Transition Network UK Conference 2012 - 13-18 September

This year the Transition Conference will take place in London, hosted by the Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), and the conference aims to provide a weekend of events and workshops that explore the theme of "Building Resilience in Extraordinary Times".
The programme has 5 distinct elements, which can be attended as stand-alone events or in combination:

• Main Transition Conference: Friday 14^th September (6.00pm) to Sunday 16^th September (4.30pm)
• REconomy Project Day: Friday 14^th September (10.00am to 5.30pm)
• Youth Symposium: Friday 14^th September (10.00am to 5.30pm)
• National Transition Hubs gathering: Monday 17^th September (10.00am) to Tuesday 18^th September (1.00pm)
• Transition THRIVE training: 2 full days, Thursday 13^th (9.30am to 5.30pm) and Friday 14^th September (9.30am to 5.00pm)

Main Transition Conference
The main Conference gives you the chance to connect with people from all over the UK - and the world – who have taken the Transition approach into their hearts, lives and communities.

Whether new or experienced in Transition this will be an opportunity to plunge into a rich pool of ideas, inspiration and practical learning, refresh your energy and make new friendsThe theme this year will be explored through a wide variety of activities and processes including programmed workshops, an Open Space afternoon, walks and visits, and a great Saturday evening of entertainment, including an open mic slot. It will draw in elements of the REconomy and Young Transition conferences happening the previous day.

The full programme is now available.

Transition Circle West - 21 February

The next Transition Circle West meeting will be held at 7pm and Anne's house on Tuesday February 21st. Following on from the focus of January's meeting on skills-sharing, where we all brought various examples of our handy work along to discuss, the meeting will cover resource-sharing. After sharing our usual vegetarian meal together we will be reviewing the circle's resource-sharing library and deciding rules of usage, the best form for it, and its possible benefits for us and for transition.

For more information about this meeting and future meetings please contact Helen Pallett mshelenpallett@gmail.com

Sewing circle from the Social Reporting Project's Skill Share Week.

Transition Circle West - 25th January

Transition Circle West starting off the New Year with skills sharing.

We will be meeting at Pete and Teresa's house on Wednesday January 25th at 7pm to share a meal together and to discuss how we can share our skills. You can even bring something you have made along to show the group! This circle meeting follows two stimulating and enjoyable meetings held during December, where we discussed alternative economics and the future plans of the circle. Join us in January to learn new skills for a resilient community and to help plan future meetings for the circle.

To attend this meeting or for more information about the group please contact Helen Pallett at mshelenpallett@gmail.com

Photo: skill-sharing at Permaculture Norfolk's Workday by Mark Watson

Reskilling - Scything Courses

My name is Beth Tilston and I am a scything tutor. I am writing to gauge your interest in joining forces to run a one or two day scything course in your area either before the end of October this year or from May onwards next year (due to grass growth). Scything, as I am sure you know, is a way of cutting grass and weeds using a blade and human power rather than power tools such as strimmers and lawnmowers. A scythe is useful for lawns, allotments, community orchards - all the way to meadows and mountainsides.

I am looking for appropriate areas in which to run courses. An appropriate area would be somewhere which had access to a reasonable amount of grass which isn't regularly mown short, plus somewhere with nettles, docks, thistles etc to provide variety. I teach groups of up to six and can work with another tutor for larger groups. I provide all the equipment (including safety equipment) necessary and am fully insured. I am also available to do demonstrations.

Scything is a skill that takes time to learn but a skillful scyther can work as fast as a strimmer. Here’s a video of Peter Vido, a scyther in America, showing the versatility of a scythe. Scythes are also:

• Zero carbon
• Quiet - better for residential areas and for the hearing of the person cutting the grass - and for general peace and quiet!
• Safe - Though it does involve using sharp blades, there are fewer health and safety risks in the long term than mechanical devices. For example, there is no risk of whitefinger or any other vibration related ailments.
• Fuel free - and therefore cheaper in the long term
• Easy (and interesting) to maintain
• Requires skill to use and therefore makes the job interesting

Please email me at bethtilston@googlemail.com or phone me on 07818474712 to discuss options.
Beth Tilston with scythe at the Uncivilisation Festival; in action.

