Newsletter February 2012

Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.

Sustainable Ottery’s aim is to try and involve many more local people in our efforts to help build a more sustainable community in the face of climate change and depleting fossil fuel reserves.
Please come and join us and spread the word!

Click here for Community Market information

Hello and welcome to our first Newsletter of 2012 in a very frosty February. Our year has started enthusiastically with our new venture helping a local farmer with his orchard and also our well-established drumming group and successful Community Market return. Look out for a job opportunity to help with the advertising of the Market too. Read on…

Sustainable Ottery’s new Venture at the Goyle Orchard
Introduction and brief history by Catherine from Blacklake Farm
By hook and by crook, Blacklake Farm has stayed a working farm for more than 300 years. Whilst most small farms of its type over the past 50 years have stopped farming and been converted to "lifestyle" residences, Blacklake has despite all the odds remained a working farm. And its footprint of fields is pretty much the same as it was in the 17th century. We have lived here since 2000 and from that time the farm has been run organically, certified by the Soil Association.
Running a small (60 acre) farm in the present day means doing everything yourself. There is no margin for buying in labour so it is very much a husband and wife effort. Whilst many big farms specialise in what they do, at Blacklake we do a bit of everything: orchards, a few pigs, sheep, cattle, holiday house, and until recently wool blankets. Keeping on top of it all is a challenge. At the end of last year, after an exceptional profuse crop of apples from our ancient cider apple orchards, most of which just lay where they fell, we started to think of ways in which we could involve other people to help keep the orchards up together, and enjoy the fruits of their labours. And that's how we came to make contact with Sustainable Ottery, who responded really positively to the idea of forming an Orchard Group. The basic idea being that the group put in 5-6 days of their time managing the orchard with us and in return harvest the apples and use our press on the farm to make juice. We have only just started this project. In our first two days working together we have met many nice people, had enjoyable afternoons working together, and pruned all the trees! It is very true - many hands do make light work. We hope that the Orchard Group will get a lot out of the experience themselves, quite apart from the apple juice. The orchards are beautiful, peaceful spaces.

What is the relationship between Sustainable Ottery and Blacklake Farm?
Nick and Catherine from Blacklake Farm have contacted Sustainable Ottery (S.O.) to see if we can build a mutually beneficial relationship to manage the orchard. S.O. volunteers will help to maintain the orchard, pruning the trees, maintaining the hedges and keeping on top of unwanted vegetation, in return we can take a share of the apples for juicing or cider production. The project has had a fantastic initial interest and input with over 15 people being involved with the first two working days. The orchard at Blacklake Farm hopefully represents a food based project that S.O. will be involved with in the coming years. The project aims to have a number of outcomes:Assist and support a local landowner who cannot continue to manage a cropping area due to wider social and economic pressures.Build new and strengthen existing community relationships plus individual friendships through project workMaintain traditional skills of land management and understanding of food through direct project engagement.

As Catherine has stated we have now done two good sessions (29/1 & 5/2/2012) at the orchard at Blacklake Farm and in that time we have completed the initial winter pruning of the apple trees, almost 50 apple trees in total. The initial working party carried out the majority of the work pruning around two-thirds of the trees with the final third being pruned on the second weekend by a slightly smaller working party of nine. Unfortunately I could only manage the second working session but I think I speak for everyone involved in saying that this is a really fun and rewarding project to be involved in while providing the opportunity to meet new people and gain new skills and knowledge.
We have two more dates planned before Easter (dates to be confirmed) so if you would like to be involved in the project then please email Rupert at rgbannister@btinternet.com .

Normal Service Resumes at Sustainable Ottery’s Community Market -
Saturday 25 February 9.30 – 12.30, at the Institute in Yonder Street.
After the excitement of Christmas and the reality check of January, we can look forward to 30 plus stalls at this month’s Community Market.
There will be the local produce and vegetable stalls, fabulous cakes, apple juice produced in Whimple, unique, homemade cards, interesting fashions, hand crafted jewellery, one-of-a-kind gifts and much more. The Parish Church returns with their second-hand books and delicious goodies.
Everyone’s welcome to come and browse, and to meet up with friends over refreshments provided by the WI.
The market is on Saturday 25 February 9.30 – 12.30, at the Institute in Yonder Street.

