Mellow fruitfulness, cosy houses, and freshly baked bread

Hi everyone

Celebrate Autumn with our swap and share fruit stalls (bring along your spare fruit, or come to get some), prepare for the winter with some energy saving ideas from our energy survey, or have a look at some pictures and a video clip from our Restart Party last Tuesday. And if you're a baker or know any bakers, we'd love to hear from you for a business idea that's coming together at the moment. And lots more below...

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Wednesday 08 October: Swap and Share Veg and Fruit Stall
  • Wednesday 08 October: Growing Spaces meeting
  • Monday 13 October: Transition Cambridge hub meeting
  • Tuesday 14 October: Food Group meeting
  • Friday 17 October: Swap and Share Fruit and Veg stall
  • Monday 20 October: Transition Cambridge AGM
  • Tuesday 25 November: Low Energy Lighting
  • Bakers rise up!
  • Restart Party - pictures and film
  • New Energy Saving Personal Checklist
  • Join and/or promote new Sustainability Hacking group
  • Events for your calendar

Community News

  • Cambridge Aromatherapy

Other News and Events

  • Tuesday 07 October: Open Eco Homes - Solid Wall Insulation
  • 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month: 5 Rhythms movement meditation class with Ruth Hirst
  • Friday 10 October - Sunday 12: Social Venture Weekend
  • Saturday 11 October: Resurgence Festival of Well-being
  • Sunday 12 October: Apple Pressing Day
  • Wednesday 15 October: Open Eco Homes - Low Carbon Energy
  • Wednesday 15 October: Our Food, the Planet and Us
  • Thursday 16 October: Sustainable Letchworth: Launch
  • Friday 17 October: "Human dynamics of climate change" Global Sustainability Institute Seminar Series
  • Saturday 18 October: Gamlingay Green Day
  • Saturday 18 October: Sewing, knitting and crochet Skills Share
  • 20th October to 2nd November: Cambridge Festival of Ideas 2014
  • Greeniversity skillshares coming up
  • Campaign support for young people
  • Events for your calendar

Transition News and Events

Wednesday 08 October: Swap and Share Veg and Fruit Stall

10:00-11:00, Wulfstan Way, Cambridge

This stall is organized by Rock Abundance, a new community-led project aiming to encourage more people in Cambridge to swap and share gluts of fruit and veg and long-life preserves. So come along and bring your spare veg or fruit, or pop along to see if there are any veg in need of a home! Full info here. You are welcome to organise your own stalls too - here are some ideas to get you started. Part of Flu Action Day (by invitation for those eligible for flu jabs). We will be in a gazebo outside (unless there is a hurricane) so anyone can come along, away from the vaccination action.

Wednesday 08 October: 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 make plans for autumn planting and signage. We'll be talking about current and future spaces and potential collaborations and drinking tea. Contact Toni if you're interested in the project in general and for a full agenda of this meeting, for details of the address, and if you'd like to do some planting at the weekend. All welcome - the more of us there, the more unloved spaces we can turn into something beautiful!

Monday 13 October: 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 and coordinate future activities. 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 14 October: Food Group meeting

18:30-20:00, CB2 restaurant (upstairs room), Norfolk Street, CB1 2LD

We'll be exchanging news and updates on food projects and making plans for the autumn. Join us - all welcome!

Friday 17 October: Swap and Share Fruit and Veg stall

17:30-18:30, Blazing Saddles, Cherry Hinton Rd

This stall is organized by Rock Abundance, a new community-led project aiming to encourage more people in Cambridge to swap and share gluts of fruit and veg and long-life preserves. So come along and bring your spare veg or fruit, or pop along to see if there are any veg in need of a home! Full info here. You are welcome to organise your own stalls too - here are some ideas to get you started.

Monday 20 October: Transition Cambridge AGM

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

The AGM is a great place to hear about the range of activities and projects that make up Transition Cambridge. Last year's AGM was very inspiring, and it was amazing to hear how much everyone had been doing! Everyone is welcome at this event (it is not just for members). It is also a great opportunity to meet people involved in the different Transition groups and projects. The formal part of the meeting, when only members can vote, is quite short. We hope you can come! Full info here, including the agenda, the minutes from last year's AGM, and last year's Annual Report and Accounts. More details here.

