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

TRANSITION CIRCLES: Transition Circle West and Strangers' Circle - 22 February, 8 March

We met up at Tully and Angie's in January for the Strangers' Circle meeting and the subject was FOOD. What we ate, where we bought it and how we cooked it.

Everything was on the table, as we spoke frankly about our food. We discussed the ethics and advantages of eating local food in season and how you enjoy the food much more knowing it's there for that time only.

Food is tricky to monitor since there are so many factors involved, not least the role fossil fuels play in the industrialised food system, from agricultural fertilisers and pesticides to global transport (let alone our eating habits that cause the destruction of the oceans and forests and thus affect the amount of carbon in the atsmosphere). The more local and organic and less processed our food is the more chance the soils and eco-systems of the world have to recover.

With this in mind Charlotte brought a list with full details of our weekly food shopping, Naomi told of her experience keeping chickens and sheep, Elena why she doesn't eat fish. Tully spoke of his supermarket habit and his meat and dairy reduction and we investigated where the flour in my sourdough loaf could have come from. William talked about the vital role of humus ('degraded organic matter') in any fertile soil.

For more on food check out the TN blog where I wrote about this meeting http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2010/01/people-in-room-three-meetings.html (22nd January) as did Tully http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/2010/01/today-i-burned-marmalade.html (28th January). (Mark Watson/Stranger's Circle) .

The Transition Circles meet regularly in people’s houses (see calendar for full details). If you would like to join a neighbourhood circle or start one up do get in touch with any of the following people. TN2 and Stranger’s Circle - contact Tully at tully@transitionnorwich.org. Transition Circle West (NR2) - contact Helen Wells heavenwells@mac.com . Transition Central - contact Christine at transition@innerspace.co.uk.

Carbon Conversations

January saw the start of two Carbon Conversations courses at Inner Space with a wide range of members from those who knew little about low carbon living to those who were already on the journey. In the first session we considered what a low carbon future might look like and our feelings associated with that. Ideas, books, dvd’s and energy monitors were shared and members left with a sense of enthusiasm and tasks to complete before the next meeting. The Low-Carbon House game played in the second session triggered such concentration and thoughtful discussion that everyone, including me, went away with new ideas for jobs to tackle around their homes.

I was pleasantly surprised to find both these groups oversubscribed and people from around the county contacting me about groups in their own area. At the moment only Tully and I are running groups but we hope to have more facilitators as people complete the course. We are now compiling a waiting list so if you are interested in doing the course or having one in your area please email: training@transitionnorwich.org with your name, phone number and where you live. (Christine Way/Core Group)

COMMUNICATIONS: This Low Carbon Life

How does Transition feel? asked Helen at the beginning of the year. A bit like a snowy day. One day when the whole of Norwich abandoned their cars and stayed home. Home was the key subject of the month on the TN blog. Mark explored Permaculture, the natural design system that lies at the heart of the Transition Movement, Tully scrutinised his family’s consumption of energy, transport and food. Jon wrote a star piece on the glowing kettle in his kitchen. Weekend bloggers John and Erik riffed on woodcutting and food preservation.

Meanwhile behind the scenes there was a flurry of emails about the largest low-carbon elephant in the room, flying. So much good prose was going on we decided to have a Topic Week once a month (starting in March). At our first blog-in at John’s we met together for the first time and discussed the merits of comments, widgets and stats. The true value of this comunity blog however is not in its tech but in the creative free space it provides as we attempt the tricky task of cutting carbon and a dash at the same time. Showcasing real lives, honouring everyday tasks in a world which is rather better at having its big important say than acting small. As Elena put it concisely: I don’t want to know someone’s opinion about local shops, I want to hear someone telling me about the vegetables at the greengrocer. We’re creating a new culture, I said. Reporting from the edge.

