learning, growing, debating

Hello, one and all!

We might have been told that it's autumn now, but that won't dampen the Transition spirit- right off the bat we have a hub meeting tonight, and a food group meeting tomorrow. Any and all are welcome to those events, so don't be afraid to turn up if you're new! Looking further afield, two items are happening on Thursday the 15th. The first is an opportunity to learn about and discuss the important relationship between air travel and climate change at the Friends Meeting House. The second is the excellent chance to get to grips with something very much at the heart of the Transition message- an introduction to electronic repairs. If that's sparked your interest, do read more. For those with a focus on the outdoors, there are allotments available at Stourbridge Grove. Everyone should be interested because I've heard that gardening adds years to your life, and life to your years...

On a final note, the Transition Cambridge AGM is on the 3rd of October- save the date! And there's yet more if you read on:

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Monday 05 September: Transition Cambridge hub meeting
  • Tuesday 06 September: Food Group meeting
  • Monday 12 September: Bikes vs Cars screening
  • Thursday 15 September: Energy Group Meeting
  • Monday 03 October: Transition Cambridge AGM

Community News

  • Grow your own fruit and veg - allotment plots available now!

Other News and Events

  • Wednesday 14 September: The Economics of Happiness
  • 15th Sep- 15th Mar, Thursdays 10.30-12.30: Growing Together: learn Permaculture and Organic Gardening as a volunteer!
  • Thursday 15 September: Aviation and climate change - the challenges we face and what we can do
  • Thursday 15 September: Introduction to Electronic and Electrical Repairs
  • Saturday 17 September: Local Futures (1 day Workshop)
  • 17th and/or 18th September, 9:30am-4:30pm: Warm up your winter with hempcrete! A practical insulation workshop
  • Saturday 17 September: Hempcrete - Designing, Building and Retrofitting with hemp-lime
  • Sunday 18th and Saturday 24th September: Open Eco Homes
  • Events for your calendar

Transition News and Events

Monday 05 September: Transition Cambridge hub meeting

19:00-21:00, Nicola's house on Chesterton Road

At the hub's monthly meeting, representatives of the groups and projects report on what they've been up to. We also make plans together to coordinate future events - and this meeting will be planning for the AGM in October. Meetings are open, so all are welcome to attend. Attending hub meetings is a good way to see how Transition Cambridge works, and to get a sense of the range of projects that we are involved with. Contact Nicola for details of the address.

Tuesday 06 September: Food Group meeting

18:30-20:00, CB2 Cafe, Norfolk Street

The food group reconvenes for its first meeeting of the autumn. We'll be making plans for autumn events as well exchanging news on food projects and initiatives in and around Cambridge. All welcome - we'll be upstairs.

Monday 12 September: Bikes vs Cars screening

21:00, Cambridge Arts Picturehouse

A screening of Bikes vs Cars has been arranged for 9:00pm at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse on Monday 12th September. The film explores how the bike can be an amazing tool for change in a world facing climate and resource crisis. Find out more at the films website www.bikes-vs-cars.com/videos and follow this link to reserve your tickets.

Thursday 15 September: Energy Group Meeting

20:00-21:30, Patrick's place, off Coldhams Lane

We will discuss what we would like to do in the coming year : what topics to discuss, public engagement, any other initiatives people would like to suggest. We will also catch up on the latest energy related news. All welcome. Ask Nicola for details of the venue. More details here.

Monday 03 October: Transition Cambridge AGM

19:30-21:30, Friends Meeting House

Our Annual General Meeting is a chance to celebrate our groups and efforts over the last year, and all members are welcome. (A member of Transiton Cambridge is anyone who's attended one of our meetings or activities in the last year.) As well as the official business of electing officers and presenting our financial accounts, there will be short presentations offering an insight into what we get up to across our different interest areas, a chance to shape the direction of TC in the coming year and of course, network and connect over a customary slice of cake and a cuppa. Save the date and join us!

Community News

Grow your own fruit and veg - allotment plots available now

Romsey Town and District Gardening Society has some plot vacancies on their large allotment site at Stourbridge Grove, just off Coldhams Lane, CB1. So if you enjoy gardening and would like to grow your own vegetables, fruit and flowers; keep fit in beautiful surroundings; meet and share gardening ideas with other gardeners please get in touch by email, or call 07543398177. More info from the website here

Other News and Events

Wednesday 14 September: The Economics of Happiness

10:00-17:30, Initiatives of Change 24 Greencoat Place London, SW1P 1RD

What if human well-being didn't have to be at the expense of the environment? What if we could simultaneously increase genuine prosperity, reduce social inequality, and tackle climate change? Localisation is a solution-multiplier that systemically reduces economic scale, creating benefits that ripple throughout society. In this day-long seminar, Helena Norberg-Hodge will share an alternative paradigm she calls the 'economics of happiness'. She will be joined by Lawrence Bloom, a former chairman at UNEP and at the World Economic Forum, and Diego Isabel La Moneda, founder of Global Hub for the Common Good. Local Futures' film The Economics of Happiness will also be screened and we will explore how we can sustainably meet both human and ecological needs by going local. Tickets £20 (£15 concessions) More details here.

