Hi everyone
This week we've got a cafe night to think about marketing - many of us are involved in projects aimed at inspiring people to live more sustainably, be it through eating local food, saving energy, or a multitude of other activities. But how can we reach a wider audience, and how can we best communicate the aims and benefits of these different projects? Come along to find out more! Also this week there's another chance to join the CropSharers at Willow Farm, and this week they've some spare tomato and cucumber plants looking for good homes. And here are some photos of our Repair Cafe last Saturday - a big thank you to everyone involved in making it happen!
18:30-20:00, CB2 restaurant (upstairs room), Norfolk Street, CB1 2LD
The Food Group's fortnightly meeting to discuss and update on current projects and future events - including Arbury Carnival in June and the Big Weekend in July. All welcome!
19:30-21:00, CB1 cafe, 32 Mill Road, CB1 2AD
Marketing was once very product-focused - methods to sell more breakfast cereal (or cars or burgers or whatever). But can insights from marketing help us to communicate ideas about sustainable living to wider audiences and more effectively? What is best practice now, in an era of blogposts and social media? Our speaker Emma will share her experience of working in a variety of marketing roles and there’ll be time to ask her questions. So whether you’re involved with a community group with a message to get out, or have a pet project waiting to get off the ground, this evening is for you! There will also be a chance to share ideas and discuss what works. Hopefully you’ll gain some ideas and tips to help your group or project become more effective. All welcome, free!
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. 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.
12:30-14:00, Willow Farm, Lode, Cambridge CB25 9HF
CropShare volunteers have been busy on the farm this season, and we have too many tomato and cucumber plants for our needs! Various varieties, will crop outside or under cover, in 10 cm diameter pots. Come and collect from the farm in our lunch break, or why not join in our farm day? Email us if interested. Any donations to CropShare much appreciated. More details here.
18:30-20:00, CB2 restaurant (upstairs room), Norfolk Street, CB1 2LD
We'll get together to start making plans for this year's fruit harvest season. All fruit enthusiasts welcome, whether you like to eat, grow, harvest or cook!
20:00-21:30, Patrick's house
Our topic (for 30 minutes discussion) will be ventilation. We will also be finalising plans for the forum on 17th. Ask Nicola for details of the venue. More details here.
11:00-17:00, Arbury Town Park, Campkin Road
Arbury Carnival is a regular summer event, all the fun of the fair, for all the family! Come and visit the Transition stall, find out about what we're doing around Cambridge. And if you'd like to help out on the stall, contact us by email More details here.
19:00-22:00, Romsey Mill, Hemingford Road, Cambridge, CB1 3BZ
To celebrate all things cycling and the Tour coming through Cambridge, Cambridge Carbon Footprint have teamed up with Transition Cambridge, Outspoken Delivery and the County Council to screen the fantastic cycling animation Belleville Rendezvous. It’s listed in the National Film Theatres Top 10 great films about cycling . The audience will be invited to power the film by cycling for a few minutes each. It’ll be free to enter and there will be refreshments available before and after the film. There’ll be opportunities to find out about all things bike related from the best routes and maps, bike technology, design and maintenance, plans for cycling locally and much, much more. The building is fully accessible. Full details here. If you could help us put put some posters or distribute flyers, please get in touch.
19:00-20:30, Anna's house, off Coleridge Road
At the hub's monthly meeting, representatives of the groups and projects report on their activities and make plans together for 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 make up Transition Cambridge. Contact Anna for details of her address.
19:30-21:00, Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane
The next energy group forum will be about energy efficiency measures for older houses. What can we do to reduce heat loss and be more comfortable in our older (pre war or earlier) homes without damaging the features that we love about them? Our panel includes Jason Dorks from Natural Building Technologies and Jim Ross from Cambridge Architectural Research - both of whom have many years of experience in this area. More details here.
