March 2012 Taunton Transition Town Newsletter

"Imagination is the beginning creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will"  

George Bernard Shaw

Events



Sourdough Classes:  March 20th, April 17th

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11.30 – 4.30pm
Gordon takes small groups (up to four people) through the sourdough process from ‘starter’ to finished loaf using the Blue Peter principle of ‘one I prepared earlier.’  This means you get to practice each stage of the process without the waiting. He has adapted the sourdough method to suit home kitchens and routines, so that what you learn you will be able to apply when you get home.
£69 per person.

Sourdough  by Andy Ciordia, on Flickr (Flickr Creative Commons)

“It was a magical day. I really enjoyed Gordon's teaching and it was brilliant to come home with warm bread, dough and mother. The lunch was also wonderful.” Sarah Burns Cox

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301


Get Your Wellies On - Thurs 22nd March

Another opportunity to get your wellies on and get stuck into replanting hazel at Childrens' Wood, just off Winkworth Road at 2pm. Bring some sturdy footwear, some gloves and plenty of welly!


Tone Conservation - Thurs 22nd March


Tone Conservation have organised a further training day to learn how to hedge lay on Longrun Meadow.  It is on Thursday 22nd March 10am -4pm - there are 10 places only and Pete Grainger who is running the day will bring the tools which are needed.  This type of course would normally cost £45 but SCC are paying so it is free.


If you are interested in lending a hand then contact Helen Lawy -  helenlawy@gmail.com


Beacon of Sound and Light - Thurs 22nd March

Location: Somerset Square, Taunton TA1
Time: 6pm - 8pm Free

From Brewhouse Website

A floating beacon lighting up the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal and collecting sounds, songs and stories about the canal and Somerset Waterways. There will be opening and closing events at Somerset Square, Taunton and Bridgwater Marina. These sounds will be woven together to create a ’waterlog’, a musical sounds cape to be played on the floating beacon and an oral and aural archive about the canal and other Somerset waterways. The opening and closing events will also feature live music sung and played from the water, illuminated boats and illuminations and projections on land.











Groundswell - Sat 24th March

Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.

Milton Friedman

Places limited – book now!

The “perfect storm” of climate change, peak oil and an unstable global economy mean we are living in extraordinary times. 

• What must change next in our locality if we are to weather the “perfect storm”?

• What are our own “ideas lying around” that we urgently need to have front-of-mind for a sustainable future?

• Which ideas are we already acting on, and which ones might we discover we have the energy and ability to act on next?

Join 99 other like-minded people from Taunton and its surrounding area to create Groundswell.  Join up the dots of where we are already rising to the low carbon challenge.  See where our collective potential might take us.  Using the Open Space process, you can have the conversations you really want to have, make new connections, add to a melting pot of ideas, and go away knowing what your next step might be.

The Genesis Centre is on the campus of Somerset College, Wellington Road, has ample parking for bikes and cars, and level access.  It is on bus routes 22, 22A and 92 from the bus station.

Cost:  £10 to include a light vegetarian lunch, tea and coffee
To book, contact Vicky Matthews vickym@uk2.net,or by post to 1 Obridge Lane, Taunton, TA2 7QN.

Cheques payable to Taunton Transition Town.

Places limited – book now!




Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust - Sat 24th March


Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust is proposing to renovate a derelict property in the heart of Taunton for social housing and a business centre for community enterprise. A Community Land Trust is open to anyone in the locality to join - its shares are an investment not for profit, but for the common good.

Come along to a drop-in exhibition about Taunton's first Community Land Trust.

Taunton Library Meeting Room
9.30 - 12.30






Transition Drop-in Café - Sat 31st March



In The Neighbourhood

• results of the energy efficiency mapping research from the Centre for Sustainable Energy
• on the spot advice about making your home more energy efficent
• some groovy models of different kinds of wall insulation (they really are groovy)
• hands-on demonstration of our thermal imaging camera.
• Deane Energy Savers offering people home energy audits.

Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton
Time: 10.30-12.30




Looking for Land in Taunton Deane - Mon 23rd April

• Is there a long waiting list for allotments where you live?

• Want to create new growing space in your parish?

Then join Somerset Community Food for an Information Evening for Town & Parish Clerks, Councillors and Residents to explore, enable & support access to land for new and existing food growers.

Places are free but booking is ESSENTIAL.

Please book your place through the form - http://www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk/index.php?page=incredible-edible-taunton-deane

When: 7 – 9pm, Monday 23rd April

Where: Creech St Michael Baptist Church Centre, Creech St Michael,TA3 5QQ.

Who should attend?

    Parish clerks & councillors with responsibilities for allotments
    Allotment associations
    People on allotment waiting lists
    Anyone seeking land to grow food on
    Landowners willing to lease land for community growing
    People interested in starting community food projects


For more information contact Linda Hull on 01749 678770, email linda.hull@somersetcommunityfood.org.uk


Chagfood - 8th-16th May

Reclaim the Fields are delighted to invite you to volunteer at Chagfood and Steward Wood from 8-16 May.

A four-year-old Welsh cob cross Dartmoor pony is revolutionising farming. Samson is the heart of a project that keeps time-tested skills alive and proves that resilient low impact farming in the UK can be profitable. This is a taste of the the future of British farms amid peak oil: Chagfood.

Steward Wood, four miles away, is a pioneering permaculture project which fought the planning system and won permission for their community to integrate conservation woodland management techniques with organic growing, traditional skills and crafts and low-impact sustainable living.

http://wwolfing.wordpress.com/



Taunton Green Doors - 25th-27th May

Following in the footsteps of Bristol, Oxford, Frome and many others, Green Doors comes to Taunton!  We are looking for people living in the town or the surrounding area who are willing to open up their homes to show others how they have managed to make them more eco friendly.  If you are connected to a community building (e.g. church, school) you are welcome to show that too.

Over the weekend of 25-27 May 2012, we want to give people the opportunity to learn first-hand what different types of eco-improvements can be like and what benefits they have brought.   This could be anything from insulation to renewable energy generation, low impact water systems to full on retrofitting, brilliant composting or vegetable gardening.

If it’s eco, it’s in!

If you think you may be interested in participating, please contact Cara Naden by email – greendoorstaunton@gmail.com, or by calling her on 07771 561398.

