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1. Introduction *  2. The New September -December 08 Programme of Events *    3. TTT at Totnes Agricultural Show.  July 31st 2008 *  4. Gardenshare Seasonal Update *  5. Where do we put the next nut trees? *  6. Upcoming Events  *   7. Non-TT Events *   8. Help Wanted *

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1. Introduction

The holiday season passed by in a drizzly haze, with Totnes gardeners being subjected to the predations of slugs the size of puppies, but hopefully you found some time for relaxation and time off.  TTT is back for Season 3, bright eyed and bushy tailed, and ready to roll with our new programme of events. 

We were delighted to read recently that the Transition Handbook came tenth in a poll by Waterstones of books that MPs were taking on their summer holidays.  The 'TTT: More Popular Than Cherie Blair' t-shirts are at the printers. Various representatives of TTT attended the recent Climate Camp at Kingsnorth, including Chris Bird, Hal Gilmore and Simone Wilkie.  You can read their account here. Hal ran a very well attended workshop on 'Setting Up a Transition Initiative' and they all emerged unscathed.

The new bright red programme is now out and about all over town, and you can read more details below.  Some of the highlights for September include 'The Turning of the Tide' an evening organised as part of the Totnes Festival, featuring storyteller Ashley Ramsden and the first chance to see some of the film produced by the Year 7 Transition Tales project TTT ran in April/May, a talk by Albert Bates, who gave (in 1995) one of the most inspiring talks I have ever seen, about the story of the Farm ecovillage.

Roberto Perez, who many of you will know from the film 'The Power of Community', will talk about the role of urban food production in Cuba, permaculture design, and will be able to answer all your 'yes, but' questions that followed your seeing the film, and then the launch of TTT's big project for Season 3, the Totnes Energy Descent Pathways Project. 

The Pathways project is the culmination of all the work we have been doing over the last 2 years, and it needs your support and input.  Come along to the talk on the 24th at St. Johns and find out how you can get involved and help shape this pathway for the town.  We look forward to your involvement and engagement, and to all the great work that will emerge over the next 12 months. 

You may also be interested to know about some of the ways around the world that practical initiatives are starting to emerge inspired by work here in Totnes.  On September 9th in Lewes, Sussex, Transition Town Lewes are launching the Lewes Pound, modelled on our own local currency.  They have got their local branch of Barclays to issue and accept them, and their local brewery is brewing a beer called 'The Lewes Pound' to celebrate the launch!  Meanwhile on the other side of the world, on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, their local Transition group have, inspired by our Nut Tree Capital of Britain project, launched their Fabulous Fruit Tree project, aiming to plant 20,000 fruit and nut trees across the island.  Looks like they are off to a pretty good start.

There is new update from the our own Totnes Pound project.....so to read all about their news click here...

Finally, we were very saddened to hear of the death of Tom Welch, a dear friend of TTT, who despite failing health, came along to as many TTT events as he could, and was enormously enthusiastic about the whole venture.  A sustainability pioneer in the area for many years, he was, among other things, one of the founders of the Yarner Trust.  He will be much missed.

2. The New September -December 08 Programme of Events

Available throughout the town!

 3. TTT at Totnes Agricultural Show.  July 31st 2008

Despite driving rain and strong winds, the tent donated by Landmatters and gazebos from Totnes Kayaks gave us a relatively snug shelter for the TTT display and activities on the day of the Totnes Agricultural show.
It was a great experience of a community effort, including last minute search for canvas, that made a TTT presence possible on this occasion.  We enjoyed it. We think many drenched families were glad to come out of the rain, and join in the craft table, making new things out of old things, or just relax with cake and drinks on one of the straw bales. Giselda Sanderson drew enchanted audiences with playing her string instrument; many catchy tunes reminding older folk there of country dancing, and riveting some small children as she strummed away in the rain.
There was certainly some interest from passers-by in what TTT is about, and interesting for us to hear from those who stopped to talk as they passed by, or in the tent, what efforts are being made by people in their everyday lives to shift, even in very small ways, towards a more viable life.

