Transition Town Totnes Bulletin #11. Friday August 31st 2007.

Contents. 1. Introduction * 2. TTT's First Birthday Party! * 3. The New TTT Programme of Events * 4. The Great TTT Raffle * 5. Request for Volunteers for the Birthday Party from the Celebrations Group. 6. First TTT Evening Events... TTT on Transport with Herbert Girardet and Peter Lipman * 7. Office Help * 8. Skilling Up for Powerdown * 9. News from the Energy Group * 10. Transition Tales Film to be Screened at as Part of the Totnes Festival Fringe Club * 11. The Emergence of 'Transition Training' * 12. The First Meeting of the TTT Education Group * 13. An Update from the TTT Building Group * 14. Next Heart and Soul Group meeting * 15. Chris Johnstone to speak on 'The Psychology of Inspired Action' at Totnes Library * 16. TTT in Devon Open Studios.

1. Introduction.

Greetings all. Welcome back. Last year was such an extraordinary time for TTT that everyone involved has taken a very well-earned rest over the last month or so. Now we are back though, rested and ready to roll again with our most exciting programme of events thus far and all kinds of new avenues to explore. We have subtitled the new programme (see below) 'Season Two', as in the tradition of long running TV shows which call each series a 'Season'; this second year in the life of TTT has the same feel, with the last season building to a cliff hanger ending, with TTT getting an office and employing its first administrators. We are now delighted to announce that following a frenzy of (local paint!) painting, the new office is gorgeous and will be opening soon, to be 'Transition Central', sharing, as it does, office space with the newly-formed Transition Network. The office will be open to the public from September 10th, and will be open Tuesday to Friday from 10am - 3pm. Do drop in and say hi! In case you missed it, there was a wonderful piece about TTT on BBC Radio Scotland a while ago, which came across really well. You can hear it here, it is very much worth a listen.

This Bulletin opens with our new Programme of Events. Some of the highlights include talks by Herbert Girardet, author of 'The Last Oil Shock' David Strahan, Paul Allen, the director of CAT, Bernard Lietaer, Richard Douthwaite, Peter Lipman of Sustrans and Craig Sams, founder of Green and Blacks chocolate, along with many more. Some of the key events are Open Space days on transport, education and one specifically for young people, a performance of 'This Farming Life', an extraordinary combination of traditional song, storytelling, and archive footage of farming in the area as far back as the 1920s, including archive film of Leonard Elmhirst from the 1930s, an Interfaith event at St Johns Church and the launch of the Totnes Renewable Energy Supply Company.

We'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Landmatters on their recent planning approval. On Thursday 23rd August, the planning inspector ruled that the community should get 3 years temporary planning permission to enable them to further develop the project and prove its value as a model permaculture project. The decision is a very important national precedent, citing permaculture as a valid form of land use and using climate change policy to overrule other planning policy. In his decision, the Inspector Alan Woolnough stated: "Landmatters have already achieved low levels of energy consumption, implemented wide-ranging recycling initiatives and established an ecological footprint per household far smaller than the regional average, as established by the analysis undertaken by 4th World Ecological Design". In his conclusion he wrote, "the advancement of permaculture and sustainable ways of living facilitated by this project has sufficient potential value to outweigh the limited harm to other interests". Congratulations to all the community there who put in an almost unimaginable amount of work preparing for the Inquiry.

We hope to also, over the next few months, get some more working groups going, one on education (first meeting detailed below), one for young people, and a couple of others are up the sleeve. It all begins with our first Birthday Party, which you can read about below, but which will be a wonderful evening, and we'll see you there, to kick Season Two off in style. In the meantime, if you can help with the selling of raffle tickets, all help is much appreciated!

2. TTT's First Birthday Party!

The party of the year has arrived, and its only September! To celebrate the first year since the Unleashing of Transition Town Totnes and all that has been achieved since, we will be holding our First Birthday Party on September 6th at the Seven Stars Hotel. It will be an evening of Music, Comedy and Conversation, featuring, among other things, local poet legend Matt Harvey, the draw of the Amazing TTT Raffle, eco-celebrity birthday greetings (wait 'til you hear Alastair McIntosh's!), Bert Miller and the Animal Folk, competitions and films (a veritable multi-media pot pourri). The evening will conclude with Poisson Rouge and the opportunity to shake a leg or two.

