Transition Penwith

Transition Totnes Garden Share Scheme was recently mentioned on BBC spotlight  (click on the link) news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7668344.stm and now have been mention by Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall in his new series.

The Environment Agency has revised and updated its practical guide for farmers and land managers. It provides over 250 tips to help farmers profit by protecting the environment and shows how good management of crops and soils can guard against chemicals and sediment from farmland polluting groundwater, rivers and streams as well as how to protect against costly losses of topsoils, seeds, fertiliser and pesticides.

The twin threats of climate change and unpredictable energy supplies mean that farming systems are shifting to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in a significant move towards higher levels of sustainability and increased responsibility for our actions. During this process, considerable demand will be created for highly skilled and talented individuals as full time and part time farmers, land workers and entrepreneurs.

The annual Food Statistics Pocketbook published today, provides a round-up of statistics on food covering the economic, social and environmental aspects of the food we eat.

It has chapters on:

• Food Chain (beyond agriculture)
• Consumer Demand
• Food Supply and Prices
• Environment
• Health
• Food Safety
• Regional results

Key findings include:

Cornwall Waste Action (CWA) is a key Community Waste Sector organisation in Cornwall, with experience of managing a number of waste related projects in the county. CWA works with a range of organisations throughout the county to promote and encourage waste reduction practices and the sustainable use of resources.

Published by Cornwall Enterprise and prepared by Ruth Huxley, Food Industry Analyst. Sept 2008

Cornwall Enterprise recently published “The Distribution of Cornwall’s Food and Drink”, prepared by Ruth Huxley, Food Industry Analyst.

This is an in-depth study undertaken to investigate the reasons for distribution problems experienced by Cornwall’s agriculture and food businesses and to identify potential solutions.

The new ES handbooks have been published by Natural England. The new handbook, which covers every available ES scheme, provides farmers with a comprehensive guide to ES, and how to apply.

A summary of a 3-day conference held at the University of Exeter on 22nd-24th September 2008 about the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Dangerous Rates of Change. 

Background

Penwith seeks people with Richard Branson’s entrepreneurialism and Nelson Mandela’s social values for innovative learning programmes.

On Monday evening, Roger Thomson and John Gillespie came to give a talk about Community Self Build. 

Find attached the presentation that John Gillespie gave, which was very inspirational.  Community Self Build is the building of affordable homes by groups of people in housing need using their own labour.  It arose from two pioneering schemes, in Lewisham and in Bristol.