Bright ideas for eco-lighting

Hi everyone

If you want to know which low energy light bulbs are best/most suitable for your house, come along to the energy group's Low Energy Lighting event tomorrow evening (Tuesday). Also this week you can come and chat about permaculture at our monthly "Permies in Pubs" night on Thursday, spend a day on Willow Farm planting hazel, blackthorn, crabapple, dog rose and elder saplings from the Woodland Trust this Saturday, or help dig some wildlife friendly gardens at Anglia Ruskin University. And don't forget to book your ticket for an evening with Cambridge's MP, Julian Huppert, where we'll discuss with him how to ensure that climate change and peak oil stay high up the political agenda (on Thursday 4th Dec). And lots more exciting events below...

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Tuesday 25 November: Food Group meeting
  • Tuesday 25 November: Low Energy Lighting
  • Thursday 27 November: Permies in Pubs (for people interested in permaculture)
  • Saturday 29 November: CropShare - Be an organic farmer for a day
  • Saturday 29 November: Building Biodiversity Gardens with ARU
  • Monday 01 December: Admin meeting - discussing the future of Transition in Cambridge
  • Mondays 1 , 8 Dec: Reading group for Naomi Klein's new book "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate"
  • Wednesday 03 December: Growing Spaces meeting
  • Thursday 04 December: Discussion with Julian Huppert MP: How can we keep Transition issues high on the political agenda?
  • Saturday 06 December: Transition Stall at Mill Road Winter Fair
  • Tuesday 09 December: Food Group's Winter Social
  • Monday 15 December: Transition Cambridge hub meeting
  • Wednesday 17 December: Transition Cambridge's Xmas social
  • Sunday 25 January: Trumpington Seedy Sunday 2015
  • Transition interviews: this week with Patrick O'Donohoe from the energy group

Community News

  • Under floor heating aluminium plates going free
  • CamLETS - various new offers this week

Other News and Events

  • Wednesday 26 November: Our Universities, Our Streets, Our Planet
  • Thursday 27 November: Sustainable Farming – Making it happen
  • Saturday 29 November: Knitting and Crochet Skills Share **NEW VENUE**
  • Wednesday 03 December: How To Clean Your Home Naturally
  • Friday 05 December: "Climate, food & economic crises: symptoms of the demise of the fossil fuel empire"
  • Friday 05 December: A Vegetarian Christmas Cooking Workshop
  • Saturday 06 December: Mill Road Tree Walk
  • Saturday 06 December: Cottenham Repair Cafe
  • Saturday 13 December: CamLETS Christmas Trading Event
  • Saturday 07 February: ''Climate Change, Culture Change" - Cambridge Climate Forum
  • Are you a charity or community group and need office furniture?
  • Share things with your neighbours with StreetBank!
  • Sustainability interventions – call for evidence
  • Events for your calendar

Transition News and Events

Tuesday 25 November: Food Group meeting

18:30-20:00, Earl of Beaconsfield pub, 133 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 3AA

Note new venue!! We'll be in the billiard room/library, which is at the back of the courtyard. At this meeting we'll be revisiting and hopefully finalising our slogan as well as updating on other projects. Join us - all welcome!

Tuesday 25 November: Low Energy Lighting

19:30-21:20, Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane, CB5 8BA

Andrew Davis from My Green Lighting will demonstrate to us the latest in low energy lighting. Come and see the latest products and learn about some of the common pit-falls when buying low energy lights for your home. Andrew has been very well received at similar events in Girton and Barton so we know it will be a very interesting and helpful evening. There will be a 10% discount available or purchases made after the event. More details here.

Thursday 27 November: Permies in Pubs (for people interested in permaculture)

19:30, The Six Bells Pub, Covent Garden, off Mill Road, Cambridge.

A chance for all those interested in Permaculture to meet up and discuss matters permaculture-related or ask questions. All welcome from beginner to expert. We meet in the small room just behind the main bar, and there will be one or two permaculture books on the small table to make it clear where we are.

Saturday 29 November: CropShare - Be an organic farmer for a day

09:30-16:30, Waterland Organics, Willow Farm, Lode CB25 9HF

Join Transition's community farming project, CropShare, to experience life as a real organic farmer for a day. We will be having fun helping out on the farm from 9.30am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 4.30pm, sharing a lunch and a chat in between. You can join us for the morning or afternoon session, or both (this week places are limited so book soon if you'd like to come!). See our blog to get a flavour of what workdays are like. It will be good healthy fun, a great chance to see our local countryside, and how food is grown on a large scale. Fill in this form if you would like to take part, and we'll also help you arrange travel to the farm. Everyone is very welcome! Family friendly. More details here.