Anyone who wants to join in future outreach efforts,[Friday market stall etc.] is extremely welcome. The more the merrier!

 4. Gardenshare Seasonal Update

As the growing season for 2008 has got well underway we have had some very dedicated and talented growers coming forward and taking on local gardens. Well done everyone for your incredible hard work! Some of the gardens went from 0-90 in a matter of a few weeks this spring.

...and the project continues to recruit growers and garden owners all the time...

Currently there are 13 families that are munching the benefits of this scheme at the most recent count. So that is 7 gardening teams, couples, or resourceful individuals (along with the garden owners' families they are also feeding). The idea of the project has always been  for it to be a long-term community initiative, with people gardening the land year after year if possible. So althougth the project is still in its early stages the notion is that slow is beautiful, and often more sustainable. It also feels that every single person that grows more of their own food this year is taking an important step towards greater local food resilience. This is not only in terms of food security and local self-sufficiency, but also in contributing to the great tradition of growing, propagating, seed-saving and skill-sharing that we are part of.

If you are a keen gardener looking for a plot or a garden owners wanting to share their space please do get in touch with Lou at the office on 01803 867358.  Read more about the project.

5. Where do we put the next nut trees?

An update on the nut tree planting in Totnes...

2007/2008 has seen the start of planting nut trees in many public spaces in Totnes; hazel, walnut, chestnuts, almonds, and even the odd pecan!

The planting days have been enthusiastically attended by volunteers keen to support this venture. All the trees planted have 'guardians' to watch over them and take care of them.

Next winter we hope to plant more trees, but wondered whether people might like to suggest sites near where they live.
Kevin Baumbach, in Elm Drive, successfully got the agreement of all his neighbours in the road, and the agreement of the Tor Homes land manager, and planted 4 apple trees in the street where he lives.

We hope that might be the start of many people getting together with their neighbours to do some nut tree  planting near them.[with agreement, of course, from SHDC or Tor Homes,or Dartington estate, or whoever is the land owner of that particular piece of land].

We'd love to know if you have a suggestion....and if so please contact Teresa Anderson on 01803 863110 or at teresa@gaianet.org, or Wendy Stayte at wendystayte@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks!

6. Upcoming Events

Monday 8th September. The Ariel Centre 7-10pm. £4 (£3 /Year 7 students free).
In association with the Totnes Festival

The Turning of the Tide: an evening of inspired storytelling.

With tasters of the Transition Tales films of 2030 from Keviccs students.

Renowned, world travelled and spellbinding storyteller, who will tell 2 timeless yet topical tales, the Story of the Titanic, a chilling parable for modern times, and the heartwarming and inspiring story of The Man Who Planted Hope, which articulates the power of what one person can do to heal the world.

Ashley is the founder and director of the School of Storytelling at Emerson College and has travelled the world telling stories.

A taste of a new film of local news stories from 2030, imagined and produced by Year 7 KEVICC students during April and May 2008, introduced by Hannah Mulder, co-ordinator of the Transition Tales Project. For more click here...

Friday 12th September. Methodist Church. 8pm £4 (£3 conc.)

Anything is Possible: Inspiring stories from a founder of the Eco-village movement.

A talk by Albert Bates of the Global Eco-village Network & author of the Post Petroleum Survival Guide & Cookbook.

“Peak oil is a horrible predicament. It is also a wonderful opportunity to do a lot better. Let's not squander this moment. This will be the Great Change,” writes Albert Bates, a founder of the eco-village movement and author. 

Albert is coming to Totnes to give a talk about the experiences and insights he has gleaned in a lifetime of environmental and human rights work. The talk by Albert Bates of the Global Ecovillage Network and author of “The Post Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook” is on Friday 12th September at the Totnes Methodist Church. He is an inspiring speaker, combining knowledge and insight with humour. A lawyer, author and teacher, he has been a founding member of The Farm, Eco-village Training Centre in Tennessee since 1972. He was part of Plenty International for 18 years, focussing on relief and development work with indigenous peoples, human rights and the environment. Albert's experience on The Farm has given him much insight and experience to educate us gently yet honestly, while urging us on toward community and simplicity.  Read more...

