TRANSITION CIRCLES - Hethersett - 25 October

TCH met on 16 September at Rhoda's. Initially, we discussed economy and preparedness for the worst case scenario. In order to move onto our topic for the night of Transport, Erik suggested we have one of our future meetings entirely on Economy. Based on a recommendation of Steve to read the Energy Bulletin, John added a links page to our google group.

Some of the things we talked about: Flying makes up only 2% of global carbon emissions, but that is because most people never fly. Flying can be a huge contributor to a personal carbon footprint, with a single return flight to New Zealand emitting about 10 tonnes per passenger, which is almost the current total yearly per capita footprint in the UK, while a 2 degrees warming target suggests this should come down to 1-2 tonnes per person by 2050, and even less by the end of the century.

The people in the room agreed that the main challenge of having a low transport impact (both from personal travel and from transporting the stuff we buy) is time. Going out of one's way to shop low impact often gets dropped in favour of the faster option, and the way online buying is set up has it's own environmental problems. One of the solutions we discussed is to pick up on what the Strangers have been trialling: to collectively buy dry goods wholesale and have them delivered.

By contrast, low carbon holidays were deemed easier to achieve: with a change in attitude, it's possible to see the slower lower carbon modes of travel (in particular trains) as part of the holiday with it's own attractions (views, sleeper trains, easier to make stopovers at interesting places on the way), although it can suffer from some of the same disadvantages as flying when there are delays. When booked well in advance, the train can be cheaper than flying (http://www.seat61.com)

Next meeting will be on Food. We will start at 19:30 with a bring and share meal. If you'd like to attend contact Erik at http://lgmacweb.env.uea.ac.uk/green_ocean/positions/Buitenhuis/feedback.html

Low Carbon Cookbook - 20 October

Last month we had our first One Planet Community Kitchen meeting at the Greenhouse in Bethel Street.

The Kitchen is a regional hub that aims to start up food and arts projects in different Transition initiatives. All the projects will share three aims: 1) to work creatively as a co-operative group 2) to bring ecological awareness to the food we eat 3) to map local food patterns.

In the next few months we’ll be writing on the blog about some of the aims of the Kitchen and showcasing our work. Ways of calculating an ecological footprint for food – looking at carbon emissions, as well as other greenhouse gases, in transport, production and processing. We’ll be considering waste, packaging, the use of water. Several people who came were from the four Transition circles and were Carbon Conversation facilitators; Erik ran the original One Planet group at UEA.

We’ll be focusing on the Transition Food Patterns of Norwich and its hinterlands in the way we began in our Transition Food Patterns Fortnight. Building up a list of producers, talking to people, visiting city allotments and food projects. We’ll be writing information boxes that show why engaging in local market-diversity (as opposed to supermarket monopoly) creates resilient community, what exactly organic certification means. And we’ll be cooking! Trying out recipes that are sustainable, intelligent, delicious, meaningful. Bring a dish to share dishes that everyone can eat.

In our first session Josiah Meldrum (Sustainable Bungay, Provenance, EAFL) talked about principles and the tenets of working as a co-op. And we kickstarted this creative project with our first food mapping exercise, Deconstruct the Dish.
For a full write up of our session check out This Low Carbon Life (Sept 22-25 : the Session. the Dish, the Ingredient. For further details and to join the group contact Charlotte Du Cann rootsshootsandseeeds@hotmail.co.uk

Carbon Conversations - 13 and 14 October

With the success of the Carbon Conversations earlier in the year we now have 10 facilitators trained in Norwich so we are able to offer our third round of courses this term. Carbon Conversations is an inspiring, practical 6-session course on low-carbon living. It was recently featured in the Guardian as one of the 20 best climate change solutions.

• based on the psychology of change
• emotionally engaging
• technically rigorous
• up to date, attractive handbook, games and materials

The course engages people both emotionally and practically, helping them overcome the barriers often associated with making large carbon reductions. Members explore the basic climate change problem, their responses to it, their ideas for a low-carbon future and the four key areas of the footprint – home energy, travel, food and other consumption. Most members make reductions of 1 tonne CO2 during the course and develop plans to halve their footprints over a longer period (Christine Way).

