|
|
|
|
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2017
|
|
Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2017 is treating you kindly, certainly at TTT we haven’t had a moment to suffer from the January blues as we’ve been busy entertaining Korean visitors, learning how to tell stories, listening to experts talk about building timber frame houses and preparing for what’s set to be an action packed month!
 Next Tuesday, January 24th, TTT will co-premier the award-winning French documentary Tomorrow ( Demain), with simultaneous screenings in Totnes, Bristol and Todmorden. Tomorrow is a film inspiring people around the world to take positive action in the face of the environmental and social challenges of the twenty-first century, be it agriculture, energy, economy, education or governance (and, given world events, energising communities to take positive steps for their own futures remains timely). The most exciting things about it for us are that it begins in our very own Totnes, with interviews with Rob Hopkins (above) and Ben Brangwyn (Dr Bike); and the film's co-producer, Cyril Dion, will be joining us on the night.
This screening is a prelude to our third Film Festival, a highlight of our 2017 calendar – tickets on sale soon! Also not to be missed this month are our Rethinking Waste forum, our winter wild food skillshare and last but not least our onigiri and onigirazu cooking skillshare ... read on for more information. |
|
The Mill is in!
Here at Grown in Totnes we are delighted to announce that the first of our milling equipment has been delivered (below - on the left is our sieve and on the right is the mill). A massive thank you once again to all our supporters who, through our crowdfunding campaign, donated the funds to buy the equipment.
We hope to take delivery of the polisher and flaker later this week! We'll keep you posted. Now we have to get our noses to the grindstone (sorry!) and get the equipment up and running.
Two days before Christmas we took delivery of three tonnes of local organic grain into the unit, including Spelt, Einkorn and Maslin. The grain needs to be drier than it is and so the Einkorn is currently spread out on the ground to reduce its moisture content.
Whilst there is still a huge amount of work to do in order to get bags of flour to the high street (see events below for details of help needed on Monday) it feels like we are edging closer now that we are in the unit with the equipment and grain. We'll be celebrating with a unit launch party early in March - subscribe to our newsletter for more info, or watch this space.
Holly
|
|
Real Farmers' get together in Oxford
At the beginning of January the TTT foodie folk headed over to the annual Oxford Real Farming Conference. This is one of the biggest conferences for sustainable food and farming, and a hubbub of like-minded folk working in a myriad of different ways to create fairer and ecologically sustainable food systems, from community farms and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture schemes), to permaculture projects, organic arable, agroforestry, organic livestock and dairy. Burning topics included food sovereignty, creating a sustainable food policy and the nutritional differences between organic and conventional food products.
A perennial question regarding the benefits of organic food is the difference in nutritional quality. A new and ground breaking study by the Soil Association shows us that organic crops contain much less cadmium (a toxic heavy metal), and pesticides, and up to 68% more antioxidants than non-organic. And organic milk and meat contain 50% more omega 3 fatty acids than non-organic. In a nutshell – organic food contains more of the good stuff and less of the bad.
We also heard about ‘A Matter of Scale’ an ongoing project which aims to measure the productivity of small holdings, which shows more and better quality work is created per unit of land as well as higher horticultural yields. The flavour of this project, as with so many others is that ‘genius and sophisticated economic strategies are needed to survive’. That we must focus on connecting up and working together better at both national and international levels to continue to build the case for the widespread adoption of regenerative (AKA Agroecological) farming to protect our soil, our health and prosperity.
 
The Grown in Totnes team brought their Einkorn Gruit, the result of a collaboration with New Lion Brewery, to the conference to give attendees a taste of a locally grown brew. We toasted our progress so far with our good friend the archaeobotonist (studier of ancient grains) John Letts, whose ongoing advice to the project has been invaluable.
Myrtle
|
|
How Transition can manifest
 Last week we held our TTT: Past, Present and Future workshop at the Seven Stars Hotel. 50 people from all walks of life assembled to help us celebrate the past decade and map out how we might achieve our goals over the next 10 years. More about what that will mean in next month's bulletin, including a pledge by some of our local councillors to write a manifesto for Totnes. While we're waiting for that, you may like to see this Transition Manifesto, published this week by the Transition Network.
