The Power of Just Doing Stuff - new Transition book out next week

Promotional video of the new Transition book by Rob Hopkins which will be published next week 

The Power of Just Doing Stuff has its official launch at the Grape and Grain pub in Crystal Palace, London, organised by the local Transition initiative.This is the first Transition Thursday (although in fact a Tuesday!), a series of UK book launching events and local conferences during the summer. Nearest events in the Eastern Region are in Norfolk on 18 July (Downham Market, Swaffham and Kings Lynn) and in Lincolnshire on 25 July (Louth and Horncastle). You can preorder a copy here.

FILM Village at the End of the World - Tuesday 4 June

New Dogwoof documentary shows at Cinema City 

Fascinated by the resilience of the few remaining polar communities, Brick Lane director Sarah Gavron and her cameraman partner David Katznelson spent almost three years filming in Niaqornat, a remote Inuit hamlet in northern Greenland with just 59 inhabitants.

Under government threat of relocation if their numbers fell below 50, the locals were determined to reopen a local fish factory in order to stem the slow exodus of their youngsters, and vowed to battle on against an unsympathetic bureaucracy “until the last man’s left standing”. The stark beauty of their harsh landscape and their equally harsh way of life – they rely entirely on hunting and fishing, and the long winter months are totally without daylight – contrast with their quirky humour and robust traditions.Village at the End of the World is a portrait of a traditional community struggling against the challenges of globalisation and climate change.

Opens 4 June, 6.30pm. Book online on Cinema City website or call the Box Office: 0871 902 5724 (10p a minute from a landline)  

Dogwoof are giving away 2 tickets to each screening – email patrick@dogwoof.com to enter the draw.

Official Trailer: Village at the End of the World 

Norwich Greenpeace Fair - Saturday 1 June

Norwich Greenpeace are holding a fair to raise funds for Greenpeace's Save the Arctic campaign in the LCR (Union House) at the University of East Anglia from 11am to 5pm on Sat June 1st.  There will be stalls from local organisations as well as those selling green products, and music from a variety of local musicians.

The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable places on Earth, and Greenpeace need funds for an Arctic survival pod so that they can carry out direct action there, so please come along and show your support. (Chris Keene)

For further info: /www.greenpeace.org.uk/groups/norwich/event/norwich-greenpeace-fair

Visions for Change - 28 May

Visions for Change, the meeting place for progressive individuaals and groups in and around Norwich has monthly meetings at the Playhouse and has recently launched a website to publicize activities, events and contacts.

At our first meeting we had a round of talks about why we have come together at Visions for Change and agreed that subsequent meetings should include:

• shout-outs: about upcoming events and activities by groups and individuals
• action networking: connecting individuals to set up activities and support each other outside VFC
• education on issues: have discussions on issues we feel need to be discussed in this space. We do not want to duplicate discussions and talks already taking place, but a number of us felt the need to educate ourselves in this informal round on progressive issues. Discussions will first take place in small groups of max. 7 people on the same issue. Then we have one person from each group sit in a fish-bowl format conversation and feedback and discuss the outcome of the groups.

The meetings follow the structure above and this month's item for discussion: Successes and Problems of Campaigning Groups, Engaging the Norwich Community.
 
The fourth aspect we agreed VfC should be about is 'socializing', thus after our two hour meeting there is time for a drink in the bar afterwards! Vanessa Buth

Playhouse meeting room. 42 - 58 St Georges St. Norwich NR3 1AD, 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome.

Contact: Alan Cottey Email: alancottey@phonecoop.coop

The Common Room: Make Day - Sat 18 May, 11am - 4pm

Following on from two prototype days, The Common Room at St Lawrence's Church is holding a Make Day and inviting people to be part of taking the project to the next stage.

WHAT IS THE COMMON ROOM?
The Common Room could transform St Laurence's Church into a new type of shared space, made and shaped collectively, and run on the principles of collaboration, connection and resourcefulness.

You could host meet ups, start new projects or develop your business ideas. It could be a workspace, workshop, communal dining room, or growing space.... What happens there can be up to you.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
There are lots of exciting ideas, potential opportunities and a high level of interest from many different people:

"Norwich really needs a centre for all of its many creative people to come together & support each other and benefit from each other's experience."

"The Common Room should encourage activities and projects  within the local community, shaped by the local community.  I would love to both teach and be taught here."

 "A community workshop would allow people tolearn new skills and do things for themselves. 

It could have so much potential, for businesses too."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
There are new parts we need to design, build and create together including: membership, activities equipment and economic models

So we would now like to invite you to come to the Make Day and join us in collectively creating the building blocks needed to take The Common Room forward.

RSVP: http://commonroommakeday.eventbrite.co.uk

We look forward to meeting and making together!
 
