In early 2007, three women biked out of Washington, D.C. with video equipment strapped to their backs, prepared for a 3 month bicycling trip to Montreal and back. On the way, they stopped at different food-producing garden projects across the continent, the new faces of American farming.

They observed and taped the trend of farmers veering away from monoculture and industrial farming, and towards a local community-focused food production. They are the Women’s Garden Cycles Bike Tour and their film is premiering on May 10th, 2008 in Loudon County, VA.

In the film trailer, a woman explains, “This farming is a different thing from how people identify farming of the past. The farmer is undergoing a shift? It’s young people who are choosing to challenge the authority of where your food is grown, how it is grown, that whole set of beliefs?” Another person chimes in, “It’s farming, but it’s also, you know, changing the community.”

A young woman at a farmer’s market stand says, “The farmer’s market is affordable and people can travel with the bike, the bus, whatever they want. And it’s nice to have a community.” A young man asks, “If you can grow it yourself, why buy it?”

Larita of the GCBT explains on their website that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sensation of an apocalyptic collapse of the world as we know it. But the Garden Cycle’s Bike Tour women refuse to feel hopeless. “We always like to try and twist reality in the light of focusing on what’s given and working with that to create something of inspiration and positive movement,” the explains Larita.

She directs us to Chris Cook’s recent article in Grist. In this article, he references recent decisions to the Food/Farm Bill, and recommends that we direct our attention, political support, and purchasing power to the local. Larita suggests we create stronger linkages among our communities by creating self-sufficiency with food, transportation, trust, and health.

“Let’s all hope that we can be inspired by what is occurring now, as in positive alternatives in the world, and try to emulate what they practice in our own home communities,” says Larita, “Perhaps our trailer could aid us all in this journey.”

Check out their web site