Tuesday 25 November: Low Energy Lighting

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

Save the date for the Energy Group's next forum - this time Andrew Davis from My Green Lighting will demonstrate the latest in low energy lighting, 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. More details to come soon.

Bakers rise up!

An incredibly exciting community bakery prospect has come up north of the river, with an opportunity to lease an existing, established bakery from the council. It has beautiful big ovens which could be for cakes, flat breads or pizzas as well as traditional loaves and there are lots of regulars who are missing their fresh local bread. Transition wants to put together a project which will grow this existing bakery into something really special with the hope that in future this could become a diverse community resource maybe with a community kitchen, an art space, bike repair workshops... Most importantly we want to make sure the bakery remains in the community and thrives as a business supplying the regulars with their morning crusts. Are you, or do you know, any enthusiastic experienced bakers who would like to be one of our resident bakers? Do you have any bakery experiences/thoughts that could help us get off the ground? We have about four weeks to submit our proposals to the council - so please get in touch! You can also see what we're up to via our facebook page. (We are also looking for help with lots of other things - more info soon!)

Restart Party - pictures and film

Thanks to everyone who came along to our first Restart Party last Tuesday! Our fixers worked on everything from fans, speakers, laptops, mobile phones, to a liquidizer and some headphones. We didn't fix everything, but hopefully everyone learnt something. Here are a few photos, and here's the TV clip about it, made by Stuart Leithes for Anglia News (shown last Thursday). By popular demand, we are already thinking about when the next one will be... do get in touch if you might like to help organise it! A big thank you to the Centre for Computing History for hosting it, the Restart Project for the idea and coming along to support us, and to Peter Molnar for suggesting we do one in Cambridge!

New Energy Saving Personal Checklist

Have you been thinking about how to save energy at home? Would you like some advice? The Energy Group now have a tool to help you. Fill in the survey here to get a personalised checklist with ideas to help you save. The checklist links into our existing advice web pages and other resources. This survey and checklist was developed starting from Cambridge Carbon Footprint's Climate Friendly Homes materials so thanks to CCF for letting us use them. We would really like your feedback so after looking at your report please fill in our feedback form.

Join and/or promote new Sustainability Hacking group

Are you interested in applying your technical skills to Transition principles? Have you been wanting to hook your arduino up to some sensors to make a smart meter or dreaming of implementing an app to study local traffic patterns or to monitor your own petrol usage? Would you like to make a device that improves your allotment planning? Would you like to hang out with some like-minded folk? Or maybe find the basis for a start-up? If this sounds interesting to you, contact Toni to say hi. This group is in formation - please promote it far and wide - and is looking for a co-coordinator.

Events for your calendar

Community News

Cambridge Aromatherapy

Message from Dave Jackson: 'I offer aromatherapy using all organic products and I make a handcream/skin balm using organic olive oil and essential oils, beeswax from my own bees kept on Trumpington Allotments. £6 for a 50ml jar which has Sea Buckthorn, Frankincense and Geranium essential oils. I can also offer consultations to make up jars for specific complaints.' Full information here. [Editor's note: We would like to support Transition-related business in Cambridge where we can - do get in touch if you'd like a mention in our newsletter. Businesses should be local, using sustainable materials, and with a general ethos of increasing local resilience.]

Other News and Events

Tuesday 07 October: Open Eco Homes - Solid Wall Insulation

19:30-21:30, Christ Church, Christchurch Street, CB1 1HT

Margaret Reynolds, an architect specialising in low-energy design, will chair a forum of experts in solid wall insulation. Panelists to include Brian Murphy, Tim Acheson of Green Hat Construction, Kingspan representative, Natural Technology representative and Climate Energy. Topics to be addressed include: Issues relating to external and internal insulation, Types of insulation available, Installation techniques More details here.