Thursday 18th September. Methodist Church, 8pm. £5 (£4 conc.)

The Power of Community: How Cuba survived Peak Oil

An evening talk by Roberto Peres with Cuban music.

When Cuba lost access to Soviet oil, fertilizers and export trade market in the early 1990s, the country faced virtual overnight economic collapse and an immediate crisis - feeding the population. The story of the Cuban people's hardship, ingenuity, and triumph over sudden adversity --through cooperation, conservation, and community--to create a low energy society is inspirational. Cuba's transition to organic agriculture, and rapid relocalisation based on decentralized health care and higher education, bicycles and public transport, and community response to radical change is both thought provoking and empowering.
Roberto Perez, Cuban permaculturist, featured in the film, is spending 2 months touring Australia sharing the Cuban experience through public presentations, national and regional conferences. Roberto attributes much of the success of Cuba's urban agriculture and food security to the introduction of permaculture by a group of Australian permaculture trainers during the early years of the Cuban crisis, or ‘Special Period'. The city of Havana now produces over 60% of its fruit and vegetables within the city and peri-urban areas.  This unmissable evening will tell a story of hope, of courage and of people taking action and responding creatively to crisis. Read more...

Wednesday 24th September. St Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Public Launch of Energy Descent Action Pathways Project for Totnes: Imagining Totnes in 2030

A creative community process: designing for the promise of an oil-free, low carbon Totnes. Can you imagine Totnes in 2030?

Cheese & wine refreshments & project tasters. For more info contact Jacqi Hodgson on 0506 153 8658 or email edap.totnes@transitionnetwork.org

Sunday 21nd September.11am-4pm at 4 Baring Cottages (just around the corner from Bridgetown Stores - look for TTT signs!)
Entry:  a Credit Crunch Busting £1.50 (£1 conc.)

Seedy Sisters Autumn’s Glorious Glut Gig

Seed saving workshops, produce swap & sale, refreshments & talks.

If you're lucky enough after this soggy summer to have a glut then bring it along to our Glut Gig to swap or maybe you have homemade preserves such as jams or chutneys to sell? This years TTT Seed Saving event is  being held in the  classic cottage garden of our newest and oldest Seedy Sister 83 year old  Marge Perks who has over 70 years of gardening knowledge to pass on to the next generations.

Various Seedy Sisters will be on hand to give advice about saving seed for next year, swapping information and seeds  and sharing their knowledge.If you've struggled with your tomatoes this year Rachel our tomato expert will be on our  Gardeners Question Time  panel (kick off 3pm) to deal with your questions along with other local greenfingered gurus  who can  hopefully  answer your gardening issues from compost to slugs.

There will be yummy homemade cakes and tea on sale  to keep you going. So bring along your gluts, your jams and chutneys, your windfalls, your seed heads, your knowledge or simply  your curiosity about growing your own in our Transition Town and learn more about growing for the future.

Thursday 9th October. Bogan House. 7:30-9:30pm. £2 (£1 conc.).

A Fishbowl discussion exploring our connection to place.

A Question of Belonging: ‘Where do you belong? Who does Totnes belong to?’

We’ve called Totnes a ‘Transition Town’’…says who? What right has any group to think about the focus of a place? How long do you have to live in a place to say that you really come from there and can speak with any legitimacy on behalf of your community?    Few people pass the land that they live and work from generation to generation many in our society move from place to place, often many times in a lifetime. What effect does this have on our sense of belonging? Can we truly belong to a place where we weren’t born, where we didn’t grow up? The Heart and Soul group of Transition Town Totnes is hosting an open discussion called ‘A Question of Belonging’ on the Tuesday 8th October to explore this. They will be looking at what happens if we do not live the place where our ancestors lived, whether we lose our connection to the past, and even our sense of responsibility for the future. 
This evening is a great chance to create a space where we can explore these ideas together and the deeper questions of belonging that are there for all of us. How long different people have lived here and their relationship to the town comes up often. How many generations your family need to live in a place to truly belong? In our transient, fast-moving society, how many of us really feel a connection to where we live? Many of us who grow up here but can’t afford to live here now. When do so-called ‘blow-in’s naturalise? Read more...