Read about how we’re doing http://www.transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/. (Charlotte Du Cann/Communications)

FILMS AND BOOKS

Heat - How to Stop the Planet Burning by George Monbiot

Although published in 2006, I find myself still having reason to quote or suggest reading from George Monbiot's excellent resource book, Heat - How to Stop the Planet Burning. Since the failure of Copenhagen, and a 'climategate' happening in our own backyard, even more reason to take a sober look at the denial industry so carefully and thoroughly exposed by Monbiot. The corporations funding research to fuel the doubters, that feed the household names like David Bellamy and Michael Crichton in their public refutations that there is anything to worry about.

Although a technical book in many ways - for the scientific reader there is much to feed the mind - for the non-scientific, Monbiot actually explains what a terrawatt is! One by one, Monbiot looks at each and every collective and individual carbon-based activity and shows how we can reach the target of a 90% reduction in emissions by 2030 by a mixture of behaviour change and technical innovation. Some of the solutions are indeed funny too, although he finds no solution to the highly carbon-intensive habit of flying..... so sorry guys, you'll just have to make that next trip to The Seychelles in a helium balloon. (Chris Hull/Core Group)

Social Change 2.0 by David Gershon

This book has done a lot to re-inspire me about our prospects for averting disaster. It sets out a bold vision for social change in the face of climate change and the other urgent problems facing the world. It also offers a set of tools and approaches which Gershon believes can bring about these changes.

In the first part of the book, Gershon recounts his own lifetime of experience of taking up seemingly impossible challenges, and making them work. He talks about "second-order change" - change that goes beyond the current rules and assumptions of our society, change that demands a change in culture and beliefs. He says that if people don't tell you that you're naive and your vision is impossible, you're probably not being bold enough. And he describes in practical terms how to turn that vision into a reality - by engaging other people, by focusing on the area where growth is needed next, by constantly turning around the voices in our heads that say it's not possible.

Gershon created Eco-Teams in the USA in the 1980s. Eco-Teams are similar to our Transition Circles and Carbon Conversations groups - small groups of people looking at what they can change in their own lives, and then replicating the groups so that they reach many more people. Other projects he ran had a similar approach - small groups designed to multiply. For me, reading this book has reaffirmed my personal belief that this is a really important approach for bringing about the scale of culture change we need, if we're going to solve problems like climate change and peak oil. I enthusiastically recommend this book to you! (Tully Wakeman/Core Group).

The Turning Point - A Return to Community - UK 2009

This documentary came out of the conference "positive energy", which was held in Findhorn in Scotland in 2008. It showcases many examples from the conference, the Findhorn ecovillage and its surrounding area. Practical examples include 4 community owned windmills, the ecological sewage treatment system, a car club, a CSA, and a local currency. It also presents peak oil and climate change as setting the boundaries, community as providing the impetus for change, spirituality as a way of valuing this over the consumer society, and permaculture as the glue that connects the different pieces.

In addition, the DVD contains four interviews with Joanna Macy, deep ecologist and buddhist, Megan Quinn, co-producer of The Power of Community, Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the Transition Towns movement, and Richard Heinberg, peak oil commentator. What won't surprise anybody who has been to Findhorn is that the film is permeated with not just a can-do attitude, but indeed the joy of community and connection to the cycle of life. Rob Hopkins in his interview talks about a concept I have been hoping for, but for which I hadn’t heard a word before: peak car. How I hope that also occurred in the summer of 2008. (Erik Buitenhuis/TN2)

Norwich Consultation on Climate Change

The Norwich Independent Climate Change Commission has been created by the City Council and others to consider how the city should respond to the threat of climate change. And they want to know what we think. The consultation ends on Feb 12th - quite soon! Please do consider making your own response. There's a consultation document which you can download from the City Council website (http://www.norwich.gov.uk/) - click on the "eco issues" link and then on the NICCC link. You can respond to one, a couple, or all of the themes and send them to thebigquestion@norwich.gov.uk. Also do mention that you're part of Transition Norwich - it can only help to raise our profile!