Many thanks to the Royal Seven Stars for generously sponsoring the workshop, and to everyone who gave up a day to help us look to the future, particularly our facilitators, Sophy and Peter.
Thea
|
|
Waste not
TTT is forming a new theme group with a focus on community led solutions to reducing waste and recovering wasted resources, with an open forum on waste and resources on Thursday January 26th. With local authorities suffering budget cuts year on year it is unlikely there will be many major service improvements to household recycling collections for the foreseeable future. So it’s over to grassroots community action to see what more we can manage to recycle and moreover reuse, repair and upcycle. In short how can we rethink resources?
 The group will also explore how local businesses might be able to get support to help them recycle in a more cost effective way. How can one business’s waste become another’s raw material? The concept of a circular economy is very real (EU MEPs voted unanimously in 2016 to bring circular economy principles into being, with targets to reduce production and manufacturing waste by 2030 across member states. Post-Brexit, will our own government grasp the opportunity?). How can circular economy principles take hold locally? The ‘take-make-dump’ model is not sustainable on a finite planet. How can we build to last, or be reused, repaired or recycled and re-entered into the production of new items. There is plenty already happening in the community but even more that could be done to join up projects and get people thinking about consumption and buying ‘stuff’.
Read more here ...
Ben
|
|
Totnes Food Shed is hiring
Totnes Food Shed is a non-profit cooperative aiming to supply affordable, good quality food to people living in and around Totnes. Located at the Daisy Play Centre in Bridgetown, the Food Shed is a weekly collection hub where food producers deliver orders that customers have placed online, ready for customer collection on a Friday.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and personable Coordinator to manage the weekly online ordering system, the Friday evening collection, to develop existing and new relationships with local food suppliers, and to manage the Food Shed financial records.
You will need to have relevant previous experience, an interest in local food and an entrepreneurial attitude. The initial six month contract is for 8 hours per week at £10 ph, and we envision that after this initial period the post will become financially self sustaining, with a guaranteed wage and the opportunity to earn more on a commission basis, contingent on the success of the Food Shed. Email for full application details.
We are also looking for a volunteer with IT skills to help with the website on an ad hoc basis. Again, email for more info.
Myrtle
|
|
Getting invested in the future you want
 A new Local Investor Network is forming in Totnes. Do you have a little money? Where do you put it? In a bank, earning almost zero interest for you but earning profits for the banks when they invest your savings in fossil fuels and fracking? Or in the stock market where it supports destructive corporations and bonuses for their CEOs? If you'd like to invest in your community, in local and regional businesses that are doing good, then you will be interested in this. The Local Investor Network will make it easy and hassle free. Initial meeting will be in late January 2017 and is by invitation only. If you're interested in being involved, please email me.
Jay
|
|
Unleashing the Imagination starts here and now
 After two successful festivals, the third TTTFF has been scheduled for Friday March 9th - Sunday 12th, with a special event on Thursday March 8th as part of TTT's 10 year celebrations - more on that in the next newsletter and on our website soon.
There will be 33 sessions of inspiring, solution-based films. We are also really excited to announce a unique live performance on Saturday March 11th: Conversations With The Wind, featuring poet Alice Oswald and musician Andy Sheppard – an extraordinary encounter between two world-class artists and a contemporary silent film.
The festival will be based in and around Totnes Civic Hall, but will also have new venues, including one night at The Barn Cinema at Dartington, and the Vintage Mobile Cinema. Please join the contact list to keep in touch, or see the TTTFF Facebook page. To whet your appetite, TTT Film Club is collaborating with the Transition Network to bring you a screening of Demain (Tomorrow), next week - see Events below.
TTTFF steering group
|
|
Orchard Link continues support of Incredible Edible, and no Follaton in Feb
 Orchard Link will be continuing its series of workshops until July. These are free, and for people who volunteer for our tree growing projects, or who would like to do so. Topics this year include planting and growing fruit cordons, arts and crafts and pruning. If you would like to participate, please get in touch with me.
* Our next family friendly forest garden session is on Sunday February 5th, followed by March 5th.
* Our next Fruit and Nut Tree session is on March 12th and is probably at Sharpham Estate. Details for both sessions below in Events.
Above, you can see us having a tea break during our tree session in Totnes town cemetery, last weekend.