Help Required by Community Market
So that the market keeps on improving and expanding, the market organizers are looking for somebody to put out signs around Ottery a few days before the market, on the market day itself and to collect them after the market. Mileage plus a fee will be paid to the right person who has their own car and can take this on. This may suit an organization that would be willing to take this on for a donation to their organization, or to a charity of their choice.
We are always looking for volunteers to help put the tables out and put them away on the day. If we have enough people then it means that we can have a rota going so that it doesn’t have to be every month.
Please call Beatrix Godfrey on 01404 812213 to discuss how you could help contribute to our very successful Community Market.
Community Market Dates for 2012
25 FEB 31 MAR 28 APR 26 MAY 30 JUN
28 JUL 25 AUG 29 SEP 27 OCT 17 NOV 15 DEC

African Drumming- Saturday 10th March
The very popular and vibrant African drumming/percussion workshops continue on our doorstep in Ottery. The next drumming workshop will be held on Saturday 10th March with beginners at 2pm, more advanced drummers at 3.30 p.m finishing at 5 p.m. The cost is £7.50 per session. It will take place at the Station Youth Club, Barrack Rd (i.e. main road out of Ottery to A30), on the Kings School side of the River Otter on the right hand side, a few metres from the bridge. For more information call 01404 814217. Drums are available to borrow and everyone over 11 years old (accompanied by an adult up to 16) is welcome.

Energy-saving Gadgets
We have acquired an infra-red laser thermometer ‘laser gun’ that you simply point at a wall or any surface and it will register its temperature. This is great for identifying cold spots or gaps in your insulation. It’s really easy to use (just keep it away from your eyes) and it’s available to borrow from us. Why not borrow it for an evening or a weekend and search out those cold areas in your home. We suggest a donation of £1 per 24-hour period that it is borrowed so £2 would cover Friday evening to Sunday evening. All that is required is for you to sign a form to confirm that we are not responsible for your use of the equipment and leave us a £10 deposit which we will return to you when you return the device in good working order. For more details please contact Jill Dixon (01404 811067). We also have a device that will monitor how much an electrical appliance uses (simply plugs into the socket and you plug the appliance into it) so you’ll know instantly how many kW/h the kettles uses or how much extra electricity you use when you turn a fan heater up etc. Again this can be borrowed from us on the same terms and conditions. Ottery library also has a similar scheme for this gadget (costs unavailable at this time).

Draught Excluders
We still have some insulation left over to make draught excluders so if anyone has any old material, curtains that are torn, shabby or generally not reusable then they might be suitable to cut up and make into draught excluders or even the leg of a pair of jeans makes an excellent draught-excluder too! Any offers of material to Jill Dixon (01404 811067 please) and more freebies will appear in future Community markets. If you wish to make one yourself it’s simply:Cut a rectangle of fabric about 1m by 30 cm (or 3 ¼ feet by 1 foot in old money) folded in half lengthways and sown along the wrong side of one short length and one long lengthturn inside out and stuff with suitable material (old tights would do but you would need loads!)turn open end in on itself and carefully sew to finish off.
If you wish to go ‘retro’, instead of a rectangle shape to start with, make a tapered snake shape and add a tongue and buttons for eyes! Have seen similar for sale for £20 on the internet!!!

Staying Warm and Well in Devon
East Devon Volunteer Support Agency ask us to promote the following –
‘Staying Warm and Well in Devon’ is an integrated campaign by at will help to link a wide range of services, organisations and individuals who regularly come into contact with older people (aged 50+) who are most at risk. If you know anyone who might be at risk this winter (where social isolation, recent bereavement and access to services and support may be difficult during the winter) then timely, practical support provided to assist with emergency boiler/heating problems and help with insulation and minor practical jobs to ensure vulnerable people are safe and warm during the winter. (Provided by Devon Care & Repair). Also to ensure people have accurate advice and support to maximise their income/benefits. Support will also be available to review and/or switch energy providers to ensure best value. (Provided by local CAB or Devon Welfare Rights Unit team)
Help is needed to identify vulnerable older people will be from the local health and social care teams, local voluntary organisations or by self-referral. Referrals can be made by: –visiting www.dacvs.org.uk and completing an on-line referral form or making a telephone referral on 01392 284284, or by signposting clients to make self referrals.

Local Holiday Cottages win another award.
Local Mazzard farm of Ottery St. Mary have won yet another prestigious tourism award (‘Best Family Property’). They are well-known for their excellent ‘green credentials’ and are a leading-light in this sector and right on our doorstep. Well done to them.

