Newsletters06-05-2013

Hi everyone,

Over the next few weeks there are lots of exciting events and courses in and around Cambridge (take a look at both the 'Calendars of events' below). This week, there's a bicycle maintenance workshop on Saturday (and various other Greeniversity workshops coming up). And the latest edition of the national Transition newspaper Transition Free Press is here - get your copy at next week's cafe night or e-mail us if you'd like us to send you one. 

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Tuesday 07 May: Food Group meeting
  • Tuesday 07 May: Energy Group Meeting
  • Saturday 11 May: Bicycle maintenance session
  • Thursday 16 May: Transition Cafe: Getting started with growing salads and vegetables
  • Saturday 18 May: Permaculture group meeting - valuing resources and services
  • Transition Network Newsletter + Transition Free Press
  • Opportunity: One Year in Transition
  • Greeniversity events coming up
  • Events for your calendar

Community News

  • A Tipi for Earth Education

Other News and Events

  • Wednesday 08 May: Community Orchard Conference organised by Trumpington Community Orchard Project
  • Wednesday 08 May: Vegan Baking Workshop
  • Thursday 09 May: Talk: Keeping poultry
  • Saturday 11 May: Free Wild Food walk
  • Sunday 12 May: Illustrated talk: Climate change and local wildlife
  • Monday 13 May: Sustainable Food Challenge with Cambridge Carbon Footprint
  • Wednesday 15 May: GSI 1st Research Conference 'Big Challenges, Creative Solutions'
  • Wednesday 15 May: Visions of Romsey
  • Saturday 18 May - Sunday 19: A Taste of Cambridge
  • Saturday 18 May: Festival of Plants
  • Sunday 19 May: Plant Swap including Forest Garden plant exchange
  • Job Opportunity with Cambridge Carbon Footprint
  • Events for your calendar

Transition News and Events

Tuesday 07 May: Food Group meeting

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

All welcome at the Food Group's regular meeting. We'll be reviewing our activities, discussing our exciting new fruit-picking project that will be launched this coming Autumn and making plans for a fruit picking exploratory meeting on July 2nd. More details on this coming soon. Note that we're meeting at CB2 restaurant - upstairs room, go towards the back of the building.

Tuesday 07 May: Energy Group Meeting

20:00-21:30, Judith's house

We will consider plans for our next forum and progress on the community energy project for PV panels. Contact Nicola for details of venue.

Saturday 11 May: Bicycle maintenance session

14:30-16:30, Ross Street Community Centre

Does your bike look accusingly at you every time you sidle past it? Don't worry, bring a smile to your bike! Come to this class and show it that you care. I will show you how to make your bike safe to ride. You will discover how to make all the necessary checks, and what to do if things are not quite right, or even completely wrong! If you have some tools that you can bring, such as spanners, allen keys and screwdrivers, that will be great. If you can't, don't worry, I will have a comprehensive set of tools to help you. Bikes are great but they can be dirty! Wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, and you might find it useful to bring latex gloves or similar. Free (donations welcome). Booking via the Greeniversity web-site.

Thursday 16 May: Transition Cafe: Getting started with growing salads and vegetables

19:30-21:00, CB1 Cafe, 32 Mill Road, Cambridge

Want to grow your own but don't know where to start? At this cafe night we'll plant some salad and veg in pots for you to take home with you, and there'll be some experienced growers to answer your questions. Seeds, soil and pots provided, just choose what you'd like to grow! The cafe opens at 7, and we'll start at 7:30. Free!

Saturday 18 May: Permaculture group meeting: use and value renewable (and locally found) resources and services

13:00-15:30,

Starting with a shared lunch, we will be looking at how Pippa works with the principle: Use and value renewable (and locally found) resources and services. More details here

Transition Network Newsletter + Transition Free Press

Here's the latest Transition Network newsletter. We also have the Transition Free Press newspapers available - if you'd like one, there'll be available at most of our events, or write to us and we can arrange getting a copy to you.

Opportunity: One Year in Transition

Do you want to spend One Year in Transition? One Year in Transition is a groundbreaking, low-cost, new programme from Transition Network for people in their twenties. If want to create and lead projects for personal and community wellbeing and establish a livelihood aligned with your core values, check out the Transition Network web-page. Applications before the end of July for September 2013 entry.

Greeniversity events coming up

Skill-shares coming up in the next few weeks include: housing a swarm of bees (11 May), cycle maintenance (11 May), and massage (12 May). All classes are open to everyone and are free/low cost. If you'd like to attend any of these classes, sign up here. And get in touch if you'd like to teach or request a class, or help us organise more classes!

Events for your calendar

Community News

A Tipi for Earth Education

You might remember that a while ago we asked if anyone had a tipi we could borrow for an overnight school Earth Education visit. Well, despite a couple of kind offers we didn't find anything big enough, so we have launched a crowdfunding project and could really do with your help! If you fancy the chance to come and stay in a tipi in a beautiful organic orchard just north of Cambridge (within cycling distance), or to come along to a party in the orchard, or even just to help us make it possible to accommodate school trips, please visit Crowdfunder to find out how we can make this happen. Thank you! More details here.

