Six area farmers are set to share their experiences at this year’s Bike the Barns, an annual farm-by-bike event hosted by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA).

The one-day recreational cycling tour is planned for Sunday, September 29th. The tour begins and ends at Tucker Farms in Gabriels and offers four route options to suit riders’ preferences.

Farm tours at six area farms will give Bike the Barns participants the opportunity to learn about the region’s agricultural history, its diversity of farms, and the local food movement. Participating farms include Dandelion Farms in Saranac Lake; Iron Rooster Farm and Tucker Farms in Gabriels; Sanctuary Farm and Sunwarm Gardens in Vermontville; and Kate Mountain Farm in Vermontville.

The four route options — named Seed, Sprout, Veggie and Harvest — have approximate distances of 10, 30, 40 and 70 miles respectively. Riders along the three longest routes will be served a local food lunch. Locally produced snacks will also be provided.

Event participants will end the day with a finish line celebration featuring live music by Saranac Lake-based bluegrass band Green Grass Co., a local food meal and locally brewed beverages.

Proceeds from Bike the Barns go to ANCA’s FarmShare Fund to help support a sustainable and equitable regional food system. Goals of the fund include building connections between farms and consumers by addressing food security; supporting ANCA’s existing local food initiatives like farm to school, food hub development and agritourism projects; and supporting local food efforts of regional partners.

In two rounds of grant awards in 2018 and 2019, the FarmShare Fund’s mini grant program has supported ten projects that are designed to increase local food access for low-income households in the region.

Registration for medium and long routes costs $60 and includes an event t-shirt, farm tours and a local-food lunch and dinner. Registration for the 10-mile Seed family ride costs $40 and includes farm tours and dinner. T-shirts for Seed route riders can be purchased separately.

More information about Bike the Barns and the FarmShare Fund an online registration for the event, is available on the event webpage.

Photo of Riders at Rivermede Farm in Keene Valley, during the 2018 Bike the Barns (provided by ANCA).