has solved this problem for his city. (Ah, Minneapolis, with your bike lanes and light rail...) Randall has started VeloVeggies. The idea is simple:

"1. We go the farm's drop site.

2. We put your share on our bicycle trailer.

3. We pedal your veggies to your home."


This genius idea combines several of my favorite things: bicycles, hauling stuff by bicycles, and food. Maybe for an extra couple of bucks he'll stop at the beer store, too.