Call for hair donations

New research has shown that by far the most efficient form of insulation is human hair. And what a brilliant way to make use of all of those clippings that are currently going to waste!

The transition energy and buildings group are going to be talking to all of the local hairdressers to see whether they can source enough hair to insulate the new compost toilet that has been constructed on Norwich Farmshare's Postwick site. This is to try and prevent it from freezing next winter, which could cause expensive damage to the new system.

They are going to need about a tonne of hair to do a proper job and if they manage to collect more than this then they may be able to insulate the shipping container as well so that Laura has a warm office.

If you know of any local hairdressers who may be willing to donate their trimmings or if you would like to donate your hair when you cut it at home, then please contact Kerry on (kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com) to arrange collection.

Photo: the currently uninsulated compost toilet

Transition Circle West - 23 March

Our new format of two meetings a month seems to be working well. We had a lovely meeting of textiles work, getting on with projects we had and sharing tips and ideas. Our second meeting was a lively discussion of low carbon holidays, and what a long list of ideas we came up with! From Couch surfing to retreats, Cycle touring to RSPB residential volunteering there is a massive array of possible low carbon holidays in the UK. All of our ideas will be put into the resources section of the Transition Norwich website for others to peruse. We also discussed the ethics of international travel - flying, freight ships, voluntourism and slow travel - its a complicated moral maze, but low carbon options often end up being more memorable in the end.

Next month we are going to be concocting lotions and potions in our herbal remedies meeting on Tuesday 8 March and then we will be exercising our minds with a short talk from Ben on sociocultural evolution and its relevance to transition, followed by a discussion, on Wednesday 23 March. Kerry Lane

Anyone in the west of Norwich, who is trying to reduce their carbon footprint is welcome to join us, just get in touch with Helen on mshelenpallett@gmail.com.

Hedge planting for the Norwich CSA

16 excited and determined tree-planters arrived at our field this morning, despite the ominous clouds. We all had wrapped up warmly, but quickly shed the extra layers as we got digging. Jason- our forester- gave us all a quick demonstration of the right way to plant a tiny two-year-old tree and we set to with a will. We had 200 trees to plant in our hedge, 4 to the metre in 2 staggered rows. Jeremy brought spades for us to use, kindly lent by the Grapes Hill Community Garden. Most people arrived with thermos flasks of tea, and Adele brought delicious flapjacks to share. It is easy to see how a community will grow up around this small patch of land and the produce we will enjoy from it. I came home covered in mud and sweat, but very happy to have contributed something to the land which will soon be feeding me. And for the first time in my life, I have contributed to something that could well outlive me. That feels very satisfying. (Elena Judd)

Photos by Jeremy Bartlett

NR3 - new home for broken umbrellas

Have you ever looked down on a broken umbrella and wished there was something that could be done? Well your wish has been granted.

The artist Helenofnorwich, member of NR3 Transition Norwich group wants your broken umbrellas (only the fabric not the structure) for an art project during Norwich pride. Groups of volunteers will work with the fabric to produce a piece of work for the parade, the fabric will then be recyled again after the event.

If you have an broken umbrella material please send it to 80 St Stephens Road, Norwich, NR1 3RE.

Permaculture group

Permaculture can be used design anything (your life, garden, business, community project, kitchen etc...really...anything!) to be a sustainable (low input) system. Low energy, low time, low cost, low planetary impact. We can learn from observing natural systems that there are principles of how they function efficiently. These insights can then creatively shape the design.

The foundation of permaculture systems are the ethics of earth care, people care and fair sharing of resources.

It's about making connections.

The Norfolk Permaculture group has come together through a shared understanding through our experiences and learning of permaculture.

We wish to support each other through sharing skills, knowledge, contacts and be extra sets of hands on projects. We want to be a hub for those new to permaculture in Norwich and Norfolk (and some of Suffolk ) or those who have just finished their design courses.

There is now a Norfolk Permaculture website (hooray!) which can be found here.

We've set up a google discussion group so we can easily share information with each other. This could be offers, requests, sharing info, details about courses or workdays. If you would like to be added to this google discussion group please email Tierney: tierneywoods@yahoo.co.uk.