Courses will be starting on Tues 13 Octand Wed 14 Oct in the evenings in central Norwich. At County Hall on Tue 19 Oct, at UEA on Wed 20 (for students), in Unthank/Earlham Rd area Mon 25 Oct. Course Fee: £20 If you would like to join one of these courses please contact T. 01603 614460 or email training@transitionnorwich.org

Other courses will be starting throughout Norfolk so please get in touch if you wish to be kept informed of the programme

Community Supported Agriculture gets under way - 1 November

About 20 Transitioners met at the United Reformed Church on Monday September 13th to start making preparations for the CSA. The money is in place, the land is ready for us, and we've bought a tractor.

As Tully explained to the meeting, some aspects of the project are set out clearly in the funding application, but others are much more open for CSA members to determine.

Among the things that are clear are, for example, the plan to employ a full-time farm manager (shared betwen the CSA and the school farm) as well as more casual or part-time staff. Also the short-term role of East Anglia Food Link in helping to get the scheme established. EAFL's staff (William and Tully) are already working on getting the land subsoiled and mucked, drawing up the lease, buying the tractor, polytunnel and equipment and so on.

But other aspects are very much for the CSA's members to decide. At the meeting we agreed to set up working groups focusing on recruiting more members; arranging social events to build a sense of community and ownership in the CSA; finding the best arrangments for distributing the produce, for example through drop-off points around the city and beyond; and overseeing production to maximise environmental benefits, biodiversity and natural pest management. The meeting felt very strongly that the CSA needs to be Organic.

We have secured the services of The Guild (a Norwich-based consultancy specialising in social economy organisations) to help us to set up the new not-for-profit business (probably a co-op) which will run the CSA. Around 12 people have agreed to meet with The Guild to find out more about being on the Board of the new organisation, and to drive forward the process of setting it up.

The "Board" meeting is on October 5th and the "growing and environment" meeting on the 7th. The Marketing meeting on November 1st. If you're interested in joining any of these, please sign up to the Food Googlegroup and you'll get all the up-to-date information.

The business plan and budget that were used for the funding bid have been posted on the googlegroup too. If you're interested in reading in detail what's been promised to the funder, do have a look. (Tully Wakeman/Food and Farming)

RELATED EVENT: Energy Efficiency Day - 9 October

On Saturday 9th October The Belvedere Centre on Belvoir Street is holding an Energy Efficiency Day from 11am - 4pm. Norwich Radio, the Green Party and the City Council Advice Team will be present as well as The Energy Saving Trust with a Green Driving Simulator. There will be Circus Training, Short Matt Bowls and Street Dancing along with other activities. Kerry has offered to coordinate a stall on the day and your support in both running the stall and attending the event would be very welcome. This is the local community centre for those of us living in the Dereham / Earlham Road area so this event is a good opportunity for us to get involved with the community. Please get in touch with Kerry if you can help or have some ideas: kezereky_the_first@hotmail.com

RELATED EVENT: Be The Change Symposium - 7 November

Have you ever wondered how we can create an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling human presence on Earth?

Through dynamic group interactions, leading edge information, and inspiring multimedia Be The Change examines this question. Designed with the collaboration of some of the finest scientific, indigenous and activist minds in the world, the Symposium explores the current state of environmental, social and personal well-being from a new perspective and connects participants with a powerful global movement to reclaim our future.

The Symposium is being offered in Norwich by Bernadette Ryder who was one of the first Europeans to train directly with The Pachamama Alliance to deliver the Symposium, and then bring it to the UK under the auspices of ‘Be The Change’. She is now one of the UK’s lead trainers and integrates the material with other work including 5 Rhythms® and ‘The Work That Reconnects’

If you are ready to be disturbed, inspired and moved to action join us at Inner Space on Sunday 7^th November 11.00 – 5.30. www.innerspacenorwich.co.uk 01603 614460

Magdalen Street - The Big Day Arrives!

