Proteus Bicycles is about more than just bikes. It’s about building community. That sense of community building was at full throttle Wednesday evening as employees, patrons and seed packets were on hand for the shop’s Sundowner Party.

The highlight of the evening was an experiment in straw bale gardening, in which straw bales are used much like a raised bed to plant—in this case—vegetables and flowers. The event was the brainchild of shop owner Jill DiMauro and Yo Kumm of Proteus, 9217 Baltimore Avenue, who provided directions and a brief lesson before participants started planting.

“For us, bicycling is a lifestyle,” DiMauro said. “Part of that lifestyle is being more connected to our environment and food. I don’t want people to feel like they have to live on a farm to do that.”