10:00-13:00, Trumpington allotments
Join experienced allotmenteer Dave Fox on his plot in Trumpington. Novices and experienced growers all welcome - this is a mutual sharing, not a lesson:) In the 28th June session (please note change of previously-advertised date) we will tend tomatoes and other recently-planted summer crops, harvest broad beans, peas and new potatoes, sow more seeds, hoe and mulch for weed control. Join in here. More details here.
19:30-21:00, CB1 cafe, 32 Mill Road, CB1 2AD
Ever thought of heading off on a cycling holiday, or cycling across continents to visit friends? Come and hear from three people who've done exactly that - they'll tell us about their experience of cycling to Lebanon, Norweigh and from Lands End to John O'Groats (our oldest cyclist is over 70 - so it's never too later to do this!). They’ll talk about the joys and challenges of such long distance journeys by bike, and there’ll be time for people to ask questions and find out more.
This is just to give advanced notice of our birthday party this year! So far we're thinking of having a picnic, and some family activities in the afternoon. All ideas welcome! (Help organising also needed!)
A very big thank you to everyone who helped make Saturday's Repair Cafe such a success! There are a few photos of the event here. (if you have other photos that you're willing to share, do send them to us and we will put them on-line too). We fixed 70% of the items people brought (approximately 40 things, including computers, mobile phones, bikes, an iron, microwave, hairdryer, hat, waistcoast, trousers, and more! Judging from the feedback, people really enjoyed the event and it was a lovely afternoon. We have already heard of 3 more repair cafes that are now being planned in or near Cambridge, so we hope this was the first of many more such events. We hope to create a web-page with a list of local repair businesses so please send information about any you know about and can recommend - thanks!
Text A garden owner in Gilbert Road is looking for a volunteer to share the garden and help grow vegetables. If you are interested in growing your own, but have very little space, this may be your chance! Please contact Ann for details
18:30, 5/7, Norfolk St, Cambridge, CB1 2LD
On 11 October 2014 the Missing Sock, Cambridge will be hosting the first values-based UK Kindness Festival in its backyard. They write: "We are creating a 'KindaHappy festival' to be held at the Missing Sock in October this year! The aim of the festival is to create a sustainable annual fun driven event to stimulate awareness and motivation to induce kindness to self, planet and all on it. It will be a one day event with world food, interactive world music, well being, kindness hits, animal therapy, elders soapbox, wisdom trail, buskers and lots of hugs. It will be an event for all ages and minority groups and we are looking for all sorts of input, ideas and help. Whatever your ability, experience or passion, there is a need. Do you run or work for a social enterprise or charity? Do you have a passion for helping a particular group of people or animals? Pop down to this meeting in CB2 and have a chat, brainstorm ideas and get involved!" For more information contact Andre Hewett or take a look at the Kindahappy website.
10:00-22:00, Michaelhouse, Trinity St.
ARTworks is a student run charity art fair coming to Cambridge this summer, all proceeds going directly to the Cambridge Hub, a student group that supports environmental and ethical causes. Come down to Michaelhouse on Trinity Steet on Saturday 7th June between 10am and 10pm to see our showcase of Cambridge art. You’ll find affordable pieces by local and student artists, as well as a few bigger names. Have a browse, watch performance pieces and get involved, creating your own masterpiece at one of our craft tables (for kids of all ages!). At 6pm our evening events begin. Grab a glass, listen to live bands and place your bids at the ARTworks auction. Work on show is affordably priced, with art between £5-£500, you should find something to kickstart your collection, make your house a little more beautiful, or that unbelievable piece which you just have to have. Buy tickets for the evening wine reception & auction (7.30pm) and read more about the ARTworks event.
12:00-22:00, Midsummer Common
Cambridge Carbon Footprint will be supporting The Climate Coalition’s ‘For the Love of …’ campaign by capturing and celebrating the things that you love but that are threatened by climate change. Come along to our stall at Strawberry Fair and let us know what’s precious to you. We’ll be collecting your thoughts and using them to spread the word about climate change. More details here.