It started out as a way to expand the NR3 Transition group out into the community. Resident artist and photographer Helen Simpson Slapp and local community artist Karen Steadman had a dream...

Now in the final frantic week of ensuring everything goes according to as much of a plan as these things can, the Magdalen Street Celebration has captured local imaginations and a truly astonishing amount of traders, volunteers, charities, performers, artists and more have emerged to take part over the last three months.

Stacia Briggs took up the story in a double page spread in the Eastern Daily Press last Thursday...

"Magdalen Street - famous for rebels, royals and regrets - it was stormed by Robert Kett's army, visited by Queens Elizabeth I and II and subject to some of the least sympathetic town planning decisions ever made in Norwich.

Now the street is hoping to create its own history with a magnificent street festival on October 2, which will see the area transformed into a vibrant celebration of the most diverse neighbourhood in the city.

Visitors will be able to learn more about the incredible history of the area, sample the unique collection of shops, meet other residents and an array of activities including performances by local musicians and artists, workshops, art exhibitions and a fashion parade starring vintage and second hand clothes shops sourced on Magdalen Street itself."

(from the EDP2 article on 23 September 2010)

Founding organiser Helen Simpson-Slapp said: “We are creating a street festival to bring the community together to have fun, but also we would like to see a long lasting effect. There's no reason why this festival should not continue and grow over the years, and help connect people in this area of the City”.

Rachel Lalchan joined the organising group after arriving in Norwich from South London where she had helped set up a Transition group: “Having moved to a new city, I was keen to be involved in local community life and taking part in this group event enables me to do just that. It also means I get to know my local area really well and Magdalen Street is a wonderful place that seems to be continuously evolving”.

So come and witness the transformation of Magdalen Street on Saturday and in the meantime check out some of the blog posts from some of the organisers this week on This Low Carbon Life, and get a complete programme of events on http://www.magdalenstreet.blogspot

There is still opportunity for you to get involved on the day by:

· being a steward – helping people who may be lost or need help finding an activity

· decorating the street – putting up bunting, blowing up balloons!

Please contact Helen or Karen (click on the links to email) for more information on volunteering. (Andy Croft/NR3)

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

Heart and Soul - The Power of Contemporary Spirituality - 11 October

The 'inner work' needed to support the transition to a more sustainable and earth-centred lifestyle is, of course, being pioneered by many beyond Transition and our Heart & Soul network. At a recent Pulse Group meeting, we took the decision to seek out partners and to initiate collaborative projects and events.

Our first collaboration is with Mangreen Trust – a Norwich-based centre for spiritual exploration and healing – who are hosting a talk by William Bloom of the Foundation for Holistic Spirituality.

William is one of the UK’s leading holistic educators and a renowned mind-body-spirit teacher. He will speaking on the theme: The Power of Contemporary Spirituality as a Practical and Holistic Approach to Developing Ourselves and Transforming our World.

His work, and that of the Foundation, is premised on the understanding that there is an emerging spirituality that is inclusive of all spiritual paths, both faith and non-faith. It is a movement that recognises there are many people without a formal voice who, through their living, are upholding certain core principles and values. These values include a recognition of our need to protect the health and sustainability of the natural environment for future generations.

William is a champion of this growing approach to spirituality, and an inspirational speaker who provides his audience with both new insights and practical tools for spiritual development. (Naomi Duffield/Heart and Soul)

When: 7-9pm, Monday 11th October Cost: £6 (special discount rate for Transitioners - full fee £10) Where: Mangreen Hall, Swardeston, Norwich NR14 8DD Contact: Naomi Duffield on 01508 570444 / trust@mangreen.co.uk Website: http://www.mangreen.co.uk/

TRANSITION CIRCLES - Earlham North 28 September

Transition Circles are entering their second year in a practical mood: Earlham South are chopping wood together, Strangers' organising their wholefood co-op. Transition Hethersett are cycling to their third meeting. Meanwhile Earlham North met last month to discuss water conservation and exchanged practical tips. Diana Church copes with the deluge of information.