For background info and reading there are books available in the Norfolk County Council Libraries.

Reskilling - Planning Ahead - 6 October

After a break for the summer the Reskilling group are now back in the cafes of Norwich planning their next round of workshops. So if anyone is interested in helping to organise (mostly just coming up with ideas) these workshops or just wants to join us for some tea and cake we will be in the Bicycle Shop on St Benedicts Street at 8pm on Wednesday 6th October.

Contact Kerry on
kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com

Reskilling - Crocheting Rag Rugs

The second Rag Rug session organised by the Reskilling group was a sucessful as the first with Karen managing to teach 5 beginners to crochet first with wool and hooks and then with rags and fingers. So having made a rug by the weaving technique for my mum's birthday I now need another recipient for a crocheted version!

Keep your eyes peeled for more reskilling sessions in the autumn on the subject of food as well as a 'help' social session for all your textile related queries! (Kerry Lane/Core Group)

Helen and Kerry of the Reskilling Group getting down to some serious sewing

Reskilling- Report and second Rag-rug Making session - 14 June

There were two lovely reskilling workshops held in May. The Rag Rug making workshop was great fun with lots of us squashed into Karen's shop learning how to weave beautiful arty looking (mini) rugs out of old bed sheets and rags and we hope to run a follow up session in early June of crocheting Rag Rugs so that we can make round ones too! There was also much hilarity and tea drinking and we managed not to talk about knitting for more or less the entire evening! I made my two mini rugs into a bag (see photo).

The clothes swap was also very successful with all of us leaving with lots of new garments (although hopefully slightly less than we came with!) and having a delicious bring and share lunch. We also managed a bit of clothes altering amid all of the chatting about natural clothes dyes and green living.

Keep your eyes open for the next round of workshops in the autumn on the theme of food. And go and support Norwich Pride at the Knit in at St Lawrence Textile Centre, St Benedict's Street at 11am on Sunday 6th June. All abilities welcome, needles and wool can be provided.(Kerry Lane, Reskilling/TN2)

UPDATE! Due to popular demand the reskilling group are running another rag rug session, but this time we will be learning how to make round ones by crocheting them. It is going to be held on Monday 14th June at 8pm and will be in Kerry's house which is near to the university.

There are 8 spaces on the workshop and it is first come first served, so don't delay in letting Kerry know (kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com) if you are interested.

NR3 - Neighbourhood Meeting - Monday 24 May

NR3 – Neighbourhood meeting - Monday 24 May
Seed swapping grew into tree swapping at the last NR3 meeting. I came home with 4 saplings and a tray of beetroot! Thanks to Greta for hosting and supplying us with drinks while we put the world to rights.

Our next meeting is at Karen Steadman's art space on 27 St Augustine's Street on Monday 24th May at 7 pm. We don’t have a theme as yet but maybe something eco-crafty? Speaking of which her event called Let's paint the town green is on Saturday 8th May. You meet at St Augustine's Church at 2.30p.m. for the parade or 5.30 at the hall to celebrate all the garden sculptures coming together. Contact Karen on 0770 848 5998 for more details.

She is having some regular craft evenings at her space on Thursday evenings starting on the 29th April for three weeks. These are at 7p.m. and you can come and do anything creative.
Lastly, if you have not exhausted your creativity at Karen’s then you can join the knit with pride project by knitting squares to show your support for the LGBT community. They will be joined to make a mammoth woolly to hang off the city hall balcony on the day of Norwich pride festival in July. (helenofnorwich/NR3)

Free wool can be got from Anna's Farm Stores, 125 Magdalen Road and details of Knit-Ins are on the website www.norwichpride.org.uk. For more info about knitting nights www.artoftheordinary.co.uk

Reskilling: Clothes Swap and Mending Sessions- Saturday 22 May
The idea of our Reskilling textiles sessions is to provide tasters of a skill that may then launch you off into a whole new area, or just give you the basics you need from time to time.