Saturday 11th October. . The Steiner School, 7.30pm for 8-10pm. £3 (£2 conc.)
In association with The Steiner School

Parallel Community: A platform for change

A talk by author & renowned dowser Hamish Miller.

Wednesday 15th October, Methodist Church. 8pm £3 (£2 conc.)

Natural Building for a Sustainable Future: How to construct healthy, ecological buildings using local & reclaimed materials.

Video diaries & slides from local eco-builders of straw, cob & timber frame homes.

7. Non-TT Events

There are some fantastic courses and events going on locally over the next few weeks, too many to put them all here, but for the full listing of those that we have been alerted to click here...

8. Help Wanted

TTT Outreach Group 

People to help run the market stall

Anyone wanting to help bring TTT to the Totnes Friday market-place please contact Hal on 01803 868416. Hang out and chat with all sorts of people from your town...

Hosting Course Participants & Speakers/ Workshop tutors

Would you be happy to host a tutor / speaker, or someone who was down for an evening / weekend to participate in a TTT course? Maybe you don't have the space, but would like the chance to meet interesting and like-minded people by offering a meal to somebody visiting for a TTT workshop or event?

Roberto Perez is coming from Cuba giving a talk on 18th September and needs a host to meet him at the station and put him up. Please contact the office if you can accommodate him. Thank you...

We are trying to compile a list of potential hosts that TTT visitors can stay with or even just have a with Maybe you who have a bike you are happy to loan out to a course-participant, or you want to lift-share to venues / the station. If you have suggestions of anything you would be hapy to offer a TTT visitor we would love to hear from you. It may be great opportunity for getting to know new and interesting people involved in transition and the environmental movement, and showing them some home-spun Totnes hospitality. Contact the office!

TTT Youth Group urgently recruiting now...
 
...passionate, active folk to get involved with our current project ...

BIKE POWERED GENERATOR MAKING

We are looking for a bike powered generator enthusiast/s or similar to help us make repairs to our wonderful bike powered generator that was unfortunately damaged at Sharpham Youth Camp last week. Also to coordinate a team of young enthusiasts to make new bike powered generators to power future local youth events
 
We need a keen youth worker or similar to rally a group of young people to get excited about this project and to get loads of young people to join in. Make this your project. We are looking for a fundraiser (this group has a good track record already with funders)
 
For more details contact Steph Bradley at transitiontales@googlemail.com
  

Volunteers needed to help distribute posters and programmes

Fancy spending an hour or so once a week going around the Totnes Shops distributing TTT Posters and Programmes for upcoming events? We really need people to help us put posters around the town and beyond. Maybe you live on the outskirts of Totnes or in a nearby town and could take a poster or two to your local shop regularly? If you have any time spare to help us put posters up and about we would love to hear from you.

All  this last year's posters came to you thanks to our fantastic volunteer Simone, who has done a wonderful job of spreading them far and wide. Thank you for all your hard work over the year Simone...

Home Group seeks 3 new members

We are a TTT Home Group that has been meeting fortnightly in Totnes for about 1 year. This group is a safe, supportive and confidential space to share the challenges, interests, growing edges and insights of our paths through transition. We meet on Monday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30. We now wish to open the group to 3 new members. For safety and continuity, it is likely to work best for us if new members are looking for a group to attend fairly regularly, rather than one to drop in to occasionally.

If you are interested in joining this group, phone Ailsa on (01803) 849039. Please do contact us in this way even if you know group members personally, as our intention is to take the first people who phone.

To look at all of our previous bulletins please click here. In order to receive this monthly bulletin by email, please register on our website.

Transition Town Totnes, 43 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5HN.

Tel: 01803 867358 Email: totnes@transitionnetwork.org

Web: www.totnes.transitionnetwork.org