Saturday 29 November: Building Biodiversity Gardens with ARU

10:00-16:00, Collier Road, CB1 2AH

Anglia Ruskin University are working on a project to improve the biodiversity of the gardens in their student accommodation. The project starts with the transformation of 8 gardens on Collier Road. To make this possible, the project needs a work force and so the Nature Group have been asked to lend a hand. And of course we want to help. If you are free for a couple of hours on Saturday 29th November to do a bit of digging and seed sowing, please come along. We will meet at the Collier Road entrance to Anglia Ruskin campus. Please bring clothes to get dirty in, sturdy protective shoes and any tools you can carry along. And maybe a sandwich for around lunch. Tea and biscuits will be provided. If you would like to come along, but cant make it for 10am and would prefer to come a bit later, e-mail me (Jade) to arrange a time to meet you.

Mondays 1 , 8 Dec: : Reading group for Naomi Klein's new book "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate"

19:30-21:00, Grad's Cafe, University Centre (Granta Pl); 7:30 - 9pm

NOTE MINOR TIME CHANGE! After a very well-attended first meeting, here is the tentative agenda for the reading group: 10 November: please read Part One before the meeting; 24 November: please read Part Two before the meeting; 1 December: please read Part Three before the meeting. The book is available in hard copy, paperback, and kindle edition, as well as on the net as an epub. If you are interested, but unavailable to come to the meetings, or even if you do come to the meetings, there is also a Facebook discussion forum page. You can contact Tabby_Spence if you have any questions. Cake and tea (among other tasty delights) available for purchase.

Monday 01 December: Admin meeting - discussing the future of Transition in Cambridge

18:00-19:30, CB2 Cafe (upstairs), Norfolk Street

If you'd like to help with the various admin tasks that keep Transition Cambridge running, please come along to this meeting, where we'll discuss ideas about how to keep everything going smoothly. There are also various tasks that need doing but for which you wouldn't need to come to meetings. Please get in touch if you'd like to help. A big thank you to everyone who has volunteered so far! (And yes, it really does feel like a party - so far at our meetings we've had tea, biscuits, pizza and beer.)

Wednesday 03 December: Growing Spaces meeting

19:30-21:00, Toni's house on Victoria Road

Would you like to see more fruit and vegetables growing in Cambridge's public spaces? Join the Growing Spaces project as we start on designing spaces for next year and signage. Contact us if you're interested in the project in general and for a full agenda of this meeting, for details of the address, and any winter plantings. All welcome - the more of us there are, the more unloved spaces we can turn into something beautiful!

Thursday 04 December: Discussion with Julian Huppert MP: How can we keep Transition issues high on the political agenda?

19:30-21:30, Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge

It is essential that we work on all levels to reduce climate change and increase our resilience to rising energy prices. Transition traditionally works at the level of the community, but we also need to ensure that the government does their part. At this meeting with Cambridge's MP, Julian Huppert, we'll have the opportunity to ask him how to ensure that these issues remain high up the political agenda in central government. How can we best engage with our politicians to raise awareness about these issues and make sure that they represent our opinions at higher levels of government? Julian will give a short talk on the this topic and then we'll have a chance to ask some questions and discuss the issues further. Please book here to attend this event (which is free, but the room has limited capacity). More info here, including posters if you might be able to put one up somewhere - thanks!

Saturday 06 December: Transition Stall at Mill Road Winter Fair

10:30-16:30, Romsey Parade, Mill Road, near Sedgwick Street and Catharine Street (look out for the TC banner)

Transition Cambridge will be having a stall at the Mill Road Winter Fair - do come along to meet us and find out more about what we do! Helpers on our stall will also be very welcome - let us know if you'd like to help and for how long or fill in our doodle poll here. We're still deciding on a theme for the stall, but Christmas biscuits are very likely to feature! Here's this year's Mill Road Winter Fair brochure including maps and lists of all the stalls and activities. (MRWF is one of the best events in the Cambridge calendar, including a procession, buskers, food and more - definitely an event to come along to!)

Tuesday 09 December: Food Group's Winter Social

18:30, Earl of Beaconsfield pub, 133 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 3AA

It's been another good year of successful projects, terrific events, productive partnerships and scintillating stalls...so to celebrate we'll be getting festive and socialising with a pint and a pizza at the Earl of Beaconsfield! We'll start off in the back room, across the courtyard, then move into the main pub by about 7.30. More info here - check out if they have your favourite beer...

Monday 15 December: Transition Cambridge hub meeting

19:00-21:00, Nicola's house off Coleridge 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. 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.