09:00-15:30, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge
Beginning with a special keynote conversation between Dame Barbara Stocking (previous CEO of Oxfam) and Sir Jonathan Porritt (founder of Forum for the Future), this interactive and dynamic “marketplace” is a space for exchanging ideas and making new connections. Register and find out more at https://climateandfoodmarketplace.eventbrite.co.uk
14:30-17:00, Townley Hall, The Fulbourn Centre, Home End, Fulbourn, CB21 5BS
Sample and stock up on a yummy range of local savouries; cakes and tarts from Honey Bee Kitchen; cheese from English Artisan Cheeses; CamBake breads; local jams, chutneys, honey and eggs; Fulbourn's Moonshine Brewery bottle conditioned ales(at competitive prices); and Riverdale Organics' fruit and veg; and WI cafe. Also a delightful variety of handmade crafts, gifts, cards, bags, ornaments, toys, lamps, cushions, other fabric and nursery items; beautiful fine art prints and lino-cuts; plus flower arrangements from local charity, Lifecraft. Inner Lather and Big Village have excellent collections of natural lotions, cosmetics, deodorants, cleansing oils and soaps; while Fulbourn Forum is busy preparing plants, seedlings and seeds, wildlife displays and fun activities. 01223 880616 or email us for more info. More details here.
10:00-16:00, Cambridge Buddhist Centre, 38 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8DT
A cafe selling cakes and drinks, with a discussion/learning lounge also available to explore ecopsychology and philosophy, particularly from a Buddhist viewpoint. Full info here with a programme for the day.
10:30-11:30, Foster Road allotments trading hut CB2 9JR
Swap spare seedlings, plants and surplus seeds. Expand the range of plants you grow and meet other local gardeners. Come along even if you don't have anything to swap, just make a small donation if you take stuff. No admission charge. Everyone welcome! Directions here. We have another plant swap in May. Please display this poster.
10:00-12:30, The Pavillion, Paget Road, Trumpington, CB2 9JF
Swishing is a clothes swap - bring along your unwanted clothes in good condition and take away something you love instead - a simple idea but a great one! Bring along your unwanted clothes at 10.00 am, the actual swishing will start at 11.00. Tea, coffee and home-made cakes will be available. Any profits will support the Trumpington Stitchers to pay the weekly hall hire allowing local residents to meet and share their skills. No admission, donations greatly appreciated!
12:00-16:30, Newnham Scout and Guide Centre (end of Chedworth St, Nr Newnham Croft School) CB3 9JF
This is one of Cambridge Carbon Footprint’s highlight events of the year and we are really excited about it. It’s a Greeniversity event and is all about learning new skills so you can set about both creating and mending those things that’ll prepare you for your Perfect Summers Day in Cambridge. The venue is a spacious wooden cabin set in some lovely grounds. It’s right on the edge of Sheep’s Green and Grantchester Meadows so we hope to head out for a bike ride sometime during the day to enjoy the fruits of our labours. A flavour of the workshops we hope to offer: bike maintenance; sewing bunting, kites and a picnic blanket; fixing electronics (radios, mobiles); making eco-friendly lotions, potions and suncreams; making cordials; foraging; making jams, pickles and other preserves; instrument repair; seasonal picnic foods; jewellery repair. More details will be published soon and we’ll start taking bookings then too. Save the date and please let your friends and family know about the day. The event is FREE! More details here.
19:00, Girton Baptist Church 103 High St, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0QQ
Sustainable Girton invite you to our Low Energy Light Bulb Evening. Low Energy Light Bulb have come a long way since the early days so come and see for yourselves: What do the latest light bulbs look like? How bright are they? How fast do they come on? How much money do they save? Please park on Manor Farm Road or at the recreation ground car park. Light bulbs will be available to order from My Green Lighting at 10% discount. Contact Shane for details More details here.
Have a great week!
Anna
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.