In addition we are hoping that, as Transition Norwich, we will get an opportunity to present in person to this Commission. In particular we will tell them about our early experiences with Transition Circles and Carbon Conversations (groups in which people support each other in looking at reducing their individual carbon footprints), and we may propose a big expansion of these (see book review of Social Change 2.0, below). We will of course also tell them about the work of our theme groups, the development of the Resilience Plan, and all the other great work you've all been doing (Tully Wakeman/Core Group)

TRANSITION EAST: Transition Talk Training - Colchester - 9 February

Colchester Borough Council is hosting a 1 day "Transition Talk Training" course for those wishing to learn how to give an effective talk on Transition.

When - 9th February 2010, 9am – 5pm
Where – Old Library, Colchester Town Hall, High Street, CO1 1FR

The cost of the course is £50 per person (including lunch, tea/coffee, cold drinks).

The course is aimed at people in a Transition Initiative* to help them raise awareness and inspire others.

The training will cover:
Peak Oil
Climate Change
The mechanics of Transition
The inner transition
Skills for good and effective public talks.

By the end of the training day, you'll be armed with a solid presentation that you can adopt to your own style, a set of facts and figures to underpin your talk, an understanding of some of the deeper aspects of transition, and a new level of confidence to deliver presentations with flair, authority and maybe a bit of humour too.

*A Transition Initiative is a community working together to respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change - http://www.transitiontowns.org/.
The trainers are from the Transition Network, further details can be found on
http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionTraining#TransitionTraining
To book a place please contact Sam Preston on samantha.preston@colchester.gov.uk or 01206 282707.

Sustainable Bungay: Introduction to Permaculture

In 2010, Transition initiative Sustainable Bungay will begin transforming the courtyard at Bungay library into an inviting and sustainable green space and ‘living library’ with raised beds, compost bins, wormery and rainwater harvesting. As a kick-start we invited permaculture teacher and author Graham Burnett http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/ from Southend in Transition to run a weekend introduction to permaculture at the library.

15 of us from Bungay and other local Transition initiatives immersed ourselves in two full-on days of theory and practical group exercises. The basis of the Transition movement (Rob Hopkins taught permaculture for many years), this approach is about “designing sustainable human communities by following nature’s patterns”. It works with the shapes of the living world (e.g. branches, waves, the spiral of snail shells, the scattering of dandelion seeds), rather than imposing artificial straight lines and boxes on it. Key before starting our project was to take time to observe nature’s rhythms and cycles, rather than rushing for a quick fix. During the course we also learned how this ecological design system offers low carbon and energy saving solutions to food growing, transport, waste, the economy and community spaces.

Since the weekend the Library Courtyard Subgroup has got together a design outline for the preliminary steps, which will be on display from next week until 20th February with suggestions invited.

See my entries on the Transition Norwich community blog (18-22 January) http://www.transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/, for more about the weekend. (Mark Watson/TN2)

Transition Cafe - 15 February

A small group of Transitioners gathered early in the new year in the Alexandra Tavern to have a talk and a catch up on what we had been up to over the break. It was lovely to see people without having a specific agenda to talk about and we even left with plans for constructing a Transition Roadshow trailer!

The cafes are on the 15th of every month at 7pm and the February one will be in the Workshop Cafe on Earlham Road. Maybe see you there! (Kerry Lane/TN2) For further details contact Erik http://lgmacweb.env.uea.ac.uk/green_ocean/positions/Buitenhuis/feedback.html (Kerry Lane/TN2)

Carbon Conversations

January saw the start of two Carbon Conversations courses at Inner Space with a wide range of members from those who knew little about low carbon living to those who were already on the journey. In the first session we considered what a low carbon future might look like and our feelings associated with that. Ideas, books, dvd’s and energy monitors were shared and members left with a sense of enthusiasm and tasks to complete before the next meeting. The Low-Carbon House game played in the second session triggered such concentration and thoughtful discussion that everyone, including me, went away with new ideas for jobs to tackle around their homes.