Wednesday 17 December: Transition Cambridge's Xmas social

19:00, Six Bells pub, Covent Garden, off Mill Road CB1 2HS

Join us for a celebratory drink as we round off the year in a jolly style! We'll be in the pool room at the back of the pub, and spilling over into the sitting room next door too... The Six Bells won 'CAMRA Community Pub of the year' in 2014; it also does food - check their website for details. All welcome - come along for a bit of festive fun! More details here.

Sunday 25 January: Trumpington Seedy Sunday 2015

13:30-16:00, Trumpington Village Hall, High Street, Trumpington CB2 9HZ

Trumpington Seedy Sunday is a fun seed swap, and much more! * Bring self-saved seeds to exchange * exchange bought surplus seed * take seeds in exchange for a small donation If you don't have any spare seeds, don't worry - there are always plenty to go round. * Speakers * Films * Refreshments * Children's Activity * Student Networking Session.  Entry costs £2.00 for adults (children free). WE WILL NEED... * you to publicise Trumpington Seedy Sunday. * people to assist on 25th January anytime between noon and and 5:30pm. * donations of garden and seed-related gifts for the raffle which will help to fund the event.. If you can help, please contact the organisers. More details here.

Transition interviews: this week with Patrick O'Donohoe from the energy group

Read the first in a series of mini-interviews with people involved in Transition Cambridge on the media blog - the first interview was with Patrick O'Donohoe from the Transition energy group, talking about how the energy group has helped him to reduce his own carbon emissions and how he enjoys helping others who want to do the same. If you'd like to be interviewed, please get in touch with Oscar. He'd love to hear from people involved in all the different TC activities.

Community News

UFH aluminium plates

I have about 25 aluminium plates left over from an under floor heating (UFH) installation. They measure 1150x600mm and have 3 omega grooves for pipe 150mm apart, and can sit in pre-routed insulation. Available for free for collection near Newmarket. Email Jon.

CamLETS

A lot of interesting trading going on this month! Aromatherapy Massage; 2 spelt loaves; tiling; making a flag and - getting into the Christmas spirit - some snowflakes. More details here.

Other News and Events

Wednesday 26 November: Our Universities, Our Streets, Our Planet

19:00, Saunders Room at Newnham College (just above the porter's lodge), University of Cambridge

Please join us for the Cambridge leg of a UK-wide speaker tour with Jérémie Bédard-Wien from Québec. Jérémie will speak alongside other student and climate activists about how students can get organised locally and internationally in the lead up to the UN's COP21 climate talks in Paris next year and beyond. We invite friends affiliated with both universities in Cambridge to participate in the discussion and start thinking about how we can coordinate student climate action. This event is being co-hosted by the Campaign against Climate Change, rs21 Cambridge, Cambridge Defend Education, the Cambridge Young Greens, Positive Investment Cambridge , CUSU Ethical Affairs, and Energise Cambridge.. The meeting will be for roughly 2 hours in the evening. Additional information on the Facebook event.

Thursday 27 November: Sustainable Farming – Making it happen

16:00, Large Lecture Theatre of the Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street

All are welcome at the forthcoming seminar of the Cambridge Partnership for Plant Sciences. Caroline Drummond, MBE, Chief Executive of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) will give a talk entitled "Sustainable Farming – Making it happen; Science, delivery and pitfalls of Integrated Farm Management". Networking reception will follow. LEAF is the leading organisation promoting sustainable agriculture, food and farming. Caroline was awarded an MBE for services to the agricultural industry in 2009. This talk is part of Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars series. Plant Sciences is the large Edwardian building visible through the arches on the South side of Downing Street. Go through the arches and enter the Department via the door on the front right hand side of the building. More details here.

Saturday 29 November: Knitting and Crochet Skills Share **NEW VENUE**

14:00-16:00, Hot Numbers cafe, Gwydir St, Cambridge

Drop by to learn a new skill. I have skills in knitting, sewing and crochet. I can teach you how to make fingerless gloves from an old sweater or make a scarf for the winter. In this session, I'll cover basic skills. Please bring along a pattern you're interested in making. The site ravelry.com has thousands of free patterns. I'll bring along some materials, but will request a small donation. If there's interest, I'll make this a regular event. Please let me know if you're coming and what you're interested in making and we can plan it together. Contact Cherie to RSVP or for further information.

Wednesday 03 December: How To Clean Your Home Naturally

20:00-21:30, Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane

Cambridge Carbon Footprint is delighted to offer a new green cleaning skillshare on how to keep your home and clothes clean and fresh using natural and non toxic ingredients. There’ll be ideas and demonstrations on cleaning all the rooms and surfaces in your home and a chance to make your own products. More details here.