Find out more on our website...  http://tauntontransition.wordpress.com/projects/local-energy-assesment-fund/green-doors/




The Sustainability Show - Sunday 17th June

Something for your calendars to book in now.  After the great success last year we are back at the Sustainability Show this June.

http://www.sustainabilityshow.org.uk   

              

   News



Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust

Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust

The Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust are working to address the chronic shortage of affordable sustainable housing in Somerset.  At the same time they would also like to use the properties to provide managed workspace for new and growing community enterprises especially those using sustainable technologies.


Their first property will be Hertford House in Taunton where the purchase will shortly be completed.  The building has been neglected for many years and they will need a lot of help getting it ready for occupation. 


Please contact them if:

• You are interested in being a tenant of the co-operative. You must be in housing need currently, or at risk of homelessness in the near future.

• You wish to join as member. Somerset residents can join with a minimum investment of £25; however, it will be often be possible to make this investment 'in kind' if you are able to volunteer some time. Member including tenants democratically control the co-op, and can join the management committee.

• You are able to make a larger investment. Anyone can buy shares in the project if they are able to invest a minimum of £500. You will have the reassurance of knowing that the money has been put into a durable asset, and that the financial projections are based on fixed price contracts.

•  You can help as a volunteer with the renovation of Hertford House. We are in need of a wide range of skills, not least simple labour.

Find out on www.somerset.coop/landtrust


or by post: The Hot House, Wellington Road, Taunton, TA1 5AX




Foraging


It is that time of year when wild food foraging comes into it's own.  Walk around any damp woodland this time of year and you will come across the heady scent of wild garlic.  Nettles are flinging off the ravages of winter and the lesser celandines are blooming in the spring thaw.  So pick up your food foraging books or take an experienced food forager with you and go and seek out the abundance on your doorstep.

Wild Garlic from Flickr Commons - Char

A great book to start out with is Miles Irving's The Forager Handbook - http://www.forager.org.uk/forager_handbook.html .

Or go digital with the new iphone app from the Ashburton Cookery School - http://www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk/media/pressreleases/2012/feb/Foraging-Iphone_app.php ..

Wondering what to do with these edible delights then check out the website Eat Weeds - http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/ .


Portas Pilot

Anyone looking at Taunton's High Street and town centre will not be in any doubt that it has suffered; empty shops and premises, big chains taking over. Competition from out-of-town shopping centres, supermarkets and the internet and the economic down-turn have plunged our town centres into decline. Between 2000 and 2009 the number of town stores fell by almost 15,000, and there have been many further losses over the last couple of years.

High streets are recognised as important hubs of social interaction and cohesion, as well as providers of local jobs. They're a visible indicator of how well, or how badly, a local economy is doing.

The government commissioned Mary Portas to conduct an independent review of the high street's future. She came back with some recommendations, one of which was to pilot a scheme in a dozen chosen towns to breathe life back into our high streets.  That review is available for download from : http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/regeneration/portasreview....

So why is her report so important to Transition... she resoundingly advocates local business creation with large retailers mentoring smaller business, cuts in business rates for start-up businesses,  “local people as co-creators not simply consumers”, new street markets with cheap rates amongst a whole host of other initiatives. Read Transition's own slant on the argument in Rob Hopkins' blog - http://transitionculture.org/2011/12/14/another-world-is-not-only-possible-shes-opening-a-bakery-round-the-corner-reflections-on-the-portas-review/

“A pound spent in a retailer with a localised supply chain that employs local people has far greater domestic impact than a pound spent in a supermarket or national chain.  What’s more, out-of-town developments are often presented as major new sources of employment, but we need to recognise that this ‘job creation’ is often just job displacement”.

Mary Portas - The Portas Review

So the Somerset’s County Town ‘team’ would welcome your support for its campaign by ‘liking’ and ‘sharing’ the Taunton High Street facebook page (if you’re a facebook user),or by making a comment on Taunton’s high street blog .

The ‘town team’ is determined to revive Taunton’s High Street, whether we’re one of the dozen chosen Portas Pilots or not.  This is just the beginning...

February 2012 Taunton Transition Town Newsletter

The idea at its heart is that of ‘resilience-building as economic development’, that by keeping things local we can build richer, stronger and more resilient communities.

Rob Hopkins, notes from Four Thought

Events


Green Skills Workshops - Thurs 23rd February

Carymoor Environmental Centre are offering free green skills workshops starting with hedge laying on Thurs 23rd February, path construction on Thurs 1st March and willow weaving on Thurs 8th March.

Venue: Carymoor Environmental Centre, Dimmer Lane, Castle Cary, BA7 7NR
Time: 10 am - 4 pm.

To find out more or sign up please contact Juliet: 01963 351350 , juliet.lawn@carymoor.org.uk.



Transition Drop-in Café - Sat 25th February



This month we devote to preparation for the various events we have funded with the help of the  Local Energy Assesment Fund (LEAF).

If you are interested in being involved in one of the projects we have lined up all around energy efficiency and generation in Taunton please come along.



Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton
Time: 10.30-12.30


Little Things Freecycling Session - Sat 25th February

If you are in Minehead look out for this great freecycling session.

Venue: Reading Room, Friday Street, Minehead
Time:  1-30 to 3-30


Begin now, sorting and clearing out all those "useful things" cluttering up drawers, boxes, etc. and bring them along and meet our local freecycling group - Clutterbusters.

Contact Cynthia 01643 862990.


Tone Conservation - Sunday 26th February

Another meet-up for Tone Conservationists for hedge planting in Longrun Meadow (nr French Weir, Taunton).  Meet at 11am in French Weir by the bridge to the meadow.

Each month they will survey the pond area so they have a comprehensive knowledge of what grows and lives there. 
As jobs come up other times will be arranged including weekends or evenings so that everyone can come.

If you are interested in lending a hand then contact Helen Lawy -  helenlawy@gmail.com





Sourdough Classes: Tuesday February 28th, March 20th, April 17th

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11.30 – 4.30pm
Gordon takes small groups (up to four people) through the sourdough process from ‘starter’ to finished loaf using the Blue Peter principle of ‘one I prepared earlier.’  This means you get to practice each stage of the process without the waiting. He has adapted the sourdough method to suit home kitchens and routines, so that what you learn you will be able to apply when you get home.
£69 per person.

