PL21 NEWSLETTER MAY 2010
PL:21 (Positive living in the 21st Century) is a grass roots, community-led transition initiative. Transition involves rising to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. By finding new ways of working, producing and sharing together at a local level, we can become part of the solution rather than part of the problem Using our collective skills and knowledge, we can make the Erme Valley more resilient and sustainable. Together, we can make it easier to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This will make our community less vulnerable and more vibrant.
Events
- Wednesday 26th May - River Clean up - 6pm – 7.30pm. (details in waste section)
- Thursday 27th May - PL21 Meeting – 7.30pm – come and help make things happen! Regular - last Thursday of the month at the Town Hall
- Friday mornings – Ivybridge Country Market – see below (details in Food section)
- Wednesday 9th June - FREE WORKSHOP - Elderflowers and wild food Day with Liz Turner of Trees for Health. (details in food section)
- Transition Network Conference 2010 - at Seale Hayne Near Newton Abbot 11th - 13th June (details below)
News - Ivybridge now had Fair Trade Status! One of our members, Janet Parsons, along with the guides and rangers have worked really hard to get this acknowledgement for Ivybridge. Look out for linked events between PL:21 and Fair Trade and encourage everyone to think fair trade as well as local.
Energy
Micro Hydro on the River Erme – A working group is looking at various site and the is at the end of July. If you want to see copies of the report and come to the next meeting contact Ivybridge Town Hall.
Waste
Thanks to everyone who put so much effort into getting as many people as possible to write objecting to the incinerator! Lots of people did write! There are lots of ways of reducing waste – why not share your tips for the next newsletter.
On the subject of waste Ivybridge Environmental Action Group (IEAG) will be holding a RIVER CLEAN UP on Wedneday 26th May from 6 until 7.30pm. Meet at the Decking area by the Snail Carpark (Harford road car park) - Waste is a big issue and this is one part that is a problem for wildlife as well! Wear suitable boots and clothing - bring your waders if water is low!
Transport
Cllr Phillip Dredge and the Ivybridge Rail Users Group continue to work hard keeping the trains for Ivybridge high on the agenda. New summer timetables are available at the information centre and a “Days Out” by train from Ivybridge is in the process of being finalized.
FOOD
Plans are afoot to do a food event in September so do get in contact with your ideas. Encouraging the growing and eating of local food, saving seeds, composting, wild food walks and linking local growers to local food producers.
Food is of great interest to us all and we keep finding out more places growing food locally – John and Pauline came to the last meeting and told us about their veg growing group down the Erme Valley near Wonwell beach. We might be able to organize a visit........
Orcheton Self Supply Vegetable Growing Group
John Watson and his wife, Gillian, bought land at Orcheton Quay in the 1970’s and one of the conditions of gaining planning permission to restore the house was to put the land into production. So a greenhouse and polytunnel covering an area of 2,000 square feet was erected. This suited John who, as a retired farmer, has never lost the passion to produce and grow.
About fifteen years ago John, who has always been community minded, invited people to join him in a weekly get together to enjoy a shared lunch and afterwards garden and share the proceeds at the end of the day. Over the years a number of people have come and go, each bringing their level of skills and expertise and the garden is now flourishing. Attendance is best and most consistent from people who live nearest. Sometimes WOOFERS come and stay and the garden is heaven for any raw food eaters.
The produce is used in many different ways. After the growers have their share John supplies the Kingsbridge LETS monthly market at Harbour House, Kingsbridge, one or two individual small caterers, and as a trading/barter system with local neighbours. Any excess cash is donated to the charity Practical Action, in particular an orphanage in Africa. From time to time one or two people are invited to join the group as people move on in their own lives.
PLUS – 80 families now have new allotments at Filham Park – that is a lot of people growing their own. We wish them well and hope they will let us know how they get on and perhaps get involved in skill sharing, seed saving and swaping events!
Wednesday 9th June - Elderflowers and wild food Day
with Liz Turner of Trees for Health. Starting at 2 – 5.30 pm at Riverside, Cleeve, Ivybridge, PL21 0LP. This is a follow-up day to the free workshop we did in March in Long Timber Woods. Liz Turner from Trees for Health will be sharing her knowledge and skills in the different uses of the elder trees for health. Join us gathering elderflowers & other wild foods on a walk around the fields & then making elderflower recipes including drinks & fritters. Limited spaces so BOOK your FREE place now - it is free as Trees For Health have the funding! IEAG/PL:21 partnership event. Phone 01752 892676 or contact us here to book a place.
Ivybridge Country Market
In September 2010 the Market celebrates its Silver Jubilee – 25 successful years of supplying our local community with diverse goods in a friendly atmosphere. Good food, cooked locally has been on sale every Friday morning! This is an excellent example of co-operation and self help, and a great social benefit too. So come early (8.30 to 11.30) to get the best choice of a wonderful selection of food, crafts, plants, fruit and vegetables. The Scout Hall (adjacent to the Leisure Centre). If you cook or grow, this could be a brilliant place to bring your food and earn a bit of money too! If you would like to join as a producer, speak to Janet (837667) or Allison (893211)
We are particularly lucky to have local examples of Transition in action to help us find our way :-
Totnes – Launch of Energy Decent Action Plan
The transition movement has been called ‘one of the big ideas of our time’, and has spread widely since The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins was published in 2008. The day after the election saw the launch of Transition in Action, a detailed Energy Descent Action Plan (EWAP) for Totnes over the next twenty years. Beautifully printed and launched with passion, there is nothing airy-fairy about this book. It is packed with original ideas for reducing dependency on fossil fuels, especially oil, and covers food, health and well-being, water matters, biodiversity, transportation, building and housing, economics and livelihoods, the arts, culture media and innovation….http://transitionculture.org/2010/05/05/totnes-energy-descent-action-plan-website-launched-today/
Transition Network Conference 2010 - at Seale Hayne Near Newton Abbot
This event is highly recommended by Ian, Tess and Simon who have been before! “You meet amazing people from all over the country and abroad who are actually making positive changes in all sorts of different and challenging circumstances! This wonderful place is now under the ownership of Dame Hannah Rogers – so an extra link to Ivybridge!” TW
‘If the word conference usually makes your blood run cold, with visions of soggy sandwiches, death-by-Powerpoint and graphs and struggling to keep your eyes open after lunch, Transition Network conferences are an entirely different kettle of fish. Think Open Space, a dazzling array of workshops, plenty of time to meet other Transitioners and learn from their experience, practical activities, great food, sunshine, time for games and for hanging out in the evenings, laughter, self-organisation, a deep immersive experience in this extraordinary thing we are all creating called Transition. You will find more info here, and all the info you need in order to book. This event will also introduce a new way of presenting the Transition model, based around the concept of a ‘Pattern Language’ which will be the centre piece of ‘The Transition Handbook 2′, be a part of reshaping how we www.transitionnetwork.org/conference-2010
Please think about how you can help make PL:21 succeed.
PL:21’s Future Events and Training opportunities include Waste, Energy, Local Food and Transport. If you are concerned about these issues, please get in contact and see how we can work in partnership in mutual benefit. Together change is possible! Keep an eye out for events and projects throughout the year as part of the initiative.
How can you get involved -
— Share your ideas
— Let us know what you or your group are doing
— he!p us with administration and IT to make us more effective
— Support and/or work the events that we organize
— Join our database
Let’s make Ivybridge and district sustainable together!
‘The Transition movement is the most exciting, most hopeful, most inspirational movement happening in Britain today’. Caroline Lucas MEP
For more information about the PL21 please contact us here.
