SuperForest

Hey SuperForest

SuperForester Jaell recently posted about the excellent Minneapolis Nice Bike programme – and now I’m excited to be able to tell you that my very own London town has finally jumped on the bike hire bandwagon:  the long-awaited Barclays Cycle Hire scheme has arrived!

(scenic bike!)

Launched last Friday, thanks to famously cycling Mayor Boris (yep, that’s him below) we now have 600 bikes at 400 docking stations across London, available to pick up and drop off as you please. And the best thing? After you sign up (and pay for a 24hr, week or annual access membership – with annual access at £45) you get as many half-hours as you want for free.

(the attendant I spoke to told me that Boris had just been by, on his bike natch, to check how things were going)

At the moment the bikes are available if you sign up online, but from the end of August they’ll be available to borrow on the spot – so if you’re planning a visit to London, do bear this in mind.  The bikes are pretty heavy, but they’re comfortable, feel very sturdy and, if you get a flat tyre, you just need to park it up at the nearest docking station and press the service button.  Another tasty touch is the integrated, dynamo, LED front and rear lights.  Although, as Jaell mentioned with the Minneapolis scheme, do bring your own helmet as they’re not provided.  You can check out the location and real-time availability of bikes here and the cycle conduct guide here.  And if, like me, you’re a London resident but a little nervous of the hectic traffic, then it’s absolutely worth checking with your council whether they provide free cycling-in-London classes (Camden council is a nice example) to learn in practice tips for safe city cycling - free or subsidised cycle training is available in all London boroughs.

I signed up online on Friday and received my bike key in the mail on Monday morning – just in time to take a bike for a lunchtime spin round the office – I realised quite quickly that a pencil skirt is not the most elegant of impromptu cycling gear, but sadly have no photographic evidence of my maiden voyage.

Word to the wise from my chat with the introductory attendant: if you’re cycling for longer than half an hour, do scope yourself a docking station halfway, park up the bike, wait five minutes (hey – it’s not that long – why not use it well: pay compliments to passers-by! do some jumping jacks! call your Mum!) then you can whip out a bike for another free half hour. Win!

I’m sure there’ll be some teething problems – for example, this evening, there were no bikes left near my office (which is really a fabulous thing – encouraging suited, deskbound workers to hop on a bike after work? I can’t think of anything better) so I guess they’ll need to do some redistributions overnight until they work out the kinks, but overall I’m really excited that London – a city not known for its cycle-friendliness – is really giving this a go.

Maybe one day we’ll look like Utrecht:

Join in! Make it work!

Love to you all

P

To my “that was really swell of you to stop” he replied “when you see a bike on the side of the road you never know if they’re in trouble or just taking a break … it only takes a second to ask.”…
Today I’m taking that point with me throughout my travels…”It only takes a second to…”

Cheers to SuperForester Sheri!

Why, hello there! The SuperForest Sundae is a weekly serving of various bits and bobs SuperForester April has repackaged for your enjoyment. Dig in.

A great documentary

This is an 8-minute version of a longer doco titled Beauty And The Bike. The film follows two groups of young women from Darlington, UK, and Bremen, Germany. Between them, they discover what makes – and stops – teenage girls from cycling. The answer? “It’s the infrastructure, stupid!” The full DVD is available from Bike Beauty.

An amazing transformation
Johnny Lee Clary joined the Ku Klux Klan as a little boy. After his father shot himself and his mother abandoned him, more than anything, he just wanted to belong. So when the KKK approached him offering him a “family” and a place in their clan, he jumped at it.

“I was the kid that nobody wanted. I was that rotten kid that was gonna end up in jail. And then all of sudden, here’s this Klansman telling me I’m gonna be a part of a society that’s gonna treat me as a family member. And, man, that really got my attention, so that’s why I joined.”

Over the years, Johnny moved up the ranks and was chosen to be the Imperial Wizard of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. In this role, he was responsible for some horrific actions, many directed at a man named Reverend Wade Watts – the state leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, who’d also worked with Martin Luther King. But the more hatred Johnny and the clan threw at the reverend (they burnt a cross across the street from his house, even set fire to his church), the more love he returned.

As time progressed, Johnny began to doubt his involvement in the clan and the work he was doing. He found out his girlfriend was an FBI informant. The clan turned against him thinking he was somehow leaking information to the FBI. Not long after, he called Reverend Wade Watts.