I was pleasantly surprised to find both these groups oversubscribed and people from around the county contacting me about groups in their own area. At the moment only Tully and I are running groups but we hope to have more facilitators as people complete the course. We are now compiling a waiting list so if you are interested in doing the course or having one in your area please email: training@transitionnorwich.org with your name, phone number and where you live. (Christine Way/Core Group)

Transition Circles

Strangers' Circle - Wednesday 13, Transition Circle Cafe - January 15, Circle West - Tuesday 26 January, TN2 (TBA)
Having investigated home energy and transport last year, the regular circles get into gear with Food (Strangers') and Stuff (Circle West). Meanwhile TN2, our carbon reduction “think tank” is preparing their individual skills list and narratives. We’ll be posting up our case studies on the TN2 googlegroup during the next month. This picture is from Erik Buitenhuis's narrative, getting an early start on low-carbon travel! Check out Erik's One Planet Living post on the TN blog (Dec 27) where you'll also find a post on the hot topic of the month, woodburners by John Heaser http://transitionnorwich.blogspot.com/

At our next TN2 meeting we’re going to be looking at how best to seed 6-12 new groups in the coming year ( we have just secured £1000 funding from Norwich City Council to help us get going) and at the various other low-carbon programmes on offer. We’ll be discussing everything from the 10:10 campaign and Eco-Teams to the Scottish food initiatives, the Fife Diet and the 50:50 challenge, as well as hearing reports from Christine Way on Carbon Conversations from Cambridge and Tully Wakeman on Transition Together developed in Totnes. (date tba - keep an eye out for the calendar or join the downshift debate on our lively googlegroup). All full-on carbon-cutters welcome.

CIRCLE WEST Transition Circle West is open to anyone living in the west of Norwich who is interested in raising their awareness and cutting their carbon. Our monthly meetings start with sharing food and then go onto the theme for the night and how we can support each other to reduce our consumption and therefore our carbon footprint. The idea is to form neighbourhood groups - as each group attracts new members and grows too large to fit in a living room it will split into two - so the Transition ethos will spread like cell division. In meetings so far we have collected and measured our use of household energy and created a baseline that we will measure again next year to see how we have reduced our energy consumption. Part of what the group does is share stories and experiences of how each of us lives, what is working, what is difficult, real lives making real changes.

At Transition Circle West's last meeting we compared our use of gas and electricity based on our bills with the national average and the average consumption per household in Norwich. Seeing our relative use on a graph enabled us to see where we each are now and, in a great discussion, where we could reduce our consumption. The whole evening brought awareness to our different "norms" and how we can shift them. We will be recording all this over time in our TCW scrapbook.

Our next meeting is going to look at Stuff. Everyone is invited to bring a bit of STUFF they think is useful or valuable but that they no longer want (Helen Wells).

TRANSITION CIRCLE GET-TOGETHER Several people lamented how it was all nice and productive to focus on the agenda items during Transition meetings, but it resulted in us not knowing each other very well, and so we decided to hold a purely social get together on 15 December at the Alexandra Cafe. About 8 people came and although the temperature was a bit excessive for many of us who have turned down our heating at home as much as we can stand, it was a great success and we decided to continue having them. The next one will be on the 15th again in January from 7pm in the Alexandra again. We decided on the 15th so that those who couldn't make it because it was on a Tuesday in December hopefully will be able to come on Friday 15 January. We haven't discussed yet whether we want to keep going to the Alexandra or will rotate pubs as we rotate days of the week, or maybe meet at people's houses instead. If you can't make it but want to make a suggestion for the February date or venue
http://lgmacweb.env.uea.ac.uk/green_ocean/positions/Buitenhuis/feedback.html
do get in touch. (Erik Buitenhuis)

The Transition Circles meet regularly in people’s houses (see calendar for full details). If you would like to join a neighbourhood circle or start one up do get in touch with any of the following people. TN2 and Stranger’s Circle - contact Tully at tully@transitionnorwich.org. Transition Circle West (NR2) - contact Helen Wells heavenwells@mac.com . Transition Central - contact Christine at transition@innerspace.co.uk.

FILMS

Crude (US 2009) dir. Joe Berlinger - 26 January
Cinema City

Three years in the making, this cinéma-vérité feature from acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) is the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet. The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case, Crude is a real-life high stakes legal drama, set against a backdrop of the environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures.