It all happens at the Seven Stars Hotel on September 6th, starting at 8pm and going on until 11.30pm. Tickets are available in advance (given the limited space the evening is expected to be a sell-out) from Greenfibres and from Totnes Pet and Garden, and are selling fast. We look forward to seeing you there and to collectively gearing up for Season Two by celebrating Season One! See you there.

3. The New TTT Programme of Events.

We think that this new programme is our most exciting yet. It could have been twice the size; only the protests of the graphic designer whose job it was to fit it all onto one side of A4 paper kept it in check. The printed versions of the programme should, by the time you read this, be available around town, please do pop in and collect some from the TTT office, and if you can offer any help with distribution, we'd love to hear from you. As in previous programmes, there is a parallel Great Reskilling programme, below the main events. This collection of events is as, if not more, important than the rest of the programme, and contains some gems, including a re-run of the hugely well received YouTube video course.

Thursday September 6th. Seven Stars Hotel. 8-11:30pm. £6 (£5 concs)
TTT's First Birthday Celebration! Music, dancing, comedy and reflections.
Places limited, tickets in advance from Greenfibres and Totnes Pet and Garden.

Wednesday 12th September. Free Mason's Hall, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Transition Town Totnes Traffic and Transport Group in association with Schumacher College
Redesigning Our Towns and Cities for Life Beyond The Car.
With Herbert Girardet, author of 'Creating Sustainable Cities' and Peter Lipman of Sustrans.

Saturday 15th September. Methodist Hall Totnes. 10am – 2pm. Free.
Transition Town Totnes Traffic and Transport Group
Imagining Totnes Beyond the Car? An Open Space Day.

Wednesday 19th September. St Johns Church, Bridgetown , Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Transition Town Totnes in association with Schumacher College
Retrofitting Totnes: making the best of what we have.
A Talk by Maggie Brenneke, director as SustainAbility plus a World Café exercise on retrofitting Totnes.

Wednesday 3rd October. St Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs)
The Last Oil Shock: The Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man.
A Talk by David Strahan. Also, introducing The Carbon Account.

Friday 12th October. St Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Transition Town Totnes in association with Schumacher College
After the Floods – rethinking agriculture with the climate in mind.
With Craig Sams, founder of Green and Blacks, and Kevin Morgan of Cardiff University and Christian Taylor of CSF.

Tuesday October 23rd. St Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 7.30pm. Free.
Transition Town Totnes and Devon Churches Green Action
Prayer for the Planet: are we caring for our planet as our faith requires? An Interfaith evening.

Friday October 26th. Methodist Hall, Totnes. 8pm. £6 (£5 concs).
Transition Town Totnes is delighted to present;
This Farming Life: traditional song and archive film from 1920 – 1970.

Wednesday October 31st. St Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs)
Zero Carbon Britain; an Energy Descent Plan for the UK.
With Paul Allen, director, Centre for Alternative Technology.

Wednesday 7th November. St. John's Church, Bridgetown , Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Transition Town Totnes in association with Schumacher College
Education for Community Powerdown.
With Alberlardo Brenes, Ed O'Sullian, Stephen Jones (principal at KEVICC), Rob Hopkins and Alan Dyer.

Friday November 9th. Venue to be confirmed. 8pm.
The Launch of Totnes Renewable Energy Company.

Saturday 10th November. Methodist Hall, Totnes. 10am – 4pm.
Education for Sustainability. An Open Space Day. Free.

Saturday 17th November, St. Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Economics in Transition: what future for local economies and their currencies?
with Bernard Lietaer, Richard Douthwaite and David Boyle.

Wednesday 28th November. St. Johns Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. 8pm. £4 (£3 concs).
Film Screening – Who Killed the Electric Car?

Wednesday 5th December.\\ A Transition Event for Young People(tbc)

Saturday 8th December. Methodist Hall, Totnes. 10am-4pm. Free.
A Youth Open Space Day. (details to follow).

Great Reskilling Programme.

Sunday September 9th. Schumacher College. 11am-5pm.
Festival of Bread.
Booking Essential. Call 078 05565559 or email bakkesle@online.no.

