Tour de Farms X

Bicycle Tour & BBQ

September 28, 2008

The annual “Tour de Farms” bicycle tours of farms and farmstands celebrate the many social, economic, environmental, and health benefits of cycling and eating locally-produced foods.The event benefits FARMS, a farm-to-school initiative, to fund the direct purchase of local foods for the Wiscasset School System. Rides ranging from 8 to 100 miles begin at the Morris Farm and wind along some of the most scenic roads in mid-coast Maine. The tour includes rest stops at farms and historic sites en route.  It is followed by an afternoon barbecue at the Morris Farm featuring produce and meats from local farms.

Registration and Sponsorship:

Registration for adults for 50 or 100 miles is $40. Registration for adult riders for 8 or 20 miles is $20. Registration for youth 18 and under is $10. Minimum sponsorship of $25 is required of adults and $10 is required of all children. Sponsorship may be solicited from local businesses, friends, etc. FARMS brochures are available at www.morrisfarm.org, or by calling the Lincoln County Economic Development Office at (207) 882-7564.  If you would like to attend the barbeque only, the cost is $15. Fees include: Maps and cue sheets; refreshments at rest stops; support from SAG wagons along the way; a "courier service" that will bring riders purchases from the farm stands they visit back to the farm; a gourmet local foods barbeque and farm events at the end of the ride.

Please call 882-4080 for a registration form

or download from here

RIDES/EVENTS:

BARBECUE: A favorite, indispensable part of the Tour de Farms is the post-ride local foods barbeque, beginning at 2:00 p.m. This year the Local Foods BBQ will feature "An ideal meal at our school", as envisioned by teh Wiscasset High School Class of 2011. Non-riders may sign-up for the BBQ and farm events for $15. Deadline for guaranteed BBQ admission is September 19.

Additional Morris Farm Events

Additional farm activities will include homemade ice cream, wagon rides, cooking and homestead demonstrations, farm tours, and more.

About FARMS

Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools (FARMS) is a collaboration of health care providers, resource specialists, school administrators, educators, food service personnel, students, parents & local food producers. FARMS aims to establish and grow a mutually-beneficial bridge between rural K-12 institutions and Maine-based farming operations. Download a brochure about FARMS here and here.

The FARMS Mission

FARMS connects classrooms, cafeterias, local farms, and communities. The mission of FARMS is two-fold:

• To educate students about good nutrition and the role of local farms in promoting healthy, sustainable communities.
• To promote and facilitate farm to institution purchasing. FARMS is dedicated to food security and to rebuilding a healthy food system.

For more information call 207-882-4080 or email: info@morrisfarm.org