Water conservation, our chosen topic to discuss seemed apt after several torrential downpours during the afternoon. The last deluge of the day soaked me to the skin as, perched on a ladder, I unblocked a narrow pipe which drains rainwater from a bay window parapet into the main downpipe . . .However, torrential rain withstanding, statistics from the Met Office show that over the last 10 years our average rainfall has decreased by 8%.We discussed rain water catchment in our gardens and the benefit of linked waterbutts using plastic hosepipes to deliver water where it is needed...... even running one into the greenhouse.

From that we talked about hard surface rainwater run off from roads and pavements that overflow into Anglian Water drainage system, leading us to question why it is we use good quality water in our homes to flush loos and for washing? According to a survey, 75% of our domestic water is used in the bathroom of which a quarter is toilet flushing. A 4 minute shower uses between 20-40 gallons depending on the shower type. To reduce this usage, a water restrictor can be fitted in the shower and a 'hippo' placed in a toilet cistern. (Those of us with the care and concern for animal welfare can use an ordinary house brick or two).

Very modern loos flush exceedingly well using very little water, it's the old clunkers that need doctoring. Quick showers can save a lot of water, where the first burst of water is used to wet oneself, then the shower is turned off to soap ourself, then the final quick burst of water rinses off all the soap. Estimated water usage...just under 2 buckets.

In the kitchen, all crockery can be wiped as clean as possible before washing, keeping the water cleaner for longer. Keeping a bucket in the bathroom to take old bathwater for flushing the loo, reuses the water and is a saving, and only using the washing machine when fully loaded is another. We agreed a gismo needs to be designed that takes rainwater out of an exterior waterbutt and feeds it into a washing machine.m Also a way of setting up a rainwater filter system to deliver clean drinking water into the house. Lucy lived off grid for a while and this was used where she stayed. The drinking water produced met the health standards for drinking water. We are looking forward to catching up with other Transition group members at the Old White Lion Pub on the 15th September. Maybe we can discuss gismos and gadgets!

Our next North group meeting is at Lucy's place, telephone 01603 613440 on Tuesday 28 September. The subject is ' How do we go on from here?' Not a geographical exercise but a realistic plan of how to expand our group and keep circles going, keep up the momentum.I enjoy our meetings, good food, good company and good conversation, and always something inspiring for future action.

Photos: Hethersett sign by John Heaser; rainwater butt for downstairs loo by TECN's Chris Hull on the TN blog

Bike Generator Workshop and Pedal Power Party - 25 September

Build your own bike-powered generator - a kit made up of a Turbo Trainer, 250 watt generator, 12 volt battery and bits to join them together safely.

WHEN? Saturday 25th September 2010, 1-5 p.m.
WHERE? Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich NR2 1EW
COST? £120 incl. all parts & evening meal.

The non-profit workshop is led by Tom Foxe, electrician/TV engineer, bike lover, and builder of the Human Dynamo sound system. It's limited to 12 people, so early booking is advised.

What skills/knowledge do I need ?
If you can use a screwdriver you can do it ! The kit can be built by a child of, say 8+. We will NOT be going deeply into theory of electricity/ mechanics, we will focus on A. Safety B. Building the generator C. Applications

After the workshop there will be a Pedalpower Party featuring short live performances using a pedal-powered sound system and lighting, and a short film, using a pedal-powered computer and data projector. Bring soft drinks and finger food to share, tea and coffee will be provided. All ages welcome. Bikes optional.

RSVP Lesley Grahame 01603 920801 lesley7railway@yahoo.co.uk NB Limited car parking at venue, preference given to disabled partygoers, tell Lesley if space needed. Pedal Power Party at Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane Norwich NR2 1EW Saturday 25th September, 6 - 9 p.m.

To book or for more information contact: Tom 01603 920801 or tom7railway@yahoo.co.uk.