Monday 24th Sept. onwards for 10 weeks. Methodist Hall, Totnes
Skilling Up for Powerdown.
Contact Rob on 07868604454. Email robjhopkins@gmail.com

Friday 21st – Monday 24th Sept. Landmatters Permaculture Community.
Rocket Stoves.
£180. Contact 01803 712718.

Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd September. Venue tbc.
**Back by Popular Demand!**
A Hands-On Introduction to YouTube Video Activism - worldchanging with a digital camera and a laptop.
With Ed Wade-Martins of MovingSounds.org. Booking essential.

Saturday 29th September. Schumacher College. 2-5pm.
Preserving Autumn Foods
With Julia Ponsonby. £20.

Sunday 30th September. Sharpham House. 10am – 4pm.
TTT's Seedy Sisters present Autumn's Glorious Glut Gig.
£1.50, £1.00 concessions, kids free.

Saturday 3rd November. Mansion House, Totnes. 10am-3pm.
Clay Winning: The Reclamation of Local Clays. How to recognise, reclaim and use local clay.
With Richenda Macgregor and Jon Middlemiss. £12.

Friday 16th November. Bogan House, Totnes. 8pm. £3.
An ecology of making, a community of objects.
A Talk by Toni Spencer.

Please book for the Great Reskilling courses by calling Lou on 07896941872 or email: greatreskilling@googlemail.com .

4. The Great TTT Raffle

To accompany the first birthday celebrations, we are holding a raffle. It is a raffle with some quite wonderful prizes.... they include;

    * 1 Place on a Residential Permaculture Design Course with Patrick Whitefield, June 2008.
    * Guided Tour and Lunch for 2 at the Riverford Field Kitchen (before November 2007)
    * 1 Place on Skilling Up for Powerdown evening class (starts September 24th)
    * 1 Vegetable Box from Riverford Organics
    * 1 Year's Subscription to Resurgence Magazine
    * 2 organic cotton peak oil tshirts from Greenfibres
    * 1 copy of 'The Green Self Build Book' from Green Books
    * £20 voucher from Agroforestry Research Trust
    * 1 copy 'Escape from Suburbia' DVD

Tickets cost £1 each, or £5 for 6, and are available from the Riverford Goes to Town shop, Red Wizard Internet Cafe and Harlequin Bookshop. The draw will take place at the First Birthday Party on September 6th. Please show your support and buy as many raffle tickets as you can. You might also get some books of tickets to sell at work or among your friends, by calling Lou 07896941872.

5. Request for Volunteers for the Birthday Party from the Celebrations Group.

As you know we are having our first anniversary celebration on Thursday 6th September, from 8pm at the Royal Seven Stars (see above). In order to make the evening run smoothly and be a fun as possible, we need help! If anyone is available to carry out the following tasks, please get in touch with Lou (01803 840991, thecrepecart@gmail.com):

    * ticket collection on the door (3 people needed throughout the evening)
    * decorators (to be at the venue from 4pm on the 6th; 5 people needed)
    * people to help clear up (this has to be done on the night; minimum 5 people needed)

Also, we need some people to sell raffle tickets at the Friday and Saturday markets. Anything from a half hour stint would be wonderful, and it's a fun mingling task that can be handily combined with veg shopping! If anyone is able to help, please contact Emma on 07772797688.

Lastly, we are looking for donations of decorations including greenery (ivy etc.), garden flowers (enough for 25 tables), colourful bunting and fairy lights. We also need a large selection of jam jars for the flowers. Anyone who can donate any of these items, please get in touch with Tamzin (01803 840926, transitiontales@gmail.com), by Wednesday 5th at the latest.

6. First TTT Evening Events... TTT on Transport with Herbert Girardet and Peter Lipman.

Given the dependence that the economy of Totnes has on car-bound visitors, and given, in an era of rising fuel prices and our increasing oil vulnerability, that we can't rely on them indefinitely, the time is right to look at the question, what will we do when there are less cars on the road? How will we get around? How will others visit us? How can we ensure mobility into the future? Earlier this year, the building work in the centre of town temporarily closed the town's main car park, and the impact on local businesses and traders was keenly felt. These two events will explore these key questions.