Mending and altering clothes: we will be having an ever popular clothes swap, followed by a session to learn how to mend or alter any new clothing that you have acquired, plus anything else that you have brought along, without using a sewing machine. This event is happening on Saturday 22nd May from 11-3 and will include a bring and share lunch. It will be a free event and all abilities and body shapes are welcome (10 spaces available).

Knitting: there are a plethora of Knit-Ins happening around the city where everyone is very welcome and you can learn the basics or pick up some good tips:

1. To celebrate Norwich pride this year, artist and transitioner, helenofnorwich is encouraging everyone to knit a square that will be joined to make a giant rainbow scarf. The idea is that everyone can show their support for pride in this simple way. To find out more about how to knit a square and knit-ins that are coming up visit http://www.norwichpride.org.uk/ (also see NR3 entry below)
2. Another transitioner Karen Steadman is hosting some knitting nights on Thursday 6th May and 13th May, 7-9.30pm at 27 St Augustine's Street, all abilities welcome. For more info http://www.artoftheordinary.co.uk/

Both sets of events will provide some materials if you don't have your own.

Rag rug making session: Monday 17 May,7.30-10.00pm in Karen Steadman's craft space, 27 St Augustines Street (5 spaces left) learning the art of making rugs from rags! This event is free, but booking a space is necessary so we have enough tea and equipment.

Spinning: we are currently trying to organise a session to learn the basics of spinning with a spindle. (Kerry Lane/Reskilling)

The finalised details will be sent round the theme groups and booking will be necessary on all but the knitting sessions. For booking and information contact Kerry: kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com

Above: Knitting squares by helenofnorwich; dressmaking by Elena Judd; Heart illustration by Elena Ray

Reskilling: Textile Workshops

The Reskilling group wants to (re)learn the multitude of skills that will be needed for a sustainable future. In the past year we have had craft stalls at green christmas markets, visited the Weird and Wonderful Wood fair for inspiration and helped organise the summer party. Our next endeavour is a series of Reskilling workshops introducing some of the basic skills requested in the skills survey we carried out earlier this year. The focus of the first six of these sessions is going to be on textiles, running in late April and throughout May, led by a variety of people from both within and without the group.

To begin with we want to know who is interested in each workshop, so please email Kerry (kerezereky_the_first@hotmail.com) if you might like to attend any of the sessions (numbers will be limited and there may be a small fee for some of them) and whether you have any particular preferences for days and time during the weeks.

The possible sessions so far are: Knitting - the basics and then a follow up session; Spinning wool - with an emphasis on spindles rather than wheels; Clothes mending/altering - the basics and answering queries; Clothes making - an introduction to making 'comfy trousers'; Rag rug making - start to produce your own rug with help. (Kerry Lane)

Theme Group Meetings - NR3, Heart and Soul, Resilience Plan - 8 and 12 April

NR3 are now meeting regularly again and the next meeting is a Seed Swap at Greta's house near the Whalebone pub on Monday April 12th at 7p.m. If you want to come then email helenofnorwich@hotmail.com

The last few meetings have mostly been lively discussion with some interesting input from two artists who are both setting up temporary residence in St Augustine's street. One of these artists Karen Steadman is promoting "Paint The Town Green" - an art project which aims to transform neglected spaces into stunning virtual community gardens. More details on this are available at www.artoftheordinary-steady.blogspot.com or contact Karen on 0770 848 5998

Heart and Soul A new programme of Heart & Soul meetings is kicking off this month – these will take place on the second Monday of each month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the upstairs meeting room at the Bicycle Shop Café, 17 St Benedict’s Street (01603 625777). Our first meeting on April 12 is on Inner Resilience, facilitated by Naomi Duffield.

How do you maintain inner stability in times of external change? What does it take to switch from consumer based values to more sustainable ones? What does it take to keep motivated? This will be a listening space, rather than a teaching session - all welcome. Contact: trust@mangreen.co.uk

Our Resilience Plan is gradually taking shape, with visions for the future supported by plenty of facts, figures and practical plans. We're planning to publish a first draft during April for everyone to see. As part of the Resilience Plan, we're launching our Millennium Babies project, to chart the progress of children born in the Millennium year. They will come of age in 2018 - what will the future hold for them? We're hoping to work with every school in Norwich to capture the visions of 10 year-olds and their ideas in shaping the future for a resilient Norwich.