Other News and Events

Wednesday 08 May: Community Orchard Conference organised by Trumpington Community Orchard Project

10:00-16:00, Scotsdales Garden Centre, 120 Shelford Road, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5JT

Are you involved with a community orchard? Would you like to start one up? This one-day conference is open for anyone who is interested in getting great ideas and advice about community orchards. Speakers include gardening and orchard experts from the region’s Traditional Orchard Group. Share your own experiences and learn from other community orchard groups, on subjects ranging from ‘working with volunteers’ to ‘increasing biodiversity’. Conference cost: £15 per person, (including refreshments and lunch) You must book a place in advance. Please email trumpingtonorchard@yahoo.co.uk More details here.

Wednesday 08 May: Vegan Baking Workshop

18:30-21:00, Parkside Community College (CB11EH)

Following from our highly popular Burgers Delight and Super Salads workshops earlier this year, CCF is pleased to offer a workshop on Vegan Baking this May. Our expert vegans, Oscar Gillespie and Tehnuka Ilanko will show you common substitutions and give you the chance to try out a couple recipes on the evening. Materials will be included, but to cover the costs of these materials, we suggest a donation of £3-5, which can be paid in person on the night. To register, please email info@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org. More details here.

Thursday 09 May: Talk: Keeping poultry

20:00, Rock Road Library

Martin Gurdon, journalist, author and amateur poultry keeper, will be giving a talk at Rock Road Library, Cambridge, CB1 7UG, on Thursday May 9th at 8.00pm. His entertaining new book "Doing bird" will be available for sale. All welcome. Tickets are free, but please reserve a place by phoning 0345 045 5225. The Friends of Rock Road Library will be providing refreshments.

Saturday 11 May: FREE Wild Food walk

13:00, The MIll (next to the punts)

Welcoming all foragers from around Cambridge and anyone like myself who wants to learn more about wild edibles! This time we will be walking around Grantchester. We will meet at the Mill pub and walk down to Grantchester.

Sunday 12 May: Illustrated talk: Climate change and local wildlife

14:30-17:00, Milton Country Park visitor centre

Illustrated talk by Brian Eversham of the Wildlife Trusts. The talk will be preceded by the brief AGM of the Friends of Milton Country Park, and followed by drinks to celebrate the Park's twentieth anniversary year. All welcome. More details here.

Monday 13 May: Sustainable Food Challenge with Cambridge Carbon Footprint

Cambridge Carbon Footprint would like to invite you to participate in a weeklong sustainable food challenge. The aim is to radically reduce your food footprint for one week. There will be a group of us participating and we will meet for a shared meal (optional) on Friday evening 17th May. These challenges are a lot of fun to try and usually have some lasting, positive effect on the way we eat. See here to find out more about this challenge. If you are interested in participating, email Bev.

Wednesday 15 May: GSI 1st Research Conference 'Big Challenges, Creative Solutions'

09:00-18:30, Lord Ashcroft Building, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT

On May 15th 2013 the Global Sustainability Institute (GSI) will host its 1st Annual Research Conference on the theme of “Big Challenges, Creative Solutions” (programme now available here). The innovative conference structure will provide a platform for open discussion and genuine collaboration between actors across academia, politics, business, finance, science, economics, health, education, art, the creative industries, and beyond. Our aim will be to develop creative cross-sector solutions to delivering a sustainable future. For further information on the forthcoming conference contact Julie-Anne Hogbin here, or call 0845 196 3176. You can register here or find out more here. If you find the registration fee is a barrier to attending, please let them know and they will do their best to see you are not excluded. More details here.

Wednesday 15 May: Visions of Romsey

19:30-21:30, Ross Street Community Centre, Ross Street, CB1 3UZ

This evening promises a celebration of Romsey with short talks, music, refreshments and displays. The talks will cover the Local Plan, local primary schools, the new Traders' Association and the arts festival which is planned for August. It ends with Allan Brigham on 'local history and a call for action'. If you live or work in Romsey, this is one for you. More details here.

Saturday 18 May - Sunday 19: A Taste of Cambridge

10:00-16:00, Market Square, central Cambridge

Local food producers are showcasing their products at Cambridge market over the weekend. The event will include food demonstrations and free food tastings. Supported by <a href="https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/love-your-local-market">Love your Local Market</a>

Saturday 18 May: Festival of Plants

10:30-16:00, Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Gardening meets science in this day focusing on plants. Lots of activities and tours, including some for children and families, as well as answers to gardening dilemmas and 'grow your own' giveaways. The festival is free, admission to the garden is at the usual rates (£4.50 full price; £3.95 concessions; accompanied children under 16 free). More details here.

Sunday 19 May: Plant Swap including Forest Garden plant exchange

10:30-12:00, Foster Road Allotment Society Trading Shed

Come along to swap your spare seedlings, plants and surplus seeds. Expand the range of plants you grow in your garden or allotment and meet other local gardeners and get ready for the growing season. This year we will be having an extra table to host Forest Garden perennial plants, shrubs and trees so if you are a keen permaculturist please do bring any spare forest garden plants you have. This is a low key and friendly event. If you don’t have anything to swap please come anyway as there are generally enough plants to go round but donations are welcome. No admission charge. Everyone welcome! More details here.

Job Opportunity with Cambridge Carbon Footprint

CCF is looking for a volunteer and events organiser, three days per week. Deadline 16th May. See here for more details, including job description. Email your CV with references and a covering letter to Alana Sinclair. CCF runs a wide range of activities and events which support people wanting to live more climate-friendly lives. The successful applicant will join our full-time co-ordinator and team of committed volunteers.

Events for your calendar

Have a great week!

Anna

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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