Sourdough  by Andy Ciordia, on Flickr (Flickr Creative Commons)

“It was a magical day. I really enjoyed Gordon's teaching and it was brilliant to come home with warm bread, dough and mother. The lunch was also wonderful.” Sarah Burns Cox

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301


Get Growing in Sedgemoor - Wednesday 29th February

A public meeting will be taking place in the Sedgemoor Room of Bridgwater House at the District Council's Chamber in Bridgwater for people looking for land to grow food.

The information evening is directed at residents across Sedgemoor. Parish clerks and councillors with responsibilities for allotments, allotment associations, community groups and landowners will all be in attendence. It is hoped that some new growing spaces will be started as a result of the event. 

Attendees will hear the success stories of growing projects around Sedgemoor, such as Edcombe Harvest Share in Rodney Stoke and Axbridge Community Allotments Association who were recently awarded a grant to start an edible forest garden project.

The event is free but booking is ESSENTIAL - please book online at www.somersetcommunityfood.org.uk.


Thermalogues - Sat 3rd March

Come and take part in Thermalogues, a unique creative two-day opportunity to work with film makers Tom Stubbs and Stephen Clarke of biggerhouse film.

...as the heat of a warm handprint on a wall dissipates, a ‘Thermalogue’ appears out of the darkness… we are going to take a new way of seeing, a lens for ‘seeing energy’, and make artistic responses with it.

biggerhouse film are collaborating with friends of Taunton Transition Town to make four x 60 second 'Thermalogues' exploring their relationship to energy.

The ‘Thermalogues’ will combine pictures using a thermal imaging camera with the sound of voices talking and explaining what is both seen and not seen.

What are people thinking as they learn to see the world differently?

What is going on in people’s minds as they explore their understanding of ‘energy’?

What happens as they try and invite others to see energy with their new eyes? – How they both use and waste it?


Day One: Saturday 3 March, 10-4, St James Church Hall (behind Brewhouse Theatre).  A workshop with Tom and Stephen for all participants to explore the potential of thermal imaging. You will  reflect together on your relationship with energy, and capture emerging creative ideas for different “thermalogues”.

Day Two: participants will be split into four smaller groups, with each group working on one Thermalogue.  Groups will work with either Tom or Stephen on ONE of the following days: Saturday 10 March; Sunday 11 March; Saturday 17 March; Sunday 18 March.  Location will depend on what images you will want to create.

The resulting Thermalogues will be premiered at our Open Space event - GROUNDSWELL at The Genesis Centre on 24 March, put up on our website, YouTube and other online places, and may also form part of a wider Transition creative programme.

ONLY 12 PLACES AVAILABLE FOR THIS PRETTY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY
Cost: £10 for the whole thing

Booking: via Brewhouse Box Office – in person, or by phone on 01823 283244 OR http://www.thebrewhouse.net/outdoor/1329/thermalogues

This project is supported with funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund.


 Spring into Living Foods: Saturday 10th March 

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11am – 4.30pm

Raw and living foods are growing in popularity and can help you to lose excess weight, gain more energy and feel and look more youthful. This way of eating is growing in popularity because it makes you feel great – gives you more energy, helps you lose excess weight and makes you feel younger.  We’ll show you how to make some energy boosting drinks, breakfast ideas, easy spreads and healthy butter. Also on the menu are inspiring salads, bean free hummus and a tasty garden burger with a dairy-free mayonnaise. We’ll show how to sprout your own micro greens and fermenting techniques to make nut milk yoghurts. We’ll round the day off with ice cream and lemon cheesecake. (This is Deb’s best ever raw cheesecake - you won’t want to miss it. No specialist equipment required – just a blender and food processor. Substantial lunch and a full recipe pack to take away with you.  Suitable for vegans.
£69 per person

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301

Bristol Green Doors - 17th/18th March

 Bristol Green Doors 2012 is taking place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March, with people in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire , and Bath and North East Somerset opening their homes to display their huge range of retro-fitted energy saving measures. A full programme and map of locations is now available form www.bristolgreendoors.org/events/march-2012 .

Ecobuild Exhibition - Tues 20th - Thurs 22nd March

Ecobuild, the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, opens in less than a month.

Venue: ExCeL, London

There are dozens of attractions and live demonstrations - including ZEDlife, the LoCal House, Cool Concrete and Fabric First plus hundreds of seminars every day on Sustainable architecture & design, Standard guides & regulations, Better through BIM, Sustainable by design, Refurbishing Britain and more.

Find out more and sign up at: http://www.ecobuild.co.uk



Get Your Wellies On - Thurs 22nd March

Another opportunity to get your wellies on and get stuck into replanting hazel at Childrens' Wood, just off Winkworth Road. Bring some sturdy footwear, some gloves and plenty of welly!



Groundswell - Sat 24th March

Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.

Milton Friedman

The “perfect storm” of climate change, peak oil and an unstable global economy mean we are living in extraordinary times. 

• What must change next in our locality if we are to weather the “perfect storm”?

• What are our own “ideas lying around” that we urgently need to have front-of-mind for a sustainable future?

• Which ideas are we already acting on, and which ones might we discover we have the energy and ability to act on next?

Join 99 other like-minded people from Taunton and its surrounding area to create Groundswell.  Join up the dots of where we are already rising to the low carbon challenge.  See where our collective potential might take us.  Using the Open Space process, you can have the conversations you really want to have, make new connections, add to a melting pot of ideas, and go away knowing what your next step might be.

The Genesis Centre is on the campus of Somerset College, Wellington Road, has ample parking for bikes and cars, and level access.  It is on bus routes 22, 22A and 92 from the bus station.

Cost:  £10 to include a light vegetarian lunch, tea and coffee
To book, contact Vicky Matthews vickym@uk2.net,or by post to 1 Obridge Lane, Taunton, TA2 7QN.

Cheques payable to Taunton Transition Town.

Places limited – book now!

Looking for Land Events in 2012

I have already advertised the Sedgemoor meeting but if you live elsewhere then check the diary below.....

Are you looking for land? On a waiting list for an allotment but eager to grow and don't know what to do next? Somerset Community Food are holding a series of events across Somerset this Spring to support individuals & groups looking for land.

Information Evenings have been organised for Town & Parish Clerks, Councillors and Residents to explore, enable & support access to land for new and existing food growers.  For full details & to book your place see here.

