About Party on the Porch

Each Party on the Porch at our Homewood store focuses on giving back to our local community and raising environmental awareness for conservation, access, usage, and education. The event is held on the first Friday evening of each month from April to October (with the exception of July which we skip as it is so hot).

Party on the Porch brings together local musicians, breweries, food trucks, and artisans for an evening you do not want to miss. This is a family-friendly event, with activities for kids, a dog-friendly atmosphere, corn hole, giveaways, and loads of fun! Attendance is free, but we ask that of-age attendees donate (not required) $10 for a wristband and a souvenir cup with your donation going to a local non-profit organization at the event.

Net proceeds from your donations at our May event go to Redemptive Cycles.

About our beneficiary: 
Redemptive Cycles, established in 2013, operates as a nonprofit bike shop in Birmingham. We offer new and used bikes, repairs, and unique programs like Earn-a-Bike and free mechanics classes. Supported by volunteers and community, we use shop revenue to provide bikes and repairs, bridging the gap to employment and community involvement. Your donation helps us empower Birmingham residents through cycling.

When?

Friday, May 3rd, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Where?

Alabama Outdoors Homewood Store

Who’s attending?

Our friends from:

• Wild Alabama
• Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers
• United Ability
• Nemo
  
• Altra

Music:

• CashBack Music

Beer + Beverages:

• Good People  Free craft beer for those with wristbands and our souvenir Party on the Porch cup (21 years and older)

Food:

• Cantina Tako Truck
• Son’s Donuts + Pops, serving pops!

United By Blue doesn’t just make stylish clothes and durable canvas goods for the outdoors enthusiast. For every product sold, they also remove one pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company-organized cleanups. The brand made this promise when they started in 2010, and they wasted no time keeping it. As their website says, “We hosted our first cleanup the same week we sold our first T-shirt.” Read on for more about what makes United by Blue a brand that gives back.

A Good Ol’Road Trip — For the Good of Our Waterways

Since 2010, United By Blue and their volunteers have helped remove over 1,000,000 pounds of trash in twenty-seven states. This past summer, they decided to up those numbers even more by embarking on a cross-country cleaning voyage called The Bluemovement Road Trip. Starting on June 1, 2018, husband and wife duo Kelly Hilovsky and Jeff Butler — along with their lovable goldendoodle, Chance — set off on a road trip. Over the next two months, they helped volunteers in twenty states clear trash from their local waterways.

Bluemovement on the Move

The trip began with a cleanup in Richmond, Virginia on June 1 and ended in Bloomington, Indiana on August 6. Their stop in Birmingham, Alabama on June 12 saw volunteers removing 82 pounds of trash from Shades Creek. Throughout the sixty-plus day trip, the Bluemovement team removed 12,091 pounds of trash.

A Crisis in Our Waterways

8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, with 1.5 million of that being made up of plastic bottles. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the most famous marine trash heap, is twice the size of Texas. Our waterways need help now more than ever, and it is so inspiring to see companies like United By Blue doing so much for our environment.

United by Blue products can be found in more than four hundred outlets nationally — including Alabama Outdoors! If you’d like to join one of their hosted cleanups, check here to find one near you!

Text by Nick Adrian

Freshwater Land Trust‘s 10th Annual Land Aid event is coming up, and we’ve got tickets to give away!

This year’s Land Aid event takes place on Friday, September 14th at Avondale Brewing Company. The headliner? Birmingham’s very own Will Stewart, joined by special guests The Green Seed and Rebecca Egeland. Come by when doors open at 6:00 p.m. for fun, food trucks and giveaways, including a $100 gift card from us here at Alabama Outdoors. The best part? All proceeds benefit Freshwater Land Trust’s conservation and trail-building efforts. Since 1996, the Freshwater Land Trust has worked to “conserve, connect, and care for land and water in Central Alabama, creating dynamic green spaces for future generations.” The Trust has protected over 10,000 acres in Central Alabama, including the Cane Creek Watershed and the Red Rock Trail System. Their work protects Alabama’s status as one of the most biologically diverse states in the country and preserves Alabama’s outdoor spaces for generations to come.

Excited? So are we! Follow the instructions below for your chance to win TWO tickets to Land Aid!

TO ENTER:

Have you ever considered hammock camping? Have no idea what hammock camping is?

Join Meagan and the staff of Alabama Outdoors at our Mobile location as they explain the advantages and disadvantages of hammock camping. You’ll learn about the equipment you may or may not need and how to use your hammock shelter safely and responsibly.

The class takes place on Thursday, June 7th from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.

See you there!