Transition towns

Nonnadiluca

I have been reading about the Transition town movement and wondered if anyone has any experience of this? It sounds just up Oldstylers' street so I would be interested to hear from anyone who is part of a group. Thanks

Caterina

I was part of a group in London that fizzled out, however there is a very successful London group, Transition Town Brixton, you can look them up, they do amazing things! I am sure there are other groups around the UK that are still active.

Valli

We have one. They organise a potato day, where they sell seed potatoes, collect apples and juice them (and give the juice away afaik) and do seed swaps. I have come across them at a food market.

thriftwizard

I've been involved with one here that also fizzled out due to lack of local interest, but several groups in the surrounding area are going from strength to strength and doing great things. I occasionally join them for events, making Morsbags on my trusty treadled sewing machine and/or teaching people how to fold & knot a square of fabric into a re-usable bag. We've organised seed swaps & "bring & takes" & been involved in trying to get our planners to "think bike" & consider the potential for alternative ways of generating energy on a local level.

To some extent even the local group that fizzled out did influence things positively, in a small way. I often see bags that I made going round the shops, and the latest Local Plan includes a community orchard, albeit in a very daft place, and more allotments. It was great fun while it lasted, but sadly many well-wishers just couldn't find the time to actually help us, and eventually the few of us who did do things just burnt out. However I believe that that's an unusual situation and most groups, once launched, go from strength to strength. I'd say, join in!

Valli

I have now googled ours, they also do repair workshops to reduce stuff being thrown. Peak oil is mentioned too. Haven't a clue what that's about...

Butterfly_Brain

I had never heard of them so have been googling away, I think it is an offshoot of incredible edibles, we have one in our town plus a men in sheds initiative. But anything that helps reduce reliance on governments is a good thing

Farway

Valli wrote: »

Peak oil is mentioned too. Haven't a clue what that's about...

Depending on political view point it is the world running out of oil any decade now, or a conspiracy by oil producers to up the price of oil

Nonnadiluca

Thanks for your replies. I think I will go along to the next meeting of my local group and see what they're doing.

Purple_kitten

Googling away, it looks like there was one around here back in 2010, but it petered out in 2011 by the looks of it.