Bountiful Bristol Bulletin

As I hope you all realise its Eastside Roots first Spring Fayre - this Saturday from 11am (Grand opening featuring Easton Community Choir - come early so as not to miss a great acapella sing song!) to 6pm up at Stapelton Road Train Station site. Below is a list of activities for adults and children alike so please check out so you dont miss anything.

Main Tent: (more…)

A talk by Megan Quinn - film maker of Power of Community - How Cuba survived
Peak Oil.
Tuesday 7.30 pm on Monday 1st April
At Easton Community Centre, Kilburn St, Easton, BS5 9AW.
Megan will cover the basics of peak oil and climate change, but focus on the
potential solutions including curtailment strategies for housing,
transportation and food, and the importance of local community living and
community values in addressing the challenges at hand.
Followed by an open space session.
£3 donation on the door

For those who cant make that date Transition Bristol are screening film The Power of
Community also
At 7pm on Monday 31st March
At The Pickle Factory, All Hallows Rd, Easton

Dear BBB Readers,

I am proud to report that the short film we made which chronicles the first year of the GROFUN Project is now on the web!

With the help of Kyra, a local film maker/editor and Naomi it is great that I can now point those interested to an engaging and informative film to further promote the benefits of this growing, grass-roots project. My friend Steve produced the music especially for this film.

Thankyou Steve

You can watch the film here and comment or go to and watch and comment there. In terms of promotion of the scheme YouTube probably has bit more clout!

Please feel free to leave constructive comments, but go easy, much of the footage was unuseable due to poor sound or light quality and the final cut is the best it could have been with the raw material we had available. It’s not exactly Palme d’Or stuff, but it’s sort of innocent in tone dont you think?

GROFUN (Growing Real Organic Food in Urban Neighbourhoods) is a grass-roots, community lead inititative where teams of neighbours help one another set up back garden veggie patches and then reap the rewards of a mixed and locally grown ‘veg box’!

It teaches practical skills, address’s the problem of air miles and pollution and builds communites that are closer and more resilient to ever increasing energy shocks and food insecurity! Think about it, there’s only 3 days worth of food stocked in the supermarkets-what do we eat then???

For 2008 we need new recruits with gardens, preferably in the St Pauls, Montpelier and St Werbs area (to keep it local and ’sustainable’) and anyone interested in being involved, any which way, is invited to come along to the Grand Premiere of the GROFUN Movie to be aired at a get-together in the Albany Hall on Shaftesbury Avenue at 6.30pm on March 4th.

Please please tell your friends with gardens, a desire to grow veg and an interest in ‘relocalization’ and community etc to come along.

Furthermore, the current group has a Yahoo group where we stay in touch. It would be a great idea to join this…

We need many hands to make light work of this rewarding and fun project.

Vegetables need people like people need vegetables.

At Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Rd, Easton on Tuesday 5^th February 2008 at 7.30 prompt . If you know people who plan to come, please pass this on. Tea and Coffee will be available. Donations will be welcomed to cover hire and refreshments costs, so please bring what you can afford. Volunteers are needed to collect donations, etc. The petition now stands at 3250, well done everyone for publicising this issue. The LibDem leader has received 800 emails on this topic and the Green party website has a large article about it, crediting Bristol Cycling Campaign with making this information public (unlike the first Evening Post article 10 days ago). If you scroll down, you will find a large amount of new information. It will be up on the website shortly www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk. Happy reading!

If you haven’t already done so, tell the council to reject the plan by signing the e-petition at http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/petition.php?id=161 In the meantime, to register your interest, contact savethecyclepath@bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk or savetherailwaypath@yahoogroups.com

….a series of films on the on the burning issues of our time
to be held at the Lawrence Hill Methodist Church,
Lincoln Street, Bristol BS5 0BJ
>
> On Wednesday 13th February
> The Power of Community: How Cuba survived Peak Oil
> Cuba, an isolated island nation, rebuilt its quality of life following the
> collapse of cheap oil, supplied by the former Soviet Union. This
> fascinating and empowering film shows how communities pulled together,
> created solutions, and ultimately thrived in spite of their decreased
> dependence on imported energy.
>
> On Wednesday 27th February
> An Inconvenient Truth
> Former US Vice President Al Gore’s crusade to halt global warming’s deadly
> progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that
> surround it. An award winning film not to be missed. (1hr 40mins)
>
>
> On Wednesday 12th March
> Rob Newman’s History of Oil
> Rob Newman (Newman and Baddiel) takes a look at history with oil at centre
> stage as the cause of all commotion. Based around his stand up act and
> supported by archive sequences and stills with satirical impersonations of
> historical figures from Mayan priests to archduke Ferdinand, this is
> certain to provide great entertainment as well as food for thought. (45
> minutes)
>
> On Wednesday 26th March
> The End of Suburbia
> As we enter the 21st Century, serious questions are beginning to emerge
> about the continuation of the suburban way of life. As oil supply
> declines and energy prices skyrocket, what will the consequences of
> inaction be? Rather bleak if we do nothing, but stay behind for
> refreshments after this hard hitting film and find out how the transition
> towns approach offers a route out of the coming crisis and get involved
> with your local group!
>
> All films start at 7pm and will be followed by refreshments and an
> opportunity for discussion. For further information email
> marianbristol@ yahoo.co. uk. Alternatively you can call Marian on 07772
> 342920. See the Bristol website at www.transitionbrist ol.org

“Calling all urban greenspace champions!:
Help us plant the seeds of truly sustainable communities in the South West

Are you someone who recognises the growing importance of greenspace networks in our towns and cities – for health, biodiversity, local food production, low carbon access, recreation and play, sense of place, quality of life…and all round sustainability? Do you have a vision for the ‘garden’ towns and cities of the future? Would you like a stronger voice in debates about the development of the region? Growth plans are set to create lots of new neighbourhoods in urban areas of the South West alongside plans to regenerate many of our existing communities. (more…)

A tree is for life, not just for Christmas!!