An appeal for help with Himalayan Balsam
Patrick Hamilton, chair of the Natural Committee of the Otter Vale Association asks for help with the problem of Himalayan Balsam in the upper reaches of the River Otter. Can anyone help him with the following information please?Is there Himalayan Balsam in your parish? If so, do you have a good idea of its extent eg in both the left-bank and right-bank tributaries as well as the main river? (You have such a huge parish it is daunting!)Do you know who the landowners are on the affected land? Might they look kindly on attempts to remove HB by, say, gangs of volunteers?Are you, as a parish council, involved in any attempts to remove it?Do you know of any groups or individuals at work in your parish or neighbouring parishes tackling this problem? If so could you put me in touch?Would you welcome a coordinated attack on HB?
If you are able to help then please contact Patrick Hamilton on pat@bishopdams.f2s.com

Recycled Gifts for Valentine’s Day?
Recycle Devon recommend that you visit this site for ideas for recycled Valentine gifts!
www.recycledproducts.org.uk

Sustainable Ottery – no longer a formal Community Interest Company
At our AGM it was decided that Sustainable Ottery would no longer remain as a Community Interest Company. With our current situation, it does not appear necessary for us to have this formal, legal status with its associated tax and accounting implications (and costs!). Therefore, it was unanimously decided that we would take steps to change our status back to that of an unincorporated association. However, we will remain a group with the interest of our community very much at our core.

Other Events in the Area
(Please contact us if you need assistance with transport to any of these events or could offer lifts and we will try and co-ordinate arrangements)Tuesday February 14th 7.30 for 8 p.m. Dartmouth Inn (on the Plains) Totnes- ‘ Capitalism – A Love Story’ Film screening & informal discussion. 2011. the 20-year anniversary of his groundbreaking masterpiece "Roger & Me," Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" comes home to the issue he's been examining throughout his career: the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans. But this time the culprit is much bigger than General Motors, and the crime scene is far wider than Flint, Michigan. Entry £4 For more information please go to http://www.transitiontowntotnes.org/projects/ttt-film-clubTuesday 21st February at 3pm Café Scientifique at Costa Coffee Sidmouth (upstairs) Sidmouth’s first Café Scientifique with Prof. Bob Miles will lead on the topic of “Nanotechnology: Life gets faster and smaller”. If you know little or nothing about this , or just want to know more, then come along to the Cafe Scientifique where you can ask questions and discuss this exciting subject. Everyone welcome. No admission charge. No experience necessary! http://www.cafescientifique.org/Sat 25th Feb 10-4 p.m. ‘Waste Not Want Not Fayre’ Mackarness Hall, Honiton Honiton Waste Not Want Not aims to make sure that no usable items end up in landfill, and that everyone can get the things they need - for free! If you didn’t have a good purge for the Scout’s jumble sale then get de-cluttering now! Bring along any unwanted items -or just come to have a look! And take away the things you need: you never know what you might find! £1 entrance fee, 50p for children, then every item you take is FREE! Teas, coffees and snacks will also be available. For more details about what they would like you to bring (and not to bring) please see www.honitonwastenotwantnot.co.uk/ for more details. For more recycling ideas, please visit our own RIO( www.rio1.moonfruit.com ).Food, Farming and Land Use : What is Going on? A series of talks organised by Transition Exeter exploring land-use in Exeter’s surrounding Countryside Thursday 08 March - “Young farmers farming around Exeter” with Russell Carrington (Transition Farms Herefordshire), Chris Berry (Kennford) and Sam Ursell (Just Us Organic, Tedburn St Mary) Thursday 12 April - “Small holders, fruit growers, allotment holders around Exeter” Jyoti Fernandez (Five Penny Farm and “The Land” magazine) and others at Jury’s Inn, Western Way, Exeter, EX1 2DB 7.00 p.m., tickets £3/£2 For any further enquiries, please contact Andy Bragg (andy@westtownfarm.co.uk) or David Mezzetti (dmezzetti@btinternet.com)Saturday 17th March 10.00am-2.00pm - Green Vehicle Show Organised by Sidmouth Vision group at Sidmouth College Changing your car this year? - Reduce your motoring costs - Save Energy - Cut your travel bills - Help towards cleaner air. Come and see a selection of tax exempt, low carbon vehicles from major manufacturers. Talks on Eco-driving from I.A.M and D.C.C. Free event. Refreshments available.S aturday 17th March 7.30-11.00 ‘The Exe Factor’, The Bath House, Exmouth an evening of live music, dance and entertainment organised by East Devon Green Party featuring Jackie Juno, RiverMouth, Moussa Kouyate, the Exeter Latin American Dance, and The Current dJAMbes. Tickets £6 in advance, £7 on door. Available from Paul Bennett on 01395 576847, p.c.bennett18@btopenworld.com and also from Roberts hardware store on the Square, Ottery St Mary.

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Sustainable Ottery

A local response to global change

Newsletter February 2012

Sustainable Ottery: Ottery St Mary’s response to climate change, carbon footprints and peak oil.