Wendy
|
|
Wassailling we did go
If you happened to be in Colwell Wood Orchard in the early evening of January 11th, you might have heard a great hullabaloo as a bunch of apple-lovers gathered to wake the spirits of the apple trees with shouts and clashing instruments and a maiden banging on the tree trunk. What tree could resist this noisy appeal, along with a cider libation and toast in the branches to entice the robins? All this organised by the Bay Horse Inn, and now a regular yearly tradition of wassailing in this abundant orchard.
Several of us TTT orchard enthusiasts, who have been helping with pruning and harvesting Colwell Wood Orchard over the last few years, joined in this fun, which was followed by lusty singing and cider and apple cake afterwards in the Bay Horse. If this sounds like your kind of thing, we'll be doing it again next year.
Wendy
|
|
KEVICC needs a new Clerk
King Edward VI Community College is seeking an exceptional candidate to provide professional clerking services to the Governing Board. Informal enquiries to Kate Wilson (Chair of Governors) by email or phone: 01803 865182
Closing date for applications is 12 noon, Thursday January 26th. Interviews will be held the week beginning January 30th. Start as soon as possible. Application form and details are available from KEVICC's website.
Carole
|
|
... and Huxhams Cross are looking for a new grower
The Apricot centre at Huxhams Cross farm is looking for a vegetable grower to start in February. The post will be part-time 3 days per week to start, with the potential to full time in 2018. Preferably Working Monday Tuesday Thursday 8.30-4.30, be growing a wide range of vegetables all year round starting on 3-4 acres of land with approx 1000 sq m of tunnels, going up to 8 acres over the next few years. Larger scale wheat, field potatoes and bean crops on a further 5 acres as the farm develops and would like the vegetable grower to be
involved in that part of the farm especially with respect to the tractor work. We would also ask occasional Packing and distribution of fruit, vegetables, eggs and other produce for our Local Food Round, although this would be paid as extra.
For full job description and person specification please email or call to discuss on 07780 757958. More info on our website. Closing date January 31st.
Bob
|
|
Grow your own: the 'no-dig' way
Get started growing organic vegetables with this gardening course, at Foxhole Community Garden on the Dartington Estate. Eight sessions on first Saturday of each month, from Feb to Sept: 10am to 12pm.
Now in its 5th year this practical gardening course covers: soil care and no-dig gardening; planning your site and rotations; propagation and seed sowing; composting; making your own feeds; forest gardening and growing perennial veg; seed saving and much much more! £80 for the whole course. Booking essential as places are limited. For more information call me on 07505 805111 or email me.
Zoe
|
|
Share Shed Totnes prepares for launch: donations and storage space needed!
The Network of Wellbeing is working towards the launch of a local Share Shed to enable local people to borrow all sorts of useful things at nominal cost so that they don’t have to buy them for themselves. The aim is to encourage the sharing economy; to help people connect more, spend less, consume less, and waste less.
To help get the Share Shed started, would you be able to donate one or more of our top 20 items: digital projector, wall paper steamer, carpet cleaner, extending ladder, gazebo, heat gun, belt sander, pressure washer, electric strimmer, electric hedge trimmer, sewing machine, floor sander, garden tools, guitar, jam fruit preserver, laminator, hammer drill, regular drill and SDS drill ... and a UniCycle? :-) We would also like a dehumidifier if you have one - all in good working order ... thanks!
We are also looking for some accessible additional storage space for items; if anyone has space in their garage or spare room to offer for at least three months then please get in touch. If you are able to help out in any way, or if you have any queries about the Share Shed, then please contact me.
Kate
|
|
Solidarity Economy
To support the launch of the new issue of Stir magazine, we've teamed up with the team at Upstream to produce a hour-long podcast on the Solidarity Economy!
Jonny
|
|
Help wanted bagging grain
On Monday January 23rd, Grown in Totnes are looking for a team of volunteers to help bag up the Einkorn on the floor as this is now dry enough, and then to spread out the Spelt. If you are able to help for half an hour at 11am please email Emily. The address of the unit is 5 Burke Road, Totnes Industrial Estate, TQ9 5XN, opposite the drop in centre.
|
|
Tomorrow comes on Tuesday!
