This July, Ottawa´s picturesque agricultural landscapes will look a little different. Farmer´s fences will be a resting place for rows of bicycles, and spandex-clad figures will be found digging their hands into the soil.
It´s a scene from the Pedal to Plate tour, a 9-day, all ages velo adventure with a mission to gain an authentic understanding of the local food system.
Organized by The Otesha Project, a national charitable organization, the tour is meant to bring together individuals of all ages to satiate their desire to know where their food comes from,to gain bike touring and maintenance skills, and to draw connections between our lifestyles, the way we move, and the way our systems of producing food impact our wellbeing and that of our environment.
2011 marked the first year of Otesha´s pilot all ages tour, developed in response to the eagerness of the organization´s supporters to see a tour that captured the spirit of Otesha´s two month youth cycling and performing tours, but that was accessible to folks outside the 18-30 age bracket and with limited time to spare. The first Pedal to Plate tour connected participants ranging from carpenters to retirees to grad students, cyclist enthusiasts to casual commuters, and ranging in age from 22 to 67.
¨My Otesha tour opened my eyes to the relationships I have with cities, farms and people. It made me aware of my right to eat, play and live well, and my responsibility to ensure that I protect that for myself and others,¨ said Frank, a Toronto based youth community garden organizer and cooking class instructor who will join Pedal to Plate again in 2012, this time as the tour´s Food Coordinator.
Sound appetizing? The tour hits the road July 7th –15th , and there´s still time to join. Information and applications for the all ages Pedal to Plate Tour or the fall Water Works and Phenomenal Food Tours can be found at www.otesha.ca, or by contacting info@otesha.ca or 613 237 6065. We hope to see you on the road!
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