Join the 2023 SABR Portsmouth-Eliot Sustainability Ride July 8
PORTSMOUTH — Sustainability refers to the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For years, the Seacoast communities represented by Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders have been engaging in discussions about how to be more sustainable. The most obvious sustainable effort for SABR members is of course the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Two local business owners, Jess Blasko and Jonathan Blakeslee, approached SABR this spring with the idea of a “Sustainability Ride.” The bike ride Jess and Jonathan have in mind will allow you to see the creative ways small local businesses and organizations are adopting to minimize the negative impacts of human activities on the environment.
Come ride with us Saturday July 8, as we introduce you to a few of these businesses.
We will start at the ReFill Station, a low waste store located in the West End of Portsmouth. With a mission to reduce our plastic footprint, they offer refillable personal care and household products and plastic-free, sustainable options of many household items used daily.
From there we will cross the river and visit Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, Maine. Originally a Methodist church built in the 1800’s. Sanctuary Arts, on Bolt Hill Rd., has evolved to become a community art space that focuses on fine art education for everyone (taught by talented artists) and creating a place where artists can connect and learn.
We will continue on to Shilo Farm, an earth, animal and community centric eco-lodge and gathering place. Shilo Farm is a self described sanctuary for reflection, connection, nourishment, joy and renewal. It offers weekly yoga classes and community events celebrating music, health & wellness and more.
Our ride will wrap up with a stop at White Heron Tea & Coffee Eliot, Maine then circles back to White Heron Tea & Coffee in Portsmouth. White Heron in Portsmouth was N.H.’s first organic tea company. It has evolved from its days at Seacoast farmer’s markets to two cafes, both equipped with LED lighting, supporting local producers, using local ingredients in their daily offerings, using filtered water and compostable packaging. The Portsmouth café also has solar panels on the roof.
Finally, we will all convene at Great Rhythm Brewery Company (105 Bartlett Street), an example of sustainable design and building practices (recipient of the 2017 AIANH Excellence in Architecture merit award); the local business is encouraging conscientious brewing practices throughout all areas of the brewery. Come discover for yourself and have a beer with fellow SABR members after our ride.
We hope this ride will inspire you to consider your own sustainability and identify your next course of action. At the local level, we encourage you to: explore the website Bright Action at brightaction.app/newhampshire/portsmouth where you can learn about your environmental impact; connect with Jonathan and Jess to discover the sustainable initiatives undertaken by the White Heron Cafés and the Refill Station and explore ways in which you can contribute to your own town’s efforts (Climate Action Plan); engage in another bike ride, on your own or alongside the SABR community this summer.
Important details about the ride: You need to feel comfortable riding your bike in traffic. The ride will take us through downtown Portsmouth, briefly through Kittery and mostly on the back roads of Eliot (but with a short segment on Route 236). We invite you to have a look at the route here ahead of time so you can determine if this is a ride for you.
Saturday July 8, meet at 9 a.m. at ReFill Station at 124 Bartlett St., in Portsmouth and be ready to ride at 9:30 a.m. (assigned parking area to be designated when you sign up for the ride). Rain Date: July 29
Total ride (including stops) should be about three hours long and 14 miles. The route can be found here . Helmets are required; please bring water and sunscreen. Please bring a lock if you plan to leave the group and stay at one of the cafés.
The ride is free, however we ask you to sign up at this SABR link so we can better plan the event with our volunteers. Questions? info@seacoastbikes.org
Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders (SABR) is a nonprofit, volunteer organization with the mission of “making the Seacoast better for biking.” We’ve been providing a unified voice for all kinds of bike riders in the Seacoast of New Hampshire and southern Maine since 1992.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Join the 2023 SABR Portsmouth-Eliot Sustainability Ride July 8