“I said, ‘Listen, I got out of the Klan’. He goes, ‘Oh, I knew you was going to’. And I said, ‘I feel like I’m supposed to go out and start helping people and speaking’. And he goes, ‘Well, have you spoken anywhere yet?’ And I said, ‘No,’ and he goes, ‘Well, how about speaking to my all-black church?’. He said, ‘You do remember my church, don’t you, Johnny?’. And I said, ‘Yeah’. And I said, ‘How do I get there?’ He goes, ‘You oughta know, you burnt it down’.

“And then he got up there and told the congregation. He goes, ‘Church, we’re gonna really be blessed. Next Sunday we’re gonna have the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan come preach for you’. And that scared the congregation, they said, ‘Reverend Watts, don’t bring that man here, he did horrible things to us’. He goes, ‘That’s the same thing they said about Saul when he became apostle Paul. I’m gonna have him’. And a friendship was born. Reverend Wade Watts and I became best of friends.”

Today, Johnny is a changed man, a man on a mission to educate children of the dangers of hate. “The youth of today will decide what kind of nation or what kind of world we all live in tomorrow. And that’s what I’m aiming to do … that’s why I travel around the world. Because I’m sick of racism and prejudice and I’m gonna do something about it,” he says.

His story is endlessly fascinating to me as it so powerfully reveals our capacity for change, for growth, for love.

Read a transcript of the full Enough Rope interview here.

How sexy is your toilet?
Millions of children die every year from a lack of clean toilets. Knowing this, a man named Jack Sim, who  jokingly calls himself ‘Toilet Man’, founded the World Toilet Organization – in an effort to make the humble toilet a status symbol for the poor. “You don’t improve toilets when you don’t talk about it,” says Jack. He’s got some interesting ideas on encouraging people to take sanitation seriously by making toilets a status symbol in the developing world. Listen to Jack explain this issue and his plans to instill change here.

Photo: WorldToilet (Flickr.com/ Creative Commons)
World Toilet Day in Singapore – The World’s Longest Queue was an event to highlight the lack access to toilets in some countries.

A song to get you groovin’
This track is called Learnalilgivinanlovin by Gotye. I love the lyrics: “Give away love, give it for free”! (And the way it makes the hips move).

Have a great one!
April

(image via flickr user kramerhawks)

Goooooood Morning SuperForest!

Tomorrow I am getting on a plane to Kauai to begin the Zero One chapter of my life. I’m so very excited about the many thrilling possibilities! Currently, two friends (Mea and Justin) are living on the land at Zero One in a state of PATO.

I just received this email from Justin:

“My Bros!!!

Just wanted to send you some deep ALOHA and I can’t wait to see you on
the islands whenever you land!!!

Mea and I are just holdin’ it down here at Zero One.  finally feel
settled in these last days.  mostly just been walking around the land,
studying where the sun hits, wind blows, water gathers, etc.
Just feeling it out and listening.
wow…the potential here is out of control, it’s like a blank canvas.
WITH COCONUTS!!!!!  i love all the trees and palms…it’s like all the
biggies are already established and now we can just paint in the rest.
i really couldn’t imagine a more ideal space to grow…it seems like the
only thing limiting us will be our own imaginations!!!

we got 2 bikes through craigslist yesterday, and a good blender.  we
brought the best juicer-processor ever from NZ, so we’re totally in
business as far as the food creations now.
mea made a raw keylime pie yesterday with coconut meat and those
delicious limes that keep falling from the tree.  so damn sweet and
FRESH.  harvested a ton of bananas, as one of the neighbors has so many
they’re just going to the chickens.   kauai and all her crazy chickens!
looks like some oranges are coming in soon.  avos too!!

a gecko just climbed across the wall, gotta love that.
bought a cacao pod at the farmers market and we’re sprouting the seeds
now.  i figure you guys will probably be down with planting some
chocolate trees?
also got a bunch of keikes that have already popped up from the seeds we
brought with us, in their little seed trays….cucumber, tomato,
cabbage, basil, spinach, lots of kale….just the first round.  they’ll
probably be ready to go in the ground in about a month or so, which is
perfect, as in the meantime I imagine we’ll have all sussed out the
right spot and plenty of time to create the beds.

