Newsletter June 2011

Hello and welcome to ‘Flaming’ June’s Newsletter. The month has started in a summery mood but the lack of rainfall recently maybe great for beach-lovers but not so great for gardeners or water companies. However, we have found some great water-saving ideas below which we hope will prove useful, plus how to get some useful freebies from South West Water – see later article. If you have any tips on this subject or any other matter that you think that fellow supporters might like to share, then please share them with us at info@sustainableottery.org.uk .
One of our members spotted this clever re-use of a plastic bottle
http://www.mastersconnection.com/index.php/component/content/article/36-articles/862-seal-plastic-bags 
not that we encourage plastic bottles of course but should you have one.....

This month we are finding-out if there is any interest in a community orchard. Currently we are lucky enough at the moment to have the time and talent of Justin Pollard a research student form Exeter University who will lead this project. Please see the article below.

Never before has this been so important and never before has Sustainable Ottery been so stretched in terms of people power! If you agree with the aims of Sustainable Ottery then we would urge you to get more involved and support us to help us achieve a sustainable Ottery. Please contact us at info@sustainableottery.org.uk about any aspect but we would especially like to hear from you if would like to get involved with the energy group and the local food group. Thank you.

Green Communities Programme Update
As mentioned in previous Newsletters, as part of our commitment to reducing energy consumption, Sustainable Ottery has joined the Energy Savings Trust ‘Green Communities’ project. As part of this programme a free energy audit of the Institute building has identified areas where savings could be made in terms of heating and lighting in particular. A grant for £ 1,000 for the first stage of lighting changes has successfully secured from the Western Power Community Chest Fund and work will start shortly on this. However, some of the costs of installing the lights was £106 more than anticipated, so we, Sustainable Ottery, as part of our commitment to the Community and energy-saving, have donated this shortfall to ensure the work takes place. A small team of Institute trustees will also be undertaking draught-proofing measures soon and we hope more grants will enable more insulation and the rest of the lighting work to be completed before the winter. Will keep you updates as this community project progresses.

Water-Saving Ideas
As an SO supporter we realise that saving resources, such as energy and water, is second-nature to you. You probably already have a water butt, re-use washing-up or bath water on the garden, let the lawn look a little brown for a while, don’t overfill the kettle, turn taps off when brushing teeth, put a bottle of water in the fridge to avoid drawing unnecessary water until a cool temperature is reached, have fixed any leaking taps, take showers rather than baths using a modern energy-efficient shower head etc. etc. However, there are some cheap and cheerful gadgets available that enable you to make a few more savings, e.g. a Hippo bag or ‘Save-a-Flush- bag in a cistern will reduce the amount used on each flush for cisterns that are more than 10 years old, a showersave device that adds more air to reduce water consumption without reducing the shower experience (may not be suitable for electric showers), tap aerators which likewise add more air to the water flow and a timer in the shower. If any of these sound useful then all of these are available for FREE from South West Water (yes something free from SWW)!! Please see http:\\www.southwestwater-savewatersavemoney.co.uk/products/free-water-saving-pack/from/SWSML. If you want to calculate how much water you use every month then try this water calculator http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/5086298.stm. There are lots of useful ideas on this topic in numerous websites - just Google ‘water saving tips’.

African Drumming  
If your new year’s resolution is to do something fun, musical and cultural with others, why travel further afield? Our very popular African drumming workshops may be just what you’re looking for. The next drumming workshop will be held on Sat 18th June and Saturday 9th July , beginners at 2pm, more advanced drummers at 3.30pm. The cost is £7.50 per session. It will take place at the Station Youth Club, Barrack Rd (ie 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 814217. Drums are available to borrow and everyone over 11 years old (accompanied by an adult up to 16) is welcome. Further African drumming workshops will take place at the same time in the same place on.

Community Market – 25th June
The next SO Community Market will take place on Sat 25th June 9.30 am – 12.30pm in The Institute, Yonder St. Shoppers can feel good by purchasing fresh and healthy produce at this week’s Market on Saturday 28th May. Garden plants and fresh local flowers will also add to general wellbeing of visitors!
Stalls selling locally produced, organic fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and egg products, a huge selection of preserves and chutneys, apple juice and home-baked goods will fill the Institute in Ottery. All this food is produced within 5 miles of the town!
Shoppers can do good by visiting the Traidcraft stall, which sells those other essential staples, such as tea, coffee, rice and dried fruit, which cannot be grown locally. These Fairtrade goods are sold at a price and in a way that benefits the producers in the developing world.
After shopping, the WI ladies invite visitors to stop by their table “for a refreshing cuppa and a delicious cake to set you up for the rest of the day”.

