Those of you who have been following my sustainable lifestyle progress understand that the ever-growing vegetable garden has been a source of joy this season. Well last night mother nature decided to show me that she can ravage crops on any scale.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. As the work day was coming to an end, Corey and I were making plans to start some new projects in the yard. Then, surprisingly, the tornado sirens started to howl. We checked the weather online and saw a storm rolling our way. The NWS was saying to expect strong winds and possible hail. We debated if we wanted to pull the car into the garage (usually reserved for bikes) or just leave it out. In fact, we thought from looking at the radar that the sirens were a bit of an overreaction in the context of the serious storms that we have had lately.

But we decided to be safe I should move the car. As I was clearing space in the garage (bikes again), I was taking my time. The sky was still blue, and the sun was shining. In an instant, there was a massive rush of noise. I turned from what I was doing and looked out at the front yard. The wind hadn’t just picked up, it had hit our neighborhood like a freight train. Branches started flying everywhere, and our little river birch was almost on its side.

I rushed to pull in the car just as the rain and hail started to fall. It was the most frightening display of natures power that I have ever seen. I was on the edge of being outright scared.

Corey came rushing out and said that it looked like the giant oak trees in the back yard looked like they were going to slam through the windows they were swaying so violently. When I went to the back windows to see for myself, my jaw literally dropped. We have a pretty expansive view of the neighborhood from our hillside home. Every tree that I could see, including ours, were being severely tested by the storm.

The rain and hail intensified and the leaves that were being ripped from the trees were being pasted against our windows by the wind gusts. We heard branches cracking and falling. We grabbed the pets, a radio, and a flashlight, and rushed to the basement. We tuned in to learn that the whole city was being rocked. The view from our windows certainly confirmed it. What a feeling. We didn’t know if the trees were going to come crashing through the house.

The violence lasted only about 15 minutes. But it was an incredibly destructive quarter hour. We went outside to survey the damage. The street’s gutter was a river of water, our yard experienced a year’s worth of erosion, all of our plants were shredded from the hail, and our trees lost several big branches.

The supercell, traveling at 90 miles per hour, generated an unprecedented amount of wind, rain, and hail. The effects were tragic for historic Midtown Omaha. Trees were down everywhere, nearly 300,000 people were without power, and shell-shocked people were forced to cope with massive damage.

Our cherished vegetable garden was completely destroyed. Brussel Sprouts were shredded and broken, beans were torn, and even our once hardy squash were diced.

The next couple of days are going involve a lot of cleanup. It is sad, we take great joy from our gardens. It is really hard to see them destroyed. But we will make it.

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I went to a volunteer meeting at Community Bike Shop Omaha (CBSO) this morning. The organizers hosted a series of these meetings as a part of their latest efforts to increase volunteer resources and improve the service hours of the shop.

What they do is pretty noble. With the help of grants and local donors, the shop opened up 2 years ago in the somewhat downtrodden Gifford Park neighborhood of Midtown Omaha. The organizers renovated a blighted residential home (a couple of doors South of California Tacos on 33rd Street) and began stocking up on resources to repair bikes for the neighborhood.

The goal of the organization is to empower kids and adults alike with the knowledge and skills needed to keep their bikes in good working order. The group realizes the power of the bicycle as a positive activity for children and an emancipating form of transportation for those without cars.

Each Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon the shop opens their doors and invites guests in to learn how to fix their bikes. Guests work hand-in-hand with volunteer mechanics to fix everything from flat tires to broken cranks. Parents are invited to watch their children learn. The offers a fundamental service, but it also provides mentoring and a positive environment for kids who may not always have these opportunities.

I’m a big fan of what they are doing. I’ve had a near lifelong interest in bicycles, and really appreciate what riding bikes did for me as a kid and young adult. And today, as gas prices rise and the cost of car ownership becomes prohibitive, I also realize the power and efficiency of the bicycle for transportation. As our economy suffers the impact of rising food and energy prices, it becomes clear low income segments of our community suffer the most.

I look forward to my first opportunity to volunteer as a mechanic at CBSO. I want to be a part of the great work that they do.

You Can Help
If you are interested in volunteering, or if you are interested in contributing bikes or money, please visit their website to learn more.