we visited this farm right down the road a few days ago and made an
amazing connection.  a young couple that has a HUGE sustainable
operation going there with the most beautiful giant circular gardens.
it was so inspiring.  i’m gonna be visiting them again soon and already
i know they’re going to be some righteous friends and consultants, as
they truly know what is up here in Kilauea, what works, what doesn’t,
etc…and their permaculture design looks right on.

what else?  oh, have either of you studying anything about structured
water?? i’ve been playing around with it for awhile now, and recently
friends keep sending me these links for this water filter that would
structure the water coming out of the water main, or you can even get
one just for the garden hose.  its no moving parts, nothing to replace
ever, just uses sacred geometry to structure the agua.  all the growers
that are using them are freaking out with the growth increase….anyhow,
i’ll send you a few links when I find them…

Jesse thank you so much for opening your space here for us.  i can’t
even begin to express the gratitude i feel over email, but i just want
to let you know we will do whatever we can to honor and bless this land
up as much as possible while we’re here!!!

okay, hopefully i’ll be seeing you brothers soon!!!
alhoa nui loa!
justin

ps..we’ve been walking down the street to get internet connection, near
that little shopping area.  but i just walked out into the yard and
picked up a pretty good signal.  so i’m laying in the hammock we put up
between 2 of those norfolk pines as i type this.  hopefully this signal
holds up…i’ll let you know…”

Ahhhhh. So much abundance. I haven’t even gotten there and already the seedlings of sustainable living are poking their head up into the sun. I’m very much hoping that with Zero One, I will have the opportunity to set up a permaculture living system and teach others about how to create their own. I also want to create a great deal of media about the process so that others may share in the successes and failures of the system. And finally, I want to be able to offer all of Team SuperForest the chance to come and learn and live off the grid, and experience a life untethered. Hopefully from Zero One the seeds of successful sustainable living will spread and take hold all over this wonderful planet of ours, the knowledge and skills carried back by Team members and you SuperForesters at home.

There is so much to learn and I’m so excited to continue the learning!

Also! SuperForester Taylor is looking for help attaching brake levers to his bikes handles. Is anyone out there a bicycle mechanic or knows a bicycle mechanic? If so, will you comment on Taylor’s post, and help guide him through the process please? Cheers!

The move to Kauai will probably slow down my posting for a few days. Not to worry. I’ll be back up to full steam again with a fresh batch of ideas to share.

Love to All,

-Jackson

Oooooo I loves me some bikes!

I love riding them I love talking about them I love looking at them I LOVE working on them!

Here is Muh Shop!

The newest trusty steed I am watering and feeding is an eighties Raleigh Technium.

The last limb of my single speedstee frankenbike is the handlebars.

I decided to try out a slick pair of aero handlebars and brake levers because I ride on the hoods all the live long day any way, and they look really COOL!

The only problem is I can’t figure out how to make the brake levers work with the handlebars.

What a PICKLE?!

Here are the bars.

Here are the brake levers.

If I can’t figure it out who can?

Who Oh Who could I ask? What beautiful band of positive humans would know how to help me?

Oooooooooh I know………. YOU!

Can any of you SuperForesters teach me?  

Love,

TV

Resident joyologist Tricia Huffman has signed up for AIDS/LifeCycle, the 7 day 545 mile bike ride/fundraiser.

“From June 6-12, 2010, I am commited to bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It’s a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.  I mean its pretty freaking amazing!

Help me support the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center by giving what you can. We’ll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past.  Every little bit helps!  I appreciate you!”

-Tricia The Huff

Click here to visit her page, read more, and learn how you can help.

(“Gorilla Baby Hug Party” by flickr user SlothInaBox)

Goooooood morning SuperForest!

A lot of amazing things are happening all at once, as is the norm. Where to begin? At the beginning!

Last weekend, SuperForester Jackie and I went on an epic bike ride around the Southern tip of Manhattan. We left from my apartment on 19th St. Then we rode down along the Hudson River, past the WTC site, past Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry, and then up the East side, cutting back across town on 20th St. Along the way, we saw the most incredible things!

Why do I mention it? Because before we left, Jackie and I rigged up a sweet camera mount so I could attach my flip to the front of my bike!

(A you can see, we’ve used only the finest, highest-tech materials available. Namely: a wire hanger, 1/4 inch threaded eyebolt, gaffer’s tape, and a plastic bag. DIY win!)