The first is called Redesigning our Towns and Cities for Life Beyond The Car and features Herbert Girardet, author of Creating Sustainable Cities, and Peter Lipman of Sustrans. It will be held at the Freemasons Hall, Totnes on Wednesday 12th September at 8pm. £4 (£3 concs). The evening will explore strategies for preparing communities for a less car dependent future with two leading experts on the subject. The evening will be designed to stimulate questions, ideas and discussion that can be explored in more depth that Saturday at the second event, called Imagining Totnes Beyond the Car? An Open Space Day. Many of you have attended previous Open Space days TTT has run, they are a dynamic and powerful tool for exploring complex ideas, a great opportunity to network and meet people, and many of the projects now underway in the town emerged from Open Space days. Bring your idea, passions and enthusiasm. Lunch, tea and coffee will be available. It will be held at the Methodist Hall Totnes on Saturday 15th September. 10am – 2pm. Free.

7. Office Help.

As mentioned above, we are now setting up the TTT office, a process of putting in place the systems needed to support the whole process as much as everything else. Jill, one of the administrators, has asked if anyone out there with accountancy or company secretarial training might make contact to offer some gentle hand holding, not as a huge time commitment, rather as an occasional source of expertise. If you feel you have such skills to impart, call Jill on 01803 849414.

8. Skilling Up for Powerdown.

Skilling Up for Powerdown is back! The 10 week evening class that has inspired and informed many of those who have gone on to become involved in TTT will be resuming at the end of September, taught by TTT founder Rob Hopkins. The first session will be on September 24th, and it will then run for 10 weeks. Subjects covered include peak oil and climate change, permaculture design principles, food, energy, housing, economics, the psychology of change, trees and woodlands, forest gardening, and also includes a tour of Martin Crawford's forest garden. The course includes games, activities, networking and some short films. It is also backed up with a comprehensive online resource of links and further reading. It is a great way of meeting other people with similar interests, and of immersing yourself in the thinking and ideas underpinning the Transition process. This may be the last time that Rob leads the course, although it will continue to run with other teachers. The course costs £150 or £120 concessions, but there are also a limited number of bursary places available. To book a place, contact Rob on 07868604454 or email robjhopkins (at) gmail.com.

9. News from the Energy Group.

The next Energy group meeting is to be at the office, 43 Fore St above the pet and garden shop on Tuesday 25th September at 7:30pm. For anyone wanting an introduction to the Energy Group or wanting to join in one of our projects this will be an important planning meeting going into this next year of TTT.

10. Transition Tales Film to be Screened at as Part of the Totnes Festival Fringe Club.

In June, the Transition Tales project worked with students at KEVICC to explore issues of peak oil and climate change and then to vision life beyond oil as a positive transition. The workshop produced a short film of the students telling the news from 2030 in a powered-down Totnes. This was screened once, at the beginning of the Alastair MacIntosh talk, but the sound was very poor, and some people couldn't hear it properly. You might like to know then, that the film will be screened on both Friday 7th and Saturday 8th September at Totnes Civic Hall as part of the Totnes Festival Fringe Club. Doors open 7pm and both evenings end at 12.30am. Tickets are available at the Dartington ARTS Box Office on 01803 847070, or from Totnes Bookshop.

11. The Emergence of 'Transition Training'.

With the viral take up of the Transition concept around the UK and beyond (5 in the US now!), the demand for training from the various communities has been growing. In order to facilitate this, the first Transition Training is happening here in Totnes Sept 21st-22nd, and repeated Oct 19th-20th. The course is designed to give a detailed introduction to the most important skills necessary to successfully set up, develop, and run a Transition project in your locality. It is designed for people who are already in a group working to achieve this, or are thinking of creating such a group. For more information or to book contact Ben Brangwyn at the Transition Network: benbrangwyn@yahoo.com.

12. The First Meeting of the TTT Education Group.

In advance of the forthcoming education events, a first meeting for everyone interested in the creation of an economics group takes place on Tuesday 18th September between 7pm and 9pm at the TTT office at 43 Fore Street. It is a meeting to briefly discuss the purpose of learning and then to explore the potential structure and nature of a TTT Education group and where the group might go from here. If you are interested, please contact Lynn Burke on 01364 653872 or email burke.lynn@gmail.com.

