Memphians will literally fly the coop as they move from garden to garden and learn about the birds and the bees this Saturday at the second annual Tour de Coop.
On Sept. 20, GrowMemphis will be hosting the Tour de Coop, an event that takes anyone to different homes to view their gardens, urban chicken coops and apiaries or bee yards.
There will be guided tours given on bicycle, but participants can choose to walk or drive through their own paths.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of the Wiseacre Brewing Company on Broad Avenue and will include three separate tours for those wanting to do the guided tours. The mini tour is approximately two miles, the short ride is 11 miles and the long ride is about 15 miles. The tours will go through South Memphis, Midtown and Binghampton.
“Honestly, I’m really surprised people cared last year,” Carole Colter, executive director of GrowMemphis, said. “It’s a great way to meet people who are into gardening, people who have chickens and bees and for people to meet their neighbors.”
Colter said he hopes people who have an interest in owning gardens, chickens and bees will learn more of how to do it themselves.
“I think it’s important for people who are just getting into it to talk to those with more experience so that they can get an idea of what to do, or sometimes more importantly, what not to do,” Colter said.
Beekeeping is now popular in the Evergreen neighborhood, and recommended by experts.
“Beekeeping is a growing interest among the Memphis community, and because of a massive decrease in pollen this past Spring, we need more and more beekeepers to help spread pollen and create more flowers. People have also been using these raw materials for bartering – like trading eggs for honey,” Colter said.
As cycling has become more predominate in Memphis, Colter said he wanted to include it, but in a safe way.
“We give the guided tours on bicycles because we want the participants to feel the safety that comes in numbers, even in unsafe areas,” Colter said.
“The tours are open to anyone, whether they want to walk, drive or ride. In the past, we have even had a guy on a motorcycle and handicapped people.”
Tour de Coop has a number of sponsors, including the YMCA, the Junior League of Memphis, Hollywood Feed and Wiseacre Brewing Company.
“I just want students to know that the University of Memphis has the Oasis community garden, where you can pick your own vegetables,” Colter said. “I think everyone should get involved with it in some way, and the Tour de Coop is a great way to be introduced.”
GrowMemphis is suggesting that participants donate $10 to help support the work of the nonprofit.
The event will go from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The guided tours will begin and end at the Wiseacre Brewing Company, with a food truck waiting on the riders.