Here’s the epic bike ride, sped up 600 times:

Watch it in HD. There’s lot’s of fun little moments. The Winged Santa Angel (3:17). The Fallen Red-Headed Skater (2:27). The Smiling Indian Couple (3:27). Wooded pathways, and tall sailing ships. I think this viddy gives a great look at the insane variety of people and locations within the relatively tiny area that is the island of Manhattan. Good fun. (And did you notice who was along for the ride the whole time?)

SuperForester Carla and I are hard at work on the second issue of SuperForest News. This month’s issue is jam packed with SuperForesty goodness, and will be up momentarily. If you miss it, not to worry. All issues of SF News will be up as buttons on the lower left-hand side of the main page.

It is cold and raining here in NYC. This morning during our walk, SuperForester Baloo and I came across a very sad, very damp, broken-winged pigeon in the street. I moved him off to the side, and walked home. Then I felt bad and went and got him. Now, El Pigeonito, as I have named him, (I think it’s a him, he gets mad when I try to look,) is wrapped up in nice dry cloth, contentedly snoozing in a baking tray on top of my toaster oven, getting nice and warm while I re-heat a frozen burrito.

Ain’t that like life? One minute you’re flying along carefree. The next minute your wing is broken and you’re laying sopping wet and cold in the street, waiting to get run over. And then a minute later, you are warm, safe, and dry.

Like SuperForester Baloo! Also wrapped up, and hard at work converting food calories into muscle energy. Thanks, Baloo!

El Pigeonito. Will he live? Will he die? We shall wait and see. For now he is safe and I’m making us all oatmeal.

I still have a great video from Michael Jackson’s birthday celebration in Prospect Park, but that’s going to take a bit more time…

There are now 17 members of Team SuperForest all around the world! Isn’t that cool? I’m thrilled by it. Everything that you see on this site was done with love, and done voluntarily, by a member of Team SF. SuperForester Julius built the site, SuperForester Jo designed the header, SuperForester Iman designed the t-shirt and the SF Soundtrack logo, everything made by hand and with love. SuperForest is the result of concentrated love and positivity, visually represented.

It’s amazing what can be accomplished by humans united in positivity. Which reminds me of today and the anniversary it represents. Ain’t no two ways about it, the events of 8 years ago were a total drag. But I like to temper my memories of 9/11 with my memories of 9/12.

9/12, the day the whole world gave America a big hug, a blanket, and a get-well card. That’s the day I like to think about. 9/12 is a day I celebrate as a great day.

So, wherever you are today, whether it’s cold and gray like NYC, or warm and dry like Morocco, think about 9/12 and the outpouring of concern and affection that the world threw America’s way, the day after we had a really tough day…

To finish, here is a picture of the cutest kitten I could find:
(image via picocool.com)

Have a great day, SuperForesters!

Love to All,

Jackson

Grant Ryan has invented a very slick, carbon-fiber, folding electric bike! Coming next year!
Check out yikebike.com. And definitely check out Grant’s cheeky blog.

Man, I love that the YikeBike is an actual product and not vaporware. Cheers to actual things that really exist!

Double cheers to notcot for the tip!

Its tentatively titled the “Captainado”.  My friend Casey in Boulder, Co fashioned it out of an old bike and, well, obviously…

Action Sequence!

Thanks Casehman!

jaell

(image via flickr user farm4)

What is it?
Launched in 08 in Paris and DC, it is the first self-service public bike-rental service. It was built to enhance each city’s public transportation system.

How it works: Each subscriber gets a card for $40/year. Go to a bike docking station, swipe your card and retrieve your bike. Ride to another station that’s where you need to get to, insert your card and park the bike at the docking station. It’s easy!

Docking locations: Available at www.smartbikedc.com

The Bikes: They are ergonomic, strong, and light weight. They are clearly labeled as Smartbikes and are bright red.

Why this is a wonderful program: The reasons are a-plenty. 1) It cuts back on carbon emissions b/c bikes don’t use gas. 2) If you live in the city with no car, it can make things a lot less expensive. Cabs cost money. If you DO have a car, well…it sure beats trying to find parking in DC. That can be a huge bummer. 3) It gets you out and about in beautiful summer time weather and gives you a little exercise. It’s a win, win, win. 4) If people in Paris do it, then you know it’s cool.

Peace and LOVE,

jo