Provisional dates for the remaining Looking for Land events include:      

                Sedgemoor - Bridgwater, 29th February               

                Taunton & Deane - Taunton, 27th March             

                South Somerset - Yeovil, 24th April         

                West Somerset - Dunster, 29th May

Sign up with Nicole (nicole.vosper@somersetcommunityfood.org.uk)  for the latest booking information. If you can work with Somerset Community Food in your area to make the meetings a success, please get in touch as local knowledge is pivotal. They are also eager for landowners, public and private, to attend. Please get in touch.     

The Sustainability Show - Sunday 17th June

Something for your calendars to book in now.  After the great success last year we are back at the Sustainability Show this June.

http://www.sustainabilityshow.org.uk   

              

   News

Western Power Distribution's Community Chest

Western Power Distribution (WPD) have just launched their Community Chest grant scheme, and £50,000 is available to enable communities to install energy efficiency measures in community buildings. The grant is being administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who can also provide expert advice and guidance to help groups to carry out an audit of their buildings.

Community groups within WPD’s distribution area, which serves the Midlands, South and West Wales and the South West of England, can apply for grants of up to £1000, in order to pay for simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.

Eligible measures include insulating loft spaces, installing energy monitors, draught proofing windows and doors, fitting effective heating controls and installing low energy lighting.

The application process is simple. Groups are asked to submit a short application form and provide quotes for recommended improvements, as well as completing an audit of their building. Guidance is provided on CSE’s website here, www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc or email wpdcc@cse.org.uk for more information


Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust

Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust

The Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust are working to address the chronic shortage of affordable sustainable housing in Somerset.  At the same time they would also like to use the properties to provide managed workspace for new and growing community enterprises especially those using sustainable technologies.


Their first property will be Hertford House in Taunton where the purchase will shortly be completed.  The building has been neglected for many years and they will need a lot of help getting it ready for occupation. 


Please contact them if:

• You are interested in being a tenant of the co-operative. You must be in housing need currently, or at risk of homelessness in the near future.

• You wish to join as member. Somerset residents can join with a minimum investment of £25; however, it will be often be possible to make this investment 'in kind' if you are able to volunteer some time. Member including tenants democratically control the co-op, and can join the management committee.

• You are able to make a larger investment. Anyone can buy shares in the project if they are able to invest a minimum of £500. You will have the reassurance of knowing that the money has been put into a durable asset, and that the financial projections are based on fixed price contracts.

•  You can help as a volunteer with the renovation of Hertford House. We are in need of a wide range of skills, not least simple labour.

Find out on www.somerset.coop/landtrust


or by post: The Hot House, Wellington Road, Taunton, TA1 5AX




Talking Climate Change

The peak fossil fuel argument has always been seen in reference to climate change.  We might have enough fossil fuels to last us but they will increasingly be from areas where it is more difficult and expensive to extract and have ruinous effects on our environment (eg tar sands). It is clear that, with the help of unconventional extraction (eg fracking), we have carbon fuels to take us to climate chaos several times over.

Something to help communicate this binding contract of extraction of fossil fuels and climate change can be found at:

http://talkingclimate.org/

Co-ops Community Energy Challenge

The Community Energy Challenge will provide 12-18 months of enterprise development, mentoring, technical advice and community facilitation for six to eight communities, enabling them to initiate co-operative renewable energy projects at a significant scale (e.g. valued at £1m to £3m and/or rated in excess of 500kW).

This support is being delivered by CSE on behalf of The Co-operative Group and aims to bring the selected community projects to a state of readiness for further support and investment from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and The Co-operative Bank.

The Community Energy Challenge offers a supported application process designed to help communities develop strong project proposals, even from a standing start. Lack of technical know-how should not be a barrier and communities with ambition are encouraged to apply.

To find out more go to: http://www.cse.org.uk/projects/view/1178


Ecological Land Co-operative 


The Ecological Land Co-operative is a project to provide affordable smallholdings for people who wish to live low impact lifestyles while running agricultural businesses; as you will know, that is extremely hard without buying a rural property costing £300k or more, or having a terrible scrap with the planners.

What the ELC do is buy parcels of agricultural land, subdivide them into smallholdings, and secure the necessary planning permission. They can then sell them on to smallholders at a price they can afford - hopefully around £70k for somewhere they can both live and work without hassle from the authorities.

Their first project, financed by a wonderful group of social investors, is Greenham Reach in Mid Devon (near Holcombe Rogus and Wellington, on the border with Somerset). The proposals are presently before MDDC and it is touch and go whether they will pass. So they need support or rather letters of support...

See www.ecologicalland.coop, and especially http://www.ecologicalland.coop/submitting-letter-support.


Inspiration

Listen to Rob Hopkins from Transition Totnes on 'Breathing new life into the concept of resilience' on Radio 4's Four Thought programme.... you can still listen to it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01by7d1

If you want to read about what he said then have a look at  his informative notes about the Four Thought programme - http://transitionculture.org/2012/02/16/breathing-new-life-into-the-concept-of-resilience-the-notes-from-my-four-thought-talk/ 

January 2012 Taunton Transition Town Newsletter

Big News

Photo by: Robert Simpson (Flickr Creative Commons)

Local Energy Assessment Fund


Before Christmas Taunton Transition Town applied for a grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change around local energy assessment.... succinctly entitled Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF - http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_107/pn11_107.aspx).

  Happily we had confirmation this week that we have been successful in our bid and can now run a series of assessment and education projects in the Taunton area. (Queue lots of happy dancing!).

“This is great news for the public sector. Not only do we need to encourage energy efficiency in our schools, hospitals and universities, we also need to get green energy generation and energy efficiency into our communities. That’s why we are also making £10million available for communities to help spur an energy revolution at a local level.”

(Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change)

So what are we going to use the money for:

1.     CSE research

The bulk of the money will be going to the Centre for Sustainable Energy to give us street by street data on the best measures for energy efficiency in the area, population profiles to identify areas most and least likely to take up energy efficiency measures, and analyse what housing stock would benefit which energy efficient and renewable energy projects.  This will give us a body of research that can provide a focus for future work.


2.     Green Doors Scheme

Commissioning one or more freelancers to work to research and prepare a Green Doors open house scheme, to showcase energy efficiency and generation measures in existence in the town.  This will result in a "map" of between 30-50 examples of low carbon living (private dwellings, commercial premises, public buildings) and a commitment from relevant parties to take part in an open Green Doors weekend in May. An example of a green doors scheme is in Bristol – www.bristolgreendoors.org


3.     Digital Artist

We will be partnering with Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre to commission an artist to use thermal imaging equipment to create a new work that would help people "see for themselves" the relationship between the way we live and the energy we use.  It could result in a tourable exhibition of images, a film, something interactive, or something that takes advantage of emerging technologies.