The landmark case takes place in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, pitting 30,000 indigenous and colonial rainforest dwellers against the U.S. oil giant Chevron. The plaintiffs claim that Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001 – spent three decades systematically contaminating one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, poisoning the water, air and land. The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone", resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia and birth defects. Chevron vociferously fights the claims, charging that the case is a complete fabrication, perpetrated by “environmental con men” who are seeking to line their pockets with the company’s billions.

While the environmental impact of the consumption of fossil fuels has been increasingly documented in recent years, Crude focuses on the human cost of our addiction to oil and the increasingly difficult task of holding a major corporation accountable for its past deeds.


Food, Inc. (US 2008) dir. Robert Kenner
release date 12 February






Food, Inc. lifts the veil on the US food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the consumer with the consent of the government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. The global food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the farmers, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli, we are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a people and where we are going from here.

2009 looking back in celebration 2010 looking forward with resolution(s)

Happy New Year to everyone in Transition! Since those “top down” talks in Copenhagen it’s become clear more than ever that the changes climate change requires us to make are going to come from “bottom up” (that’s us). And now as the light is on the increase and the birds are starting to sing, instead of thinking about holidays abroad we’re looking ahead to the small steps we can do at home in the new decade.

In 2009 the communications crew covered all the hot topics: the midsummer and birthday parties, the CSA and TN2 start-up meetings, the progress of the Resilience Plan and the creation of the Transition Circles. The Bulletin has run theme group roundups and reviewed books such as Local Food, blogs and films (The Story of Stuff, Home and Vanishing of the Bees). As well as announcing up and coming events this on-line monthly also acts as a “feedback loop”, reporting back on everything from allotments to zero-carbon caravans. Seeded from the bulletin were our innovative and flourishing TN blogs.

Meanwhile looking forward to 2010 here are some of our Transition Voices speaking out about what we plan to do next year:

Tom Harper from the Core Group writes: For 2010 with my young family, TN and the wider community in mind, I plan to invest in a small solar panel to cover hot water for the home. I plan to find a permanent local job! To design and build with permaculture students a vegetable patch in front of the house, to facilitate some Be The Change symposiums. I plan to enagage more with potential and definite TN projects, to be more thoughtful about the things I buy and to find or form a story telling group (primarily for the purpose of positive visioning).

Transition Circles aim to grow and appear in 12 different areas of the city. Key carbon-cutters in TN2 are aiming to keep to their 50% of the national average target (for review in midsummer).

Tully Wakeman from the Strangers' Circle writes: for myself I’m determined to reduce my greenhouse gas footprint to below half the national average – at least in respect of the big areas i.e. home heating, transport and food. Personally I’m also committed to starting a new group in Shotesham. About 20 people in Shotesham attended a showing of the film, In Transition, in November 2009 and we hope to build on that to create some kind of new group there.

Transition Circle West sent a collection: Do a detailed inventory of my consumption and reduce it to half the national average; start making more of my own food like preserves and herbal tea; reduce my use of resources by 10% this year; I'm only going to do what I really want to do; reduce my household carbon emissions to 1 ton; get my vegetable patch growing; I'm going to interline my front door curtain; make my own bread.

The Food Group is ready to get going with the proposed Community Supported Agriculture scheme, Market Garden School Farm and the Local Flour Mill at the Wholefood Planet in Hall Road (see News section for full report).

The Transport Group wants to see an end to the daily gridlock in the city centre. We're campaigning for better public transport to keep those cars at home; and we're continuing the challenge to the Northern Distributor Road. The Department for Transport has approved it in principle, but we don't have to accept that decision!

The Resilience Plan Group is determined to publish the first edition of the Resilience Plan early in 2010. We aim for the Plan to be a really clear and useful document, both to people within Transition Norwich who are thinking about future directions, and for policymakers in our local authorities.

The Reskilling Group resolves to teach those that want to learn at least three new skills in 2010 and plans to carry out a skills audit of Transition Norwich in 2010.