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month: 5 Rhythms movement meditation class with Ruth Hirst

19:00-21:00, St Paul's CofE Primary School, Coronation Street, Cambridge CB2 1HJ

Looking after our well-being is an essential part of the Transition to a more sustainable way of life. 5 Rhythms is a powerful dance and movement meditation practice that can help us to become more present in our bodies and wake up in these changing times. Come and channel your passion for the earth and for this life into your dance and see what happens. 5 Rhythms is a free form of movement meditation to music that anyone can do, whatever their age, gender, mobility or fitness level. No prior knowledge is needed and there are no steps to learn. Price £12, or £10 low income, or £6 benefit receivers. Dance sessions take place fortnightly on Wednesdays, and every week on Friday evenings with a range of teachers. The Wednesday class is with 5R-accredited teacher Ruth Hirst and there is a loyalty card that gives your 6th session free. The next sessions are 8th and 22nd October. All welcome! For more info please visit http://www.cambsdance.org.uk or contact Cambsdance. More details here.

Friday 10 October - Sunday 12: Social Venture Weekend

19:30-19:30, Judge Business School, Trumpington Street

Do you have an idea for a social venture? Made a start but need a boost? Social Incubator East is an intensive support programme for people with an ambition to set up or grow a business dedicated to making positive social impact. It all starts with a Social Venture Weekend – two days of world class training provided by Cambridge Judge Business School. The weekend will help you refine your idea and develop your business plan and pitch. You’ll also have the opportunity to share and test your ideas with other start-ups and learn from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs. If you and your idea have what it takes you’ll then be invited to join the Social Incubator East programme offering up to 12 months of further training, business support, loan finance and free workspace. The fee for the weekend is £50; if you're selected you pay £100 for a follow-up 3day course and the rest of the business support is free. Follow the link for more info and to register. More details here.

Saturday 11 October: Resurgence Festival of Well-being

10:00-18:00, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH

This conference's title is 'The shift from economic growth to growth in well-being', and the organisers say "A sense of wellbeing is what really matters in life. We need a new movement of awareness and action to bring meaning to life and to put community wellbeing at the heart of political and social decision-making. Instead of economic growth, we need growth in wellbeing. The festival of wellbeing will explore these ideas - expect inspiring speakers and entertainment." Speakers include Vandana Shiva, Satish Kumar, Craig bennet, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Monty Don and more. There's a 'discussion day' which follows on the Sunday, also in London. It's hosted by UnLtd Foundation for social entrepreneurs. Tickets are £45 for the Saturday (reduction for those on low incomes), the Sunday discussion is free if booked with the Saturday. More info

Sunday 12 October: Apple Pressing Day

10:00-16:30, The Old Stables, Fulbourn Manor, Manor Walk, Fulbourn

Come to help with the annual apple pressing in Fulbourn and go home with a bottle of Fulbourn Apple Juice 2014! Bring the kids. A great day out or just come for an hour or two. Refreshments will be available. And do bring some apples if you have them to add to the pile. For more information contact David Cottee on C880616 or email Fulbourn Forum

Wednesday 15 October: Open Eco Homes - Low Carbon Energy

19:30-21:30, Emmanuel URC, Trumpington Road, CB2 3AR NOTE CHANGE

Would you like to generate electricity or heat your home in environmentally-friendly ways, with low energy bills? Experts will each talk and answer questions on: Solar energy (PV and thermal), Wood Stoves, Heat Pumps and Micro CHP (Combined Heat & Power) and Subsidies: Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive. What would suit you? More details here.

Wednesday 15 October: Our Food, the Planet and Us

19:30, Rudolph Steiner School Theatre, Kings Langley

Building on the success of their first local fresh food market this month, Transition in Kings (TiK) are very excited to announce their forthcoming event on the future of food: Our Food, the Planet and Us. The co-founder of Incredible Edible, Pam Warhurst, will give an inspiring and thought provoking talk at the event. Incredible Edible is quickly becoming a global phenomenon, with community gardening initiatives spreading throughout the UK, USA, Canada and France. You can discover more on their website. Accompanying Pam is Charles Ainger - visiting professor on Sustainable Development at Cambridge University, an inspiration for our creation of Grand Union Community Energy in 2013. Tickets (£4 in advance, £5 on the door) are available on Eventbrite or via our website or call the TiK box office on 07754 532862.

