Michigan

Leave a comment

The shores of Lake Huron

One week from today, on Friday, May 11th, the School Food Tour will be complete! As I take a day in Mackinaw City to rest my weary body and my on-the-verge-of-stress-fracturing feet, my feelings waver between relief and nostalgia, and I am doing my best to savor the last few days of life on the road.

A whirlwind of activity awaits my arrival in the Keweenaw. Here’s a quick overview of the happenings up North:

  • Wed, May 9th – SFT student presentations, Marquette
  • Friday, May 11th – SFT’s Final Miles, Houghton. At 1 p.m. join myself, community members and Houghton students to pedal the final SFT mile and celebrate at a casual reception. Ride departs from Kestner Park, party at East Waterfront Park through 7 p.m. Bikes and healthy snacks to share are encouraged!
  • May 14th – 17th – SFT student presentations, Houghton & Hancock schools
  • Thursday, May 17th – Green Film Series screening of “Food” & discussion facilitated by myself, 7 p.m. at MTU’s Fischer Hall
  • Friday, May 18th – SFT Grand Finale, CLK Elementary

For media inquiries, please email requests to sara.salo.mph (at) gmail.com 

A day on the Hill

2 Comments

I was initially unsure what my time in Washington, DC would bring – there were promises of meetings with lawmakers but knowing the unpredictability of politics I kept my options open. However as soon as I arrived, the bustling energy of the city swept me along and gave me the confidence to share what I had learned pedaling across the country with anyone who would listen. Luckily for me, I have friends in high places, and scored a series of great meetings for my day on The Hill.

Excited!

It is not often that a girl living on her bike has the opportunity to don heels and meet with legislators in the halls of Congress. I felt as though I was living a dream as security agents verified my ID and wrote down my computer’s serial number at the US Department of Agriculture. After passing through multiple layers of waiting rooms I found myself perched atop a fancy couch stealthily taking photos of the magnificent room. Before long a secretary escorted me straight into the office of USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan.

A hug rather than a formal handshake greeted me and I instantly felt at ease. Deputy Merrigan was interested in hearing about the Tour and the folks who I have met along the ride. We chatted about the importance of Farm to School programming and the need for a policy that allows more in-depth connections from seed to cafeteria. Deborah Kane, formerly of the Ecotrust in Portland and now Director of Farm to School for the USDA, caught wind of the meeting and popped in for a few minutes of conversation. I did my best to absorb every detail before Deputy Merrigan was promptly whisked off to her next meeting – the announcement of $3.5 mil of Farm to School grants! Yay!

The most heartening take-away for me was that SHE GETS IT. Someone in charge who understands the importance of wholesome food for young minds and bodies is doing her very best to create change. I thank Deputy Merrigan, Deb Kane and the USDA for their kind hospitality for a weary but excited traveler.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A little time off-road

Leave a comment

Look Ma, no cars!

Kudos, Midwest on your great bike trail infrastructure! Rails-to-trails paths that wind through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan have provided a much-needed respite from the buzz of the road over the last few weeks. My initial excitement over finding the Great Allegheny Passage trail (Awesome! Beautiful!) through Maryland and Pennsylvania quickly grew after I realized that there were hundreds of miles of bike paths between DC and Houghton. Hopefully one day there will be a national network of these fantastic resources that encourage community health and stewardship!