RETREET BLOG

RETREET redefines disaster relief by engaging communities to replant lost trees.


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.112

A major construction project is underway on the east coast of the US, one that will allow cyclists to visit 15 states on a single bike path. Stretching 3,000 miles, The East Coast Greenway will showcase 450 communities visitors on two-wheels, providing an amazing opportunity to travel the country. Let's do it!

EAST COAST GREENWAY (photo essay/video)

EAST COAST GREENWAY (photo essay/video)

A massive fire swept through part of Spain in 2012, charring thousands of acres. When the ashes settled, a startling discovery was made. A group of cypress trees still stood tall and green. But why? Could these trees be used to lessen the impact future wildfires? Read about the enigma of the trees that resist the flames.

FIRE RESISTANT TREES (article)

FIRE RESISTANT TREES (article)

Ramadan ended on July 5th, but this story continues to inspire. A 26-year-old woman named Nouran Salah in Egypt created a successful initiative to feed the poor by bicycle. She and her following deliver meals each of the 30 days of Ramadan, bringing Iftar to those in need. Learn more about Bel Bicycle below.

FEEDING THE POOR BY BICYCLE IN EGYPT (photo essay/video)

FEEDING THE POOR BY BICYCLE IN EGYPT (photo essay/video)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.111

Happy July 4th weekend! Did you know that the first act of defiance against the British leading up to the Revolutionary War took place in 1765 under a stately elm? Dubbed The Liberty Tree, this symbol of resistance was felled ten years later by the British in order to crush the spirit of revolt. It didn't work. In fact, their actions had the opposite effect. Learn about this incredible tree at the link below.

THE LIBERTY TREE (article)

THE LIBERTY TREE (article)

Have you ever wanted to ride a bicycle from coast to coast, through amber waves of grain and over purple mountains majesty? There's no better way to experience the incredible diversity of people and geography that the United States has to offer. If you ever decide to scratch that itch, check out this blog, which is meant to prepare would-be adventurers for the trials and tribulations of the road ahead.

BIKE ACROSS AMERICA (blog)

BIKE ACROSS AMERICA (blog)

The next time you have to cut a tree down, or if the British show up in your yard and fell your favorite elm, here are loads of amazing ideas for what to do with the remains. Don't let that stump go to waste!

31 USES FOR TREE STUMPS (photos)

31 USES FOR TREE STUMPS (photos)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.102

Last year, cyclist Eric "The Red Baron" Barone, 54, beat his own world speed record on a mountain bike in the snow, topping out at 138.75mph. The video speaks for itself. Woah. What a rush!

MOUNTAIN BIKE SPEED WORLD RECORD (video)

MOUNTAIN BIKE SPEED WORLD RECORD (video)

Trees hold a special place throughout American history, as previously mentioned in our recommendation of the book "American Canopy" by Eric Rutkow. If you don't feel up to the task of reading an entire book about the subject, the following article might inspire you. In colonial New England, trees were a prominent feature of everyday life. A pine tree even adorned the first local currency produced, the pine tree shilling. Interested? Keep reading.

SYMBOLIC TREES OF NEW ENGLAND (article)

SYMBOLIC TREES OF NEW ENGLAND (article)

Artist Stephen Lund, based in Victoria, British Columbia, frequently rides 50 miles in a day to create GPS sketches using the cycling app Strava. His imagination, and legs, seemingly know no bounds. This is a really fun gallery to browse.

DRAWING WITH GPS (photo essay)

DRAWING WITH GPS (photo essay)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.77

We come across a lot of articles about new cycling infrastructure being installed all across the world, but the one below was a bit unexpected. As it turns out, Pyongyang, North Korea, has a thriving cycling community. So much so that the government has begun to install separated lanes for cyclists to reduce the number of accidents, which have been on the rise as of late as more and more citizens turn to two wheels for transportation. Read more at the link below.

BIKE LANES IN NORTH KOREA (article)

BIKE LANES IN NORTH KOREA (article)

Gavin Munro, a young man from Derbyshire, England, has developed a whole new method of producing wooden chairs: he grows them! As Gavin puts it, growing chairs is like 3-D printing them, except that air, water, and sun are the raw materials he uses. Learn more about his business, Full Grown, by watching this short report from the BBC.

THE MAN WHO GROWS TREES INTO CHAIRS (video)

THE MAN WHO GROWS TREES INTO CHAIRS (video)

Bicycles, and those who ride them, have played an important part in the development of the United States. Many technologies that were originally invented to service the cycling community have made a major impact in many elements of our lives. The hollow steel tube, for instance, which was developed for use in bike frames, as well as ball bearings and air filled rubber tires. The list is rather large. Read this fascinating piece about the bicycle and the ride to modern America.

THE BICYCLE AND THE RIDE TO MODERN AMERICA (article)

THE BICYCLE AND THE RIDE TO MODERN AMERICA (article)

 


 
SUNDAY SHOW & TELL
vol.48

Before 1900, the American chestnut accounted for 1 in every 4 hardwood trees in the eastern forests of the US. Though a fungal blight killed over 4 billion of these majestic beauties, almost causing their extinction, there may be hope on the horizon for their regeneration. Learn about the past, present, and potential future of these amazing trees.

Have you ever wanted to ride your bike across the country, or wondered how the bike lanes in one city compare with those in another? Take a gander at the United Bike Lanes of America Infographic, a GOOD + CLIF Bar project. 

Few people know how to build tree houses as well as Takashi Kobayashi. Click through a gallery of some of his finest masterworks.

THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT (article)

THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT (article)

BIKE LANES OF AMERICA (interactive map)

BIKE LANES OF AMERICA (interactive map)

TREEHOUSE MASTER (slideshow)

TREEHOUSE MASTER (slideshow)