4.     Open Space event

We will  hold a facilitated public event for up to 200 people in a town centre venue (probably The Genesis Centre  - www.genesisproject.com).  Open Space events are specifically designed for participants to agree and discuss the topics that matter most to them, in this case under the broad theme of Building Local Resilience.  Making energy usage sustainable into the future would inevitably be a core topic.  Open Space is also more than a talking shop.  It is specifically structured to lead to actions that participants have decided for themselves they want to take together, and is frequently a way of birthing new networks and working groups.   This will take place in March 2012, and be co-ordinated and delivered by Taunton Transition Town members.


5.     Transition Together

The project involves groups of 4-8 householders meeting on a monthly basis to look at different low carbon topics, including energy, and support each other in making changes.  To date this has resulted in specific outcomes including Solar PV installation, cutting energy bills by up to 30%, and lowering water usage. Taunton Transition Town already has funding for this project from the Council, but will be able to use CSE data to roll out its pilot project beyond the current 30 householders and target areas/population profiles more likely to take an active part.


6.     Deane Energy Savers

This voluntary group, initiated by Taunton Transition Town, is already funded by the Council to cover costs for carrying out a number of energy audits of private dwellings each year, and making referrals to Warm Streets.  This project will enable them to target their resources more effectively within Taunton.  In particular, the purchase of a thermal imaging camera will enable them to take "before and after" images of homes that are undergoing insulation measures during the period Jan-March and become a long term resource in the locality.  The team will also be involved in collecting paper based survey information on the doorstep to help validate desk based research carried out by CSE (see 1).


Now in order to achieve all this we have a big ask of our readership..... we need help.

 
Validate Desk Based Research Carried out by CSE

In order for the CSE to sanity check their research they have to have some on the spot researchers to do some door-to-door surveys.... the Deane Energy Savers can do some but they need help.  If you can give up just a little of your time to conduct some surveys then please get in touch.  We have some provisional dates for a ½ day of training to take place which you will need to do.  Please contact Chrissie Godfrey (chrissie@visionjuice.com) for more details as the training days are scheduled shortly.


Green Doors Scheme Volunteers

If you own/could suggest a property that you would be willing to show to the general public as an example of energy efficiency or renewable energy then please step forward and volunteer. We aim to hold the event in May sometime (date yet to be decided).  If you own a property with all the draught-proofing you could possibly do on a house please come and show your house off! If you have put insulation in your cavity walls please step up! If you have installed a ground heat source pump then please let us know! You might want to show off you solar panels, or your under-floor insulation; it could be your secondary glazing on sash windows or an example of a PassivHaus building (http://www.passivhaus.org.uk)....


Even if you do not know of an example we will still need help on the day by having some event stewards to help support householders and hand out useful information.

Please contact Chrissie Godfrey (chrissie@visionjuice.com) if you are interested in helping out or are interested in becoming a host.


There will be further opportunites and I will post them in the newsletter and website... keep your eyes peeled.


Thanks to everyone involved in putting the grant application together and signing up for various tasks.....


Events


Funding and Finances for you Community Energy Project - Saturday 21st January

Venue: Glastonbury Town Hall
Time: 10-2.30

The Centre for Sustainable Energy have arranged some new training dates.... To book a place contact Kirsty Mitchell: kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk or phone 0117 931 4100, with your email address, phone number and name of your group or organisation. Please let them know if you have access requirements.


Tone Conservation - Wednesday 25th January

A new group of conservationists have recently formed to look after the wonderful wildlife areas in and around Taunton. Meet on 3rd Wednesday of each month at willow cathedral in Longrun Meadow  ( first meeting on 25th Jan  at 1.30pm so everyone has notice).

Each month they will survey the pond area so they have a comprehensive knowledge of what grows and lives there. 
As jobs come up other times will be arranged including weekends or evenings so that everyone can come.

If you are interested in lending a hand then contact Helen Lawy -  helenlawy@gmail.com

Transition Drop-in Café - Sat 28th January



This month we devote to the wonderful news of the Local Energy Assesment Fund (LEAF) and the grant that we have received to provide the groundwork for some great energy efficiency and generation projects in Taunton. Meet to discuss and help lend a hand to launch some groundbreaking energy projects in your local area.


Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton
Time: 10.30-12.30




Food Co-ops Networking Event  - 8th February

Brockleys Food Co-op, Norton Fitzwarren

Venue: Southville Centre, Bristol 

Sustain and the Soil Association are organising a networking event for Food Co-ops in the South West and West Midlands. It will take place at the Southville Centre in Bristol on 8th February 2012. There will be speakers from a university, wholefood and fresh food co-ops as well as the Love Local Food van. Workshops on starting and developing a food co-op, funding, good communication and the legalities will also also be held. The event will present a great opportunity for food co-ops to meet and share ideas and a chance to seek advice and information. This is being organised as part of the lottery funded project. Making Local Food Work.
For further information and a booking form contact: alison@sustainweb.org
www.foodcoops.org

'Better lives with less?' - Friday 10th February

Venue:  Ilminster’s Warehouse Theatre
Time: From 7pm

Could we lead better lives and still leave a thriving planet for our children?
'Better lives with less?' will take place on Friday 10 February at 7.30pm at Ilminster’s Warehouse Theatre. Top-level speakers Sir Graham Watson, MEP and Stewart Wallis, Director of nef, the new economics foundation, will bring new thinking to subjects such as high speed rail, inequality, China, bees in trouble, electricity prices, fishing quotas and well-being rather than welfare.


South Somerset Climate Action has organised this event because it believes there are practical solutions to our problems which are wider than just the climate. It is going to be a fascinating and stimulating evening.

Friday 10 February at the Warehouse Theatre, Brewery Lane, Ilminster TA19 9DA

From 7pm there will be displays and refreshments before a 7.30 start. The talks will be followed by questions.

Tickets £5 (Concessions £4) from:

    Home Energy Centre, 8 Ditton Street, Ilminster TA19 0BQ 01460 250986
    Lanes Garden Shop, Silver Street, Ilminster
    SSCA 27 East Street Ilminster TA19 OAN 1460 55323 or 52347 or
    Order by email from admin@ssca.eclipse.co.uk


Seed Swap and Potato Sale - Saturday 11^th February 
Time: 10 - 12
Venue: Minehead Methodist Church Hall, the Avenue, Minehead

Please collect seeds and plants for the coming spring events.  At the swap you can exchange seeds for packets donated by seed companies and  members, pick up some heritage varieties and buy unusual seed potatoes, books, plants etc.