Our first step will be a photocall with the BBC on Tuesday 13 April, so if there's a Millennium Baby in your family, do contact us asap if you'd like to be involved. More details of this exciting project to follow in the next bulletin! Contact: Jane Chittenden jane@janechittenden.co.uk or Tom Harper tomharper@ekit.com (Jane Chittenden)

Reskilling Survey

The Reskilling group's new year's resolution is to teach people skills! So to gauge interest we have made a one question survey. Please do respond if you have a skill you would like to learn or teach even if you are not a member of the Reskilling group. The survey can be found here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WFPMFQV

Reskilling Survey

The Reskilling group's new year's resolution for 2010 is to teach people skills! So to gauge interest we have made a one question survey. Please do respond if you have a skill you would like to learn or teach even if you are not a member of the Reskilling group. The survey can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WFPMFQV.

Reskilling/NR3: Save Christmas, Save the Planet – Saturday 28 November

As a way of building community, relearning old skills and affording Christmas we have decided to run a Green Christmas Fair at the local church hall. In Sewell ward ( part of NR3) the local transitioners (reskilling and NR3) have got together with the existing Church fete which was already green - bric-a brac, homemade jam and cakes and handmade knitwear. Already there is great excitement particularly amongst the churchgoers and the local community. We are planning a range of workshops to show you how to make your own Christmas gifts and generally having a low carbon Christmas which is about loving each other and not buying loads of stuff.

If you feel you can contribute in any way then please contact me, we need storytellers, reskillers (making gifts) and stuff to make things with. So if you have any of these skills or any old fabric, pine cones or hazel or willow twigs then please let me know. Kind regards, Helen Simpson Slapp – helenofnorwich@hotmail.com

Reskilling Group

The Reskilling group aims to spread practical skills that will be useful in a post-peak-oil world, by connecting people who do not have those skills to those who have them and are willing to teach them.

Reskilling is about the learning of new skills and brushing up on old/traditional practical skills, which contributes towards developing a self-reliant community, better able to sustain itself and thrive. Reskilling aims to give people in this community a sense of self-reliance, raise self-esteem, and of course there is also quite a social aspect too! Meeting new friends of similar mind, sharing, learning from one another, helping each other, and ultimately, passing on to the future generations what we have learned.

The Reskilling group will work in harmony with the other groups, directing people toward any existing or planned workshops or events being offered by the other Transition Norwich groups, or organisations outside of the Transition initiative, and to bridge any gaps where workshops are not currently available by providing them. Reskilling will help to promote capability, to prepare for an energy scarce future, and to allow those involved to feel empowered to do things for themselves.

The Reskilling group wants to make it possible for everyone in Transition and beyond to learn the skills they would like to know and need to live a sustainable life. This covers everything from knitting to jam-making, carpentry to cob building, any skill you could potentially think of.

In 2009 we were involved in organising the Transition midsummer summer party and we held magazine bead and material bag making workshops at the Green Christmas Fair in NR3, organised by one of our members. We also had a group excursion to the Weird and Wonderful Wood fair and had a go on a pole lathe!

Our current activities are organising workshop sessions on certain themes. In the spring we ran several 'textiles' workshops where we learnt how to knit, to crochet and to make rag rugs. This autumn we are going to be running some workshops on food related skills. These workshops are organised by a small group of interested people, our meetings are always put on to the calendar and everyone is very welcome to come along join in the fun, help out and contribute any suggestions you may have for workshops.

There is a list of skills required for a post-oil world in the Resources Section, starting with skills most people will need to know and broadening out to conside local and city services. These skills range from growing and cooking food from scratch (preserving, gleaning, brewing), to repair (everything from shoes to plumbing) and artisanal skills (tailors sharing resources, natural healthcare and low-carbon entertainment.We are a very open group and would love to welcome anyone who wants to share or learn any skills. Do join the online group to learn more about upcoming events and discussion.

Contact: Kerry Lane at kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com

Click here to view / join the Reskilling email discussion group (Google Group)