Common Room Co-founding Group, The Churches Conservation Trust and Social Spaces 00:/

Image: Herbs for Resilience Trade School class by Mark Watson, Common Room, February 2012

Patterns for a Sustainable Planet - Saturday 18 May

'Patterns for a Sustainable Planet' is the UN talk by Corinne Le Quéré, Professor of Climate Change Science and Policy at the University of East Anglia and is Director of the UEA Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Professor Le Quéré was author of the 3rd , 4th and 5th (ongoing) Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. She co-chairs the Global Carbon Project, a non-governmental organisation that fosters International research on the carbon cycle and publishes annual updates on global emissions and sinks of carbon dioxide. Further information on her current work on Future Earth can be found on this link:  http://www.icsu.org/future-earth

The new international research programme Future Earth, will coordinate international research on sustainability for the next 10 years 

Saturday 18^th May at the Curve in the Forum, 11am. will last about 30 minutes followed by questions. Coffee is available from 10.30am Admission is free. A donation is invited to cover expenses. www.unanorwich.org.uk

May Fair in Chapelfield Gardens and Seize the Day - 5 and 11 May

On Sunday May 5 2013 Norwich and District Trades Council presents a day of music, events, talks and fun for all in Chapelfield Gardens.

As well as bands and a great poetry set (headed by Luke Wright), there will be carnival kids crafts, bouncy castle, face painting and competions, plus other activities (adults too) such as circus skills workshops with the Foolhardy Folk  and hula-hooping with Hula-baloo?

To book a stall please mail Mayday2013@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 11 May 8pm St Thomas Church Hall, Earlham Road

Seize The Day are a radical English acoustic band with global roots. "We write songs to celebrate, inspire and support the liberation of life.

"Whatever needs to change or be defended in this world, we sing to make you laugh about it, cry about it, dance about it – maybe even inspire you to believe that you can DO something about it!"

Bar, refreshments, Campaign and conversation area. Tickets £7/£5 concessions at the door, £6/£4 in advance, available from Lesley Grahame,  07711 298214 lesley7railway@yahoo.co.uk

Do also keep an eye out for the new summer issue of Transition Free Press now out and on sale at both events

Permaculture Design Course West Norfolk: April – September

The fourth West Norfolk Permaculture Design Course is starting in April 2013 and will run for six weekend over six months at six inspiring West Norfolk venues. This course has been very popular for the last three years and is helping to build a strong permaculture community across Norfolk. 

This course provides an introduction to the design methods, tools, principles and ethics that underpin this sustainable design system. It is a unique opportunity to meet other people in the area who are exploring more sustainable ways of living and to visit some exciting projects already employing the principles of permaculture.

The first weekend (April 13/14) is an introduction and participants can come to this as a stand-alone weekend. For those who wish to explore further, there will be five additional weekends on 11/12 May, 8/9 June, 13/14 July, 10/11 August and 14/15 September. All those who complete the full course will receive a certificate and be able to continue on to do the permaculture  diploma if they wish. 

Details and information can be found on the Norfolk Permaculture web site at http://norfolkpermaculture.wordpress.com/. For more information e-mail westnorfolkpdc@gmail.com or call Ben on 01760 756029.

Grapes Hill Community Garden Update

Tea break in the garden, Sunday 17th March 2013.

It doesn't feel particularly like spring at the moment but there are some subtle signs that winter is nearing its end. On a warm day a couple of weeks ago, Comma butterflies briefly emerged from hibernation and in green spaces like Earlham Cemetery in Norwich, bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies have been visiting the massed crocuses.

Another hint of spring was the resumption of garden tasks at Grapes Hill Community Garden in mid March.  These will take place every fortnight, on Sunday afternoons (2 - 4pm). The next dates are: 31st March (Easter Sunday), 14th April, 28th April, 12th May 2013. All welcome - gardening experience is not essential and tools, tea and cake will be provided.

During the winter we planted a mini-orchard of plum trees on an area of grass on Golding Place and in early March we organised a community litter pick.   

This summer we are going to host a Big Lunch in the garden on Sunday 2nd June. We'll also be opening the garden, along with the Belvedere Centre Garden for charity through the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday 28th July 2013 as "Two Norwich Community Gardens".