13. An Update from the TTT Building Group.

Building Group Activity has continued at fever pitch over the past month due to the ongoing public consultation being conducted by SHDC over its Local Development Framework documents. A very successful public meeting was held on August 15th with Rachel Bland (SHDC) and Steve Melia (FOE) providing guidance and insight on how the TTT Building Group and the public could most effectively respond to these important planning documents. As a result the TTT Building Group has now set up a dedicated web page on the TTT site and details of the groups submissions can be found at ?q=Main/Housing or viewed in hard copy at the TTT office.

The first LDF submission from the group to SHDC attracted over 60 signatures of support. A final stage of this consultation process is now underway and involves the review of the 'Rural Areas' document which requires submissions by September the 14th. A working group will meet on Sept 6th in order to draft a response to this document. Members of the Building Group who would like to be participate in this LDF Working Group should contact Clive Lewis clive_lewis@hotmail.co.uk or Adrian Porter porteradrian@yahoo.com for further details.

The next general Building Group meeting is due to take place on Wednesday September 20th and new members are welcome to join the group at this time, please contact Susan Hannis susan.hannis@phonecoop.coop for details of meeting venue and times. There is also an interactive collaborative art & built environment evening proposed for September 13th at 8pm in conjunction with Janey Hunt (whose evolving work engages with themes of DIY retrofit upgrading) contact Janey for more details janeyhunt@excite.com. Finally the TTT Building and Housing Group would like to applaud the planning inspectors recent decision to permit change of use status to the Landmatters, Allaleigh site which has now become our first "official" mixed use permaculture community. Well done to all those involved in making this vision a reality. Rob McLeod.

14. Next Heart and Soul Group meeting.

The next meeting of the Heart and Soul group will take place on Tuesday 18 September at 7.30pm, in the TTT office (wo do like being able to say that), 43 Fore Street. Including opening and closing from Sylvia; Autumn programme update; discussion of themes from Marianne Williamson's talk.

Also, look out for a showing of the DVD of the Marianne Williamson talk for those who missed it or would like another opportunity to hear her. A separate discussion evening of some of her key themes will follow. Dates and venue tbc. Email Sophy Banks if you would like to be notified by email and are not already on the H&S email list: sophyb@btinternet.com.

15. Chris Johnstone to speak on 'The Psychology of Inspired Action' at Totnes Library.

Chris Johnstone will be speaking on 'The Psychology of Inspired Action' at Totnes Library on Tuesday 11th September, 7.30pm, as part of Totnes Festival. Chris made an inspiring contribution to the launch of TTT, is an enthusiastic catalyst for positive change, and leading facilitator of Joanna Macy's work. Given the size of the venue and likely popularity of this event, it is well worth buying tickets in advance: From Totnes Library, (01803) 862210. The following should give a sense of what to look forward to on the night:

'What helps us respond in empowered and inspired ways when, either in our own lives or in the world, we face a challenging situation? Can learnable self-help strategies be used to cultivate our creativity, determination, enthusiasm and courage? Drawing on his book "Find Your Power", and taking Peak Oil and Climate Change as examples of challenges to respond to, positive psychologist Dr Chris Johnstone introduces psychological tools and insights that can make a difference. To support the development of inspired mind-states, the evening will also feature music from Chris on his hammered dulcimer.'

16. Members of TTT A R T S @ Devon Open Studios

Devon Open Studios are running over the next few weeks, and some members of the TTT ARTS group are a part of it.

Janey Hunt Ecorenovation: House Reciepts: Exposing her own environmental behaviour during the artist's house refurbishment, you can also contribute with your own thoughts, frustrations, knowledge and ideas. Also Insufficiently Prepared Adventurer: Escape to the country and other tales. 5 Sunnymead Terrace,Totnes TQ9 5TH (junction of Maudlin Road and Denys Road) 01803 865006 Open 8-10 and 13-16 September 2-5pm

Clio Wondrausch Earth Art -The Elements: Call of the Great Turning. Wild Earth Pigments found and hand pounded. Bold and sensual imagaes honouring the feminine and the mystery of life. 37 Smithfields Road, Totnes TQ9 5LR 01803 865836 Open 8-16th September 11am-5pm and 17th September 11am-1pm

Jan O'Highway Colourful ceramic mosaic incorporating reactive glazes, fused glass and reclaimed materials. Also digital prints using natural and found materials. Unit 3, Bridge Farm, Harberton TQ9 7PP 01803 863223 (not studio) Open Weekends 8-10, 14-17, 21-23 September 11am-5pm