Lillia Callum-Penso

lpenso@greenvillenews.com

Sterling Woodard is trying to create a place he would be able to eat. At least that’s part of the thinking behind Woodard’s mobile food bike concept, Rabbit Food Bike.

The idea is to create a mobile food service that offers healthy, plant-based cuisine to folks on the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Woodard is raising money for the project now through a Kickstarter campaign. The campaign runs through June 6.

“For me it’s got to be sustainable, interesting and it’s got to be no cruelty to animals,” Woodard says of his business venture. “Nothing encompasses that more than a bicycle with a wooden box holding some plant based foods.”

Woodard, 37, who adopted an all vegan diet in 2012, had toyed with the idea for a plant-based food business for several years before launching his campaign. The Greenville native currently lives in Atlanta, but visits his family in the Upstate frequently. But most trips, he says, left him longing for more substantial food options.

“There’s really nothing that is 100 percent vegan, and really nothing on the Swamp Rabbit,” Woodard says.

At first, Woodard thought about a brick and mortar restaurant, and then maybe a food truck, but he settled on the bike idea after a trip to Denver where he encountered something similar.

As Woodard envisions it, Rabbit Food Bike will offer trail goers a healthy, convenient food option without them ever having to leave the trail. At least to start, the bike will run mainly during the day on weekends throughout the summer. The idea is to follow along on social media to see where the cart will be. You can also order ahead and arrange a pick up.

For now, Woodard says Rabbit Food Bike will operate on the Greenville County-run portion of the trail, between Travelers Rest and around Furman University.

The menu is influenced by what Woodard can get quality made. He promises acai bowls (the popular super food smoothie bowl concoction), homemade protein bars, cold brewed coffee, kombucha, fresh pressed juices and other treats.

In addition, Woodard anticipates offering specialty items as well. He is still working out permitting details but hopes to eventually launch things like a taco day, where he makes tacos to order all on the back of the bike.

He is currently in talks with local commercial kitchens about renting space.

“Food is a passion of mine,” Woodard says. “You really can’t get any more personal. You can reach people’s hearts and minds if you can give them something good to eat.”

Woodard didn’t’ set out to go into the food business. In fact, he’s in a completely different business, he works in the payroll software systems field by day. But his job has meant lots of traveling to other parts of the country. The travel has introduced him to experience new foods and gather new ideas.

“As I’ve been moving around I’ve been picking up an idea here and there and I’m trying to mishmash it into something nobody has seen,” Woodard says. “Or, at least something that nobody in Greenville has seen.”

To carry his items, Woodard has specially designed a bike with a large refrigerated wooden box. He anticipates being able to carry about 200 items or more at a time and will also have the ability to accept credit and debit cards.

Rabbit Food Bike’s Kickstarter campaign will run through June 6. Woodard hopes to launch his business in July.

For more check out the Rabbit Food Bike Facebook page, or find it on Instagram or Twitter.