Thursday 16 October: Sustainable Letchworth: Launch

19:30, Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth SG6 4ET

Sustainable Letchworth is a town-wide initiative to create a sustainability strategy and action plan for Letchworth Garden City. Humans are either destroying or consuming the world's natural resources (eg energy, water, scarce minerals, trees) faster than they can be replaced. Sustainable Letchworth will be addressing the local initiatives that mean the world's first garden city will be playing its part in preserving the environment. The keynote speaker at our launch event will be Jonathon Porritt, the well-known environmentalist and writer, who will be explaining why change is necessary and the importance of local initiatives. There will be plenty of opportunity for people to express their views on priorities and to get involved in this important initiative. Admission free, but please book through Eventbrite or Local and Tourist Information Office tel 01462 487868

Friday 17 October: "Human dynamics of climate change" Global Sustainability Institute Seminar Series

13:00-14:00, Cos 215 Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University

Our seminars 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 Katy Richardson, Applied CLimate Scientist at Met Office. Free event, sustainable lunch included. Organised by the Anglia Ruskin Global Sustainability Institute, contact Julie-Anne Hogbin at 0845 196 5108 or visit GSI for more information.

Saturday 18 October: Gamlingay Green Day

10:00-14:00, Gamlingay Eco-Hub, Stocks Ln, Gamlingay, Bedfordshire SG19 3QP

Join Gamlingay Environmental Action Group for their third annual Gamlingay Green Day! Celebrating everything sustainable, and find information about energy saving, green living, and local wildlife. Green Day is now a popular and well-established event in the village calendar. Come along for stalls, displays, and talks about: saving energy (and money) by insulating your home and cutting power use; generating renewable energy from solar, wind, ground and air source, and woodburning; local wildlife and nature, including the Wildlife Trust who manage Gamlingay Wood; kids activities including story telling and face painting; and Doctor Bike - bring your bike (or your child's bike) for free maintenance advice. There will be tours of the Gamlingay Community Wind Turbine. Refreshments will also be on sale. Entrance is free! All are welcome, so please feel free to bring friends and family. More info and a poster here. Transition Cambridge Energy group will have a stall and Nicola is running a workshop.

Saturday 18 October: Sewing, knitting and crochet Skills Share

14:00-16:00, CB1 cafe, 32 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2AD

Drop by to learn a new skill. I have skills in knitting, crochet and sewing/mending. I can teach you how to modify clothes or make a scarf for the winter. This first event will cover arm knitting and we'll make cowls. Arm knitting is a very basic form of knitting using your arms instead of needles. I'll provide the materials, but will request a small donation. If there's interest, I'll make this a regular event. Contact Cherie to RSVP or for further information.

20th October to 2nd November: Cambridge Festival of Ideas 2014

09:00-09:00, Several venues around Cambridge

With hundreds of free events held over two weeks, the Cambridge Festival of Ideas is one of the most exciting and dynamic occasions in the Cambridge cultural calendar. The Festival includes debates, workshops, talks, exhibitions, and performances, celebrating every aspect of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Transition related events include "Consumers or citizens? How do we make choices and why does it matter?", "A climate of conspiracy: a heated debate" and others - check out the programme of events! Featuring researchers from the University of Cambridge, local public figures, and renowned guests, the Festival is guaranteed to have something for everyone! Visit the Festival of Ideas website for more information and to download the free Festival app. Online booking opens 22 September. Follow us on: http://www.facebook.com/cambridgefestivalofideas and http://www.twitter.com/camideasfest #cfi2014 More details here.

Greeniversity skillshares coming up

Events coming up listed in Greeniversity include: Solid wall insulation, Burwash Manor Apple Day, Low carbon energy, Personal stories of eco-homes, Cambourne Community Orchard Apple Day 2014, Dormice and their reintroduction into Brampton Wood, An energy researcher's home, Fascinating fungi - an introduction to mycology, and Winter wildfowl walk at the Ouse Washes. You can find more information about all these events here.

Campaign support for young people

Fixers UK who are linked to ITV and funded by the Big Lottery invites 16 - 25 year olds to creative a media resource – a film, poster, play, website, t-shirts to raise awareness of issues they feel passionately about. For further info. They have a partnership with ITV and can cover selected projects in our 3 min news slot on ITV Anglia. Organised by Nina Bailey, Fixers UK.

Events for your calendar

That's all folks - have a great week!

Anna, Cherie and Roly

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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