For more information on the garden see our website and Facebook page. Jeremy Bartlett

Photograph by Jeremy Bartlett 

Edible Forest Gardening - 17 March

Turn any garden or patch of land into a sustainable multi-layer food system. From surveying and site analysis, to plant choice and placement, this workshop will use a real world example to take you through the forest garden design process. By the end of the day you will have created a design and be ready to grow your own forest garden to suit your circumstances. Includes how to work sustainably with nature, implementation, plant sourcing, propagation and maintaing a healthy garden. Cost £20 (£15 concessions)

Edible Forest Gardening - Sunday 17 March 11-4pm at True Sounds above Ali Bongo's, 22 St Johns, Madermarket, Norwich NR2 1DN 

Reserve a place here For futther information: David Boyce 07526423076 healthygrowth7@gmail.com

Norwich FarmShare talk- 25 February

As well as running a hedge-planting workday on 24th February (all welcome), Norwich FarmShare will be relating their experiences of this unique city CSA at  the next meeting of the Norwich Organic Group.

Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres: Our story so far with grower,  Tierney Woods
Members of the social enterprise will share their experience of creating a community-run vegetable growing business. The growers, Transitioners and volunteers will be telling their grassroots story of how the farm got started, how everyone has learned about the site and soil, how people have benefited from being on the land and find out about opportunities to get involved.

All welcome; £2 entry for people who are not members of NOG. If you’re a member of FarmShare and you’d like to come along for free, please email us.

 Date:7.30pm Monday 25 February Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich NR2 1EW (next to St Giles Car Park)

The Common Room - 23 February

“The Common Room” is a series of Norfolk-based community popup days, open to all, creating innovative projects and events. Following on from the successful prototype day last November, we will be hosting another day of making, learning, sharing and socializing at the 15th Century St Laurence’s Church in St Benedict’s Street, Norwich, on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013, from 11am until 4pm.

The Common Room is an experiment in creating a community space, made and shaped through local collaboration, connection and resourcefulness: a social engine room for developing our community’s ideas and projects. It was initially created by Social Spaces and 00:/ in partnership with the Churches Conservation Trust, and is now run by a Norwich based community group formed from some of those who were deeply inspired by the prototype day.

Just a few of the events on Saturday, 23rd February, will include: a trade school, weaving, origami, herbs for resilience, disruptive education, grassroots communications and media, a book exchange, pod building, DIY events, a speaker’s corner, maker’s market, music and food workshops, as well as a chance to meet and talk with other interesting members of our community over a cup of tea and launch your own ideas!

For further information contact Jeppe Graugaard jeppegraugaard@gmail.com

Logging for Stove Wood 2/3 March

A Norwich-based 2-day course in safe use of a chainsaw, cross-cutting,splitting and stacking with local forester and conservationist, Paul Jackson. Selection of trees for coppicing/trimming/felling, designed for those wishing to maintain or enhance biological diversity of a copse or woodland. It also includes processing and preparing stove wood from bulk supplies.

This two-day course is designed as:

*     Introduction to the safe domestic use of a chainsaw
*     Chainsaw cleaning and general maintenance
*     Use of different types of hand-saw
*     Cross-cutting
*     Wood-splitting - maul/wedge/fro
*     Introduction to woodland management
*     Coppicing
*     Replanting
*     Wood-stacking and weather protection for optimal seasoning

This is an ideal course for those wishing to maintain or enhance
biodiversity in a copse or woodland using a chainsaw.  It also includes
processing and preparing your own supply of stove wood from bulk
supplies.

This course does not cover mature tree felling and is not suitable for
those people who use a chainsaw in an industrial capacity

Please bring PPE safety equipment with you.  If you can't please tell us
and we will aim to accomodate at this end.  Chainsaw not essential but
if you already have one then do bring it.
 

Lunch and tea/coffee/biscuits provided. 09:30 - 16:30  each day 
Limited places, booking essential Total cost: £150  For further 
details and booking contact: Deepak Rughani parkhouse@fastmail.co.uk

Transition Free Press Issue 1 is here

The Transition Free Press has published its first edition today. 10,000 copies of the new Spring issue are now being distributed throughout the UK. 24 pages of news, reviews, comments and cartoons, as well as dedicated pages to land rights, education, food, well-being, arts and community. Do check out our on-line version:

http://issuu.com/transitionfreepress
 
Transition Free Press is written by transitioners from the UK to Japan to Europe and the Americas. This issue includes an article on the Magdalen Street Celebration by our own Chris Hull, reviews by TN bloggers, Mark Watson and Simeon Jackson and is edited by Charlotte Du Cann (who will all be distributing hard copies in the city from mid-month). Copies will also be available at The Common Room on 23rd February at St Lawrence's, Benedict Street. Cover price, £1.

Lists of stockists, events and distributors for the paper is here

If you enjoy what you read, do become a Friend of TFP and help the newspaper crew continue with Issue 2 (May). Our crowd-funding campaign ends on 14th Feburary and would welcome a boost. If you prefer offline donations, please contact Jay Tompt jay@transitionfreepress.org.uk Many thanks!

TRANSITION FREE PRESS – REPORTING THE MOVEMENT.