The Communications Group are looking forward to expanding their press coverage, running a Transition Summer Camp, a film documentary week, and a Transition Tales and Visions event with Transition Cambridge. Jane Chittenden (who's been writing about resolutions in the TN blog this week) wants to see more local shops in the city selling goods from local producers at a fair price. My food-shopping resolution is to support local shops and the market; to make the extra time to track them down and not to fall for the convenience of one-stop shopping. Note to self: supermarket shopping is much more expensive than independent shops!

NEWS: New Shoots in Transition

The headline story this month is a new development within TN, as the initiative decides on its "legal" framework. There is an FAQ all about this new organisation at http://www.transitionnorwich.org/jan10docs/faq.pdf . This is an on-going process and open to debate, so do write in with your comments and further questions.

Meanwhile in 2010, year of projects, the TN food projects are expecting to hear about their funding bid soon and the TN allotment team is all set to go for all those who want to grow-our-own. You can find them at the friendly set-up at Bluebell Allotments North, with seeds and tools, a community apple press and plenty of opportunities to share lunch and produce.

New Company to Form
One of the things we really value about Transition Norwich is that there is very little central control. Members of different theme groups, Transition Circles etc. can organise whatever activities they like as long as they broadly fit with the objectives of Transition Norwich. We are keen not to lose this creative freedom.However, when it comes to bidding for money for specific projects, funders like to see an incorporated not-for-profit organisation where there is a structure that enables certain individuals to take responsibility for the successful delivery of that project.

The Core Group therefore feel that there is a need for Transition Norwich to create a not-for-profit organisation that can bid for funding for significant projects, on behalf of Transition Norwich. We are not suggesting that Transition Norwich itself should be shoehorned into this new organisation, but that the new organisation should run alongside Transition Norwich.We suggest that this new organisation should be a "company limited by guarantee". This is the most common legal structure used in the UK for not-for-profit organisations. It ensures that money can never be paid to shareholders etc. Companies limited by guarantee are listed with Companies House and have "limited" at the end of their name, just like regular profit-distributing companies. Our new organisation might be called, for example, Transition Norwich Projects Ltd. (Tully Wakeman/Core Group)

The new group is at its formative stages and responses, comments and recommendations are welcomed, Please write to Chris Hull at (chrishull@phonecoop.coop). A summary of all comments will be published in a following bulletin.

Food and Farming: New projects for 2010
We hope to start work early in the new year on delivering four exciting food projects in Norwich:
• 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 at Wholefood Planet on Hall Road, 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.

We’ve put in a funding bid to get these projects started, and are hoping for a positive response and to get the projects under way, early in 2010. (Tully Wakeman)

Allotment: Spring is Around the Corner!

Quite a lot is already happening on the allotment. Vegetables: the broad beans have all come through (Sabberton Supreme beans are looking particularly good), the garlic and onion sets are starting to shoot and the spring cabbages are bedding in nicely. Fruit: there are lots of little strawberry runners to plant later and I have discovered that the mystery tree is a self-fertile Stella cherry. Brenna's putting aside some cuttings from pruning the allotment's fruit bushes.

I’ve made good progress on digging. There is more to be done when the weather improves - too cold at the moment. Over the winter we can propagate some herb cuttings – any offers from people with interesting herbs?

Our outline planting plan needs to be developed in detail before the spring rush in March. Do join us for a planning meeting at the allotment soon. (Jane Chittenden)

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.

Carbon Conversations - 12 and 21 January

Carbon Conversations is an inspiring, practical 6-session course on low-carbon living developed by Cambridge Carbon Footprint. It was recently featured in the Guardian as one of the 20 best climate change solutions. 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. After the course we hope that members will consider becoming facilitators so that more and more people become involved in supporting each other in developing the resilience needed to face the challenges ahead.

Two courses of 6 fortnightly sessions are being offered at Inner Space for £23 each including the excellent handbook.
Tuesday evenings 7.30-9.30 starting 12th January
Thursday mornings 10.00 -12.00 starting 21st January. Further courses will begin in April.

For more information and bookings contact Christine: 01603 614460 transition@phonecoop.coop

For further details about Carbon Conversations visit: www.cambridgecarbonfootprint.org