Bicycle enthusiasts have long known the environmental, economic and physiological benefits of cycling.  Now, by buying a handcrafted bamboo frame from Zambikes International, bikers can help support Zambian workers and their families.  In Zambia — where literacy is low, there is no free public education, and over half of the population is unemployed — the California-based startup has made strides to offer decent living wages and technical training to communities struggling with poverty.

In a country where public transportation can be unreliable, a bicycle can mean a dependable way of getting to what little work is available.  Since 2007, Zambikes has been using bamboo as a strong, sustainable base for their bicycles, taking advantage of a durable, light, surprisingly shock-absorbent material that is a cheap and abundant alternative to metal.  Bamboo grows well in the Zambian climate, and once the grass is mature and treated, the frame can last up to ten years.

Under the direction of two Zambians and two Americans, Zambikes International employs a large team of builders that produce quality cycles in a variety of styles including a cruiser, road bicycle and mountain bike.  Crafted with rural living in mind, they also offer brilliant cart and trailer attachments such as the Zambulance, which has been fashioned to meet the needs of remote medical clinics, and the Zamcart, a hitch created for farmers that has the capacity to carry a load of up to 250 kg.

By offering bamboo cycles both locally and internationally, Zambikes helps provide environmentally and socially conscious transportation that benefits not only those buying their products, but also those who produce them.  While for many Americans a bicycle is a tool for recreation, in Africa it can be the only form of reliable transportation to and from work, the fastest way to get to a hospital, an efficient means of carrying a heavy load of equipment, or a swift method of removing arrested criminals.

For more information on the mission of Zambikes and the people behind this amazing company, visit Gershom Sikaala’s website and read about his motivations for establishing programs benefiting his fellow Zambians.

According to the Chinese zodiac, it is now officially the Year of the Dragon.  What can we expect in the future as we transition from the Rabbit?  Astrologers predict that the next year will hold good luck, as the dragon is the most auspicious and powerful of the signs, and an increase in the fertility rate.  Those born in this year are said to be intelligent, energetic, extroverted, often conceited, and quick to lose their temper when provoked.

Although considered to bring good fortune, some believe that 2012 will hold more international conflict, citing the relationships between earth and water elements.  The powerful yang of water might auger a natural disaster or the human struggles toward political equality.  The water sign also represents charity and generosity, which hopefully could signal for a positive transformation of economic and societal institutions.

While there will be fighting and strife in the days ahead, the elements are not as much in opposition as in the past several years.  From nature, we can forecast possible viral epidemics, and powerful disasters such as earthquakes and floods.  Sadly, experts say that there are fewer angels of mercy to aid in what could be higher death tolls than normal.  Fortunately, there should be an improvement in environmental protections and recovery from past human-made catastrophes like oil spills and and nuclear meltdowns.

Want to celebrate the Year of the Dragon here on the coast?

-Head to San Francisco, where 6,000 participants, 22 floats, marching bands, lion dancers, and an arsenal of firecrackers will dazzle your senses and help usher in good fortune and scare away the negative spirits of the past.  The parade is held on February 11, and is one of the largest celebrations held outside of Asia.  There is also a city-wide treasure hunt that takes seekers on a romp through San Francisco’s neighborhoods and rewards them with fun, prizes, and a healthy workout.

-San Luis Obispo locals can watch the Cal Poly Lion Dance Team perform around the county this month.  Witness a cultural tradition and see the amazing strength and acrobatic skill required to bring these creatures to life! (Visit their website for a performance schedule.)  If cavorting  lions are not enough to impress you, on January 25 the Peking Acrobats challenge gravity at the Clark Performing Arts Center in Arroyo Grande. Tickets range from $45-55.

-Cal Poly will be hosting a dinner on January 28, where Wushu Taichi masters Liu Yu and Norm Petredean accompanied by students will give a demonstration. This graceful martial art will inspire serenity, strength, and promote a healthy flow of qi that will help balance and prepare you for the upcoming year.

Break out the red envelopes, make some mooncakes, and have a great Year of the Dragon!

In elementary school, I lived for recess, summer vacations, and weekends.  When else could I have the chance to go hiking, camping, and fool around in nature?  Free time presented opportunities to explore and have adventures in the forests and creeks around my home and allowed for family vacations to national parks and recreation areas.  However, as a former environmental educator, I am aware that there are plenty of today’s youth that are cut off from open spaces and wilderness.

In an age where computers and televisions are our primary source of entertainment, schools sequester children indoors during class time, and working adults are confined to cubicles and households, the natural world has become an auxiliary part of our lives.  Organizations such as the Children and Nature Network have identified that kids living in suburban and urban areas may suffer from “Nature Deficit Disorder”, which some researchers believe can lead to or exacerbate cases of ADHD, hyperactivity, creates higher levels stress, decreases creativity, and diminishes the formation of community.

Luckily, with the understanding that knowledge of our ecosystems and direct experience with the landscape makes for happy and healthy humans, many schools have been established within the last couple of decades that seek to educate children and their families about nature.  One of the longest running and most influential outdoor education organizations is NatureBridge, a non-profit founded by the Yosemite Institute in 1971.  With campuses in the Marin Headlands, Olympic National Park, Yosemite, and the Santa Monica Mountains, the school possesses over 40 years of experience with connecting youth to the greater outdoors by facilitating direct and powerful experiences that last for lifetimes.  The programs are student-centered, allowing the flow of the courses to be powered by the questions and curiosity of its pupils.  Flexible lesson plans focus on the ideas of interconnectedness, sense of place, and stewardship.  In addition to becoming familiar with the complex interplay between habitats and ecosystems, children learn the importance of diversity, how they depend upon nature for survival, and ways to take concrete action to care for the world in which they live.  Programs and events are specific to each campus, and are open to both schools and individuals.

For those interested in outdoor education close to home, take a look at San Luis Obispo County’s school programs through Camp KEEP and Rancho El Chorro.  The CREEC Network has a huge database for Californians seeking local organizations and schools.  Get your kids away from the video games and out into the wilderness!  Become acquainted with the beauty and magic of nature!