Transition Bristol is trying to persuade the good people of Bristol to buy
fruit trees and plant them in their gardens as part of the biggest Fruit
Tree Offer ever! Following on from the project that has run in Easton and
Barton Hill for years we’re hoping to extend the project city wide and get
hundreds of trees planted.

We’re buying in bulk and passing the saving on to you….trees from £7 to
£8.50 The perfect sustainable Christmas present.

Lower food miles, increase biodiversity, and improve the environment all in
one go. Start building food security and local resilience into the city
landscape. And apart from all that… you’ll have fresh, tasty, organic
fruit on your doorstep.

Trees are available to buy online and will be delivered to one of 10
collection points around the city on February 16th. When you pick up your
tree Transition Village groups will show you how to plant and care for it.
All the trees have been selected to be easy to grow, the right size for
small gardens, self fertile and tasty.

Due to the scale of the project we are not able to specify varieties.
However we are sourcing them from a local, decent supplier.

http://www.transitionbristol.org/ Please order early to avoid
disappointment. Last orders at end of January.

For details or enquiries please contact Matt and Rob on
trees@transitionbristol.org

TRANSITION BRISTOL PRESENTS THE BIG EVENT

SUNDAY 25TH NOVEMBER All day 9.30am to 6pm

AT THE COUNCIL HOUSE, COLLEGE GREEN

With chilled music at the Folkhouse after-party 6.30 to 11pm. You are invited to The Big Event - a lively day of talks, workshops, films and discussions designed to inspire and inform local action. Find out how you can get involved with a community led, radical rethink Bristol’s dependency on fossil fuels and planning how we can move towards a resilient, creative, positive future. Keynote speakers include leading experts Richard Heinberg, Jeremy Leggett, David Strahan and Dr Chris Johnstone. There will also be a packed programme of workshops covering topics like sustainable transport, eco-building, alternative energy, community gardening, herbal medicine, local economics, composting, carbon reduction action groups, how to work effectively as a group and much more. Many workshops will be run by local groups who are already initiating positive changes in their community plus experts fom national organizations Sustrans, The Soil Association and Centre for Sustainable Energy and others. Full listing on www.transitioncitybristol.org

Lifecycle UK will be providing Dr Bike to give your bike the once over while you fill your head with positive ideas. If you’ve already changed your light bulbs and turned your heating down a notch and are wondering what to do next The Big Event is a chance to find out how you can get involved with shaping Bristol’s transition from energy dependence to a sustainable, resilient and positive future. You are invited to come, be inspired and learn how to find the confidence to act. Ticket sales online or at The Better Food Company, Fresh and Wild, Windmill Hill City Farm and other outlets.

For details visit www.transitionbristol.org. Cost £14/£8 concessions. Please book in advance. Tickets are limited so early booking is advised. Bristol Permaculture Group are holding a benefit at the Folkhouse from 6.30pm to 11pm. Chill to beautiful music from Slow, The Dearlings, Eirlys Rhiannon and Susannah Waters. Simple affordable food. £5 on the door. Flyer

Contact Sarah Pugh

sarah@transitioncitybristol.org

www.transitionbristol.org

Transition Bristol is a not for profit community led organization working in conjunction with the national Transition Network. The project is run entirely by volunteers. Transition Bristol supports and is accountable to a network of locally active Transition Villages including Easton, Barton Hill and Redfield, Bishopston, Redland and Ashton. We also have close links with Transition projects in Bath, Wrington and Thornbury. Sarah Pugh 0117 370 1362 07765 604571 sarah@transitioncitybristol.org www.transitioncitybristol.org Transition City Bristol The Hub King St Bristol BS1 4DZ

Full Programme of Talks and Workshops here

Post Peak Agriculture/ From the USA without FlyingTransition Bristol Talk with Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association and Josh Hart of the Chooseday movement.

The talk is on Post-Peak Food & Farming and the subject is ‘Fossil Fuel Depletion: Agriculture and the Soil Association’. Josh famously came to the UK to study without using an airplane. Here his story.

Wednesday 14th November at Redland Friends Meeting House 126 Hampton Road at 7pm

Sustainable Solutions and Survival International are showing the film ‘The Heart of the world’ - a film about the Kogi people of Columbia who have a message to give to the world.
Their survival is under threat and so are many other indigenous tribes in the world. This will be followed by a short film by Survival International and a discussion.
Event is free
Venue-the Fielden Theatre at the City Academy, Russell Town Avenue
Time - 7.15 for 7.30 start on Thursday November 8th
Bar and refreshments available before the film.

This Tuesday (Oct 30th) sees the start of something different in Bristol, as Tuesdays become ‘Choosedays’ and people, employers and organisations across the city come together behind a citywide initiative to promote ‘Tuesdays without cars’. (more…)

Don’t forget- this Friday October 26th: meet 1730, leave 1800 from City Centre fountains along St. Augustine’s parade–A Halloween Ride - In Solidarity & Celebration (more…)

Sunday 25th November 9:30am to 6pm
The Council House, College Green, BristolAn exciting day of talks, workshops, films and open discussion.

A host of expert speakers will present & discuss ideas, issues and practical solutions for Bristol’s transition towards a sustainable future. (more…)