Open-Day Invitation from ‘Fresh & Green’ - Sunday 3rd July 11 a.m.
“Fresh and Green Open day is on Sunday July 3rd this year from 11a.m. For several years now ‘Fresh and Green’, your local naturally grown veg bag scheme, hosts an open day at our growing site. We invite all our existing customers, friends, and anyone else who would like to see what we do, to come along.You get a chance to nose around amongst the vegetables, ask us questions, and maybe pick up a few growing tips free of charge. There are always liberal quantities of tea and cake, on offer.
We will also be running our ‘cake with a vegetable ingredient’ competition and this year we are introducing a ‘savoury scone, with veg’ or herbs’ class. After the judging and prize giving at 3pm,ably conducted by our expert panel, entries will be sold in aid of ‘Practical Action’, a charity that finds, and funds, small scale sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in the developing world.
For more information visit our website http:\\www.freshandgreenvegetables.co.uk  or give Ruth or Mole a call on 01404 814122. Visit website for map but basic directions are just 30m up the Southerton turning – which is ½ mile from Venn Ottery travelling South or, 3/4 mile North up Venn Ottery Road from the Newton Poppleford roundabout.”

Community Orchard / More Allotments?
Currently, Justin Pollard, a research student at Exeter University is working with local transition groups in East devon and Exeter He is keen to explore the idea of a community orchard, allotments or growing space in Ottery. He is successfully investigating this with the other groups too. If this is something that you might like to get involved in either as a grower, investor or land supplier(!) then please contact Justin on justin@sustainableottery.org.uk 

A Future date for your Diary- September 24th 2011.
Satish Kumar will open the Recycling & Environment Exhibition in Ottery Parish Church. This is a rare opportunity to hear one of the World’s leading environmental thinkers and speakers live in our area. He is a guest of Sustainable Ottery and will be one of the speakers during the day of the Exhibition, together with Sustainable Ottery’s Helen Collinson who will talk about the work of Christian Aid.

Rotary Raffle
Sustainable Ottery will again be taking part in the Rotary Club’s raffle over the next few months. Please help us by buying these at the Community Market or any other events that Sustainable Ottery take part in. Thank you.

Other Events in the Area
* Saturday 11 June - Sun 12 Jun, Haldon Forest, near Exeter Racecourse. University of the Trees. A playful yet serious exploration of what it means to be an ecological citizen. What sort of world do we want to live in? This event hopes to raise awareness of sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forest.
* Tuesday June 14th 7.30 for 8 p.m. ‘This Prison Where I Live’. Upstairs at The Dartmouth Inn. Totnes. A feature length documentary about two comedians. Maung Thura, better known as Zarganar, is Burma's greatest living comic. Relentlessly victimised by the Burmese military junta, he is now in prison. Michael Mittermeier, in stark contrast, is free to practise his art of humour and provocation as one of Germany's leading stand up comedians. Joint film night with Amnesty International and Totnes Transition . Entry £4 Jacqi Hodgson 01803 867358 or edap.totnes@transitionnetwork.org .
* Wednesday 15 June 8:30 - 21:00. St Mary’s Arches Church, Exeter. A Transition Exeter workshop - Seeing Past the Lies?. Finding our own truth in a world of consumerism Are consumerism and sustainability incompatible? How our emotions feed into consumerism? Can we expand our own understanding of the truth? Can consumerism ever be sustainable? Mary Arches Street. Suggested Donation £2.
* Wednesday 22nd June 7.00 - The Vision Group for Sidmouth, AGM, Cellar Bar,Kennaway House, Sidmouth.
‘The Future of East Devon - How might East Devon District Council’s planning strategy, the Local Development Framework change our district and landscape?’ Talk by district councillors and campaigners, Claire Wright and Roger Giles.

If you would like to attend any of the events advertised in this Newsletter but have no transport or if you are thinking of going and could offer a lift, then why not contact us and we can put both parties in touch with each other. Simples! info@sustainableottery.org.uk or tel. 01404 811067.

SUSTAINABLE OTTERY’S NEXT STEERING GROUP MEETING -
7.30 P.M. THURSDAY 16th JUNE 2011 OTTERY ST. MARY TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES.
ALL WELCOME!

Please pass on this newsletter to any contacts you have. If you have been sent this by a friend, please e-mail info@sustainableottery.org.uk adding `subscribe’ to the subject line. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know. And if you currently receive a paper copy of this newsletter but could receive it electronically (which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly), please send us your e-mail address.
See www.sustainableottery.org.uk for further details of our events and activities.
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What better time to become a signed up SO member than the New Year! Below you will find an application form. The benefits of being a member:

Supporting the work of Sustainable Ottery as described on the website
· Voting powers at AGMs (notice of these will be posted on the website)
· The right to stand for election as a director of the company
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· An influence on the direction that the organisation takes in pursuit of its aims
· An open invitation to attend Directors’ meetings

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Community Interest Company
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