Friday 05 December: "Climate, food & economic crises: symptoms of the demise of the fossil fuel empire"

13:00-14:00, OPT 103 Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University

Part of the Global Sustainability Institute Seminars Series, which cover a range of topics related to sustainability; their aim is to engage Anglia Ruskin students and staff, and members of the public, with the sustainability agenda. The speaker is Nafeez Ahmed, The Guardian. A free sustainable lunch is provided. Organised by the Anglia Ruskin Global Sustainability Institute, contact Julie-Anne Hogbin at 0845 196 5108 or visit GSI for more information.

Friday 05 December: A Vegetarian Christmas Cooking Workshop

18:00-21:00, Parkside Community College Cambridge, CB11EH

For most people in the UK, Christmas dinner is all about the turkey, the ham and the gravy. But what do you cook if you are expecting a vegetarian guest? Offering roasted veg with Bisto can be a bit dull but finding delicious alternatives to the traditional favourites can be a daunting prospect for some people. Cambridge Carbon Footprint to the rescue! Come along to our Vegetarian Christmas Cooking Workshop and we’ll provide you with ideas for starters and mains and cook some scrumptious recipes together! If there’s time at the end of the evening we will all sit down together to devour the food, if not, please bring along a container in which to take food home. There is a suggested donation of £10 per person and a limit of 10 people, so make sure you book quickly! To book, please email us with your contact details or call 01223 30184 More details here.

Saturday 06 December: Mill Road Tree Walk

08:30-10:00, Meet under the Ginkgo biloba outside The Co-operative chemist on Mill Road for 8.30 start.

Take a leisurely stroll before the Fair officially opens to enjoy the natural sights of Mill Road and some side roads. Learn facts and folklore about our local trees and their associated wildlife. Led by Keith Jordan, chairman of Romsey Garden Club and featuring trees such as ginkgoes (‘living fossils’), mountain ash, London plane, tree of heaven, Judas tree, black locust tree, honey locust, Himalayan and silver birch, Nashi pears, Turkish hazel, whitebeam, fig and more! No charge – just turn up. Also, visit the Romsey Garden Club Stall at the Hope Street yard during the Mill Rd. Winter Fair.

Saturday 06 December: Cottenham Repair Cafe

10:00-14:00, Cottenham Communty Centre

Cottenham's first Repair Café in September attracted lots of interest. We repaired all kinds of things - from bikes to toasters to baby buggies, radios, computers, printers - even a garden umbrella! Now that you know what we can do - why not bring something else along to the next one? Or if you're a whiz at repairing things, come along as a repairer. Book via Eventbrite to let us know you're coming, and then please send us an email telling us what you're planning to bring for repair and what's wrong with it - or if you're a repairer, the kinds of things you're good at fixing. We can't guarantee that we'll be able to fix every item, but we'll be able to help find the cause of the problem and suggest the next step.

Saturday 13 December: CamLETS Christmas Trading Event

11:30-14:00, Lichfield Hall, off Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge CB1 3SL

CamLETS members will be trading a range of Christmas items for cams (local currency). If you are not a member, come along and meet other people and if you are interested, you will be able to join (and trade!) on the day. More details here.

Saturday 07 February: ''Climate Change, Culture Change" - Cambridge Climate Forum

10:00-17:00, Murray Edwards College

The organisers say: "If we want to stop climate change, we need to start seeing the issue from all angles. The hardest thing about climate change isn't the changing climate. It's everything else: Disease, Poverty, Food, Water, Energy, Water, Wildlife - the list goes on... But dealing with climate change isn't just about driving electric cars, recycling the trash and switching the lights off. It's bigger than that - it connects all of us, all over the world. Which means that you can't tackle climate change if you only see it from your own perspective. We want you to consider climate change from a new perspective - not just the one you already have. Our aim is to open your eyes to the wider context of the issues that surround climate change. In doing so, we hope to inspire you to transform the world for the better." Tickets will be on sale via the website (there's an early bird discount). More details here.

Are you a charity or community group and need office furniture?

Cambridge County Council are downsizing and surplus items (furniture, equipment, etc.) will be made available to charities, free of charge, on WARP-IT.co.uk. Recipients must be a charity, social enterprise or community group to join. For more information or to browse the inventory, see the website. More details here.

Share things with your neighbours with StreetBank!

Want to meet your neighbours, get to know them, and borrow their stuff? Or do you have unused stuff you want to give a new home? If you answered yes to either question, then you need StreetBank. More details here.

Sustainability interventions – call for evidence

Have you got some great sustainability ideas that are working well and you would like to share? Did you measure the impact the interventions had and would they work elsewhere? The Sustainable Development Unit of the NHS are starting a project to summarise sustainability interventions looking at environmental, social and financial impacts. If you have good evidence on some sustainability interventions and have measured their outcomes then please get in touch with our Lead Analyst, Imogen Tennison.

Events for your calendar

Have a great week!

Anna and the bulletin writing team

Our Mission

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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