The French film Tomorrow (known as Demain in France), will be screened on Tuesday January 24th, in partnership with the Transition Network. Tomorrow has been a huge phenomenon in France; launched in December 2015, it has been watched by over 1.5 million people and won Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars). The TTT office has noticed an upsurge in interest in Transition since the film opened, and many more overseas tourists have come to the town to witness Transition in action and become inspired.
 The film tells the story of its co-producers, Cyril Dion and Melanie Laurent. Cyril Dion is a French activist, author and journalist, who has led an NGO for seven years. In 2012, he discovered a study in the journal Nature, stating that humankind could disappear between 2040 and 2100 if we don’t drastically change our way of life. He shared his worries with his friend, actress and filmmaker Mélanie Laurent. Cyril has two children, Mélanie has just had a baby, and they don’t see how they can remain idle, faced with this information. With a small film crew, the pair set off on a road trip around the world in search of solutions, and the film premiered in Paris during the COP21 climate talks.
Tomorrow is arranged in 5 chapters, food, energy, economics, democracy and education, and opens with a visit to Totnes and meeting Rob Hopkins and Ben Brangwyn. They also go to Todmorden to learn about Incredible Edible, and to Bristol to find out about the Bristol Pound. The rest of their journey takes them to the US, India, Finland, and Denmark.
Read more here ...
|
|
Rethinking Waste into Resources
 Sickened by the piles of 'rubbish' and recycling bags you accumulated over Christmas? Despairing of the mountains of bags in the streets waiting to be taken away for incineration? Ben Bryant of the Devon Community Recycling Network will be hosting a public forum, on Thursday January 26th, on how we can create a circular economy to turn more of our household and business 'waste' into useful resources. Come to the REconomy Centre, 6.30-8.30pm. Email Ben for more info.
|
|
SKILLSHARE: Winter Wild Food
 Ever wondered whether there are wild edible plants growing in winter?
Join Wild & Curious/Totnes 10's Myrtle for a guided and contemplative wild food walk on Saturday January 28th, 10am-12pm (approx end time). Learn how to gather wild edible plants safely and discover the abundant new growth, diversity and many uses of common wild plants. This walk is offered as a free skillshare. Donations are invited but absolutely not essential.
Booking is essential however, either on the website or by email.
|
|
Pay What You Feel Cafe
 The first Food in Community Pay What You Feel Cafe of 2017 will be on Saturday February 4th at the Methodist Church Hall, from 12.30 - 2.30pm, with ingredients sourced from organic surplus fruit and vegetables; it's not just great food from graded out produce that would otherwise go to waste on the menu, but a lively and friendly atmosphere with acoustic music and friendly folk. Email David if you would like to help out, either at the cafe or on gleaning or cooking days. The menu will vary but will always be seasonal and delicious! Follow us on Facebook.
|
|
SKILLSHARE: Onigiri and Onigirazu
 Learn to make simple Japanese rice balls and rice 'sandwiches' for lunch boxes and picnics, with Anna Thomson. Anna first lived in Japan for 3 years over 20 years ago, she returned in 2014 to run a guesthouse with her family in rural Kyoto. While in Japan she set up a cooking school, Anna's Kitchen, teaching English through hands-on workshops. Now back in Totnes, she has returned to her work as a nutritional therapist and cook. Booking essential. Donations towards ingredient costs and venue hire would be appreciated.
|
|
Heads up for Devon Convergence: Forum for New Local Economies
 The third Convergence - Doing it Ourselves - is set for March 4th, in Torbay. We're building a regional movement of people who want a sustainable, fair, and resilient economy, a truly bioregional economy. Join us. The more we get together, the happier we'll be - and the more powerful we'll be. We're a collective of organisers from Totnes, Torbay, Exeter, Plymouth, Dartmoor, and North Devon. Click here to register. Want to get involved? Send an email to Jay.
|
|
Bridgetown tree planting
Bridgetown Alive! has organised a community event, with support from Dangerous Dads Totnes, planting 100 trees in the Bridgetown area of town to commemorate the centenary of the First World War on Saturday January 21st.
