We look for solutions that we can use in our area. We run practical projects and campaigns on food, energy, waste and transport and hold public events. We publish hints and tips and links to other organisations. We work with the people, organisations and Councils in the area to make things happen. We sometimes respond to consultations. We get together from time to time to discuss what we are doing and to inform ourselves. We also publish an occasional bulletin to let our members know what we are doing and planning.
We are holding our next EcoFair on Saturday 19 May 2012. It will have a similar format to before, and will be at The Chantry in Thornbury. Open to all, it will be a fun way to find out about eco-living and the positive choices we can all make towards enjoying a low carbon future. For more details click here.
We held our first EcoFair
on
We have produced a Re-use and Recycling Directory. It can be read online, or a paper copy can be seen at Thornbury Library.
Following our plastic bag campaign, and three Give-It-Away Take-It-Away Days, a waste group has been set up to look at various ways of reducing our waste.
This year we have run a series of skills workshops to spread the skills needed for sustainability, including remodelling clothes, low-energy cooking, making compost, bike maintenance and food preserving.
Last year we focused on food, which is a key issue for sustainability.
Our focus is to encourage local
food
for local consumers, to make our area more resilient. We support the
local food fairs and other such initiatives. We want to
see more people growing their own, and more local farmers producing
food for local markets. These aims have given rise to several
working groups.
Our very popular self-help group Grow Your Own Food is trying to grow their own food in gardens and allotments. The group continues to meet monthly to support each other and share seeds, cuttings and ideas.
Members took on work at the Community Orchard opposite The Anchor pub on Gloucester Road in Thornbury. During the year we learnt how to prune and maintain the trees.
We set up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme. The idea is that local consumers (who want local food) work with local farmers. Members of the scheme get weekly fresh local organic vegetables. This is an exciting new idea that we hope will expand and encourage local food in the future.
We have had stalls at some of the Thornbury Local Food Fairs. This gave us an opportunity to talk to people about local food issues. We support the Thornbury Fair Food initiative, which acts as a collection point in Thornbury for local food.
Last year was our third and probably last Give-It-Away Take-It-Away Day on Sunday September 19th. It was an opportunity for the people of the Thornbury area to pass on their unwanted but usable goods, and a chance to pick up some goodies for free. It was in Thornbury's Rock St. car park.
We took the decision in 2008 that want our area to be a Transition Town. We were given official Transition Initiative status on 11 April 2009. We held the first of a series of strategy planning workshops in February 2009 to take forward the process. Two of our members attended the 2 day training course run by the Transition Town Network and other members have attended shorter presentations by Rob Hopkins and others to educate ourselves about the need to move towards a less energy-reliant society.