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Before I ever went to Boise (pronounced Boy see) for the Tour de Fat (TDF), I called their Chamber of Commerce and had a fun and informative conversation with the gentleman who answered the phone. Friendliness turned out to be the theme of the trip! From the airport to the coffee shop to the hotel, the people I encountered were very friendly. At the TDF in Ann Morrison Park, we were lucky to be under the shade of a big elm tree, by the spray of a giant fountain, and close to the slow, cool water of the Boise River. The 95 degree weather did not bring the Boise TDF goers down, and their friendliness flowed throughout the day.
People were very happy to make conversation, finding common ground on quality of life issues regarding our food, water and transportation. At the WFP Urban Homestead, Jordan, Sam and I talked to lots of people about chickens, water, bicycles, politics, composting and more. After I asked one couple who had chickens about foxes in Boise, they told me they were sure they made an impenetrable chicken coop! Another man spoke of massive canning sessions with friends at an industrial kitchen they rent from the Latter Day Saints (LDS). There are lots of warm and hot springs around Boise and I met some folks who live in an apartment building that is all geothermal heat. If fact, most of the buildings on their street are heated with geothermal heat.
I had heard “when you come to Boise turn your watch back 20 years”. I assumed this meant Boise was conservative (like most of Idaho), but now I wonder if it was simply a commentary on the way of life and what people there believe is important. From my vantage point that way of life includes trying to live in harmony with the environment.
All in all it was a great time and New Belgium Brewery raised nearly $43,000 for bike trails in and around Boise. What an event!
Photo by Jordan Twiggs
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