15th Sep- 15th Mar, Thursdays 10.30-12.30: Growing Together: learn Permaculture and Organic Gardening as a volunteer!

10:30-12:30, Block 10, Ida Darwin, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5EE

Headway Cambridgeshire are running a free weekly gardening course. We are looking for some helpful volunteers to come on the course. You will learn the basics of gardening including aspects of permaculture and organic gardening whilst also supporting people with a disability to do the same. The course will be running weekly near Cambridge for 2 hours beginning Thursday 15 September. Contact Simon Lacey for more information. More details here.

Thursday 15 September: Aviation and climate change - the challenges we face and what we can do

19:15-21:00, Friends Meeting House, 12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BA

Air travel is by far the most carbon intensive form of transport and the fastest growing source of carbon emissions. Remarkably, climate change is absent from any discussion around aviation expansion and aviation is absent from any discussions, agreements and targets around tackling climate change. Come and find out more and share ideas on what we can do locally, nationally and internationally to highlight these issues. You may want to leave 1st October free in your diary! If you have any questions email Sheena

Thursday 15 September: Introduction to Electronic and Electrical Repairs

19:30-21:30, The Annex at St Andrew's, St Andrew's Rd, Chesterton, Cambridge CB41DH

Engineers from Cambridge Carbon Footprint and the Cottenham Repair Cafe are teaming up for the evening to teach some basic electrical and electronic repairs. Electronic equipment forms a significant part of our carbon and waste footprint and the popularity of Repair Cafes indicates that people are fed up with replacing what can be fixed. This is an opportunity to build your confidence to open up your gadgets and have a go. Beginners will be mentored and have the chance to practice in a safe environment. Everyone is invited to bring along one broken item - a few will be chosen to work on. The workshop is free but booking is essential. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Email us to reserve your place. This workshop is organised as part of the Circular Cambridge season. More details here.

Saturday 17 September: Local Futures (1 day Workshop)

09:00-17:00, Friends House 173-177 Euston Road London, NW1 2BJ

This is an opportunity to take part in the rising global-to-local movement and to discuss the strategies required to move away from a corporate-led growth economy towards diverse local economies in service of people and planet. Learn about inspiring initiatives worldwide aimed at resisting global trade treaties and reclaiming our communities, cultures and natural environment. Meet others who care about democracy, social justice, fulfilling and dignified livelihoods, nutritious fresh food, meaningful education and about passing on a healthy and diverse environment to our children. Speakers include Helena Norberg-Hodge, James Skinner, Molly Scott Cato, and Rupert Read. Price £20 or £15 concessions. More details here.

17th and/or 18th September, 9:30am-4:30pm: Warm up your winter with hempcrete! A practical insulation workshop

09:30-16:30, Venue: contact Alex for details.

Learn how to insulate your house with a natural, affordable material that's better than zero-carbon and easy to DIY - with a little help from Alex & Alex. Get hands on experience so that you can do it yourself! Alex Sparrow is co-author of the definitive guide to hempcrete, 'The Hempcrete Book'. Alex Jelly is an eco-builder, part-way through eco-retrofitting her Victorian terraced home in Romsey, CB1. You will be mixing, preparing and applying hempcrete (hemp and lime) to the internal walls of a living room. We'll cover every stage of the process so that you feel confident to do it in your own home. A vegetarian lunch is included. 1-day workshop: £95. 2-days: £125. <a href="?n=%20https://www.transitioncambridge.org/mail-contact/sendmail.php?who=lxjl24">Contact Alex</a> for more details and to reserve your place.

Saturday 17 September: Hempcrete - Designing, Building and Retrofitting with hemp-lime

19:00-21:00, The Polonia Club, Chesterton Road, Cambridge

Alex Sparrow, co-author of 'The Hempcrete Book' (review here, will speak to us on the excellent qualities of hempcrete. This follows the workshop he is giving with Alex Jelly to retrofit a Victorian terrace house in Cambridge with hemp-lime. Hempcrete is a natural building material. It is breathable, creating healthier buildings; it has exceptional thermal performance, combining insulation with good thermal mass; and it has low embodied carbon. The book will be on sale on the evening and there may also be copies of the recent Polish translation, too. This event is free but there is a cash bar.

Sunday 18th and Saturday 24th September: Open Eco Homes

10:30-16:00, various around Cambridge

Sixteen eco homes around Cambridge open their doors to vsitors once again in September. It's a great opportunity to explore comfortable low energy homes and talk to householders about the measures they've taken. Visitors can get inspiration and practical advice about how to reduce energy bills and their carbon footprint. You need to book for visits - go to the website for maps and details of the homes and how to book. More details here.

Events for your calendar

Have a great week,

Jonathan and the Bulletin Bunch.

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Transition Cambridge aims to help Cambridge make the transition to ways of life that are more resilient in the face of rising energy prices and a changing climate.

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