Contact Maureen: tel: 01643 709478 / email: tma2009@hotmail.co.uk

Also look up http://www.transitionmineheadandalcombe.org/

Raw Food Made Easy: Raw Food for Foodies - Saturday 11th February 

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11am – 4pm

Or… how to create a more youthful body, lose excess weight, gain an extra two hours in your day and feel better than you’ve ever done before (and still eat chocolate)! Raw fruit and veg are great for your health and have all the flavour of cooked foods when you know how. This class will help you to integrate as much raw and living food into your current way of eating as you want to. We’ll show you a range of raw and living foods from sea vegetables to superfoods. The class is all about tasting so it includes a substantial delicious lunch and a recipe pack to take away. Suitable for vegans.
£60 per person

Raw Food Tacos by Geoff Peters 604, on Flickr (Flickr Creative Commons)

“If you’re interested in raw food as a concept, and are curious to find out what it’s all about, I’d recommend Deb’s course as a great introduction – light on lecture  - heavy on experience.  The course notes give you all the recipes to recreate the dishes you try, and for the most part, the techniques involved are well within the grasp of any amateur cook.” Andrew Moloney, Artisan Southwest

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301


Tuesday 21st February - Planning and Permissions for Energy Projects 
Venue: Quakers Meeting Hall, Bath Place, Taunton
Time: 6.30 - 9

The Centre for Sustainable Energy have arranged some new training dates.... To book a place contact Kirsty Mitchell: kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk or phone 0117 931 4100, with your email address, phone number and name of your group or organisation. Please let them know if you have access requirements.

More from CSE is the update to the PlanLoCal website with two new sections which cover 'renewable energy' and 'saving energy'.  Both look at energy issues in a domestic, community and work-based setting and cover the low carbon issues and actions, as well as any planning issues that may be involved. Check out www.planlocal.org.uk/pages/what-matters-to-you


Wednesday 22nd February - Forum 21 New Planning Policies and the West Somerset Environment

Venue: Methodist Church Hall, The Avenue, Minehead
Time: 6.45 pm

Hear what the National Trust and Somerset Wildlife Trust have to say about the effects of the new 'localism' agenda.  How can it be used to benefit West Somerset.  Join the discussion with Forum 21 (http://www.west-somerset-forum21.org.uk).

All are welcome and refreshment are provided. Free admission.

I recommend that you subscribe to the newsletter which is packed with information on local energy projects....especially if you are in the west Somerset area.


Sourdough Classes: Tuesday February 28th, March 20th, April 17th

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11.30 – 4.30pm
Gordon takes small groups (up to four people) through the sourdough process from ‘starter’ to finished loaf using the Blue Peter principle of ‘one I prepared earlier.’  This means you get to practice each stage of the process without the waiting. He has adapted the sourdough method to suit home kitchens and routines, so that what you learn you will be able to apply when you get home.
£69 per person.

Sourdough  by Andy Ciordia, on Flickr (Flickr Creative Commons)

“It was a magical day. I really enjoyed Gordon's teaching and it was brilliant to come home with warm bread, dough and mother. The lunch was also wonderful.” Sarah Burns Cox

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301


 Spring into Living Foods: Saturday 10th March 

Venue: The Space and Bakery, Tracebridge, Somerset
Time: 11am – 4.30pm

Raw and living foods are growing in popularity and can help you to lose excess weight, gain more energy and feel and look more youthful. This way of eating is growing in popularity because it makes you feel great – gives you more energy, helps you lose excess weight and makes you feel younger.  We’ll show you how to make some energy boosting drinks, breakfast ideas, easy spreads and healthy butter. Also on the menu are inspiring salads, bean free hummus and a tasty garden burger with a dairy-free mayonnaise. We’ll show how to sprout your own micro greens and fermenting techniques to make nut mylk yoghurts. We’ll round the day off with ice cream and lemon cheesecake. (This is Deb’s best ever raw cheesecake - you won’t want to miss it. No specialist equipment required – just a blender and food processor. Substantial lunch and a full recipe pack to take away with you.  Suitable for vegans.
£69 per person

To book and for more info, email  kvenner@btinternet.com or call 01823 672301

Looking for Land Events in 2012

Are you looking for land? On a waiting list for an allotment but eager to grow and don't know what to do next? Somerset Community Food are holding a series of events across Somerset this Spring to support individuals & groups looking for land.

Information Evenings have been organised for Town & Parish Clerks, Councillors and Residents to explore, enable & support access to land for new and existing food growers. The first is taking place in Mendip on Tuesday 31st. For full details & to book your place see here.

Provisional dates for the remaining Looking for Land events include:      

                Sedgemoor - Bridgwater, 29th February               

                Taunton & Deane - Taunton, 27th March             

                South Somerset - Yeovil, 24th April         

                West Somerset - Dunster, 29th May

Sign up with Nicole (nicole.vosper@somersetcommunityfood.org.uk)  for the latest booking information. If you can work with Somerset Community Food in your area to make the meetings a success, please get in touch as local knowledge is pivotal. They are also eager for landowners, public and private, to attend. Please get in touch.         

              

   News

Incredible Edible Somerset

You may have heard of the fantastic Incredible Edible Todmorden, our friends up North, who have turned their town into a vibrant vegetable patch, cultivating unused corners of land and more, bringing together local people to take pride in their home grown produce.

               

Following their example, folks from the Somerset Land & Food Project which for the last 2 years has been researching & connecting the dots between local food webs in Somerset, have decided to launch Incredible Edible Somerset, a new interactive online forum designed to celebrate community food growing in Somerset. People & projects can sign up online and find a one-stop-shop of local land & food news, events & useful resources.

Incredible Edible Somerset are developing a Knowledge Bank. Its aim is to capture the varied land and food related skills that the people of Somerset have, enabling greater opportunities to learn, share and promote land and food related skills in Somerset.

They will be creating a downloadable and printable version of a Somerset Land & Food Skills Directory in June 2012. If you would like to be featured please register not only what you can offer but also what you need via the form on the site before May 1st. Please encourage your friends & contacts to join too - the more full, the more useful it will be. If you would like some paper forms to distribute, please get in touch (see link below).