Above: Tom Foxe on bike genny in action, Greenpeace Gig 2010. Left: Carol (Transition Downham Market/The John Preston Tribute Band) generating the power at last year's TN First Anniversary

RELATED EVENT: Open Day at Bluebell Allotments - 25 September

Whether waiting for an allotment, growing your own fruit and vegetables at home or wanting some general gardening experience come and spend the afternoon at the Grow-Our-Own Open Day at their centre in Bluebell Allotments South.

The main attractions include allotment tours, produce sale, tombola, gardening games and quiz and activities for all ages. Check out the centre's bike doctor and see (and taste) their on-site apple press in action.

For more information email sustainable@talktalk.net or ring 01603 455868 or visit grow-our-own.co.uk.

Grow-Our-Own Centre, Bluebell Allotments South, The Avenues, Norwich. Open Day is on Saturday 25 September, 2010. 12noon-4pm. All welcome.

CSA Meeting - 13 September

In August the Food and Farming group had some really good news. After working for 18 months with East Anglia Food Link, the Group finally secured £137k of funding, from the Lottery-funded Local Food Fund for a series of exciting projects:

- a Community Supported Agriculture scheme growing organic vegetables on the edge of the city at Postwick. We’ll be recruiting members who will pay an annual membership fee in return for a regular supply of seasonal, organic, local produce with a very low carbon footprint. Members will also be encouraged to get involved in supporting the project.

- another market garden on the playing fields of the Hewett School, linking students and local people into vegetable production and selling through local community outlets including the school kitchen and ideas like weekly market stalls at local primary schools.

- a flour mill milling local organic wheat, and supplying local artisan bakers who will then be able to bake a “Local Loaf” and

- brokering local staples such as oats and beans into wholefood shops in the city.

To start TN involvement we're having an open meeting on Monday 13th September at 7.30pm to discuss our next steps forward for the CSA. We'll certainly be discussing how the Board of the new not-for-profit organisation will be formed as that's one of the first things we need to do. But I imagine with such an exciting project the conversations will range far and wide: it promises to be a really interesting and inspiring evening. Please do come along - everyone is welcome. We're meeting upstairs at the United Reform Church, Princes St, Norwich NR3 1A. See you there!

For further details contact: Elena Judd kezzycat@hotmail.co.uk.

Photos from This Low Carbon Life's Transition Food Patterns Fortnight: middle and bottom by Mark Watson (Local Market Garden)

One Planet Community Kitchen and the Low Carbon Cookbook - 21 September

One Planet Community Kitchen is a Transition project that will be mapping sustainable food patterns in different Transition towns and low-carbon communities in East Anglia. Its purpose is to bring people, places and projects together to create an imaginative and practical infrastructure for the future.

The Kitchen combines three elements: arts, food and working together as a co-op. We’re beginning in Norwich with a project that’s been simmering in the TN kitchen for a year now - The Low Carbon Cookbook. We’ll be working alongside the Reskilling Group, organising workshops on food production, as well as the CSA and the Transition Circles and producing an intelligent, good-looking guide from scratch. At our first meeting Josiah Meldrum will be talking about how co-ops work and why he feels that they are the best working model for Transition groups. We’ll also be cooking up ideas and looking at our flatplan. Bring a dish to share (that’s the recipe!), a pen and get ready to roll your sleeves up!

Josiah Meldrum has worked as community activist, particularly with and for co-operatives producing and distributing food, for almost 15 years. He is a founder member of Sustainable Bungay and a partner in Provenance. He is also a director of East Anglia Food Link and Fordhall Community Land Initiative.

One Planet Community Kitchen (Norwich) will meet at The Greenhouse, Bethel St on Tuesday 21 September. 7-9.30pm. For further details contact Charlotte Du Cann rootsshootsandseeds@hotmail.co.uk

Homegrown cucumber; Norman's market garden; Charlotte and Josiah prepping the Greenpeace Tea Tent, 2010; molcajete (Mexico) with zatar (Palestine). All photos from The Low Carbon Life, the TN blog.