Come along any time from 11am at Furze Road, in the large play area at the top of the Chicken Run. There will be a free BBQ from 1pm in the play area by Weston Lane/below Spar. All welcome.
|
|
 Drop-in Repair Cafe
The next drop-in Repair Cafe will be on Saturday January 28th, 10am-1pm. We are now also offering affordable private repairs on all types of furniture, for folk who don't have time to learn, during our week day opening hours 10am - 4.30pm Tuesday- Friday, alongside the opportunity to learn seat weaving and simple upholstery on your own chairs on Thursdays. For more details, please call the store on 01803 862821, email us, or get in touch with us on Facebook.
|
|
A Mindful Life - Inner and Outer Transition
Schumacher College is offering this course, facilitated by Kaira Jewel Lingo and Sophy Banks, from Monday January 30th - Friday February 3rd. A journey of mindful transition to learn how to cultivate attention, how to strengthen and apply mindfulness in all areas of one's daily life, not only in a personal context but in workplaces, friendships, communities and actions in the world. More information and booking here.
|
|
Community, Place & Play: A Post-Market Economics
Another course from Schumacher, this one facilitated by Shaun Chamberlin, Rob Hopkins, Mark Boyle and Stephan Harding and running from Monday February 6th - Friday February 10th. What does 'life well lived' look like in this time of economic, ecological and cultural collapse? Inspired by the work of the late David Fleming, it's time to reclaim this question from the economists. Reflect on struggles, successes and joys in building lives grounded in nature and community, in redefining relationships with money, and in working for a future worth the bother!
|
|
Speaking Out at Embercombe
Do you want to feel like you can speak in a way that inspires and touches people's hearts?
Embercombe's mission is to breathe life into our potential for leadership and changemaking. Speaking Out is Embercombe's two day public speaking programme - 22nd - 24th February - for people who wish to communicate with impact and authenticity to help bring about the change we wish to see in the world! The programme begins with an enquiry into the platform we stand upon, our values, beliefs and assumptions. You will explore the source of your passion to communicate and locate an internal ‘centre’ from which you can speak with confidence, authenticity and calm. We will explore the challenges most people experience while speaking to an audience, that have roots in complex issues connected to self-esteem. We will seek to walk a path together that we hope leads to resolving the underlying issues that inhibit your full and free self-expression.
Booking details, including information about bursaries, can be found on Embercombe's website.
|
|
|
All events are open to all, so just turn up unless it says booking is required (marked *). Please see the calendar for more information on upcoming events, and to check for any errors/changes/ cancellations/last minute events.
Date Please click links for more information
Monday 23rd Grain bagging session, from 11am, 5 Burke Rd, Totnes Industrial Estate,
TQ9 5XN
Tuesday 24th Special screening of Demain, 6.30-10pm, Totnes Civic Hall, £5, £4 concs, £2
u.25s
Thursday 26th Rethinking Waste into Resources, 6.30-8.30pm, REconomy Centre, 13
Leechwell St
Saturday 28th SKILLSHARE: Winter Wild Food, from 10am*
February events
Saturday 4th Pay What You Feel Cafe, 12.30-2.30pm, Methodist Church Hall
Thursday 9th SKILLSHARE: Onigiri and Onigirazu Cooking, 11am-12pm*
Regular events
Second Monday Incredible Edible flowers, fruit & picnic, 12.30-2pm, Rockery, Borough Park
Tuesdays Time to Breathe, 12.30-1.30pm, Forge Yoga Centre
Second Tuesday Incredible Edible, 12.30-2pm, Steamer Quay planters
Second Tuesday Film Club, 7.30-10pm, Dartmouth Inn upstairs, Plains
First Thursday Building, Housing & Energy group, 8-10pm, 43 Fore St
Thursdays Drop in chair repair sessions at ReStore, Shinners Bridge
First Saturday Food In Community Pay What You Feel Cafe, 12.30-2.30pm, Methodist
Church Hall
First Sunday Family friendly forest gardening, 11am-1pm, Follaton Arboretum
Second Sunday Incredible Edible fruit and nut trees, 2-4pm, various, contact Wendy for
(no session in Feb) details
|
|
|
Transition Town Totnes. Registered charity: 1138865
Staverton Room, The Mansion, 36A Fore St, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5HN
Tel: 01803 867358
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
