Permaculture & Sustainability Tour
During this sustainable cycling adventure, we'll be contributing to some of Oregon's most well-known eco-villages. Riders will have the opportunity to engage in a diversity of educational hands-on activities, getting their hands dirty with some of the region's best natural building communities.

This trip is sure to be an experiential learning intensive for all those who participate! During this tour we will:

Visit an innovative restaurant that has used the art of cob building to create a unique environment. We will assist in a cob-building activity while here.

Be part of the permaculture transformation. A model of sustainable living in an urban environment, our host features a rainwater catching system, organic gardening, permaculture landscaping, a photovoltaic electric system, a passive solar hot water system, constructed wetlands, composting, fluorescent lighting, and natural building practices (straw bale walls, earthen plaster, passive solar design, and use of recycled and sustainably harvested lumber).

Hike through ancient forest stands and learn about forest health and politics from an environmental watchdog group.

Take a land use bike tour of downtown Eugene, visiting neighborhood demonstration sites of sustainable alternatives in an urban setting.

Camp at a fruit orchard in the shadow of Mt. Piska, and learn about applied permaculture, organic farming and the economic realities of this business practice.

Visit local organic dairy farms (and maybe milk some cows!), for a taste of the sustainable alternative to an otherwise ecologically destructive industry.

Be inspired at the innovative intentional community, Aprovecho, where wood stove technology is being developed and shared with the global south to increase efficiency and decrease smoke production and firewood consumption.

Please note: The reality of host logistics makes it impossible to absolutely confirm an itinerary. The above are planned events but are subject to change as necessary.

Route & Mileage:
Ride to Champoeg, OR and south on the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway (scenic, very low-traffic farm country roads!) to Eugene, OR. A number shorter rides allow us to visit hosts in this area and then continue north back to Portland. The majority of the biking days will be 20-60 miles/day. There will be some non biking activity days and some shorter ride days between hosts. Total mileage ~400 miles.

The two-week tour starts and ends in Portland. The one-week tour starts in Portland, and ends in Eugene. We recommend taking Amtrak from Eugene back to Portland -- bikes are allowed on the train, but advance reservations for Amtrak are needed as space is limited.