This article tells how Southend in Essex built their Transition Town and ran sustainable projects that all worked together. A vision for Clitheroe?
http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/how-make-your-transition-town-more-effective
Who ever thought heaving a huge concrete trough from its resting place could leave a warm glow of satisfaction at the end of a frosty December wednesday? This afternoon- (12/12/12), four volunteers met up at Whalley Forest Garden project, situated on a curious piece of triangular land, wedged between the Clitheroe-Whalley railway and the busy A59 bypass. Whalley Forest Garden initiator, Chris Gathercole and eager and able bodied volunteers Trevor, Thomas and Charlie, took on the afternoon tasks with great energy and cheer.
Our first task was to replace one of the tree guards which restricted a plum tree’s branches with a more tree-friendly tree guard which enables the branches to grow more as they would like to- outwards instead of upwards. Let’s hope our new tree guard keeps the roe deer at bay!
Our next task was to go back to the bottom of the garden to the handy green shipping container with all the tools. We began spading in some compost in the wheelbarrows and commenced the heart pumping climb to the top of the garden. Equipped with a cro-bar, spades, pick-axe and mattock, we soon dumped our compost on newly planted tree mounds and marched up to the top of the Forest garden, where a large concrete trough lay waiting. It was overturned and we worked out that it must have been in this position since at least 1971 when the road by which it stood was built.
Chris explained to us that he had ordered a fig tree for the garden and wanted to plant it in the trough as fig trees grow better and fruit more when their roots are restricted.
Off came the jackets, and Trevor made the first deep cuts into the earth with the spade and began the process of shifting the soil from the edges which had built up by at least 20 inches over the years. It soon became clear that this was not a straight forward task, and I think we all began to feel this was a job for another day, or couldn’t we just bring a digger and move it? But determined, we persisted.
Inch by inch, cm by cm, we wedged, heaved and hammered away until just as the light was fading, gravity chose our side, and we over-turned it to great elation all around.
To see a few of the photos of the process check out Whalley Forest Garden facebook page here:http://www.facebook.com/WhalleyForestGarden
Apologies- it sounds disgusting but below is a link to a recent post that Rob Hopkins made after his visit to Clitheroe last month, in an attempt to support smaller, less well established Transition communities to get to grips with some of the excellent stuff going on, by presenting it in a thematic way as Transition Essentials
The first theme is food and there are some lovely, inspiring little films ( look at what they did on a patch of boring grass in Bath for instance)
( the next piece in response to George Monbiot’s ’Peak oil they got it wrong’ article from the Guardian is also well worth a read)
Visit to Gazegill Organic Farm on Saturday 31st March 2012 http://www.gazegillorganics.co.uk/, meet at 11.15/11.20 for a site tour 11.30 and Community Supported Agriculture workshop finishing about 3 pm, find out what CSA is and how we can make it happen. Please wear sensible clothes and bring a packed lunch, Gazegill Organic Farm is at Cross Hill Lane, Rimington, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4EE For more information contact Victoria Dewhurst on vicswoods@hotmail.com
Dear friends of Offshoots and Eco awareness raising!
Offshoots Permaculture Project together with the WEA (Workers Education Association)
Are pleased to offer free places on our Inspiring Permaculture Design Course for Sustainable Living
We still have four places available on the next Part 1 course starting on Sunday 25th March to Saturday 31st March
(7 days – the first half of a full 72 hour Permaculture Design Certificate Course accredited by The Permaculture Association)
It is free to people who are on benefits, the full cost will be £130 if not on benefits
Also if not on benefits but have a low income these costs may be also be claimed back on successful completion of the course
Please would you help to let people know about this opportunity
If we do not fill these four places we may have to cancel the course which will dissappoint those already booked on
To reserve a place please email me directly on vicswoods@hotmail.com or text or leave a voice mail on mobile = 07765 414 335 (messages only)
For more information about Permaculture please visit The Permaculture Asociaition Web site www.permaculture.org.uk/
Or www.offshoots.org.uk
Many thanks
Victoria Dewhurst
Unicorn Grocery, Manchester co-operative grocery, has put together a
guide intended to help others who want to set up a shop using the same
model.
The Grow a Grocery guide walks potential grocers through all
areas of the business, in the hope that it will make starting a new shop an
easier process and help existing shops improve and/or expand.
For the full guide and additional resources
http://www.cooperatives-nw.
Chris
We are well on with planting the windbreak along the A59 with willow cuttings. By the autumn we should have good protection for the site, about three metres high, so long as the voles and rabbits don’t chew the bark and kill them off. Willow grows fast and will soak up some of the damp which will help the site which has been waterlogged with all the rain of December and January.
We are using mycorrhizal fungi when we plant which brings nutrients for the willows from the soil in exchange for sugars which help them extend their network in the soil. Magic! More…
Chris
This is just a quick note to say, no we have not dropped off the map of transition. We are still making transition sustainable in our own lives, and the website will soon be updated by various members of TTC who are currently undergoing website training to be able to update the website whenever they have a new event to talk about or something they would like to share with the wider audience who are interested in transition.
Since I am here doing this, I thought I would share an inspirational website with lots of interesting videos about people making a positive impact in the world. The website is www.thedolectures.com
Feel free to comment and let us know what you think!
