Filed under: Community, Update | Tags: Abundance, Draught-proofing, Permaculture
Hi again. As nominated chronicler for Transition Burngreave, I confess to getting a little distracted by other things.
For example, over the last year I’ve been doing my bit to reduce my personal energy use. We got in Nick Parsons from South Yorkshire Energy Centre to give us a home energy audit, and are now working our way throught the recommendations. Just draught-proofing the house has made quite a difference to how the house feels, and it’s worth doing even if you’re renting. Plus, I’ve begun to cycle to work, and made a cold frame to help our seedlings get off to a good start. But I guess you want to know about Burngreave, not about me. So:
The street party went ahead. Although a combination of factors meant that event relocated to an community hall, it proved to be grand success, bringing together young and old for an afternoon of fun and conversation. Well done Abbeyfield Road!
Burngreave Apple Day. The Friends of Burngreave Cemetery chapel organised a variety of events one fresh day in October 2009. The Burngreave ‘Abundance’ group provided a heap of locally harvested apples. Apple expert Julian Brandan provided tasty samples of different apples varieties, and helped to identify those brought in. Three fruit trees were planted in the adventure playground nearby. The youngsters enjoyed pumpkin carving and a treasure hunt. The adults took away apples to cook, and the remaining fruit was distributed to local groups such as SureStart. So that was a full and lovely day.
Community growing project. The project to create edible landscapes in and around 2 local primaryschools has continued. The linked permaculture course attracted participants from as far afield as Huddersfield and Scunthorpe. The related bid to the Lottery’s Local Food initiative has made it through the first round to the second round, but is dependent on the council agreeing a 5-year lease for the land. For more information, contact Saleema Iman on 0114 2755770
Climate Change Funding from the North East Community Assembly has been allocated £41,883 towards 9 projects in the North East Sheffield area. The 9 projects receiving funds for insulation, low-energy lighting, solar panels, tree planting and fruit and veg growing, (See Report on Climate Change Fund (Word, 140kb).
So that’s all for now, after a bit of winter hibernation, I’m looking forwards to springing into life again, so if you’ve any news do add a comment below or send any info about forthcoming events straight to the email list.
Filed under: Update | Tags: Abundance, Arty, Inspiration, Permaculture, Summer
Permaculture courses
The weekend course had to be cancelled due to a combination of low numbers and high costs (having a crèche meant that an extra room was needed). However a longer course is still planned for term-time this autumn. [Saleema has the details – call 07950 299073.]
Inspirational visits
A group of people are visiting one of Ecotricity’s flagship sites near Peterborough on 18th August. The building is constructed to capture solar energy to heat the building ‘passively’ whilst electricity is generated from wind power on the site. Depending on numbers they’ll lift share or take a minibus. If you have further ideas for visits, please send ‘em in.
Getting arty and media savvy
Sam Galbraith is a local artist (with an exhibition coming up at the Quaker Meeting House). She offered her skills for anything related to transition so we suggested she contact Ronin who is making a Transition Sheffield banner which can be loaned out to different groups. Also John will send her a flyer which might provide ideas for further artwork.
Andy has been on Sheffield Live Radio along with Steve, who’s also active in Transition Sheffield. So if we have events to publicise on Radio, he might be the man to do it. [Andy are you listening? Is that OK?!]
Community workshops
Participants had identified climate change as an overall theme, and the workshops provided time for participants to express concerns and discuss ideas, and these included community transport, costs of improving housing and insulation, and jobs. A writeup went into Burnreave Messengers, and some kind of follow-up is planned.
Street parties
One Burngreave street party is on track to happen: A small core group of enthusiasts notified the neighbours and gave everyone a chance to object. They fixed on a date after Ramadan, and the decision is now with the council’s highway department. Although they were turned down for funding from the community assembly fund, they are trying again through the council’s small grants fund. It would be a great opportunity to bring together different communities on the street so we wish them all the best.
Other funding
Not much to report – still waiting to hear back from the Lottery’s Local Food fund.
(These were notes from the Transition Burngreave meeting, Monday 10 August, by Susannah, on behalf of Saleema, Dan, John, Sam and Andy)
PS. Abundance harvesting
Autumn is coming up and with berries, apples and plums ripening fast, it’s time to gather names for the Abundance project. If you know of unharvested fruit or would like to help harvest, then please contact Kate on 07816 141540.