 Join the community now - http://incredible-edible-somerset.ning.com/ and find out what is going on food-wise in Somerset.  There are some great food growing events that are publicised on the site - too many to mention in this newsletter so do join this online resource.

Inspiration

November 2011 Newsletter

"...we can create alternative systems by channelling our consumption and investment and convince others these are great ways of living, and consistent with what we're trying to achieve long term".

Transition Companion book - Rob Hopkins

Events


History of Oil + In Transition - Thurs 24th November

Transition Town Wellington will be showing a double-bill this month of:

•  Robert Newman's History of Oil - http://www.robnewman.com/ - The brilliant Robert Newman comes to grips with the wars and politics of the last hundred years - but rather than adhering to the history we were fed at school, places oil at the center stage of all the cause of all commotion.....  full of laughs and some sobering truths.
• In Transition - ‘In Transition’ is the first detailed film about the Transition movement filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. The Transition movement is about communities around the world responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour, and setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities. It is positive, solutions focused, viral and fun. And I might add totally inspirational.

Time: 7pm
Venue: Community Centre, White Hart Lane, Wellington.
Donations gratefully received and refreshments provided. For more information call Holly Regan-Jones on 01823 660161.

Transition Drop-in Café - Sat 26th November



This month we have decided to take a break from the drop-in because there are just so many more exciting things happening! We will be having a Transition Mull sometime in December... a little reflection on what we have done.... what we would like to achieve for the coming year and celebration.

Scroll down for the other events....











Community Energy Forum - Sat 26th November

Venue:  YMCA, Bridgwater
 Time: 10:30 - 16:30


Don’t miss out on this exciting event hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Energy. They have now confirmed the agenda and  are excited to announce CSE’s Simon Roberts OBE will be welcoming you all to the event. If you want to find out information on the Low Carbon Retrofit Challenge, updates on the Feed in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive and talks from Community Energy Project guest speakers then please book now. Presentations, case studies and workshops on: Green Deal for communities; hard-to-treat homes; community-scale renewables; theories of behaviour change; networking, community group updates and information sharing.

 Refreshments and light lunch provided.


The booking form can be found here....
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ua_GZ2dxAEb5_Bju9o_5zzYirVl-9OBbdAcV4F-EQiU/edit

Please complete and return this form to kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk or post to
Kirsty Mitchell, CSE, 3 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, Bristol BS3 4AQ

Download the agenda here.


Find out more at: http://www.cse.org.uk/pages/information/community-groups/support-for-communities-in-bristol-somerset 



Local Craft Sale - 26th November

If you are interested in local crafts then you can also mosey on over to Roughmoor Farm and checkout the array of local craft people who make things from recycled or found objects.  The local group of crafts people will be selling their homemade crafts at very low prices due to the lack of overheads.... Plus free homemade organic mulled apple juice and mince pies all day.

9am - 6pm at Roughmoor Farm, TA1 5AA.


Buy Nothing Day - 26th November


Yet another event on the 26th.... Buy Nothing Day.



Saturday November 26th is Buy Nothing Day (UK). It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!

As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? We all know recycling is OK for the the environment, but consuming less is better and Buy Nothing Day is a great way to start.

Check it out here...
http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/


The Work That Reconnects - 3rd December
Transition Minehead and Alcombe will be hosting The Work that Reconnects workshop - From Overwhelm to Vibrant Living

Time: 10.00 – 5.00 Saturday December 3rd 2011
Venue:   Friends Meeting House, Bancks Street, Minehead TA24 5DJ



● Feeling overwhelmed by environmental, economic, social challenges?

● Looking for ways to contribute?

● Needing to refresh your energy and enthusiasm?

 ● Wanting to share ideas and encouragement?

 The Work that Reconnects is an experiential workshop developed by ecologist and environmental activist Joanna Macy (www.joannamacy.net), who sees our turbulent times as offering an opportunity for a 'Great Turning' in which we can choose sanity and life over the madness of unsustainable exploitation of the planet.  The Work that Reconnects has helped many thousands of people around the world to find insight, support, and the courage to act.  Its range of powerful transformational practices, many based in Zen, Tibetan Buddhist and Native American traditions, can enable us to reaffirm our sense of purpose and our gratitude for life, so we can turn our concern for the world into collaborative, constructive action.


The workshop will give us an opportunity to:

☼ Explore our feelings of concern for planetary issues

☼ Connect with ourselves, each other and the natural world

☼ Find ways forward towards a sustainable future


The workshop will be facilitated by Fran Hicks and Sally Lever.

Fran Hicks is an art therapist, counsellor, Quaker and founder member of Transition Taunton, experienced in facilitating groups exploring mental wellbeing, deep ecology and spirituality.

 Sally Lever is an experienced personal and business coach, writer, speaker and workshop leader specialising in sustainable living and working (www.sallylever.co.uk).


Suggested donation: £20 per person

(please feel free to give more or less in accordance with your wishes and your circumstances)
Numbers are limited so please book by November 25th
For bookings and further information please contact

Transition Minehead and Alcombe:
Caitlin Collins: cait@globalnet.co.uk  01643 841310



Coppicing @ the Childrens' Wood - 6th December

Take part in a some skill-sharing at Childrens' Wood.  Learn how to coppice trees to open up glades in woods and encourage different flora and fauna.   Have a go at hurdle-making and learn how to take care of the precious woods right here on your very doorstep. It is free, fun and and very hands-on.  Oh and remember to bring hard-wearing waterproofs, gardening gloves and probably wellies... it can get mucky out there!

Meet at the bridge over the River Tone at Childrens' Wood, Taunton next to the orchard at 2 pm. 


Green Christmas Fair - 10th December

You can email Jill Gray on jillgray2@tiscali.co.uk......

Transition Mull - Monday 12th December

Come and join us to reflect on the past year and dream for the future.  It is a chance to evaluate what we have achieved with our very own timeline, make plans for the future and of course celebrate. Don't worry if you are new to this... it is a great chance to meet-up and get together with others who are trying to build a more resilient future - the only way we know how - TOGETHER!


Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton (just off the High Street)
Time: 7 pm





News

Food Sovereignty



What unites national charities like Oxfam and War on Want with grassroots organisations like Transition and Reclaim the Fields - why, issues like who controls our food systems, how we can make change happen not only locally but globally as well, how a fairer system to deal with the production, distribution, access and control of food is the best way forward for a sustainable food system.  And the South West Food Sovereignty Skillshare showed this. 

"Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems... "

- Declaration of Nyeleni.org, 2007 - http://www.nyeleni.org/?lang=en


Graciela Romero from War on Want gave us the global picture; 925 million hungry, 150,000 farmer suicides in India because of debt, unequal trade in food, food waste of between 1/3 and 1/2 of all food produced because of the industrial system.... our government hopes with the buy-in of a few agri-business companies to solve our food crisis with more industrialisation, more fertilizers, more 'technology' with little regard for the climate and social cost.  

Graciela introduced the principles behind food sovereignty: that food is a basic human right, agrarian reform is necessary, natural resources should be protected, food trade needs to be re-organised, the globalisation of hunger should be ended, that food should never be used as a weapon and that people, including small farmers, must have democratic control of their food systems. (Read the excellent Food Sovereignty Report from War on Want - http://www.waronwant.org/overseas-work/food-sovereignty/17394-food-sovereignty-report)

Linda Hull from Somerset Community Food highlighted the important projects out there that could challenge the 'business as usual' approach.  Projects such as Sustain's 'Good Planning for Good Food' report that spotlights spatial planning in protecting land for farming.... http://www.sustainweb.org/publications/?id=192 , and  Colin Tudge's  Campaign for Real Farming (http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/) calling for an Agarian Renaissance and encourage more people back into farming.  Incredible Edible Todmorden stands out as a beacon in growing in your own backyard... or graveyard, or railway station (http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/).... and it is all possible here in Somerset.  Somerset Community Food have even created a website - www.foodmapper.org.uk - which maps all the land and local growing projects.... so get out there and contribute to the site!

So what can we really do in Somerset to create the sustainable, socially just food system ... from the brainstorming session a whole host of ideas was brought forward: food growing education, community trading post, Peoples' Supermarket, Fair Share, Direct Action, using political rhetoric in our favour and perhaps most importantly - 'Think Global, Act Local'.



Many thanks to Transition Glastonbury and Reclaim the Fields for putting this conference together. Read their write up here - http://transitionglastonbury.org.uk/?p=1182


Can We Live Better With Less - 11th November

You would hope that with the title 'Can We Live Better With Less' that it would be a resounding yes.... but of course it is a yes with an uphill struggle ahead.

Stewart Wallis, Executive Director of the New Economics Foundation laid out why our economy at the moment would not be the solution in the form of the 4 U's of current Economics or the 4 horsemen: unsustainable, unfair, unstable and unhappy.

• Unsustainable - with depletion of resources can we really continue the way we are.
• Unfair - with current economics brings social problems (read the Spirit Level - Wilkinson & Pickett if you are not convinced - http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/slides). Stewart Wallis described the current economic climate as 'hoover up' not 'trickle down'.
• Unstable - increasing rapidity of stock market crashes.  The systems were built for efficiency not resilience which is just what we need now.
• Unhappy - The greater wealth amongst some is not making us more happy... Britain reached a plateau of perceived happiness in the mid 60s and since then with more wealth we have not increased in happiness.

The foundation would like to highlight the myths and half-truths that are banded around by politicians and economist alike to prop up the current economic system....

• Infinite growth - this is just not feasible... at some point the resources with run out.
•  Markets are fair
• Prices tell the truth - often social costs are not factored in.
• Salaries reflect Value - a recent report from NEF found that by and large a teaching assistant over their working life would create more 'value' than say tax accountant, who would destroy value.
• More income equals more happiness - see the above comment...

So if you wish to achieve a 'new economy' what do you do.... there is the key dilemma for us all; running out of planet and on the other side putting the brakes on the economy and causing mass unemployment...

The proposed way is the Great Transition with some crucial goals:

• Measure the right things (Gross National Happiness anyone?)
• Reform the financial sector by breaking up the banks and forming a Good Banking Forum
• Radically change incentives, taxes and regulation.
• Implement a green deal for green jobs which will be both profitable and sustainable
• De-centralise the economic systems with more local food and energy.
• Change the role of companies with a purpose wider than money
• Radically change the redistribution of income, wealth, and land access.
• Rebalance our lives.

It is about making us all stewards not consumers.



Thanks to Transition Minehead an Alcombe and Forum 21 for hosting this event and providing a great forum for lively debate.
 
You can download the publication 'The Great Transition' free from their website: http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/great-transition

News on the Feed-In Tariffs


Alas, the government have seen fit to reduce the feed-in tariff rates as of the April 1st 2012.   But this will effect installations from the 12th December.

If your installation becomes eligible for FIT payments between the 12^th of December and the 31^st of March then you will receive the higher FIT rate until the 1^st April 2012; then you will be transferred to the lower tariff for the remainder of the 25 years of your FIT contract.

Please see below for the proposed new tariff levels across all size of installation for solar PV. Note that this affects both domestic and non-domestic (including community) installations.

Band (kW)	Current generation tariff (p/kWh)	Proposed generation tariff (p/kWh)
≤4kW (new build)	37.8	21.0
≤4kW (retrofit)	43.3	21.0
>4-10kW	37.8	16.8
>10-50kW	32.9	15.2
>50-100kW	19	12.9
>100-150kW	19	12.9
>150-250kW	15	12.9
>250kW-5MW	8.5	8.5
stand alone	8.5	8.5

To be FIT eligible your panels need to be fully installed and your chosen FIT licensee must have registered your installation. For this, an application needs to be made which may take a week or more to turn around. So if you have an installation in progress, contact your FIT licensee as soon as possible to (1) check the time frames and (2) find out exactly what information will be required for the application to register for the FIT. 

There is still time to respond to the consultation which closes on Friday 23^rd of December. You can respond either online(https://econsultation.decc.gov.uk/office-for-renewable-energy-deployment-ored/comprehensive-review-part-1),  or by post to this address: Feed-in Tariffs team, Department of Energy and Climate Change, 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A2AW using the same template.

The Low Carbon Communities Network is supporting several campaigns challenging the reduced rate proposals. There is more information on their website:

http://lowcarboncommunities.net/2011/11/02/so-what-to-do-now/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LowCarbonCommunities+%28Low+Carbon+Communities%29

Information for this post has come from the Centre for Sustainable Energy - www.cse.org.uk.